MMS 173 Assignment 1: Knowing Where I'm At (Part 1)

This photo was taken in May 2024 in Atok, Benguet. The night before, I was hesitant to proceed with the tour I had booked because the weather was unpredictable. I stayed overnight in an inn situated right beside the mountain, where darkness completely enveloped the landscape—so much so that not even a shadow of the mountain was visible. The fog outside was incredibly thick, making it impossible to see anything beyond the headlights of passing cars. Unlike popular tourist destinations, this part of Benguet was quiet and untouched, with barely anyone walking the streets late at night. The eerie silence, combined with the biting cold, made me second-guess my plans. The chill in the air crept into my room, and stepping outside, even for a moment, was unbearable. As someone who has lived in the metro my whole life, the drastic change in climate was overwhelming—I never truly adjusted to it.

At almost 5:00 in the morning, despite the lingering hesitation, I decided to step outside. The moment I did, I was met with a sight that made everything worth it. The mountains stretched endlessly before me, partially hidden beneath layers of rolling fog. The morning light peeked through the thick clouds, casting a soft golden glow that felt almost ethereal. The air was crisp and damp, carrying the scent of earth and pine. There was an overwhelming stillness—no honking cars, no distant chatter—just the faint rustling of the wind as it danced through the valleys. I stood there, mesmerized, letting the silence and the view sink in.

That moment shifted my perspective. The doubts I had the night before seemed so small compared to the impressiveness of what lay before me. It was then that I knew I could not miss out on this experience. Without hesitation, I contacted my tour guide and decided to push through with the trip.

I chose this photo because it perfectly captures the magic of that morning. The sea of clouds, the way the sunlight breaks through, and the silhouette of the mountains beneath—it was a breathtaking scene that felt almost surreal. It reminded me why I had always wanted to witness a real sea of clouds, though luck wasn’t on my side when I visited Sagada. Still, looking at this image fills me with excitement and a sense of wonder. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful moments come after uncertainty and hesitation, waiting just beyond the fog.