Mt. Pinatubo Adventure!

Mt. Pinatubo is as beautiful as it is destructive. It is, in my opinion, one of the top spots to visit in the country if you happen to be in Luzon and you have the time.

We left Manila at around 4:00 am for the 2 hour drive to Tarlac. There are 2 options for the trek, the long route will take you about 2 hours to get to the crater while the short route will only take about 30-40 minutes. Of course we took the 30 minute trek.

Each group is assigned a 4x4 jeep, a driver and a guide. 

And so we started our 30 minute trek to the beauty that is Mt Pinatubo. 

We started out quite enthusiastic, but you could see our energies dropping by the middle of the trek. It's a good thing that each group has their own guide so you can really go at your own pace.

Hahaha I think I almost died here. hahaha

The trek to the crater was already beautiful, but nothing prepared us for what we were about to see.

Doesn't it look like a painting? And the photo doesn't even do it any justice. 

The crater was swarming with tourists so it's a good thing we decided to rent a boat that could take us to the other side.

Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of being in the middle of all this beauty, amidst mountains and surrounded by such a calm environment. You would hear no other sound but the movement of the paddle touching the water as you make your way to the other side.

This is definitely a trip you have to take with your friends. This, I believe, is the perfect time to say the phrase "Only in the Philippines".


*All the beautiful photos were taken by my good friend, Natz Ferraris! (The only guy in the pictures)

Aquila Private Game Reserve

Aquila Private Game Reserve in Klein Karoo is the best Safari to visit in the Cape Region as it is conveniently located only two hours away from Cape Town.

Monkeys were running freely on the highway

We had already seen enough wild life on the road, but I was so excited to go on my first ever safari! 


Of course there was still the important matter of satisfying our tummy's needs. We can't go on another adventure with an empty stomach so we headed straight to the restaurant to hit the buffet and it was GOOD.

The dining area was beautiful, with a high ceiling and a very rustic feel. I just knew that the rest of the grounds would be as nice and I had to go around and explore!

The Dining Area

Beautiful chalets and cottages for tourists who would like to spend the night and experience nature at its best. You won't exactly be "roughing it" the rooms are BEAUTIFUL.

Pool by the entrance

Pool  by the Dining Area

Our ride was already waiting for us outside by the time I finished taking pictures.

And the adventure soon began! I'm not one to get excited over animals, but this was amazing. Zebras, Lions, Rhinos-- You name it, we saw it!

Springboks

Zebras

Wildebeests

Rhinos

Hippos

And then came the main event, the Lion's Den. The entire area was surrounded by electric fences and a huge, sturdy gate that reminded me of the movie Jurassic park.

There's the guide locking the gate behind us. No more turning back!

We were told not to make sudden movements, to keep quiet, and to make sure that we didn't make any eye contact with the lions. Doing so might make the lion feel threatened and they MIGHT attack the group. AAAAAHHH! 



They all looked up the moment we entered the den. What an intimidating bunch!  Err.. Don't kill me please!

There's the daddy Lion :D

We were able to leave the den unscathed. I seriously had my doubts because the group was so noisy.

It was finally time for a celebratory drink! We're still aliiiiive! haha 

Stellenbosch and the Winelands

I enjoyed this part of the trip a lot. And for someone who would probably pass out after a sip of wine, that says a lot. 

The route was very picturesque, with stops for wine tasting, a feast of authentic South African food, and a bit of shopping in the quaint town of Stellenbosch.

Most would say that starting the tour with the wine tasting would be perfect. I couldn't agree any less. And so while the group started the wine tasting, I lagged behind and took pictures outside.

But then I saw the guide and discovered a new found interest in wine. hahaha. The guide KIND OF looks like Tom Cruise in person, the photo doesn't do him any justice. 

Ok, so the first part of my post is useless. I really don't like wine. haha

And here's a place that I truly loved. Moyo, Stellenbosch.

It allowed me to get a taste of the African Culture and a taste of their delicious cuisine. I also got a feel of how warm these people can be. To top it off, we got to experience all this amidst a beautiful African landscape.

This is the sight that greeted us the moment we stepped out of the car. Isn't it beautiful? 


And then we were met by one of the hosts of Moyo. He's a REALLY tall guy, I don't remember his name. Hmm... But he's as tall as the tree house behind him (exag). haha

We then headed to the dining area where our hands were washed at the table. 

Each of our faces were painted with beautiful patterns. 

Then it was finally time to eat. To say that it was a feast would be an understatement. 

There were several stalls such as this, with pots and pots of African dishes. Oh I ate so much, each bite would fill your mouth with a burst of flavor that would leave you asking for more.  


The experience doesn't end there. As we ate, the people of Moyo continued to entertain and educate us as they danced and played wonderful music on the stage.

After the eating and the dancing, we headed out to check the tree house. If you're with a small group, you can actually opt to eat there. 

Our time at Moyo was about to end, but the day was far from over. There was still so much more of Stellenbosch to see.

It was finally time to explore the Stellenbosch City Center. Our guide kept telling us that he would only give us 30 minutes to explore and do a little bit of shopping. Of course this was impossible.

There I am, already carrying mom's big purchase for the day, an ostrich leather hand bag in a beautiful shade of turquoise.

Words to live by. Yes?

I completely fell in love with this place and I would have loved to stay longer to see what's beyond this street. 

But it was time to head back to lovely Cape Town, our home for the past 7 days and I couldn't be any happier. It had been a long and beautiful day, but I couldn't wait to get some much needed rest!

I hope to see you again someday, Stellenbosch!