Clouds at Mt. Yangbew #landscapephotography

Here is my Tuesday contribution to @juliank's @photocontests under the category #landscapephotography.

Photo taken using Nikon D5000.

La Trinidad is known for it's strawberries gaining the title "Strawberry Capital of the Philippines." This month of March also celebrates the "La Trinidad Strawberry Festival." (Read related news here) The municipality also seats the Provincial Capitol of Benguet. Aside from #strawberries, La Trinidad also grows flowers and highland vegetables. Since it is a valley, the surrounding mountains offers a view of the municipality.

The photo above was taken in Tawang, La Trinidad. It was during one of our early morning hikes. From here you can see #Baguio-City and other surrounding areas and mountains of Benguet. We were supposed to take pictures of sunrise. However, the weather is not cooperative as there was a low pressure at that time. We waited in vain although as the sun rises, it gave us this spectacular cloud display.

We call this mountain officially as Mt. Yangbew. Other names include Little Mt. Pulag or Mt. Jumbo. Bew or Beo is a Kankana-ey word meaning "fog." Just like in high altitude areas, fog settles here and that is where the reference came from. As such, this was agreed upon by local officials to name it Mt. Yangbew. Although Ibalois were the first settlers here in this province, they only settled in the plains and it was the Kankana-eys who occupied the mountains.

In this mount grow wild flowers such as the Benguet Lily (Lilium philippinense). Before sunflowers were known to be the flowers of Benguet and Baguio, Benguet Lilies were first to be recognized because it is just endemic in this region. However, they seem to be forgotten.

Aside from the Benguet Lily, there are also different wild flowers that you will be lucky to appreciate if it is the flower blooming season.

This is just a short hike but with a good vantage point. It's a rolling grassland that is frequented by hikers, bikers, campers and other nature lovers like cattles and horses. Cattle and horse herders let their animals graze and roam around this area, too.

Going up the mountain, there's an eroded or more likely dug part to make for a pathway or road where you will see interestingly shaped rocks. They look like eggs that come in different sizes and shapes but mostly oblong.

Mt. Cabuyao, another peak in Tuba, Benguet can also be seen on top of Mt. Yangbew.

This is more or less 30-minute walk, depending on how fit and how fast you can hike. I've frequented this mountain since it's just above where we live. We have been here rain and shine. One time, me and my family along with the kids went for a quick hike here only to be met with deluge while going down. We are all soaking wet. We had to be very, very careful going down because it is muddy and slippery.

Due to the increase of activity in this area, it was just recently that the local officials decided to ask for fees for those who would want to visit the place. They have collectors/watchers at the top of the mountain where you will register and pay for the appropriate fees. These fees will help keep maintain the integrity of the place, as what the officials said.

Leaving you with this photo below taken during one of our sunrise hikes.

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You can read more about @photocontests here

The schedules for other categories for @juliank's photo contest are:

Monday: #foodphotography and #animalphotography
Tuesday: #landscapephotography and #cityscapephotography
Wednesday: #architecturalphotography and #vehiclephotography
Thursday: #macrophotography and #colourfulphotography
Friday: #streetphotography and #portraitphotography
Saturday: #sportsphotography and #smartphonephotography
Sunday: #goldenhourphotography and #longexposurephotography