Exploring Philippines 114 - Taal Volcano Crater (Post 6 - Touch Down at the Crater)

It was in October 2009 when we had a view of the crater on the opposite side of the volcano.  And this time around, we were in another view deck, still admiring the beauty of the crater.  Our difficulties in climbing was rewarded by the beautiful sight and the rush of the morning wind that continuously swept the mountain provided a good relief and refreshed our sweating body.  As we took our sweet time resting on the bamboo benches, we gazed cheerfully on the full view of Taal volcano crater.

After we had our fill of the much needed rest, we asked our guide if we can go down to the crater.  Without much protest, he led the way.  At first, the path on the side of the mountain is well covered by the shades of  tall trees which favor us.  But we’d been warned to be careful and watch our steps because the trail is covered with small rocks and with getting slipped would mean sending somebody to the ravine right below the trail. From time to time, a support coming from the vines or branches of small trees made our downhill climb easy.

At first, we thought that a downhill journey is easier compared with our uphill climb.  But we were wrong.  The downhill trek proved to be tough and it was no laughing matter.  Because the ground was dry, the small rocks that covered the trail made it even harder for us because they add up to make the trail slippery.  Some parts of the trail are steep and if one will not be careful enough, it could send him down rolling or sliding.  And a good footwear is also crucial to this journey.  One would definitely need a sturdy pair of flip flops because the dry and slippery ground will definitely challenge one’s footwear.

After more than 10 minutes of ordeal on the dry, slippery, and steep grounds, we were lucky enough to reach the flat ground unharmed.  Since it was summer, as we followed the path towards the crater, dusts were all over the place.  Some plants that were not able to withstand the heat of the sun turned brown and some trees lost their crowning glory.  But as we gazed around, there were still a lot of greens around us.

What we thought as a walk in the park trek towards the crater of the volcano proved to be rather difficult and full of challenge.  After the skid, balancing while running downhill, firm grasp on the twigs and vines, and at times, almost sitting to the ground while advancing our steps in a turtle paced manner because of the difficulty of the trail, we managed to reach the crater after more than 30 minutes.  Our downhill journey was no joke and we were able to prove that not all treks going down are piece of cake.

Upon the sight of the sleepy lake in the crater, we all rejoiced.  It was like a trophy for all of us.  The undisturbed and the beauty of the place was a spell-binding moment up close.  If the water in the lake is not an acid-water, a well deserve plunge could be a rewarding activity for us to enjoy.  Unluckily, all we could do was to keep a good distance at the shoreline because fumes could be seen within a close range like an acid in contact with a metal.     

I must say that it was a privilege to touch down at the lake’s crater.  Out here, the place was peaceful.  Actually, this is one beautiful but dangerous paradise to visit.  A book by a foreign author named this as one of a must visit place in the world before you die.  Well, after my visit here, I don’t want to die this early because I still want to explore other beautiful places of my country.

Anyway, after our group pictures were taken, we immediately gave in to our curiosity and explored the crater.  The landing area is a dry land and is actually a combination of soil, sand, rock, and volcanic materials.  By just looking at the place, some composition of the dry land can easily be related to volcanic materials for they are not readily available near the body of water anywhere else.