SUNSET | Mt. Tapulao: A Lesson Learned

It was 5PM and I was so crazy to capture the sunset from the other side of the hill behind our tents. I told my bf to get there as early as possible so we could appreciate it well and took some nice photos without time pressure. "Later", he said.

6PM and sky started to turn orange yet we're still at the campsite. I started to be pissed, still kept me waiting. Because he knows my attitude, he immediately finish his stuff and then climb the hill as fast as we could, though the chance of not seeing it became higher. I was bothered then because sun sets so fast and the steep trail was like never ending.

Then we reached the top surface of the hill. Actually I wasn't able to see the perfect view from there until we descend a little on different trail on the right. 

Luckily I saw orange sky with Zambales waters under, yey I was so happy then, even I'm just a novice photo enthusiast. From there we just realized that we haven't any lamps or even cellphones to lit up the trail except from the LCD of the camera.

We conserved camera's battery and just used ample light from the sun left until total darkness. We felt carefully each of our steps and prayed no slip, no holes no snakes, wild animals or hunter that might get our selves into serious trouble. Blind-like, my bf then almost fell from an excavated surface with large rocks on side thinking paranoid it could be a deep hole, luckily not.

After couple of minutes we reached the new bunker and took the same trail along we had in day 1. It was difficult to walk then because of slippers I wore. Stones bumped on my feet each time I stepped. All we saw was total black so we used the LCD light to see the path.

 Because of that unforgettable experience we had up there, I was about to cry when we reached the camp. I don't want to happen it again. I was relieved when we reached campsite area and heard our group shouting and looking for us. Actually they tried to follow us from the steep trail, the first we had which we didn't took in our descent. Trail was seriously dangerous in dark compared to the one we had. Due to eagerness to capture a scene I really crave for, I took for granted my bf's and own safety. I felt like in movies where ghost and elemetals might come out from nowhere or worst fell from a trap by hunters, bitten by a snake and get hurt, haiii...imagination... From that time I always remember to put a head lamp or flashlight on our pockets. It's really good to be always prepared than putting your life into trouble. May this experience impart some lesson to you guys so you won't do same mistake we did.