The thought of finally traveling with these 2 bloggers already delighted me! Never mind if I haven't heard of Lake Mapanuepe. I didn't even know what awaits us there, all I know is that the three of us should travel together, at last.
Actually, I have met Dom 3x and Ga-el 2x before this trip, but all of those are non-travel related. More on chikahan over coffee sessions only. So for this trip, I know the three of us will be at ease with each other. Turned out to be super at ease! We haven't reached far enough but we already enjoyed our road trip!
We took the Olongapo bus bound from Cubao, and from Olangpo, we transferred to Iba, Zambales bound bus. We unboarded at San Marcelino, the jump off point to our destination. We transferred to a jeepney that's going to Aglao.
After an hour of a bumpy ride (and Ga-el screaming "Chyng, yuko!" whenever there's a branch of tree that will hit me) we finally reached the town of Aglao.
We found a peaceful place at the end of this road. The view is breath taking. Mountains and trees are in sight. Locals are friendly enough to assist tourists like us.
overlooking the mountain
boats to transfer the residents to the other side
boats to transfer the residents to the other side
I thought this is the only place that we'll go to. Then Dom said we'll need to ride a boat to bring us to the other side. (obviously, I didn't know that. hindi na kasi ako nag-effort magresearch for this trip Ü)
Since Dom volunteered to look and negotiate for our ride, Ga-el and I were left at the grass to rest and continue our un-ending chismisan! ^_^
After a while, we finally saw Dom and our boat!
Pardon me but I only realized it was a sunken church when we're almost there.
Quick Facts:
The place is used to be called the town of Pili. When Mt.Pinatubo erupted in 1991, this place was totally damaged with lahar. After some time, the deserted place acquired water, thus becoming a lake. No one in the village can tell how this area is now famous with the name Lake Mapanuepe.
Omg, so there's a submerged village where we sailed! I tried to look at the water and there I saw a semi-clear vision of the community. Creepy!
Challenge part: we tried stepping in the church. It's kinda risky for our cameras (in case we slip)! I know I can manage to swim in case I'll fall, though the thought of swimming in this water full of submerged houses is scarifying!
I swear - I feel the creeps as I walked here!
captured!
shot by Ga-el
captured!
shot by Ga-el
I had a heavy feeling as we sail back. I know a lot of people are buried alive in the very same lake we're sailing. Nevertheless, it's a one of a kind experience.
We asked the locals how we can go back to town. They all worriedly said there'll be no jeepney schedules after noontime. This became a dilemma for us. We can walk though, but it will take us 2-3 freaking hours! Torture!
So we we're advised to speak with the town chief. We found the kapitan doing some welding job. We told him about our situation and luckily some of the workers will be going back to town after their jobs, and we can hitch in their ride! Yey! Im so thankful! I really hate to walk back! Haha
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Lesson on the Road | Lake Mapanuepe
We asked the locals how we can go back to town. They all worriedly said there'll be no jeepney schedules after noontime. This became a dilemma for us. We can walk though, but it will take us 2-3 freaking hours! Torture!
So we we're advised to speak with the town chief. We found the kapitan doing some welding job. We told him about our situation and luckily some of the workers will be going back to town after their jobs, and we can hitch in their ride! Yey! Im so thankful! I really hate to walk back! Haha
imagine the workers need to fit themselves and stand in the back so Ga-el and I can take the front seats. im so touched.
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Meet my Travel Buddies | Lake Mapanuepe Edition
Dom of Eskapo
why I like traveling with Dom:
I dont need to think of anything. He always has a plan!
why I dont like traveling with Dom:
It makes me dependent. Umiiral ang katamaran ko! ^_^
why I like traveling with Dom:
I dont need to think of anything. He always has a plan!
why I dont like traveling with Dom:
It makes me dependent. Umiiral ang katamaran ko! ^_^
why I like traveling with Ga-el:
We never had a dull moment because of her kakulitan!
why I dont like traveling with Ga-el:
I cant sleep even for a single moment! Ang daldal nya! ^_^
We never had a dull moment because of her kakulitan!
why I dont like traveling with Ga-el:
I cant sleep even for a single moment! Ang daldal nya! ^_^
50 responses:
thanks to Calvin's Hub for my Ms.Saigon shirt! Liane and Salve for the logistics. Hihi
panalo sa mga superpower poses! at si gael naman, wala ako masabi sa padapa-dapa nya!
i have a thing for boats.
i like your photos with boats.
bet you had good time.
honest ka talaga chyng, may good points and bad points ka pa when traveling with dom.
kakatakot pag nagpunta ka dito sa penang at naging tour guide mo ako. humanda ako sa post mo di ba. testing kay rob muna in 6 weeks time.
hi chyng, natuwa naman ako sa description mo kay te gael..hehehe
darwin
http://trackingtreasure.net
how challenging! Sana next time makasama na ako :-(
heheehe astig ang trip niyo ah. pero di mo kinuwento kung pano lumubog ang village.
haven't heard of this place and im surprised it landed on LP. ibang klase tala si dom, off the beaten na off the beaten. galing!
now, i want to go there too and snorkle sa lake like what i did sa sunken cemetery :)
@doc,
thank you! for sure in no time nakakagawa ka ng more creative shots!
and yes, meron na kong Why I Like and I Dont Like Portion dito! haha humanda ang mga travel buddies ko in the future!
@darwin,
masaya kasama si Gael, kaso non-stop talaga! naubos energy ko! hehe
@cha,
madami pang next time!
@calvin,
good point. teka at maedit nga..
@james,
seriousy? nakakakilabot! actually meron daw mga nagsccuba diving jan..
hahaha kapag kasama kita ang daldal ko tlga! and thanks to our hot topic for the day, umiral kalandian ko. haha till our nxt trip Chyng! thank you for the memories! see you soon! muah
P.S. salamat sa beautiful pix kung saan feel na feel kong dumapa with the tae of the baka and kalabaw surrounding me. bwahaha
saya.. kainggit. hehe. nice set of pics chyng.
Wow. Medyo creepy nga kung iisipin mo na may vommunity underneath the lake. Pero parang interesting din na makita yung underwater view nun.
At talagang pa-mystery effect pa si Ate Gael! Hehehe. Ang cute niyo!
Parang creepy nga mag-snorkel dyan James, (ganda ngdapa moments ni Gael :)
.. kakaiba yang lake na pinuntahan nyo ni dong! si gael relaxed na relax sa paligid ng pupu?
.. ayoko na makitravel sau, may i like and i don't like portion na! hehe.
winner sa shots. so dapat pala talaga sa bubong ng jeep sasakay para makakuha ng good shot.
yung sunken church, parang nakikita ko sya sa tv noon kapag nagfefeature ng lahar story
ang creepy nga. mukhang madugo din pagpunta dyan. balak ko pamandin na dumaan after namin ng Capones sa Sunday afternoon---but since pahirapan ang sasakyan---mukhang alanganin. buti mabait nga si kapitan.
yung cross na top ng chucrch. sa kalagitnaan pa pala ng lawa yun. akal ko naman pag nakita mo yung lawa andun na sya kagad. babangkain mo pa pala.D:
nakakatuwa ang mga kwento mo chyng...lalo na yung why i like and don;t like to travel with this person! ang kulit!
natuwa ako sa pic na kinukuhanan ka ng pic...parang may pictorial ang model!
I was reading your entry na may takot na panghorror film ang dating.
It was so nice reading your story lalo na't magkakasama kayong 3.
My three idol bloggers. Great post.
nice naman. :) May madadagdag na naman sa mga pwedeng puntahan. :)
yihaa! finally a trip with two of my favorite pinay travel bloggers. kulit ng byahe na to.
ngayon ko lang napansin na yung suot mo pala yellow, red blue.
didn't realize i was that organized for this trip. lol
sa uulitin. apat na tayo with krushers.
ngayon ko lang narinig ang lugar na yan. sunken barangay parang cagsawa church lang yon nga lang tubig di lupa ng tumabon.
nakakainggit!very informative un mga post mo.
kapag kailangan ng travel tips, all we need to do is backread. ayun na!
Thanks!=)
ang ganda! ngayon ko lang narinig yung lake mapanuepe =) hopefully we can also visit next time. -pam
weee ganda...been to sir dong's version na rin ^^ saya naman..sana makasama ako next time hehe
I wonder how did the village sink.. marami talagang nagbago sa geography ng pilipinas dahil sa pagsabog ng mt. pinatubo..
scuba diving sa sunken village?.. what the heck?!!.. :P I could already imagine mga deads!.. parang sa Pirates of the Carribean!.. :)
parang nakakatakot naman magswimming dyan kahit ang ganda ganda tingnan.
The lake looked beautiful but OMG that sounded creepy. Ang babaw pero takot pa naman ako sa mumu.
Wow, nice shots. I really am a sucker for cloud shots, and you got them perfectly. The landscapes are also sharp :)
Nice roadtrip. Gusto ko yung mga ganyang biglaang explore ala dora lang :)
ang ganda naman sa place na to. never heard of it. haha chyng, feel na feel ko ang pagka creepy nung place nung nasa may cross ka na. takot na takot ka.eeee. natakot din tuloy ako.
pero winner ang shot ni gael, haha! pictorial pa rin, opcors! :) lovet!
wow, lubog yung village? eerie feeling naman.
my friend was from san marcelino adn they relocated in novaliches when pinatubo happened.
planner pala si dom, yan ang masarap ka biyahe.
I love your blog!!!!!
Sometimes, these so-called calamities are not mere destruction but a rebirth to something better..
Keep writing. I'm now one of your followers...:)
Ang saya! Three of my favorite travel bloggers in one trip in a destination na di ko alam na nage-exist pala! :D
So from San Marcelino pala you can take another transpo going there. I have some relatives in San Marcelino and i might spend my holy week there. This gave me an idea. :D
Tayo kaya kelan magsasama? Choz :P
Looks like an awesome place. I'd love to go there one day.
Sa Pinas pala to! Akala ko sa ibang bansa ito, chyng!
Ang masasabi ko lang ay wow! May lugar palang ganyan. Parang kinilabutan ako nung nakita ko na simbahan pala yun at inisip ko ang community sa ilalim.
Salamat pala sa mga posts mo at madami akong nadiscover na lugar dito sa Pilipinas. :)
Yan ang mahirap chyng ang maglakad pabalik.
Ang maganda, at least hindi boring maglakad kasi madaldal si Ga-el. At may plano si Dom [Escapo].
At least may real public servant talaga dyan. Nice post chyng. :-).
Wow! bago yan ah! sana makapunta din ako dyan someday... thanks for sharing...
The road to the lake (sorry, I can't remember how it is spelled) is quite rugged but it is breathtaking. Ang tapang mo talaga Ate Chyng! Akalain mo bang sumakay ka sa topload. I find it quite scary. Pero I want to try that also.
You said na nakikita yung community from above the water? Talaga?! Nakakatakot nga yun. Buti wala kang nakita. :)
Oh ayun pala yung Super Woman shot.
isa na namang magandang lugar na pinuntahan mo....lake mapanuepe
creepy.. naiisip ko pa lang natatakot nko baka may kamay na dukutin ako sa bangka.. ayan ang napapala ng kakanood ng mga horror movies.. hahahaha..
great pictures. ang ganda ng place
Is it Dom or Don(g) ? ;-)
Looks like you found your partners in crime ! :-)
oh wow! kant wait for my first bangka moments soon! haha katakot nmn ditoo. pero ang ganda ng place!
creepy nga siguro nun. Ganyan din feeling ko pag nasa ibabaw ng lumubog na ship wreck e. parang may manghihila sayo pailalim.
Nagttrabaho ka pa ba girl? dami mo na namang adventures. Love it!
Nagkita2 kami nina sonny at rona kagabi. Grabeng coincidence.
wow adventure. ganda ng pics!
3 travel bloggers that I have yet to meet - bow! The submerged church with its cross reminds me also of another creepy sight - Camiguin's sunken cemetery, di ba?
Napahinto ako nang makita ang krus na nasa tubig.
Pero kahit may kilabot, mukhang magandang ideya ang bumisita sa lugar na iyan. May maganda pa ring naidulot ang pagsabog ng Pinatubo - ang lake Man...Mapawe..(tingin sa upper left portion ng screen) Mapanuepe. Rar.
This is nice. i forgot how i love your travel posts. LOL that i bought that same Vietnam shirt when i visited Saigon last year. Lovely!
hi ms. chyng. we're planning to visit this place next week and we're going to use a car. san pwedeng ipark yung car safely?
Hi Chyng! Stumbled upon your blog via PHL360. Ang weird and surreal lang because Pili is where I grew up. And I know the cross in the photo. We had to move because nga of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. I had no idea people can go there now and that the lake has a name.
it touched me nung una sabi ko si kuya nagsasayng ng panahon dun sa barangay nila...but this blog changed it all nd ko na nga kilala si kuya ko.....that is your world kuya i know our saviour will guide you.... i love you and i miss you see you soon with your family.............
nice one.. finally set foot here 2 weekends back. thanks to your blog which i read 2 years back pa... never had a chance to visit until I got dismayed of my supposedly surfing weekend in san felipe.
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