The Raving Lunatic

Put simply, with another gala. :D

My coworkers and mates were surprised that I was able to squeeze in 4 out of town weekend trips this November. And I made it all without getting sick. Who would’ve thought I could get something positive out of the H1N1 scare? Last May when Dona, Jerome and I ventured north to Zambales where we finally had the chance to land on Camara and Capones, everyone was freaking out that the only cases of H1N1 were isolated in the province. We took extra precautions of bringing lots of antibacterial solutions and alcohol and once in awhile, everyone of us downed Vitamin C. We got home without getting sick or losing anything, and it stuck on me that I felt a little better than before. It’s customary that everyone was used to me getting sick after a gala or a climb. It’s just me, but I never really made a big deal out of it. It’s better that I experience that than pain myself trying to like fruit. So when I got my first gala, followed by the next and another without getting sick on time for work the next Monday, I figured I was more dense than I could imagine for not being able to find a god damned simple solution so early in my life. I was taking supplements regularly but 500mg of Vit C daily was the sweet spot.

Cut the story short, I did the galas in November, well what, happily? I don’t have the entire sets of pics put online, so that might well fit a true year-ender post. Two days after today, I’ll be leaving for Puerto Princesa. Dona will beat me as she’ll then have another after our Palawan – Camiguin.

There was a time not too long ago when I however felt that this routine was a little harrowing. Someone made it a point that touring was somewhat damning, and I was hesitating actually if I’d tell of my recent ones. After a few clarifications though, it felt less aggravating, yet I’m still not over from feeling really scared just a few days ago.

Why feel sad though? I could tell of a lot of reasons, if I had the liberty. I also wished that I could at least make some people I know who are in terrible despair right now a little better. Maybe, just like me, they’d find a little solace watching Avatar in 3D. Oh how a movie would have affected me of this magnitude, I couldn’t understand why. I couldn’t let it go off my mind for days already. Maybe it’s because I find it too damn befitting to experience a world far from the dull everyday scene. I remembered my forest trips and nature walks and while none seemed to equal Pandora, it reminded me how the tranquility and chaos of the living nature brought ultimately, peace and calm in myself. I could not wait to see the movie the third time, and to experience another nature trip again!

Bought a new TNF Terra 30 bag and a Eureka Autumn Wind X2 to prepare for my climb just this weekend. We really wanted Tarak Ridge for our first Meco Trekkers trek as a group but four days into the planned climb people backed out one by one. I was raring to go even without them and was hopeful that Sir Juanch or Sir Nap could still accompany me and Dona. Of course, I already had Makiling in mind. Dona and I both have an unfinished business with that mountain when Maria herself lost us the last time.

Come Sunday morning, I realized that it was only Dona and I on the planned Makiling climb. I also had a strange feeling that came as a harrowing epiphany. It was as if I felt and saw that something tragic might happen to both of us, we’ll get lost like last time but on an even more dangerous part of the mountain or something. Reading the comments at pinoymountaineer’s about that mountain did nothing but aggravate my feeling. Scared, I called Dona and asked if we could just go try another mountain, a much nicer and easier alternative, and immediately thought of Batulao. It’d be fine with me, I readily thought of trying out the old trail as we did the newer side of the mountain the last time I was there already almost a year ago. And it was not regretful at all. I enjoyed every aspect of what we went through, having experienced a lot of new surprises which were unexpected. Details of which I’ll be posting when I have uploaded the pictures.

The weekend that I bought my new trekking gear was also the day Sir Norms went on a shopping spree himself, but for his camera setup. Bought a new Tammy 28-75 f/2.8 which was also something I was craving for. Tomorrow, it’ll be Jerome’s turn with a beast that’s the Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L. We’re all preparing for Jaq’s wedding but I’ll end up under-equipped. Shooting with them even with the most advanced cam body but with a protruding insanely smaller 52mm lens vs their 67 and 77 will arouse an inferiority complex. Huhu.

Seeing also the 7D makes me want to switch back to Canon. It really sucks when you become so materialistic once in a while and you don’t have the means to fuel it hehehe.

Most people I know who keep paid blogs to write and rant about their worlds have given up for facebook. Slowly, I’ve been slowly turning into one of these sheep too. :D

We’ll be going back to Makiling this Sunday! After two day hikes this year, with one of them ending up in a somewhat failure, I’ll be getting my real first taste of a trek. I just hope Mariang Makiling welcomes us this time. I was really thinking that we were unwelcome the day we got lost three weeks ago.

I also bought a Terra 30 today, and if only this Txp would be more friendly in showing images, I’ll be posting a pic of my trekking bag collection by now. Maybe by the time I come back. For now, I have two expensive bags that are unused yet. I’m still firm on the fact that I’ll be taking my Deuter to Everest one day.

Talking of dreams, Jerome will be soon loaning for enough cash to buy his most coveted 24-70 L lens. Sir Norms will also be buying a Tammy 28-75. I’ll be left behind with a cheap ass kit lens with a pathetic aperture. I’m slowly killing my dream of funding for a nice 2.8 aperture lens with all my unnecessary spending.

And talking of unnecessary spending, that bag was an impulse buy when I returned a TNF pair of shoes which I found a little too tight for my feet last night. I got a pair of Prophecy II at size 8 and realized I’d be better of with 8.5. They didn’t have the size though, so I went with a bag instead. And I’m still looking for a new tent to buy, along with a new trekking pole.

Now… back to finishing my readings and my paper for Saturday for the mean time.

My mother has finally come home yesterday here in Cavite in a memorial not too far from where we and she for the rest of her life lived. My father stayed true to his promise to have her transferred after a 10 year stay in Nueva Ecija where she grew up. They constructed a box where her bones would be placed in and had set everything up even if it’s raining heavily here.

I’ll be visiting her this Sunday…