Zambales Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

The Waves Return

August 12, 2013 by Janey

Nowhere found in Manila last weekend, I went to where I was just two weekends ago. Lost in the moment –of which I always find myself in at Crystal Beach Resort. This is where I have been disappearing to. In between my anxiety of water, the thrill of winning against it, breathing fresh air, laughing my joy out loud with friends, communing with nature and finding God in the midst of all the organic beauty, this is where I have pitched a tent of temporary haven.

I’m a Manila girl, growing up in the concrete jungle with never having access to provincial fiestas and an answer to, “san probinsiya mo ne?” But I drew close to Zambales. I remember joining Conquer Zambales in 2009 – an adventure race organized by Living Asia with Sidetrip magazine that had me and CW speeding all over the province finishing one challenge after the other. The tasks were daunting and super fun, like jumping off a 15-feet dive board at the military camp, scaling big smelly fishes and gutting them (my first time to do in my life), seeing my partner hop on an old rickety boat and climbing the mast to get the next clue, cooking rice in a bamboo, crossing the sand bar between Camara island and another island with a heavy bucket of water, and many other tasks for a full 2 days. I’ve joined many adventure races but that one is top 3 of the most memorable even if I wasn’t near anywhere placing a spot since it allowed me to see the beauty of Zambales, both in the many places we went to and in its people.

In 2008, I also found a secret spot off the port of Pundaquit, a 30-minute boat ride to the beautiful off-white powdery sands of Anawangin. The lighthouse in Capones island. Chasing flags in Potipot island. Climbing a huge rock in Camara. Buying bagnet in the Zambales market.

Early this year, Shell Journeys had me planning another adventure trip and I picked Z, got reacquainted and now I couldn’t keep away.

RELATED POST:

The Journey a Weekend Can Give

Anawangin

Dear Jane: Conquer Zambales Mate

In the Beginning

I met new friends. I found a new challenge. I am learning from my surfing coach, Vergel. I rally behind a community that enjoys a simple life, genuine smiles, the sun, sand and of course, riding the waves.

Zambales became my home town. Crystal Beach, my new home address.

Here I don’t have a problem waking up early in the morning, sneaking out the room while everyone is still in la la land. I just take in the beauty of the morning and the fresh smell of hope.

Next time, I look forward to dawn watch. And giving praise and worship to the Father who has loved me so much.

This weekend was one of the best weekends of the year. I don’t know if it’s coming from a real “low” as this week brought news that saddened the heart that there was nowhere to go but up… it was also a toxic week at work more than usual… but boy, the joy soared on Friday. I always feel God’s overwhelming love but I felt it so much more last Friday. I can’t explain it but I was just laughing and laughing, with no guards up, bonding with the people I was with –new and old, reconnecting with my “sole” sister Maddie…

because our stronghold is God. ‪

#‎love‬ ‪#‎contentment‬ ‪#‎simplejoys‬ ‪#‎friendships‬‪#‎family‬ ‪#‎happiness‬ ‪#‎faith‬ ‪#‎truth‬

…and receiving texts and calls from friends / groups in Manila who I felt missed me and wanted to spend time with me. If you’ve seen my craziness, you’d know that would be rare and people would normally excuse themselves around me… unless I’m wearing a straightjacket.

We are grateful since the forecast was totally flat but there were baby waves (a.k.a. white water) that also helped me practice minus the fear of the big waves.

Mac teaching new kids on the block

Too bad that the schedule was full and all the instructors and surf boards were booked Friday afternoon. While we decided to rest and relax, enjoy the sunset by the beach, and play Frisbee in between, my heart still yearned to go out and play with the baby waves. I looked out at the horizon and watched with longing.

Sunset Water Babies

Glad Abby read into my spirit and asked surfer Jay-R to lend me his personal board. She led me to sea and Jay-R took over, giving me a few tips and helping me catch a baby wave or two. I was able to do 4 rides that afternoon, 4/4 short ones but enough to make me happy.

We started out early Friday on a road trip and came home late Saturday night – set it two days so we have the 3^rd day to rest. If the waves were not forecast as such, we would have stayed until Sunday but we were meant to avoid the heavy rains Sunday brought like God has provisioned us to fully enjoy the 2 days and fully rest on Sunday. How perfect the plans of the Lord are!

I can’t even begin to tell you how fun the weekend was. I had a blast.

Instead of just blabbing about it like blah blah blah ha-ha-ha blah blah blah.

I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Road Trip: Zambales (August 9-10, 2013)

Morning from SCTEX! 🙂

–

Maddie and Janey

–

Roadkills

A Shell Safety Reminder to Motorists During Holy Week Travel

March 21, 2013 by Janey

Taking a vacation with loved ones is one of the secrets of strong and healthy familial bond. This is why weekends and holidays are deeply treasured by many. To ensure a safe and hassle-free travel this Holy Week, you need to ensure your vehicle is in top shape. Keeping safety and welfare of customers in mind, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (Shell) invites motorists to have their vehicles checked at their nearest Shell service bay before they go on their Holy Week journeys.

Shell service bays’ professional and friendly technicians are well equipped to provide you with excellent service and keep your vehicles running right. Shell has the largest service bay chain in the Philippines, and with almost 200 outlets of Shell Helix Service Centre and Shell Helix Oil Change+, you are sure to find an outlet near you. Several outlets also have customer lounge facilities that allow you to wait in comfort while your vehicle is being serviced.

The Journey a Weekend Can Give… with Shell Journeys. Crystal Beach Resort, Zambales

March 14, 2013 by Janey

White clouds roll in the sky. Mister sun is sneaking in a smile from behind. My eyes flinch and I pull down my sunnies, everything went a shade friendlier. I look up again and realize no gray concretes block my view. I crane my neck and see, the sky looking down at me, and finally I am seen.

Barely weeks ago, I’m typing furiously, number and words that make what an itinerary should be. I’m sliding that task in between paperwork that needs to be done, contracts that need to be reviewed, numbers that need to be run, errands that need to be finished, online presence that needs to be felt, interactions that need listening to… all needs. Where does my need fall in all these?

I knew I needed a pause. I’m still peeling off scabs of a wound I had in the past. Days arrive looking at me staring at my wounds, waiting for them to heal. No, I have too much silence in the hours waiting for my mind to fall asleep. What I need is an adventure. Joyful moments that can break the monotony of life, will crack the distracting noise or the deafening silence surrounding me.

The past two days, it’s been raining nonstop in Manila. Friday evening seems to leave a promise and when Saturday dawned, the skies were clear, as if it was never heartbroken. My excitement brews like coffee roasting in a percolator, its aroma sweating off its beans. In my case, I go off smelling like Ralph Lauren’s Ralph, light and fruity, masking years of not bathing *insert evil laugh here.*

Eric arrives, as usual very fashionably late, which I’m getting revenge on later in life. Then there’s the mix up on whose car we’re bringing. Had to travel home amidst Friday traffic to get the car only to find out he “supposedly” said we will use his brand new spanking Tucson. I wonder why I became friends with him in college. That was over a decade ago, I was probably still very reckless.

Dumping all our weekend bags and the groceries we bought at the back of this week-old SUV, I plop onto the passenger seat. Madz takes the backseat. Eric revs the engine, ready to leave everything behind and not come back for a while.

Road trip, here we go! I pick out the playlist intended for this trip and press play.

You know guys who can’t stop yapping about cars and girls who can’t stop yapping about shopping, they go together. It’s not my crowd. Life for me is wasted sitting around spitting out the most expensive thing your money can buy or what your talk can impress. But that day I couldn’t stop picking Eric’s brain on SUVs since he’s been going around test driving many cars before making the decision on the Tucson. I think one of my financial goals this year or next year is a mini-SUV with a diesel engine. I’ve started researching and pestering people with my endless questions. Well, it’s going to be a long mountain to climb but, if you know me, I like having a goal in mind and working hard for it.

The music blasts a happy tune and my sole sister Madz and I move to the beat and sing. Eric gives us a weird look and I shove him softly, pressing him to the side of the door asking if he remembers our road trips in college. “Remember that girl? She’s here. This weekend, that’s going to be me again. Be ready for some fun and lots of uncontrolled singing.” And a bit of danger (if you don’t look happy listening to our angelic voices). He straps the seatbelt on me, which I always forget. At least, there’s something he’s good for.

Like any other road trips in the past, we stop over at Shell along NLEX. Before embarking on any long or short road travel, there’s one hub that preps our cars as much as we ready our bold spirits. It was time to gas up.

Marking Punta de Uian with Kinster

April 12, 2010 by Janey

I’ve penciled in Punta de Uian on my calendar for May 22, 2010. Punta de Uian is a resort in Zambales. It’s been a while since I was last in Zambales. It’s such a beautiful province and really underrated. There are so many pretty little islands in Zambales like Anawangin, Capones, Camara, etc. A lot and the towns there are really nice too.

It’s worth to try their bagnet too. That reminds me, I haven’t written about Conquer Zambales adventure race. I wonder if I still remember all the details… that was in August or October 2008 –see I don’t even remember the month anymore.

What got me excited about Zambales is not only the destination, but also the company. This is after all Kennykins’ idea. He SMS-ed me that he scored 2 rooms at Punta de Uian for free and booked us for May 22. “You were the first in mind when I got the accommodation.” Ain’t that sweet? 😉

Quickly put together this simple montage with Kennykins my Kinster:

I can’t track back to 2004…

(Maybe when I have time to dig up old photos)

…………..

2005 (?)

@ My Birthday Party

—

2005 (?)

@ Fridays, Glorietta 4

(This is soooo funny! I’m sure you’d be surprised to see this!)

—

2005 (?)

@ Superbowl

—

2005 (?)

@ Kenny’s Birthday Dinner at Tiananmen

—

2005

@ Araneta Coliseum for Cheerdance Competition

—

March 2006

@ Hed Kandi at World Trade

—

2006

@ Fashion Week

—

April 2008

@ Kenny’s Chelsea Treat

—

November 2008

@ Dawn of the Dead Halloween Party at Alchemy

—

March 2009

@ Playboy Philippines Launch

—

October 2009

@ Bubba’s Window in Taverna’s Parking Lot

—

January 1, 2010

@ The Fort on New Year’s

—

January 24, 2010

@ Palm Grove, Rockwell

—

May 22, 2010

@ Punta de Uian, Zambales

(INSERT MEMORABLE PHOTO HERE)

I cannot wait. 😉

—

3 Comments Filed Under: A Taste of Manila and Other Things Tagged With: accommodation, Anawangin, boat, boat ride, camara, camera, capones, Conquer Zambales, contact number, cost, Episode, fee, Filipinos, Holiday, hospital, how much, how to get there, islands, Kenny, Kennykins, Living Asia, location, Map, Metro Manila, montage, NLEX, North, peso, Philippines, pinoy, Punta de Uian, rates, Resort, resorts, room rate, safety, South, summer, toll gate, toll rate, traffic, travel, where to go, Zambales

Reminiscent: Anawangin 2008

February 6, 2009 by Janey

Francis is right. It’s only a matter of weeks before the anniversary of our Anawangin trip.

To celebrate the Anawangin trip, let me repost some of my favorite photos/moments from the trip:

First afternoon in Anawangin Cove

Sunset

Frisbee

Red sky beckons the evening

Madz and Chris working their way to the Bangus dinner

My first camping trip

Drinking sesh

The bathroom

Grandpa chair

Hopping to Capones Island

Yummy Mangoes

Day 3 at Camara Island

Morning has broken

Drinking Sesh Part Deux

Singing E-heads

Dancing partna: Madz

Related Post

In the Beginning Link

JC Anawangin Cove Album

Francis Zambales Album

Night Canoe Beach Album

In the Beginning Link

Jitters at Anawangin Link

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Writing on d' Wall Tagged With: Anawangin, beauty, Cove, memories, photos, reminscent, White Sand, Zambales

Tales and Tips: Anawangin Cove, Zambales

May 6, 2008 by Janey

(Photo courtesy of Francis, Ced Valera, Bek, Marc, Brian, Maan, Jolan)

This coming weekend is my much-awaited return to Anawangin, Zambales. I was first introduced to the island (or more appropriately, cove, as someone has corrected me in my multiply entry) when I signed up for Travel Factor’s Anawangin-Capones Photoholic Trip This time around, Jerome, from DEFTAC, is organizing this overnight trip and Chris and I are tagging along.

Sunset

Only more than a month after, I’m already all so fired up to go back to the curved island with pristine white sand beach.

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What to love about Anawangin

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Travel Time. There are a lot to love about Anawangin. It’s not so far a drive from Manila for one. I used to frequent the Batangas resorts since it’s only 2.5 – 3 hour drive from Manila and the semi-white beaches are not so bad. I liked White Cove Resort (which was under the management of UCPB) in Nasugbu, Punta Baluarte in Calatagan, Playa in Calatagan, La Luz in Laya to name a few. I remember in college, Gina, King, Ryan and I spontaneously go to Batangas at our whim, regardless if we packed any bikinis or brought food. Having my conservative parentals, it was usually a day trip since I wasn’t allowed then to stay overnight. (How cruel right? Haha.) Nowadays, with the heavy traffic along SLEX, it turns me off to travel south nowadays.

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Going to Zambales last February took us a quick 3 hours time. My friends tell me now that with the birth of the Subic expressway, it’d be so much faster an en route to Zamba. 2 hours maybe? We’ll test that this weekend.

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There are no roads leading directly to Anawangin. One must take off from the Pundaquit beach and catch a 20-30 minute boat ride to the Cove. Boat ride costs around PHP1,000 one way, which can be shared by 5-6 people. You can also be more daring and go the long way by trekking 6 hours of open trails through the Pundaquit range

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Virginity. It’s a double-edged sword. No resorts built around the cove preserves the pine trees laced around the vicinity for one. No resorts also mean that the place stays clean because there is lesser trash produced –which means no commercial pollution. But this also equates to not having a fluffy soft bed to lie in, no personal toilet and bath (which means you have to take a bath using the pump/deep well or take a boat ride to one of the Pundaquit resorts and use their shower), and all the other perks that hotels/resorts have like satellite TV. There are absolutely zero resorts in Anawangin, either you bring your own camp gear (tent and sleeping bag) or rent one from one of the resorts in Pundaquit. There are a few tables and huts (?) that you can rent for PHP 150 the whole day. By being virgin, I also mean there is no signal site at the Cove. One carrier has one bar of signal sometimes, but you have to be near the water to get a signal. Anawangin’s virginity sets it apart from other popular beaches like the overcrowded Puerto Galera or Boracay. Only about 20 mini-groups recline their tents in the area.

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The Beach. White sand. Pine trees. Cool water. This is the perfect scene to lounge around, read a book, or watch the sunset. There’s also a marsh in the Cove streamlining to a mountain where you can practice photography.

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Beach Must Haves:

ana9

Nivea Sunblock SPF 50

My skin easily burns so I need a higher SPF. I have Beach Hut, Banana Boat, etc. but I find Nivea’s non-greasy sunblock as the best in the market. It dries up fastest among the other brands and protects my sensitive skin the most.

ana9

Mosquito Repellant

As far as I can remember, there weren’t that many mosquitoes at Anawangin, but it’s always better to be safe than have a constellation of mosqy bites on your legs. I personally use Johnson’s & Johnson’s clear anti-mosquito lotion, but you can always rely on OFF lotion. If you really want to be over protective of your legs, or you’re just really paranoid about Dengue/Typhoid or whatever, you can buy this small gadget that steers mosquitoes away using its very low and indistinct sound that it emits. It’s only two inches small and has a clip-on, which makes it easy to clip on your pants or shirt. I forget what it’s called but I used it in Sorsogon during the Fireflies encounter along the Ogod River.

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Digital Camera

If you have an extra battery pack, bring it. Two batteries are always better than one. There is no way you can charge anything on the Cove.

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Drinking Water

Bring gallons. To replenish your skin and body of loss fluid due to heat and for washing in case there’s a long line by the pump. There are two water pumps on the Cove, but since people wash their dishes too. Sometimes you don’t want to wait 20 minutes just to get your hands and face clean.

beach anawang

Flashlight/Lamp

It’s absolutely pitch dark at night except for those who brought they’re own flashlights or gas lamps. Bonfires are prohibited in the area.

ana2

Beach Mat, IPod, Altec Lansing In Motion speakers, frisbee, food food food, wine or any booze, any good book…

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I’m slowly drifting back… Letting the waves sweep me back to Anawangin.

stream

Anawangin Cove Album

Francis Set Album

Anawangin Link

In the Beginning Link

Jitters at Anawangin Link

26 Comments Filed Under: Walk the World: A BITE of Travel Tagged With: Anawangin, Anawangin Cove, Beach, capones, Cove, food, Guide, island, Must Have, review, schedule, summer, Tips, Tour, travel, Travel Factor, Zamba, Zambales

In The Beginning

March 7, 2008 by Janey

(Photos: Brian Sahagun. Other credit to Francis, Deneb)

In the Beginning, rocks were formed. The land was called Earth (sometimes Pundakit beach). Then rock was found to be too hard, a counter form was created in the outline of water. The water was called Sea. Or sometimes Zambales sea. Big waves crashing against the rocks. Breaking shades and making daze.

begin 1

In the Beginning, there were pine trees. Anawangin pine trees (–are they really pine trees? Baguio locals might contest.)

begin 2

In the Beginning, there was Chris and Jane. But no apples to act as the forbidden fruit. Only Bananas. From a box. With Bangus fish and rice. And Vinegar too.

begin 3

In the Beginning, there were no caddies, so Chris and Jane had to carry their own stuff. No tips too.

begin 4

In the Beginning, hair has to be put up to attract wandering eyes of this Chris fellow looking for monkeys high up on pine trees as a form of entertainment.

begin 5

In the Beginning, Chris fellow gives a smug smile (refer to photo) while placing an unassuming hand on Jane’s back.

begin 6

In the Beginning, there are already Paparazzis.

begin 7

begin 8

Paparazzis mean photographers who look good while taking really great pictures. And sometimes get to date Britney Spears too.

In the Beginning, a lighthouse is to be discovered through hard labor of walking in the scorching heat with a rewarding lunch after.

begin 9

In the Beginning, when you get smacked by crashing waves, you talk to a higher being.

In the Beginning, water from the Sea cannot be drunk. Lime Gins are then created by the genius Hand. It is the glowing fountain of youth. It is the Beginning of Wisdom.

begin 10

In the Beginning, there was only darkness. Then flickers of light were created. And then there was music… and chanting…

From a faraway distance, chants are vividly heard…

begin 12

“I wanna take you away… Let’s escape into the music… DJ let it play… I just can’t refuse it… Like the way you do this… Keep on rockin’ to it… Please don’t stop the… Please don’t stop the music. “

2 Comments Filed Under: Writing on d' Wall Tagged With: Anawangin, Anawangin Cove, capones, Guide, In the Beginning, island, Pine Trees, Zambales

Anawangin Zambales… Takes Me Away

February 29, 2008 by Janey

Anawangin, Capones, Camara Islands of Zambales

Day 1

6 AM. Assembly Time. McDo, Quezon Avenue.

Item List: (Thanks to Leia for preparing the bulk of the list)

Flashlight
3 liters of water (for camping)
Bonamin
Clothes
Sleeping bed
IPod and Speakers
Frisbee
Convertible bag-o-beach mat
Etc.

Check. Check. Check.

ETD Manila was 7 AM. Since I only had an hour sleep since the day before, I tried to get some winks in the van. There were 3 vans in all, about 10-11 people in one van.

lunch market

Pundakit. We arrive at the market around 11am and had our lunch there. Zambales is known for its mangoes. A couple of us bought mangoes and Maan was the expert on the fruit, so we depended on her “chosen ones.” She even assisted in weighing and packing it for us.

banca

After 10 minutes, we arrived at the dock site. It was the smallest and slimmest boat I’ve ever been on. Locals call it banca. I was anxious that the banca might topple over. Surprisingly, it wasn’t much of a bumpy ride and I actually enjoyed the 20-30 minute tide to our first Island destination.

Anawangin Cove. Time check: 1:30 PM.

anawangin 1

Even from afar, Anawangin looked like Paradise Island. When I had my first step on the island, my foot felt nothing short of soft, powdery sand. The beach is a long stretch of pristine white sand, laced with never-ending rows of Fernwood/Pine type of trees that had needle-like leaves.

pine trees

There is zero visibility of resorts, houses or restaurants. There were about 10 other big groups there already comfortable in their tagged area. Otherwise, Anawangin is as virgin as virgin can be –so pure, so delicately soft, and so untouched.

anawangin 2

Even if we already know half of the group (since the time of Pagudpud trip almost 2 months ago, avilon, pampanga, ym chats, emails and multiply), Leia, the Travel Factor organizer, suggested that we introduce ourselves. In one big circle, one by one, people started declaring their names and one distinct description of each.

anawang arrival

The Bum. Traveler. Tambay. Photographer. The girlfriend. The assistant. The Chinese. The boyfriend of the Chinese. Photographer con Model. And so on.

outdoor men

Leia, the super girl, was a one-man team. Mike and Jonel were missing in action. But even if she was flying alone, she was assisted by the 5-man team of Outdoor Club. They started to build our camp area.

break camp

I’ve been apprehensive about Day 1 because this is the “camping” day, which means being one with nature. Although I love the high seas and nature, I’ve never gone camping in my entire life. In college, I missed a lot of camping activities. I’ve never slept outdoors –without toilet and bath, bed, amenities and accessibility of running/drinking water. And another worry is the coldness of the night breeze.

hammock

We did a quick ocular of the island and came across a stream/swamp. Ced, Marc, Francis, Bek and Jolan took pictures of the stream lining toward the mountain.

stream

The outdoor guys set about 8-10 camping tents. Chris and I took a nap in the common area. The common area is the space where a big blue mat is laid, which is allotted for gathering. Twas our watering hole.

blue mat

After napping, I slipped into my bikini and hit the water along with the group. Unfortunately, even Leia’s Nikon camera took a dip.

sunset

swim

Sunset.

Sunset

You get mesmerized at the tamed star as it swiftly fade from oblivion. And as it settled in the horizon, I lost myself too looking through the clear eyes of my love. (Kudos to Maan for the wonderful photos!!!)

Then darkness settled on the island. There were only a few available light from gas lamps and flashlights. Everyone gathered in the common area as we began dinner. Dinner was cooked by firewood and served by the outdoorsy men. Tinola and grilled fish. One common learning during dinner is never to eat fish again in the dark. Jaja even equipped, “parang pag-ibig lang yan. Minsan matitinik ka…” that triggered a collective response.

dinner anawang

(Madz and Chris)

On full stomachs, we proceeded to the tent to rest but we fell asleep. Contrary to the cold breeze, there was no strong wind billowing the tents. I woke up and walked towards the blue mat where some were drinking and playing games. Chris trotted after me and followed where the merrymaking was.

drinking anawang 2

drinking anawang

We bonded and exchanged stories mostly with Deneb who was seated near us. At this time, most were already pit drunk. We also took a few shots of the lime gin which is my first time to try and listened to the group sharing before we retreated back to our bunk.

We woke up at 7 AM, brushed our teeth and washed our face by the poso. We ate tocino and egg for breakfast and packed our things.

eggs

Break camp.

anawang jump shot

We left Anawangin Cove around 10 AM, but not without the traditional jump shot. I haven’t left Zambales but I wanted to be back in Anawangin again. If I loved Pagudpud for its solace, I love Anawangin for its simplicity and purity. As we took our seats in the boat, I sadly bid the beautiful island goodbye.

Roar of the banca’s motor. Off to Capones island we go!

20 minutes passed and we docked at a much smaller island.

Day 2

Capones island.

capones island

ETA was 11 AM. I sunbathe as soon as we stepped on the island (which was really bad for me because I’m allergic to the sun.) The pack went on a mini-hike to the light house, which was the one of the oldest lighthouse since it’s been there since the Spanish era. Jaja, 2 of the Outdoor guys, Chris and I were left behind. Jaja fell asleep. Chris and I spent some quality time talking. We shared a moment by the beach. It was one of our best talks.

capones lighthouse

Lunch of liempo and eggplant and tomato salad was yummy!!! After lunch, since Joan wasn’t feeling well, they decided to go ahead of the group and we decided to ride with them to Canoe Beach resort.

canoe beach resort

Finally, civilization. Shower. Seats. Shades. Bed. Rooms. Time check: 5 PM.

I suggested that we play Ultimate Frisbee since Chris brought one. We got so into it that the photoholic photographers actually disrespected the sunset by snubbing it and continued to play instead. It was so much fun. Although we led 3-1, the other team beat us with 5-3 score. I felt a surge of adrenaline playing, which made me miss playing basketball in High School. It was such a fun and good workout.

frisbee

Dinner Time. Feast. So much good food. Bubba and I had liempo, sisig, ginataang kalabasa and Spanish sardines that I brought. We ate until we were so heavy. After dinner, we laid on the beach mat, watched the stars and reminisced about our beach escapades. We played some of our favorite songs from the IPod. We remembered significantly the Deftac beach outing at Mark Nep’s rest house in Batangas.

lime gin

DRINKING SESSION. Ced, the master drink concoctor, taught us what Leia would dub as the Anawangin experiment –Gilbey’s Gin and Lime mix. It wasn’t bad at all but since I haven’t been drinking in almost a year and I’m not really much of a drinker except for a few choco or lychee martinis/bailey’s/margaritas, I wasn’t used to the taste of liquor. Ley was the designated one to call the shots –translation: taga-tagay. A few shots got me tipsy already.

night canoe

night canoe 2

night canoe 3

Everyone was singing to Eraserheads, Rihanna, Neyo, Chris Brown, etc. I don’t know how it started (except that Chris kept volunteering me!) but I began unleashing my Knock Knock jokes (terrible terrible!) Much to my awe, people were laughing and asking for more. I was totally embarrassed but I enjoyed hearing people’s laughter. All were happy happy!!! (Uhm, I think there was also a part where Madz and I started dancing and grinding when people started singing, Please don’t stop the music. Funny how the lights flickered on and off like we were in Emba/Piedra)

dance canoe 2

dance canoe

Day 3

Camara Island. The last island stop for the Zambales weekend.

camara island

Similar to Capones, it was a small island. We ate breakfast there and climbed rocks. After 2 hours, we headed back to Canoe Beach Resort.

rock climb

climb rock 2

climb rock 3

Overall, the Zambales trip by Travel Factor was one of the awesome getaways to start off the year right!!! What a launch pad to take off my 1^st quarter adventure!!!

There is so much more to each location in the Philippines than meets the eye. Be a foreigner in your own country and learn what the country is all about. Cherish each destination like it is your first time to step in Philippine soil. Wherever I go around the Philippines, be it Pagudpud, Bicol, Boracay, Davao, Polomolok, Batangas… Metro Manila, it is the richness of culture that gives so much depth to the different islands. Each town has a personality of its own laced beautifully with vibrant people, sumptuous food, magnificent views, fiestas, craftsmanship… but at the end of the journey, it is the amazing stories and Filipino pride you bring home with you kept in the heart that lasts far more than a lifetime.

camara

last group wacky

last group

The Beauty of Anawangin. The friendship that has been forged by the group. Ultimate Frisbee competition. Food food food. Island hopping. Bathing in the sun. Music. Fun. Bonding. Love.

swept away

I was swept away.

Albums

In The Beginning Link

Anawangin Cove Album

Francis Set

Night Canoe Beach Album

Capones Island Album

Camara Island Album

Zamba: Brian Set

Zamba Ced Set

Camara Island Album

Anawangin Link

In the Beginning Link

Jitters at Anawangin Link

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Jitters at Anawangin Cove

February 20, 2008 by Janey

I am so psyched about the Anawangin Cove – Capones – Camara island-hopping this weekend! Thank God that Feb 25 was declared as a special non-working day since I need my leaves for the load of travel I have for this year. I think it’s my first time go to Zambales (if I ever went as a kid, I don’t remember…) and I’ve been hearing a lot about the fruits in Zambales –especially green mango (yum!). The first night will be spent at the scenic Anawangin Cove sleeping in a tent!!! Even from tomboy of HS to girly-girl of DLSU, I have never gone camping. There was one time that the Pol-Sci block went camping but I was not able to go. My dad was super strict then about places I have to spend the night at –security and all, so I wasn’t able to attend all the out-of-town trips that were part of the curriculum. It will be my first time to camp and boy am I just so anxious!!! Anxiety about food/water shortage, bugs, cold night (we will sleep on the beach) and rain is making me feel jittery –but with a lot of excitement too. It’s one night only and the following night, we will head to a beach resort in Capones island then hopping to Camara island on Day 3.