Taal-Phillipine Volcano in The News Again

Taal-Phillipine Volcano in The News Again - 481

March 26, 2022

TAAL VOLCANO IN NEWS AGAIN

NEW INDIAN EXPRESS 27-03-2022

Taal Volcano in the Philippines is in the news again . It appears to have become active and spewing a lot of Debris all around . I might be one among the very few to have visited and seen this Volcano in its more calmer times. For one who hails from this part of the World it was indeed unique .

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Following is a Newspaper Clip about the Eruption of the Taal Volcanoe in the Philippines in today s THE HINDU .

JAN 14 th 2020

Mount Taal is located some 100 kms from Makati , the Financial Capital of The Philippines . My Daughter and Son In Law Kamesh were then , some 15 years back staying and working in The Philippines .

This news of the eruption of the Volcano brings back memories of my own visit to this place in 2005 along with my Daughter and Kamesh as also a couple of their friends Vikram Lulla and Rakesh

We arrived at The Laguna after a 2 hour travel from Makati by a long and winding road . We hired a BANCA ( Boat ) to cross the Taal Lake from there . As we arrived in the island where the Volcano and its crater are actually situated , we were met by many local and other tourists to the famed location . The top of the crater up a steep gradient could be reached only on a Horseback ! I remember paying some 500 pesos per head which included a Guide

for the Horse Ride for taking you to the actual crater . As one who had never been on the back of anything with four legs other than the Motorized Versions , the ride up the steep climb was pretty scarry .

The nail biting stunts of our film folks came to mind and all the troubles and risks taken by them to provide us with the thrills while watching the movie . The memory of the recent BAHUBALI Stunts came in a flash .

Riding a Horse , I quickly learnt was a no mean achievement . The need to hold your balance while being precariously perched on it's back and holding on to the reins for dear life while making the steep climb on a pathway which was no road but a way created by the many many footfalls and trips these very same Horses had made over the years . The deep gorge on both sides was enough to scare even a more accomplished rider , leave alone a first timer like me . As I had indicated earlier the Lady Guide at the back was a true Godsend.

As we arrived at the top of the volcano, we saw streams and a plume of smoke coming out of the holes on the ground . The familiar smell of Crackers being let off during The Diwali Festival was all pervading . It was a sure sign that the volcano was active and could erupt at anytime .

Then we saw the Crater itself of THE TALL . The deep greenish tinge of the entire bottom of the crater and the unmistakable flavour of burning sulphur was all around us . We spent around one hour exploring the place and taking in what would surely be a once in a lifetime experience in the hot and scorching Sun . The sunglasses though were a great help .