Published via Ecency

Have you stared at the sky lately? Have you gotten yourself lost in the vast ocean of glittering stars and wander your eyes into its glimmering unknown? Have your mind and soul relaxed and replenished by looking at the sky above and letting the view of countless twinkling stars take charge.

Allow me to share with you how I and my travel buddies built friendships under the light of a thousand stars. Talked about life and everything under the stars.

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Hello, Hivers!
It's been a while since my last climb with my thrill-seekers, adventure-enthusiasts set of friends. It was almost once a month that they set a schedule to have their thirst for adrenaline-pumping activities be fed up. And I admit, I miss those days.

One of my most memorable and favorite climbs was Mt. Talamitam in Nasugbu, Batanggas. Aside from Mt. Batulao, this mountain is a must-climb, especially for beginners. It is just a two-hour drive away from Manila by public bus transportation. And why was it my favorite? These are a few reasons;

The easy trail.

It was just a minor climb as it took us one and half hours to reach the summit and the trail was not difficult for us to ascend. We even had plenty of time talking and laughing with each other as t the trek did not drain our energy that much.

We crossed a river along the way, and of course, it was a relaxing chance to stop for a while and have our five-minute rest.

We also soaked our hands in the cold water to feel nature in our hands. It was so calming to have felt the water slip through our fingers and also hearing the sound of the running water was so relaxing.

The breathtaking 360-degree view.

When you are almost at the top, you will have an overlooking 360-degree mesmerizing view of the town and the mountains around, including the scenic view. The greenery will somehow disconnect for a while from the city life and chaos and redirect you to feel the soothing breeze of mother nature's calming embrace. A sight that will take your breath away.

The stargazing ✨

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Since this mountain is more on with talahib grasses and upland farm, no tall trees to cover up the sky when you look up so this offers a perfect place for stargazing. We had our dinner early so we can set up our tents early to enjoy the show of millions of stars that gracefully danced as they twinkled in different sizes and colors. On that night, I got myself disconnected from my gadget. Instead of taking pictures, I got my eyes focusing on the lens and having them perfectly captured in my heart. I got out of the world for a while and entered into that enchanting realm only I know. I wandered into a surreal journey as I stared blankly at the sky, as the universe has gathered all the most luminous glittering wonders, perfectly aligning them all for my heart to be sprinkled with shining happiness. That night has been indeed memorable. The mountain and the night have perfectly given us a favor to enjoy the beautiful sight of the stars. There were even falling stars that made me utter my heart's desire in silence. When I was young, I was made to believe that wishes do come true if you say it after seeing a falling/shooting star, well, I still believe in this childhood thing up until to this day.

The next day, a relaxing view was in sight. We enjoyed a very refreshing morning with nothing but pure nature. We sipped our hot coffee while looking at the stunning mountain view.

And oh by the way, before I forget, additional reasons why I loved this mountain are;

Another beautiful memory with friends was written.

In between the overnight camp and stargazing, the times spent with them were written in the stars for infinity. I enjoyed every moment during the climb with them. Below are the photos of our camaraderie that will stand through the steep trek of times. It was worth every step of the climb.