Budlaan-Sirao Day Trek

I've been busy again for the past months with my studies (my not progressing papers) and work. I was updating my journal and realized that my life has been routinary and I am getting bored. I need life and I need to reconnect with nature. So, I tapped my officemates who shared the same feeling with me. We don't want to travel far from Cebu (it would cost us time and money), beaches don't interest us at that time. We are getting burnt out and looking for something new to do. Like, HIKING! Good thing, Cebu still has a vast forest to explore and mountains to climb. We searched online for destinations; read blogs about trekking and mountain climbing just around Cebu. We tried reaching out to some Facebook pages to ask how much would it cost us to hire a guide (some would ask for fee more than what we are willing to pay). Until my cousin who's fun of trekking and mountain climbing hooked us up in a local group known as Guadalupe Mountaineers. Visit their page and contact any of their page administrators.

• Meet-up at Gaisano Grand in Talamban around 6am.
• Ride a motorcycle (habal-habal) to Baugo (jump-off point). Fare: 25-30 pesos 
• In a certain store, you need to write your name, contact information with signature.

• Meet and greet with GM (Guadalupe Mountaineers), a short introduction, they are checking who among the group is the first time hiker, a prayer for guidance and safe adventure and a brief orientation of how will the trek go. They have an Alpha that will lead everyone to the trail (usually Chris), they assign person/s in the middle and sweepers (to make sure no one will be left behind)

This is Budlaan Falls not so clear and attractive on our first visit.

This is where we tripped off, slide, got our bruises and some even tore their shorts, but the GMs were there to help, guide and even carry some of our big and heavy bags.

They adjust their pacing with us. We stop whenever we needed some rest and catch our breaths.

Rest if we need to, we should not force ourselves if we can't anymore. That's one of the most important reminders they have and keep on reminding us each time they see us struggling and catching breaths.

People greet each other along the way.

We have heavy bags because we brought a lot of food for lunch. We didn't know that there's a certain barangay in Sirao wherein you can buy hanging rice (puso), have a barbeque, refill your water containers and quench your thirst with cold soft drinks. This is the last spot where you have an option to end your hike and ride a motorcycle back to the city. Once you decided to continue hiking, you need to finish the trail and no turning back.

We were reminded to eat light because after lunch we are going to rest for 30 minutes and ascend to Sirao Peak.

We successfully finished our day hike, but end it with a clean-up at the end of the trail where some irresponsible campers left their trash. 

Always remember to take only pictures, bring only memories, and leave no trace whenever you're climbing mountains or enjoying nature. 

We end up our trekking at Canada drive.

This is the last photo we had with GM that day but we never knew that it will be the start of a newfound friendship, bond, and camaraderie. A day when CCM  (Callcenter Mountaineers) was born. Watch out for Miss Blue, the Thrifty Wanderer's adventures and struggles in conquering trails in Cebu with CCM and GM :D