Taal Volcano Experience

Our Film makers Club we're assigned to make a TVC to represent our LGU in a tourism contest in Batangas. My co-teacher, who is the head of the club, tagged me along this project. We must show the "Places and Culture" of our Municipality in a 30-second video. of course, we shot different activities and places which we think, that our municipality is proud of. One of it is the Taal Volcano. Being the only municipality which has a legitimate baranggay in the Taal Volcano, we are dubbed as the "Gateway to Taal Volcano". Anyway, so we set a day to go up the Taal Volcano to shoot some scenes for the TVC.

Good Morning!

NOTE: From the three(?) viewdecks around Taal Volcano, only the Balete side is the one with access to the crater lake. To be able to go to Taal Volcano, you must go through our small Town, Balete. To go to Balete, take the Balete exit of STAR Tollway and turn right until you reach the Lake.

Brgy. Calawit, Balete, Batangas

So our crew planned to leave Balete proper at 5AM since there will be a Fluvial Parade in honor of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. we planned to join the parade to shoot and then proceed to go up the Taal. After shooting, we went straight to Baranggay Calawit, Balete, Batangas. From the Balete town proper, it would take roughly 30 minutes to 45 minutes boat ride to Brgy. Calawit. Upon arriving, we were welcomed by the people of Calawit and by some horses. it is their local business to assist tourists up the Taal. Since it was our Mayor and the Tourism department who arranged our (all expenses paid) trip, we were allowed to use two horses to go up the viewdeck. Since we are composed of 8 people, only two of us may ride the horses and others will walk. I decided to try walking to the viewdeck. The road from Brgy Calawit to the viewdeck is currently being developed so it is quite easy to go up.

Road to the Top!

It would take more or less an hour by foot to reach the view deck. TIP: Bring your own water, bottled water is quite pricey in the view deck.

Taal crater lake view from the deck

Achievement Unlocked! :P

After resting a few minutes, our guides asked us if we would like to go down the crater lake. They also warned us that the road to the crater lake is much longer, steeper, and narrower. Since we are there, YOLO mode, we decided to go for it. AND THEY ARE RIGHT! HAHAHAHA Of course we didn't feel the tiredness since we are going down. we even were able to chat while walking. hahaha..n It took us another 30 to 45 minutes to go down the crater lake.

and so, we've arrived!

Taal Crater Laaaaaake!

Since it is sulfurous, what amazing is, there are parts of the lake which is hot, while some parts are not. from where i was standing in the pic above, the water is hot near the sand but if you go deeper a few inches, the water is not hot anymore. Also, the smell of the sulfur is sometimes unpleasant, but there is also fresh air. the climate is really hot.

Unfortunately, my slipper wasn't able to make it to the crater lake in a good condition HAHAHA so I wasn't able to go around the crater lake. My students brought egg with them and tried boiling them in the lake, and they succeeded! it only took more or less three minutes to cook them. but the shell turned black. but when we opened it, it was really cooked inside! The kuya guides told us that many of the tourists who goes down the crater lake always brings eggs with them to cook! :)

So after shooting and picture taking, we decided to go back to the view deck, some of us were lucky to ride the horse but for most of us, we have to walk back to the view deck. And it was REAAAAAAALLYYYY HARD! So, TIP: Ride a Horse if you would like to go down the crater lake. as I arrived the viewdeck. I felt really really, and I mean really tired. It almost pass out. I felt nauseous and dizzy. So we have to rest and wait for my condition to be okay before going down.

after few minutes, we decided to go down since im feeling alright already. it was easier to go down of course.

Still Alive and Walking!

Taal Volcano was my first "Mountain Climbing". I know it's not that extreme compared to other mountains here in the Philippines. but i'm proud of what I was able to do hahahaha...

If you are wondering the costs of how to climb up Taal, from what I've heard you need to prepare more or less:
P1,500.00 for the whole boat for 8 pax from Balete proper to Brgy. Calawit.
P500.00 per person for the Horse rental
and some tips for the Manongs.

Bring:
durable footwear.
Extra clothes. (you can even swim in the crater lake, if i'm not mistaken)
drinking WATER!
snacks
eggs! :)
and get ready to be dirty, sweaty, and tired! hahahaha

To see the whole FB Album Click HERE.

Well, I had fun! and I know you will, too!
If you're passing through Balete going to the Volcano, message me! :)


Thanks! God Bless!
-Sir Benz