SOUTHEAST ASIAN BLOGGERS NETWORK

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

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-somethinglet the chopper be available tomorrow. Please, please, please, please, please. I promise I won’t buy pirated DVDs anymore. Amen.


****


You liked this post? - Subscribe to BISEAN.

17 Comments:

Anonymous said...

It's Sinukuan. Maria Sinukuan. You are very thorough in details. How did you get this information? I'm from a town next to Tagaytay, Talisay. But I'm in California now. Welcome to Batangas!

Esther

Anonymous said...

i hope i can get to meet you guys especially sofia ;-). give me a ring/text if you guys have a spot in your busy schedule 0917-858-2102
would love to drive you around

Anonymous said...

wow! helicopter to mayon! hope it'll push through! :D

travelphilippines said...

oh i thought its MAriang Makiling hehe

John Halcyon von Rothschild said...

Hope that Heli comes through for you guys! Mayon is fantastic! It's so beautiful. It's like what a volcano should be. Perfect.

Xanderj said...

Taal is indeed breathtaking!!!

have fun in your stay here in the Pinas, i envy your travel escapades, how i wish your rich hosts would adopt me! hehehe

the best of luck and keep on making this blog more interesting!! it is really very heartwarming to read foreigners praise your homeland...

hope i could spot your group somewhere here in the metro and see all of you in the flesh, especially Akihiro *sigh*, haha

...isn't Tagayatay part of Cavite though it's near to Batangas???

Anonymous said...

maria sinukuan is the deity of mt arayat in pampanga

try the trekking the mt pinatubo in zambales

Anonymous said...

omit the first 'the' in the second line, hehe

Anonymous said...

Maybe Mariang Palad? I's also from Batangas and I know it's Mariang sinukuan for Taal too. Paano ba yan?

Anonymous said...

I'm happy dat u've been enjoying ur stay so far! So how was Mayon? :)

Pisanu for BISEAN said...

Thanks guys for dropping by! Sorry, we haven't been replying to your comments. Busy, busy, busy! LOL.

Carina said...

our family has been making a lot of out-of-the-blue trips to tagaytay just to be able to take a quick breakfast or lunch in one of the restaurants overlooking taal. and until now i don't think i can get enough of looking at that magestic place -- not to mention lots and lots of pictures we've taken too.

jake said...

great travel writer pisanu. just stay away from stingrays

keep posting!

Anonymous said...

I think it is Maria Makiling cos we had cultural night and my best Filipino friend acted as Maria Makiling. It's so cuteee

Ich bin muede :(

Anonymous said...

It's likely Mariang Palad, Maria Sinukuan is really the diety of Mt. Arayat, Maria Makiling of Mt. Makiling and Mariang Dalaga of Mt. Mayon.

And yes, the entire lake and Volcano are in Batangas, the view is from Tagaytay, Cavite.

Anonymous said...

I take it back. A quick google of mariang palad indicates a very distant meaning :-/ Come to think of it, not too far from an active volcano but you figure it out. . .

Anonymous said...

Tagaytay City is part of Cavite Province. Not Batangas.


By the way, I really really love your blog!

Related Posts with Thumbnails