New year trekking, camping and STARGAZING @ camp adela in Cebu and How to get there

Sunset and sunrise is the same, the only difference is your positioning.

I celebrated my new year at camp adella by surprise. I did not expect it’s going to happen week before. Good news came up! We’re off December 31st, 2023 from work! It was a surprise and I did not waste the chance. I booked a tent space at camp adela, same day I heard the news.

I was very happy because the last time I was at camp adela, I imagined how beautiful it could be to see city fireworks from there; I imagined how satisfying it could be for me to be able to trek from below up above camp adela.

I didn’t knew HOW to do it, but one thing I’m sure what to do was, the most basic, book a space to have a place to stay at night and be able to watch the fireworks displays in the majority of the cities, institutions, and households in Cebu, City!

Trekking: Who helped me and how we get there?

Week before January 31st, I was already searching online for guides, names of places to go and where to start my trekking. Sadly, there’s no accurate information and none of the articles showed where to go even in the maps; that’s because the place is not even on Google maps.

I did not settle for that, I knew I really have to trek going up because that’s what I really really wanted. It’s my BIG Dream and I’ll have to get lost if I need to, I must gather information. There was no sign of help until the day comes.

Everybody seems very unsupportive. No one really sounds helpful but I did not give up. Once again, I chatted a friend I met the last time I trekked at Sirao Peak, I asked where to start trekking and what place should I tell the driver to drop me off. Cling was very helpful! That “Napo, Babag” words really helped me and I saw a chance and a little light if this BIG desire.

‘I knew the place is “Pamutan”, “Bocawe Peak” was not on my mind until the lady @camp Adela helped me share it with “Wawa”.’

So the day comes and I already feel the excitement of getting lost in the forest. I knew that if I’m going to be lost, it’s going to be so funny; well, I wouldn’t have a choice but to have fun. Come on we’re adults! No more crying nor begging nor fearing baby! I shared my plan to a friend at work and she sound concern and I really like it.

One thing I’m sure of, “I must watch the fireworks from there and celebrate my new year, Stargazing!” Although, trekking would add seasons and excitement to that goal making it a memorable experience! I hope there’s someone else who have the guts to do it; not afraid of getting lost and all. So I tried my luck, I feel like I knew of someone who’s seeking for an adventure like this.

After my lunch break, I asked “Wawa” like I’m a pro. “I’m going for a trek, I will camp that night, and I have already booked the place; I don’t know the trail at all, we still have to figure it out, are you coming? And I was laughing at that thought while I asking him. He said, ‘I’ll go.’ I said, “Sure? You’re not scared? It’s new year that night, don’t you have scheduled night-outs or…’ oh, he said he’s free. What a lucky day for me!

All set! At least if I’m going to be lost, I won’t be alone. I know this person has this fighting spirit and will not easily give up. I had no idea that the driver I booked the ride that day will text me. He’s a guide and he was so busy with his bookings. He asked for the time to pick me up and I wasn’t really expecting it because we’re going to trek and I only ask him to bring me to the starting point but he promised he’s going to guide me and give me the direction; but I wasn’t really expecting that text! I felt so relieved.

So! Problem solved! I had help, the guide was really helpful and I’m so thankful and grateful! Wawa was with me and it was also very unexpected. Although I had a feeling they’re both going to assist, I did not expect too much of it and that’s what made it all such a surprise. I always knew by heart that when you ask the right person, you’ll always get the right answer, and if they said they will do it, they’re really do it! I’m so blessed to attract such people, because I know by heart that I am like them. I am unexpectedly surprising, char!

Anyway, may this page guide your first hard trail trek to camp adela, where there’s no way going down, only up! Let’s go!

“But first, let me share this to you: if you want to climb a mountain, always go up and never go down!”

Spot the tower!

Oh good that you see that! That’s the last tower and that’s where camp adela is, facing left. Wait, that’s not it! You’ll see a total of 5 towers from afar, but when you start trekking, you’ll barely see them. So just follow your instinct and follow the one way trail going up.

2. Go up!

Ask the driver to drop you off where you can start telling the 5 towers. I hoped I took a photo of of those 5s. But these 5st looks like this from Camp Adela. This was an old photo, I hope it’s okay to use this, but I will definitely be back to get a nice photo of those towers!

3. Drink up!

Well, since you have to trek from the button of that mountain following the 5 towers, you’ll be thirsty and you’ll do a lot of stops to catch your breath. I was thankful that I was with “Wawa.” He was too kind to share with me his water. I realized I have not bought my own water and I noticed it upon arriving the starting point, “A river!” Now that’s a good start!

4. Pause, rest, but keep going!

The first few steps was already very tiring, we started catching our breaths. I already set my mind to think of only going up and there’s almost zero chance of walking flat; in fact we only tried twice and that was short not too long.

We started trekking by 4:30 PM and by 5:30PM we’re still halfway, but better than not starting at all. You won’t have to panic, just remember that your goal is to reach the last tower which is always visible somewhere. Trail is fine, it’s for people and locals who wants to climb.

So we’re aware that we still have a long long way to go! We found another goal and that’s to see the sunset, so we must keep pushing! The energy came back but that doesn’t stop someone from thinking, “Why we had to go this way?” And that’s when I started laughing. It was so funny!

After we reach the last tower which we thought it was, Wawa already started asking, “Where’s the place?” So me who also doesn’t know where but I trust that it’s near the last tower. I said, “Let’s keep going! We’re almost there.” Of course, applying the technique I learned from my previous supervisor, “Almost 5 minutes.”

He was like, “Where’s the flat surface that’s another mountain to climb.” Oh said, one last climb and we’re there. Oops, the end of the climb was the other start of another mountain! It was so amazing, but not for Wawa, definitely not! 😂 I am currently giggling! That was so so funny! I had so much fun! You can’t see it because the trail is going sideways, you think it’s the last mountain and it’s the flat space but it’s not! Gladly, I was right this time, I said one more minute and we’re there. He was about to get pissed off! Lucky me! Finally reach camp adela.

Since we arrived so late like almost 7PM, it was too dark, I almost fell and I dropped knees down and Wawa turn his flashlights on. The lights in the mountains gave us HOPE and that helped me lift up Wawa’s fighting spirit. We arrived! Viola!

5. Bring a power Bank.

So, battery’s so low and the place is solar powered. We must go downhill in order to charge but it’s too dangerous for a motorcycle since it’s already dark. We have to conserve the power in order to take a video of the fireworks at 12 midnight. Battery check, 20%.

That trekking experience was the best! I thank Wawa for the braveness and for the kindness! I have to share his water; every other rest, drink. The view was amazing! Especially when you get to that point where you can start seeing the cities!

The earth is not flat, do not expect a straight walk. Either you go counter clockwise or clockwise, the end of every hill is a beginning of another hill and that speaks about life itself, career, etc. Just keep moving until you’ll get to the top!

Most importantly, trust your guide, instincts and when you’re confused chose the right turn and the safest, specially when there’s an obvious trail, as long as it’s still going up, you’re good to go! And as long as there is a little way there’s another mountain waiting for you to conquer.

Up next would be the 4 towers! Watch out!

Camping

Bring a tent or rent a tent.

I would suggest you bring one since supplies are limited, book beforehand because supplies are limited. Bring food as well, being your own, it will save you a lot. Most importantly, water!

2. Enjoy stargazing and the bonfire.

So we were looking at the cities along with the other campers- city lights from camp Adela will always be amazing! – then we saw a moon ascending in red; I love the surprised voice of our neighbor and I enjoyed taking a photo of it, I hope I have a phone that can capture like my eyes can; I guess, I have the best lens in the world and that’s my eyes.

My eyes when it’s blurry! But it’s worse than that, I can only see scattered circles, good to know the colors are the same. In the camera, it looked so little but in reality those are big and more colorful.

I really hope I can capture the stars I’m talking about. I’m not even sure their names but it’s 3 little stars aligned horizontally and one star on top and below, aligned with the middle star (one of the 3 little stars); I just realized that it’s a cross! Wawa noticed the diagonal three little stars right below the horizontal 3 stars, connecting the middle star. He said, “It looked like a kite.”

“I remember, I used to stargaze and saw a shooting star! It’s my favorite weird thing to do as a child. It made me so happy and camp adella is the best place to stargaze because you can really see a lot of stars above you. It’s the best place ever.”

So while while stargazing and enjoying the bonfire, I noticed the same stars from before. Wow! The illusion of the mind, so you still think that the stars are moving as fast as we do, earth.

We discussed about the rotation of the earth and how come we saw the stars moving instead of us. So like I shared, we’re like in a bus, it moved but we’re not. If we look outside, it looks like it’s moving, but the truth is, we are the one moving.

3. Illusion of the eye

If we’re not aware that we’re the one moving, we will think that the stars rotates, the sun rotates, that it’s always the one we see that does, or the other person. But if you’re aware, you’ll understand that it was us who moves around as much as they do. The differences we see above was because of our positions, place and current locations.

Sunset and sunrise is just the same sun we’re talking about. If earths position is in the east, then the sun is in the west; but remember that everything you see is because of your positioning. When it comes to sunsets and sunrise, we have no control when to see it, we have to thank earth for bringing us to east side in an “inverted position” to see the the sun on the west, it’s called sunset.

I really have to go back there to observe something. I noticed that the yellow star below the three little stars was on top of the three little stars on the other side. Now I’m wondering if we’re inverted while still standing, I mean head below when we see the sunset or head up when we see the sunrise, like in a roller coaster ride, attached to earth so tight. Wow! Earth is really magical, so does we! Gravity of the earth, it is?

Anyway, it’s now four and I’m still thinking about how on earth am I seeing the 5 stars upside down on the west. Did earth just twist my head without my knowledge? hahahaha. I see what I see and that’s it.

My point is, earth is doing something magical, inconceivable for me to see that thing. So like a twist? And you know what? It felt great. Now I know where the inverted city came to life. It’s not a reflection, it’s real. Two different stars intertwining. The other looked below because I’m at the east; but if I’m on west, the other star is on top. Anyway, it’s really about positioning. If you want someone up, you move yourself accordingly. If you want someone down, you move to to that specific direction accordingly.

Oh well, to sum it up! It’s up to you. Earth moves up for us to see the sun down. Earth moves us down, for us to see the sun rising. Even if they’re not moving, we still see their different sides. Despite everything I have noticed there’s a big galaxy and millions of stars in one of the stars you’re seeing. Like in the camera, photos looks little, but in reality it is so big.

Therefore, always think big, there’s no such thing as little, because if you’re going to examine a whole human being using a microscope and other tools to see energies. I guess we’ll be amazed by how big we are. That star may look one and alone, but if you look closer, it’s like a fireworks of many different stars inside. I think fireworks were created modelling the stars and galaxies above.

Oh boy, I have a lot to share. Let’s wrap it up with a thank you for the good people, for guiding us, for the fun, for the redirection and most importantly, for the blessings and support I received from me and those people who believed in me.

May we meet in one of my adventures! Trekking and camping and reconnecting with nature really made me feel alive and happy. Staying with nature, listening to crickets and birds is like a drug, it helped me feel grounded, loved, supported, safe and abundant.

You must start trekking and camping if you have the following problems:

Feeling tired.
Demotivated.
Lost and confused.
Anxious.
Lots of anger issues.
Inability to move on.
Lack of desire to do something new.
Lack of push to start taking action .
Not doing what needs to be done inorder to achieve your goal.
Not knowing what you want.
Nature hike will keep you thirsty and hungry. So if you know when you’re hungry and thirsty and you drink and eat, then that’s a good start.