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So, there we were, at Jollibee Xavier, casting about for things to do. It was a day after we went to Taglimao, and we were still "adrenalined" with the past day’s adventure. We were looking for something to expend our excess glucocorticoids, so to speak.

"We" means Keith, Lousyl, Nikki and myself. Lousyl, still suffering from sore feet and an insect bite from the previous day’s adventure; Nikki, her fair skin darkened by the sun; Keith, still groveling because he’s still tired from walking. Me, enjoying their company, but a bit blue because I’m missing someone terribly.

I was only half listening when they were relating the escapades of some of our other classmates who went to this new place. It seemed that Ken, our classmates, drove like a man possessed up the steep road to "High Ridge", which frightened the panties off of some of his passengers. Maybe, they were just exaggerating about his driving, but they did say that the place was "amazing" (it seems to be the most popular adjective among med students. Maybe it’s just the limited vocabulary. Maybe it’s just that I’m too old to be "amazing").

And it was decided. We were going to High Ridge. By motorela, no less.

We only knew that it was just beyond St. Mary’s, but we had no idea how far beyond it was. We only knew that it was "amazing", and we just had to go. Like moths towards a flame, we went.

It turned out that not many people knew where it was. They gave vague directions, but a common theme kept recurring, one that was not very encouraging: "Layo pa man kana!"

And then, confronted by a steep grade, our intreprid motocycle driver had to concede defeat and admit that he could not go further. He pocketed our double fare (and he ASSURED us that he knew where it was and that his trusty magic carpet could take us there) and left us to face the challenge of finding the "amazing" High Ridge.

Picture this: it was already past 5 PM, and it was getting dark really fast. We had little money, even less idea of where we were, and no means of getting anywhere (or, if necessary, out of it) fast. Any sane person would’ve turned around and taken the first ride out.

But, yep, we chose to go uphill. Up the dirt road, no signs to lead us. Just us, with the fading rays of the setting sun to warm us and light the way.

Already, the prospect of being left in the dark, in the middle of nowhere, was getting on the nerves of some of us. Especially Keith. He worries. A lot. It must be genetic. Or it could be just a hobby. Whatever the etiology, he’s really good at it. He worried that it would soon be dark. He worried that the house just beyond that bend was haunted. He worried about the two dogs that were eyeing us balefully. And he worried that we were going the wrong way.

But onward we went. Uphill, a step at a time, our chins meeting our knees. "Hi, there, have we met before? I’m Left Knee, and my twin’s just about to come up! Gotta go, bye!" "Hi, I’m Chin. Don’t worry about that long, pink, wet thing. It’s just my friend, Tongue."

Just beyond that bend. Look, a woman. We ask for directions, and continued, encouraged by her report that it’s near.

Onward. Just beyond that bend. "Hey, look at that view! That’s SM! Wow!" And, of course, "Amaaaaazing!" Just a few more paces, and we smelled meat grilling. Mmmmmmm. And we quickened our pace.

Finally, in the dim light, Lousyl made out the letters that spelled out "R-I-D-G-E". Considering that it was already nearly 6 PM, that we were still a good fifty paces away, and that the letters were black, I’d say that she has very good eyesight.

And the place was amazing! We had arrived with perfect timing, just when every building below was turning its lights on. It seemed that we were seeing the city in the process of putting on jewelry. Just beautiful. I was speechless for most of the time we were there (a rare occurrence, mind you). Maybe it was just that the cool breeze was so hypnotic. Maybe it was just I missed someone a bit more, and really wished that she was there to see what we were seeing then.

Never mind that we had barely enough for hotdogs and iced tea. Never mind that we walked a kilometer, most of it uphill. Never mind that we had to approach the owner of the place for help in contacting a taxi so that we could get home. The place was AMAZING.

I’m coming back there.