TAAL: The World’s Smallest Volcano (?)

I told you I’m a sucker for volcanoes. We don’t have them in Thailand nor in Spain or Belgium. The moment our hosts mentioned they are going to take us to a volcano, my adrenalin was oozing like lava. *swoosh!*

Early this morning, we were driven 60km south from Manila to Tagaytay City in a nearby province called Batangas. Our hosts have a vacation house here and guess what? – Over looking the world-famous “volcano-within-a-lake-within-a-volcano-within-a-lake”. The one in the center is also (apparently) the world’s smallest volcano at 406m high. My mind gets almost numb thinking about it...

Taal Volcano last erupted 30 years ago in 1977, fortunately nobody died. But looking at the surrounding areas, why are there so many houses around? Aren’t they afraid living this close to danger? We were also told that real estates here are one of the most expensive in the Philippines -- But who can blame them? The view is to die for!


A local said that if the volcano is completely covered with clouds and fog and you really wanna see it – you have to yell out to “Maria-something” *I don’t remember the full name, sorry -- I'll edit this later* and ask her to clear the clouds. She is apparently a goddess watching over the volcano. But the day was clear! – so, no point of yelling out to her, is there?

Earlier this evening, I asked our hosts if they can bring us to Mayon; the Philippines’ most famous Vulcan. But they say it’s 500km away and it’s gonna take us at least 8 hours to get there UNLESS… *hold your breath*… their H E L I C O P T E R is available tomorrow morning. *eyes closed, lips pouting*

“I invoke Maria-something… let the chopper be available tomorrow. Please, please, please, please, please. I promise I won’t buy pirated DVDs anymore. Amen.”


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