dragon trails

Cross-Posting and Starter Blogger

2008-02-18T17:26:00.000-08:00

I am posting this in my Multiply page, and if all goes well, my blogger sites should be able to capture this as well. I'm actually debating if i should just discontinue some (if not all) of my blogs that have been inactive for a while now.

(I'm a semi-blogger--if ever there was a thing--I know)

Currently, my very first attempt at blogging was this blog labeled the dragon who did which got it's name in response to my then girlfriend's (and now wife's) blog , dragons don't land here. These are both hosted in Blogspot.com.

After that, I created a blog that I wanted to specifically focus on my mountain climbing experience. (My wife and I got into the habit a few years ago). So there came dragon trails, my first attempt at a photoblog hosted in the same platform. I really thought that will go well. Unfortunately, not as much as I had hoped.

I started out one other that I deleted recently. I came across Blogspirit and created a story blog related to my Dungeons and Dragons RPG gaming hobby. I wrote two fictional adventures following the characters that my friend's and I were playing at the time. The concept didn't stick however, as the game went too fast for me to write the stories and publish them too.

My wife and I even started a pre-wedding blog which we have yet to update. We've been married for five months now.

So that's it. A series of failed attempts at a life of a blogger. Whether things get better now, as cross-posting options are becoming available to me, or everything ends up dead in the waters just like the rest of the other blogs i started, i do not know.

Already i have recovered some of my old posts from the old blogs, and merged it with Multiply. For now, that's a start.

Farewell to Flickr?

2007-12-08T02:02:00.000-08:00

I am in the process of migrating my photos from Flickr to here. It's nice how I can do it in bulk.
These albums have gone from Yahoo to Flickr, and now here.

Hope its stays for good this time.

Mt. Sembrano Trails

2005-05-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

What: Mountain Climbing

Where: Mt. Sembrano

Place: Pililia, Rizal

When: May 21, 2005

For the complete pictures click me

Mt. Sembrano in Pililia, Rizal was the venue of my third climb up a mountain. Unlike the previous two climbs, Mt. Sembrano has a height of some 700++ meters above sea level. Infact, after only two level 1 mountain climbs, Mt. Sembrano was my first level 2 mountain. Still a minor climb by mountaineering standards, Mt. Sembrano boasts a magnificent view of Laguna Lake and the mountains of Rizal.

We were nine in the group that went that saturday, by far the smallest group i had joined but no less fun. We had a blast, actually, as we all groaned our way up the two peaks of Mt. Sembrano only to find rest by sunset on the tallest of the peaks. Here are the sights to behold on that mountain...

...at the town hall, from left: Jason,Mads,Ronnie,Eric, Pia,Madel,Marco

the trek to Mt. Sembrano begins on a paved road cutting through town

Overlooking a fishing farm

the famed Mt. Sembrano waterfalls, drinkable water on side outflow for our waterbottles

a lonely tree among many, a view from the waterfalls area

a shot overlooking the town close to Peak 1

across Laguna Lake

red and brown against green

me, Jason and Mads, resting near Peak 1

Pia against a great view of the lanscape

View from Peak 1: Awesome!

Lining up, overlooking the town at Peak 1

On top of Peak 1; behind me, Peak 2--our goal

Mt. Sembrano's Yin Yang Hill (i coined the term)

death of a dolphin

view from Peak 2 at sunset

Bug shots

Awesome cloud formation

At Peak 2

Night Shots

Daybreak, Day 2

On our way down, contemplating the descent

back at the waterfalls for a bath

time to go... shot from the jump-off point

A farewell to Mt. Sembrano

Me and Pia, jeepride home

Mt. Daguldol Trails

2005-04-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

What: Mountain Climbing
Where: Mt. Daguldol
Place: San Juan, Batangas
Date: April 16, 2005
To completely view all pics, click me

My second climb up a mountain was in Mt. Daguldol in San Juan, Batangas. It was a very long ride from Alabang, our meeting place, and thankfully we had rented a private transport to get us from point A to point B without having to change rides. There were 19 of us, which was another reason we had to get a private transport. It took almost four hours, if i remember correctly. and after a final twenty-minute boat ride to the jump off point, in which we passed almost a dozen resorts, we were off on our two hour trek (maybe even less) to the summit of the Mt. Daguldol. Here, now, are the pictures we have managed to take of this mountain...

the boat ride over Batangas Bay (i think)

passing a "kaingin" on the slopes of the surrounding hill

a view that overlooks the bay...that's the jump off point, yes!

a first look at the surrounding mountains of Batangas

us; from left to right, up then down: eric and malou, pia, mark, suzette, ken (behind), ronnie and mabel, belle, leo, marco, ads (lightblue shirt), me, the three lawyers: (i forgot their names, but i promise to add them later) :)

up a rock--an achievement in itself

hairy fauna on the trail

at the summit, pia overlook the sea

the rock at the peak that others failed to see

storm clouds?

cloudy sky and fog obscures the view of the sea

refreshing buko soothens our thirst; best drink ever in a mountain

unused trail down a supposed waterfalls

the supposed waterfalls

yes... this is it

view of a mighty tree

down the trail again

the boat ride home and a view to behold

Mt. Gulugod Baboy Trails

2005-03-27T14:43:00.000-08:00

What: Mountain Climb
Where: Mt. Gulugod Baboy
Place: Anilao, Batangas
Date: March 16, 2005
For all available pics on this climb, click me

Gulugod Baboy was not much of a name to call a mountain, or so i thought. But this was the place of my first climb, and i was soon to tell myself that it would not be my last. Located in somewhere in Batangas, the mountain, or more aptly mountains of Gulugod Baboy was an easy climb...or so i thought. Well, it was easy save for the fact that it was my first climb up steep slopes, with a large bag on my back to carry sleeping bags and a tent; not to mention 4.5 liters of water.

There were 21 of us on that climb, from different parts of the metro. Me and Pia were among the first timers. The group had three digital cameras. Well, you can just imagine how many shots we've taken on those two days. Well, stop imagining and just view them. Here are the moments that made up those fateful days...

The journey starts

...standing in front of this house/store, we get ready to start the climb...

...i cursed this steep road as it took all my strength; this was the first leg of the journey...

At the top

...when we reached the top, emotions were high....some were solitary...

...some enjoyed each others company...

...we marveled at the view...

...still marveling...

...nothing beats high energy at the top...

...some took the chance to be alone...

...to enjoy each other...

...of course, the climb will always leave you tired and aching...

...after all, that's what makes it memorable...

Enjoying the view

king of the mountain

the highest peaks

three campsites share the view

an open field near our campsite

almost at the top

enchanting view of land and sea...

...and sky

The shots no words can express...

The passing of a whale

Batangas by night

The journeys end

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another beginning

2005-03-26T10:02:00.000-08:00

here's a photo blog of our journeys... enjoy

btw, i will be cheating a bit... i created this blog just now, May 25, 2005 (don't mind the date of the post you see) but i will be editing the post dates to reflect a continuous flow of posts from the first trip onwards.

hope you forgive me for cheating