Legends of Olympus (On Hold)

South America

Vance's POV

So maybe instead of heading immediately to China, I'm here as a hiker at the top of Mount Roraima on the side of Venezuela.

It is a mountain with a flat top, that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write his book, The Lost World, that was one of my favorites to read when I was younger.

And indeed, it is a lost world.

Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa patag na tuktok ng Mount Roraima. Sa dinami-raming rock formations, aakalain mong nasa ibang mundo ka. 

Hindi naman kasi pangkaraniwan ang landscape na makikita sa Mount Roraima. Hindi rin pangkaraniwan pati na ang mga halaman at hayop na naninirahan dito. May sariling species sila, na natatagpuan lang sa bundok.

In fact, some of the species found only on this mountain are living fossils, species that are identical to plants and animals that have gone extinct a long time ago.

Somehow this mountain also reminds me of the floating island of Olympus Academy, because of the clouds that surrounded its high cliffs.

I have trekked the Gran Sabana or Great Savannah for this childhood dream destination of mine, and it has all become worth it.

Lumapit ako sa isa sa maliliit na crystal clear ponds.

Yumuko ako rito at dinama ang tubig nito.

It's cold.

Ilang sandali pa'y napansin ko ang mahinang pagpatak ng ulan sa tubig kaya tumayo na ako. 

It rains almost every day on this mountain, which is why it is also surrounded with very high and incredible waterfalls, acting as drains.

Inayos ko ang pagkakarga ko sa knapsack na nasa likod ko at lumapit sa hikers na nagtitipon-tipon. Sila ang mga kasama ko sa pag-akyat ng bundok, at sila rin ang magiging kasama ko sa cave kung saan kami magse-set-up ng tents.

We put up our tents within the mountain's rocky caves that they call 'hotels'. 

Not everyone enjoys a cave as a hotel, but I am not one of those people.

I enjoy the wilderness, and crave for solo adventures.

Company isn't my type unless it's for my own pleasure, and unless... it's the Omegas.

Iginiya kami ng guide papunta sa hotel caves ng Mount Roraima. Nang makarating kami, agad akong nagtayo ng sarili kong tent, katabi ang mag-asawang halatang may edad na, pero hindi naman ganoon katanda.

"Now, John, I told you to bring tapes," sabi ng babae. "Where is it?"

Nakayuko ako sa harap ng tent ko habang minamasdan sila na nag-a-assemble ng tent nila.

"Oh..." Napakalmot sa ulo ang asawa niya. "Did you?"

They must be hikers since they were young. Their bodies looked fit and in good condition for hour-long walks, despite their graying hair.

"John!" naiinis na sigaw ng babae.

"Excuse me," sambit ko. "What's the tape for?"

"Well this darling here..." Sinulyapan niya ang kanyang asawa. "Broke one of our tent's sticks while climbing the mountain."

Nagkasalubong ang aking kilay. "Was he the one who slipped on our way here?"

Sa pagkakatanda ko may isa sa'min na kamuntikan nang dumausdos pababa ng bundok dahil maputik ang inakyat namin.

Tumango-tango ang babae. "Goodness gracious, isn't he?" natatawa niyang tugon.