Back to Nature

 

This was taken last January in our trekking in Norzagaray in Bulacan. It's a different thing for me 'cause I'm not that much of an active person who goes for extreme activities or even do sports. I'm actually not the outdoor-sy type so this was a really challenge for me. It's an hour long walk in a steep and rocky slope so I think that's good for starters like me and for those who want to pursue in losing their extra weight and have a cardio workout. Some areas of it have sharp rocks that may cut you if not having safety apparels so I really advice you, and most especially those starters, to wear a thick sole shoes to protect your precious toes.


We journeyed from Meycauayan City which is also in Bulacan through Norzagaray in motorcycles. We were accompanied by our church pastor and he was also the one who invited us for this trip. They were assigned in a church in Norzagaray before they came to us here in Meycauayan and told us that there are some good spots for trekking or just nature tripping there. After about an hour and a half of arduous motorcycle ride, we arrived in the town proper of Norzagaray where we stopped to buy Tilapia for our lunch later that noon. I was pretty surprised by how huge those tilapias were. And after buying all the stuffs needed for our lunch, off we go again. We finally stopped in a friend of our pastor which is also a church member in the church he was assigned before to park our motorcycles because we obviously can't use them there. So we went to the actual trekking venue by a 2-3 minute tricycle ride. We trek for about thirty minutes uphill. Some areas are steep with sharp rocks and others were just plain grassy slopes. There are also variety of fruit trees and vegetables in some parts. Then finally we stopped in a small hut which is owned also by a local church member and a good friend of our pastor. He is probably in his sixties of seventies and he lives there with his wife which is not around when we arrived. He has some goats which he pastures in the grasslands. So after some quick "Hi"s and "Hello"s, we deposited our things and scanned the place while some in our group decided to prepare our lunch. There are many coconut trees and sugar canes so we tried getting some for our dessert later. There's also a river and we decided to plunge but I was kind of scared dipping in because I'm not that of a good swimmer and the current is also fast. So I stayed in the shallow part where there were rocks of all sizes, shapes and textures. And I also get to see some little crabs under the rocks and also some schools of little fishes swimming. The water was cool and refreshing. It's clear and not yet polluted compared to other rivers now. Actually, it was the second time I bathe in a river and I was happy that there are still clean rivers that are existing today amidst of the ubiquity of less disciplined people who throws garbage everywhere and factories that emits pollutants to the nature. We should preserve the little that we have now and restore what needs to be restored for the future generations. It doesn't have to be a big move but a small deed after another can really make a huge difference. After bathing and playing in the river, we were called for our lunch. We feasted in our Sinigang na Tilapia (I think) and we drank our fresh coconut juice. It's not much but it's so sumptuous maybe because the ingredients were fresh and we ate with the ambiance of the nature and fresh air. After that, we went to the river again and rested for a few couple of hours and then journeyed back to the foot of the mountain with so much gladness and enthusiasm. 

As we journeyed back, I can't help but to notice how simple yet happy the life of the old man in the mountain has. Sometimes it's the small things that really impact our life most. And one of the best things about that is that sometimes those little things are indeed free! In the fast-paced life that the city brings, we sometimes tend to forget to look for the small and simple things that can bring lasting joy in our lives. We simply take these things for granted and we focus more on the quick and instant joys that are superficial and will only last for not so long. We may have heard our parents or even in our grandparents the joy they felt when they were young and playing alongside with nature. When they climb trees and swim in crystal clear waters or even just gaze at a tree lighted by hundreds of fireflies at night. You can still see the sparkle in their eyes when they tell stories about those good old days. That's what I mean with lasting joy. How about us? What are our experiences with Nature? What story will we tell in our children and in our grandchildren to come? Start by answering these--When was the last time you gaze upon the comeliness of the sunrise or the sunset? When was the last time you marvel and even thank God for His wonderful creations? It's never too late to start your story with Nature. By living simply and by taking care of what we have right now can we feel the lasting joy and happiness. 

And as or me, I'm waiting for my next nature trip :)

-migs

A.M.D.G.