We were able to get tickets to Enchated Kingdom’s 10th year anniversary on May 28, 2005.

It’s been a while since my wife & I’ve been there. We even lost our way to EK (Enchanted Kingdom) but the whole family still had fun!

Check the GALLERY.
4×4 off-road Suzuki Toyota Land Rover Nissan Jeep 4x4PH

4×4 Philippines brought the FIRST Ford Escape to Jungle Base…

First of all, a zillion thanx to Wolf Den and his parents for their hospitality to my family and I last Sunday. We all had a blast at your place and at Jungle Base…especially me and my Escape.

When my son first mentioned going to Tanay, I genuinely was interested. The only thing that was stopping me was not having the time to go and do it. Remember, Crawdaddy is the eldest of NINE siblings. Running a large family and household in this day and age is no joke. You can loose your identity in doing so but guess what? I found my identity at Jungle Base!

I really enjoy driving. City driving, that is and out-of-town trips (on cemented roads). I have driven to and from Batangas, Tagaytay, Pampanga, Tarlac, Subic, Baguio on numerous occasions with my sleeping husband and kids in tow and once on a 17-hour drive to Sorsogon (with no one to take my place) and back with my late father. But last Sunday? That was definitely a FIRST for me. On our way pa lang, as the wide cemented road turned into a dirt road, then a rocky, rutty road, then finally to a “no-road”—more like a path which could only fit one car, I told my son, “Hey! Hindi na ito road!” and thought to myself, “Naku! Kakayanan ba ito ng driving skills ko at ng car ko?” Can’t quit now. There’s no turning back—there was no space to maneuver the car to turn around. So I started Hail Mary-ing. We had to stop a few times for my son to spot me. He had warned me to trust him and follow him (hard for a mother to do—it’s usually the other way around). Others daw don’t follow and get into trouble for not doing so. Said he can see the terrain more than me so again, I thought, “Okay God, help me here!” and put my complete trust in Crawdaddy and God, Jesus, Mary and Joseph and all the angels and saints up above. Well, we made it to Wolf Den’s beautiful place. Had a quickie lunch and started getting ready to go to the river in 2 cars: WD’s LC and Craw’s Vitara…e, how about 3×3′s (3×3=9 kids) Escape? I’ll leave my car?!? Hello? I didn’t go all the way there for nothing. No fear nga ako that day. I really wanted to test the capability of my car…if it could really go the distance and the terrain. My greatest fear actually was scratches on the Diamond Gloss finish on the painted surfaces of my 5-month old Radiant Red A/T 4×4 Escape (which by the way I called in Ziebart to check on treatment if ever I get scratched…hehehe).

The worried looks on Crawdaddy and Wolf Den’s faces made me think not only once, twice or thrice but what the heck? How else to check Ford’s slogan: No Boundaries but to try it out, diba? Final question to the Wolf: WILL I BE ABLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF JUNGLE BASE? Yes daw. Worse case scenarios: 1) Wolf will drive the Escape and/or 2) Winch it out with his Land Cruiser. Good assurance for me. With those answers, I was ready to go.

So Wolf rode along with me guiding me on what to do: where to put my wheels, keep my thumbs off the steering wheel, not to cross my arms (which Craw also told me previously), step on the gas and go! go! go! Of course, I didn’t go as fast as he would’ve liked. He said he normally goes down on 3rd gear! (katabi ko pala si Daredevil) Well, that’s Wolf. I, on the other hand, am just a novice a this and will be one for quite some time—but am ready to try it again.

My vision that day was to have my Escape by the riverbank with doors opened with (blaring) music while my family and I took a dip in the river—and that’s EXACTLY what we did. I wanted to be close to nature with my car and music. And we have pictures and a video to prove it!

While Craw and Wolf played with the LC and the Vitara, nag-yaya muna ako sa mga small boys ko…medyo back to reality ng konti. Had to mke sure they stayed out of the current while my dalagas sunbathed and swam. Aaah, perfect! If only they didn’t have school and if only I didn’t have to pick-up my husband at the airport the following day, I would’ve stayed overnight. So, after a few more pictures, my next hurdle was to get back to Wolf’s place. Again, he guided me and we got to the top safely. Packed up then convoyed out of there. After the last dirt road, I happily “woo-hooed!” and “yippie-ed!” on the radio fo being the FIRST wo-MOM and Escape to get in and out of Jungle Base!

To all you scared, young off-roaders out there, try it ONCE at least! I’m definitely going back (but only after my car goes to Ziebart for a thorough check on my car’s surface—but there’s really no serious markings on it—they’re all superficial—just want to make sure) sometime. Whenever…Mommy duties first.

Regrets: Should’ve asked Wolf to play with my Escape while Craw played with his Vitara. Next time.

Don’t know how often I’ll be logging in. Not too often. Just had to share my experience and extend my sincere gratitude to Wolf for guiding me and Craw for turning me into a fanatic.
—

Rest of the pictures are HERE.
4×4 off-road Suzuki Toyota Land Rover Nissan Jeep 4x4PH