Climbing a Chocolate Hill

Chocolate Hill on the Plain

From the lackluster “rice terraces” of the Chocolate Hills, my guide brought us to a main road. Actually main road here is rather relative, the road was an asphalt road, to me it already counts as a main road in these parts of the country. I was having a great time exploring the Chocolate Hills but there was still something that I am still not able to do, and that is to climb one of them. Of course, the one at the Chocolate Hills Complex doesn’t count.

Very Rough Path Going Up the Hill

From the main road, my guide slowed down and brought the motorcycle to the grassy plain where some of the hills were. He told me that I will be climbing a hill where there are great views from the top. He led me to a small path in the bushes where there was a faint trail for climbers. He told me to climb up and he will be waiting for me down here. Why isn’t he climbing with me? He has this “pain in his leg” which won’t let him climb. Yeah, yeah, whatever.

The Surrounding Hills Amid the Rice Fields

Anyway, the hill wasn’t really a very tall one but the problem for me is that there isn’t really a fixed path here. The hill seems to have only very little visitors there isn’t a really well worn path. As I walked further up it became more and more difficult to keep my balance since the slope was quite steep. The path I was taking was seriously inclined and I was a little wary of just falling and rolling down the hill.

Toy Houses Amid the Hills

As the hill itself seems to be strangely covered in ashes. All the vegetation on the hill however little has all been turn into ash. I never know whether this was intentional or not, but burning is a common technique used in farming to prevent plants from growing back. I didn’t notice whether the other hills have the same situation but this one didn’t really look nice. At the top of the hill, there was a splendid view of the surrounding area.

Atop a Scorched Hill

I can see hundreds of hills in the immediate area and there were rice fields all around them. The houses of the farmers looked like toys right next to the hills. Some of the hills are already a chocolately brown color, while some of them were still green after all summer was still beginning. I took some time to take photos from the top of the hill while trying to remember which way was down. If I didn’t remember how to get down, I would have been in trouble since I could not see where my guide was.

View of the Rice Terraces

Going down was much more difficult that going up. Since there was nothing to grab on to while going down, the risk of slipping is really much much more. I had to resort to grabbing on to the scorched earth for support along with some burnt vegetation. I got my hands black because of all that support I needed. My guide was laughing at me and told me that he was having a hard time looking at me while I was going down since I looked like I was really having a hard time.

The Hill I Climbed

He then brought me to a friend’s house to freshen up – that’s service for you. It was a small concrete house with a gate along the main road. His friend wasn’t there at the time but his brother let us in. I happily washed off all the ash from my hands and was really grateful for this. Finally, my guide brought me to the highway where I would take my ride back to the city. I paid him the agreed amount and gave him a little extra for the excellent tour he provided. If you would be visiting the Chocolate Hills, I would highly recommend this tour. It might sound a little sketchy by I think it was a good alternative to just looking at the Chocolate Hills from the view deck.

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