"A look at the driver's area and seeing the road ahead, I can not see the road and everything has just turned to white! This gave me fear."

The road is carved and curved at the slopes of the steep mountain and the thick fog starts to cover the road making it very dangerous to go on since the driver can not see the way. At the right side of the window is the cliff and one mistake of the driver means the price of 30+ lives boarded inside the bus.

Supposed to be, green mountains are seen at the background but the
 thick fog has selfishly occupied the space making the view hidden.
Maps by Wikipedia
Location Highlighted in Red
However, the bus driver seemed to be accustomed with this kind of scenario and for such reason, the trip must go on. 

I was on an ordinary mini-bus and gladly I boarded on this non-air conditioned bus because there will be no need for aircon once you reach the highlands. During the ride, it also rained and the fog just appeared just prior to the rain and could you just imagine how slippery the road would be and the cliff doesn't go out of my mind that the threat of falling there is possible.

As I was ascending to Benguet, the photo just above gives you an idea that what you will see is an endless range of green mountains with some houses and communities at the slopes.

Gladly, I was able to capture the scene just before the onset of the thick fog that seemed to block our way.

A house built at the edge of a cliff in Sablan, Benguet

Some other houses were bravely constructed at the edge of the road and the cliff is a few step away. In Sablan, Benguet, it is rare to see a community situated in a huge area of plain land. If there will be plain land, that would be for sure planted with crops.

For most communities, they are located at the slopes of the mountain, like the scene in Baguio.


As we are ascending to the higher parts of the highlands, the fogs are already appearing but for now, my appreciation to the foggy view is at its optimum level.

We can still see vehicles that we meet on the road and it is also very nice to see the views while putting my head outside the bus' window to enjoy the chill.

Little by little the scene is getting blurred and I didn't know still if the reason for this phenomenon is because of my eyes or just a work of nature.

Confirmed! It was the fog and sooner, the rain has come prompting me to close the window and put my head inside the bus.

A look at the driver's area and seeing the road ahead, I can not see the road and everything has just turned to white! This gave me fear. It is my first time to encounter this in my whole life and the things that are playing at the back of my mind are the news about buses that fell at the cliff in Benguet.

Well as I said, it was my first time. I have encountered fogs along the way for many times but this is the most severe and encountering this severe condition was my first time.


Heart pumping like a drum and anxiety is getting severe - praying to God for safety! The rain is pouring harder and the road is still unclear. We only have two destinations, cliff or the bus terminal, hehe.

Anyway, at least, this experience taught me that just trust the drivers because they are not new to this situation and I was very glad that we survived the thick fog that covered our way!

Surviving the thick fog is more fun in the Philippines!
--------
Tags: Sablan Benguet | Traversing the Nagulian Road | Foggy Road | Naguilian Road | Road Trip to Sablan, Benguet | What to Expect in Sablan, Benguet | Fogs in Benguet | Fog in Sablan , Benguet
SPEAK YOUR HEART OUT. DON'T BE SHY TO POST YOUR COMMENT, THOUGHTS, OR FEEDBACK. MAG-REREPLY AKO ONCE MAKITA KO ANG COMMENT MO. :)

Axact

EDMAR GUQUIB y DEL CASTILLO

Born and Raised in Vigan, Philippines. Hardcore Ilocano-Cordilleran. Professional Nurse on Weekdays. Coffee Addict. Travel Blogger in Between. For collaboration or partnership, email your business proposal at admin@edmaration.com.

Post A Comment:

47 comments:

  1. Love the fog, but you're right. It's scary if you're on the road! I'm sure that the drivers are expert already with that kind of situation :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. @Aleah!!! Yay! Thanks, feels so good to have a new feel of using a new comment box and you're the first!

    Yup, you're right it is scary, the drivers didn't fail us, they truly are experts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ito ba ung nadadaanan pagpumunta baguio?

    ReplyDelete
  4. @den. yup! ito un! Bauang-Naguilian-Baguio Road.

    ReplyDelete
  5. it is difficult to drive on a hard rain.I always experienced driving on a foggy road in Qatar and here in the US.Ingat lang talaga kasi malabo and kalsada .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @tatess. yup. it needs double care, or else, double jeopardy, hehe.

      Delete
  6. kakatawa naman yung "surviving the thick fog is more fun in the Philippines" hahahahha

    we have thick fogs also in the upper part of Davao. Nakakaraos din naman ang mga dumadaan dun. Pa sanayan na lang kasi.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sorry to disagree without that traveling or traversing a road with a thick fog which heavily blocks the way is too dangerous, and it is not "more fun" believe me. I'm also putting my shoes in your place and I'm terribly scared. In this kind of blurry situation, sufficient light from the bus is needed and an extra-careful of driving and alertness is needed. Anyway, I'm happy that you've passed this threatening foggy expedition.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Grabe nakakatakot nga! Nung pumunta kame jan hindi naman sobrang foggy!

    ReplyDelete
  9. good to know that it is fog and not smog like here in Manila :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I stayed in Baguio for 4 yrs during college and never had the chance to visit Benguet... ;-( hope to visit the place soon.. I don't enjoy the zigzag so scary so near the cliff but I love the view and the climate! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh no! would have done the same -prayed to all angels and saints! experienced that before while I was driving!!! my! spell FEAR! Thank God you're safe! Indeed, thick fog is more fun in the Philippines! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I remember being in awe of the drivers in Baguio and Benguet ... how they manage to zig and zag amidst the fog. Scary at feeling ko naiwan kaluluwa ko but they seem to know how to navigate the road. Ika nga, sanayan lang yan.

    ReplyDelete
  13. @Sir Gil:

    I am always waiting for your comments and I always agree with you and thanks for the insights sir. Sorry, I have said bye bye to my FB comments plug-in starting from this blog post so I can no longer "like" your comment so I'll just keep it to myself. :))

    ReplyDelete
  14. glad u reached the terminal...that's why i don't dare drive bec i'll just be taranta on situations like this...yes, let's leave it to the experts (drivers) and to God (pray)...

    ReplyDelete
  15. I remember my last trip to Baguio, for some reason the fog was just too thick. I'm not a scaredy cat pero nakakatakot talaga when you know that your car is on a narrow and slopey road. Props to the drivers who manage to bring their passengers safely despite the fog or even heavy rains.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. @yuuki - right! experts will do the driving and God will do the guidance,
    ----------
    @Sumi, yup, the drivers are already skilled about this craft. And anyone who tries to drive a public bus should undergo extensive trainings from them.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Okay na thick fog kaysa naman sa acidic smog sa manila. He he he!

    ReplyDelete
  18. waaa.. scary po ito.. ramdam na ramdam mo pa naman ito dahil nasa ordinary bus ka..good to hear your safe naman.

    ReplyDelete
  19. It's sooo foggy. A bit scary if you are traveling along the road. But I love cool weather so I'd love to be in Benguet. Haven't been there, I hope soon.

    ReplyDelete
  20. scared talaga ko sa zigzag road and fog, kaya ok lang kahit matagal kami makarating sa destination basta hindi lang sa cliff ang bagsak. =)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Okay na sana yung story eh..bigla ba naman sumegway: Surviving the thick fog is more fun in the Philippines! Hahahah!

    Ako naman on my part, talagang na e-enjoy ko yang mga thick fogs na yan..wag nga lang sana mapadaan sa makikipot na daan.

    ReplyDelete
  22. ROMELO, Tama naman ang sabi mo no :)
    ---
    SIONEE, Yup, at may thrill talaga kaya however, fun experience na rin itong maituturing ko, haha
    ---
    KC Canlas, TRUE! Scary but the chill you feel can never be experienced everywhere except in Benguet.
    ---
    MICHI, hehe. kahit ako rin, better go slowly but surely.
    ---
    NANCY, haha, para bongga daw ang ending no hehe
    ---

    ReplyDelete
  23. You're a lucky guy, you survive the fun. I'm sure you are now ready for more fun in our country.

    Off-topic: Does the new threaded comment feature of Blogspot.com? You may want to see my reply to your comment in my blog to verify how it works. Just click my signature.

    ReplyDelete
  24. ED ZAFRA, yup I have enabled that on my blog before but I don't like it because my comment lay-out turned hideous, lol.

    Nasisira ung lay-out niya kasi kaya I reverted it back to default.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ordinary bus and the thick for=g while driving along a carved and curved road, what a combo, buti na lang magaling ang driver. Ah, the perils of commuting in the Philippines :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Tadonggeniuskuno, oo nga eh... We need the help of the experts for trips like this.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love roads in Baguio wished to come again on that place

    ReplyDelete
  28. CHRISAIR, hopefully those fogs aren't here along your way for safety haha

    ReplyDelete
  29. Looks cold there. I want to go there because its so hot here.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Stacy, What's your current location today that it is hot there? Regards! :))

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow, you're a daredevil! I would've been scared shitless, haha! But I guess that's part of the fun...kaya it's really more fun in Pinas. I'm planning a trip to Banawe and Sagada. Maybe I should consider Sablan too.

    ReplyDelete
  32. AJ, Do take the Naguilian Road when going to Sablan.

    ReplyDelete
  33. It is so scary! I wish I am as brave as you, so I can also explore Sablan, Benguet:-)

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love fog! On second thought, it is indeed scary to travel down a foggy road. Accidents happen. Good thing the bus driver is very experienced and professional.

    ReplyDelete
  35. CHA>, it was unexpected, the fog just appeared from nowhere!

    ReplyDelete
  36. THE House of JCJEE, Yup, they really need expertise or else, 30+ people will either go to heaven or hell, LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  37. dapat naka high beam ang sasakyan during these times. experienced the same thing during our travel to bukinon, a few meters away pa lang di mo na makita sinusundan mo... glad you still had fun though. Yahweh bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ralph, it was in fact a mixture of fun and anxiety. Hehe.

      Delete
    2. Hello Edwin. I share the same sentiments with you and if ever had the chance to tell the bus driver to stopp for a while I will. But the bua drivers were just unstoppable and they kept driving. Hahaha.

      Delete
  38. I think you have a fear of fog..LOL..I just don't know what we call it..but trust the driver..you are right, they are already accustomed to this kind of atmosphere..thank God you arrived safe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shirgie, haha. Not that I have a fear of fog but it was actually what's behind the fog like a truck that might collide with our bus. Urghhhh. Haha

      Delete
  39. bro katakot aman pag ganyan na kakapal ang fog plus the factor of bangin sa gilid jejeje:) anyway thats the real adventure and excitement!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Jeff (Traveling Morion), oo nga bro. Pero unusual experience kasi talaga ito at ito ang mga extreme adventures na matatawag hahaha!!

    Tama ka, without this predicaments, walang thrill, and it makes our trips memorable.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Great detailed story. Scary but then again you survived it. More fun in the Philippines talaga.

    ReplyDelete
  42. It's very dangerous to drive with a very thick fog. I try to stop on the side if there is an opportunity.

    ReplyDelete
  43. John and Joyie, thanks. Ya, thanks to the expert drivers.

    ReplyDelete

Huwag mahiyang mag-comment at magtanong. Magrereply ako once mabasa ko ang comment mo. ๐Ÿ’š

Puwede mo rin akong i-follow or mag-message sa:
• Facebook: @edmaration
• Twitter: @edmaration
• YouTube: @edmaration
• Instagram: @edmaration
• TikTok: @edmaration
• Email: admin@edmaration.com