I got up early with the others, and agreed to go as a group to Taal , as it was cheaper to group together, and we all wanted to go.
We set off in two trikes, Sam, Josh, Erik (from the phillipines but living in USA), were in one trike, and I shared a trike with Kristoff and Richard.
We made good time to the bottom of the main crater, where we were advised that the drivers would wait for 3 hours.
We set off on the boats, and enjoyed seeing the fishing communities and the warmer weather of the mini eco-climate there.
We had an opportunity to take a horse to the summit but we all declined, preferring to hike. As some of the horses passed us, we were very glad we hadn't, as they looked to all be in very poor condition and badly treated - with the guided holding o to the tails to hold them back :(
On the way up, there was a spot where a vent was releasing suphurous steam,
We made it to the top ahead of Richard who was struggling a bit, and waited for him in the nice warm sunshine, fnding off the multitude of locals trying to ply their wares to us.
The summit itself was the main objective of course, since there was a crater lake with an island in it - meaning that we were looking at - An Island in a Lake in an Island in a lake in an Island!
We headed back down and again Richard was struggling. We were getting concerned that our drivers were going to leave us behind but there was nothing for it as we had to wait until everyone was back.
Richard eventually made it, he had passed out from heat exhaustion on th way down and fortunately was helped by a local with a horse going to get water.
We made it back to the hostel and decided to all go to the Cross roads for dinner, enjoying the meal together, before heading to the hostel via a 7-11 to get some whiskey and beers.
This turned in to several bottles of whiskey between us which may not have been the brightest idea!