A highlight of my recent trip to the Philippines was this day hike to the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo. To get to the start of the hike we had to sit in a jeep for about 1.5 hours. It was a really bumpy ride.

The hike took about 1.5 hours one way and we had a picnic lunch by the side of the crater lake.

The landscape around the area is rather surreal. The wind and water carve out these unique landscapes formed by volcanic ash. This part is known as “Toblerone” as it resembles the triangular Swiss chocolate bar.

Along the way we saw children from the Aeta tribe, one of the oldest indigenous tribes in the Philippines. They are nomadic, are much darker in skin tone, and have extremely curly hair just like many Africans.

I’m grateful that I managed to see such a beautiful place together with my friends. The fine weather was a blessing too!