Delayed post…
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(L-R) AteV (The Suzuki Vitara 4×4), Jom, Sar, Nadem, Slim, Khail, Monday

I’ve been thinking of a way to make Slim’s birthday this year a little different. 2 weeks I’ve been racking my brain as to what I could do…

I just can’t remember how I finally decided on this, but I did: surprise her with a picnic party up in the mountains. As I want a little privacy for our little party I opted for Wolf Den’s (a 4×4 Philippines family member) place, called the Gate House, in Tanay, Rizal, since I know they seldom use their house there.

The week of her birthday I laid out my plan to her cousin, Nadem, who was living with us, as she will be in charge of buying & cooking the food. A few days before the date I contacted Slim’s brother, Jom, and his wife (girlfriend at that time) to meet with us before we go to Tanay.

Early morning of Oct. 2, 2003, Nadem cooked and loaded everything needed for the picnic. Around 9AM (I think… can’t remember) we left the house for lunch at some restaurant (that was Slim’s plan, she never expected the cargo area of our Suzuki Vitara to be loaded), met up with Jom & Monday. Then we remembered: WE DIDN’T HAVE DRINKS! So we passed by a store, bought 2 gallons of purified water, and off we went (I noticed Slim wondering why I bought so much water, but tried hiding her “confusion”)…

Anyway, on the way she knew something was up, as she was expecting to have lunch somewhere in Q.C., or Makati at the farthest, but of course she knew that road we were passing: Marcos Highway – the road we usually take going to Tanay. She kept on asking, “Are we going to Jungle Base?” I reply, “NO WAY! That’s too far. We should’ve left earlier.” And I just kept driving, plus with her pregnant condition the trail might be a little too much.

When we got to the Gate House we let the caretakers know we plan to picnic at the house, and since they’re used to 4-wheelers going down there to play they let us proceed.

We had a good time, Slim doubting my plans (“We don’t have plates!” “We don’t have spoons & forks!” “We don’t have glasses for the drinks!”) and each time I bring out what she wants.

The rest of the pics can be seen here.

* Our Kasalan was also held in Jungle Base.
4×4 off-road Suzuki Toyota Land Rover Nissan Jeep 4×4PH