Anyway, I couldn’t help but be amused when I asked the driver about the make and assembly of the jeep. The body was like a surplus Willys jeep, while the engine and chassis are either Toyota or Mitsubishi. I really don’t know what kind of quality control our local mechanics imposed on the jeeps, but their performance sure looked impressive as we climbed the famed “Skyway” (shortcut to Pinatubo) with its rough roads, steep climbs, rocky surface, and lahar-laden territories.

If, as a tourist, you’re amazed at the colorful Philippine jeepneys, the Pinatubo four-wheelers are another incarnation. As they say, iba ang Pilipino….. Only in the Philippines!

Viewing Pinatubo’s magnificent crater lake for the first time was a breathtaking experience. It was like being transported to paradise after the trouble of waking up at the crack of dawn, riding the four-wheelers on rough roads for one hour and trekking just to reach the foot of the mountain. The ultimate reward is the sight of this beautiful sulphur lake…..

The lake’s color particularly stood out. It wasn’t blue, it wasn’t blue-green, it shone like emerald. I believe somebody said turquoise? Whatever…. it was an object of awe-inspiring beauty. Don’t forget the mountain itself with its unique volcanic surface.

And to think Pinatubo was the object of headlines close to two decades ago. I remember when it erupted and its fumes reached as far as Manila. Wikipedia tells us that the eruption had a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6 and its effects were felt worldwide, infiltrating even this planet’s stratosphere.

Luckily, the weather cooperated perfectly with us on the day of the climb. It would have been different if the roads were slippery and especially because there were lots of rocks to negotiate on the trek.So one advice I’ll share is to check if the sky is clear on the day of your trip.

It is simply good that the volcano has now become a tourist attraction and is providing an invaluable source of livelihood for people in the neighboring areas.Wow Philippines!