IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT BEACH

OFF TO PARADISE!

I’m finally uploading the rest of the pics from Anawangin in my multiply account so you can check it out there. Mejo na-trigger-happy ako sa camera. I’m definitely coming back. It was so cheap (“cost-effective” daw sabi sa office instead of “cheap”)- here’s the breakdown of what I spent:

Bus from Caloocan -- 250 each
Tryke to Pundaquit -- 20 each (rides 4)
Boat to Anawangin -- 900 (sits 4-5)

We left really late because I came from work. The bus left at around 12:30. We arrived in Zambales at 4PM. Passed by the palengke to buy everything we forgot (oil, more water, cheese, etc)

We arrived in Pundaquit in about 20 minutes (or maybe even less).

Everybody there is either a kamag-anak of a boatman or IS a boatman so you won’t even have a problem getting a ride even if you arrive as late as we did.

While waiting for the banka to get ready, we bought lapu-lapu straight from the balde still with the fish hooks.

DAY 1: RELAXING


We arrived in Anawangin a little before 5:30. As the boat hit the sand, all we could see was.. sand. And the selfish little bitch in me was thinking, “Yahoo! All ours!” We walked a bit and then I saw it, the landscape was downwards soo we couldn’t see from the boat- that there was a cluster of tents under the shades of the pines. It was not so bad. There was less than a hindred people in the beach front but we didn’t feel it. The beach was big enough to accommodate a small town.


We found our small perfect patch of sand that we thought our tents were worthy of. Ligaya, probably the caretaker (I was embarrassed to ask), set us up with a kawayan table. We all thought the sand was sort-of shiny, glasslike, mixture of fine black stuff and white crystals.


We ate our fresh “bagong-huli” na lapu lapu made into a dish that Allan calls “PANGAT”. It has Bawang, sibuyas, and tons of Kamatis and the fish. That’s it.


The night was warm. The tent was even warmer. We then decided to sleep outside. There were SO MANY stars! But the Off lotion started to wear off and the bugs started biting so we eventually moved to the tents.


DAY 2: FINDING PEACE


For breakfast, we made French toast. We set up mommy in the sand with her blanky and a good Erma Bombeck book. We were set up on the left side of the island (left side if you’re facing the waters) we decided to explore the right side, the one with the rockies, with our snorkeling stuff. We saw a little less than a hundred little fishies and it was the first time I saw a WHITE sea urchin. It wasn’t as big as the black ones that Allan stepped on in the Manila Channel. We rested in a cave-like (shallow crevice) in the rocks that reeked of bat-poo.


We had corned beef with potatoes for lunch ( a pauper’s lunch because we were saving the good stuff for a banquet dinner). After lunch, we explored the lake behind the beach. It was so peaceful. There was no silence please sign but it was as if you were compelled to shut up by nature. The water was lower after lunch so we just had to wade. (saying may dala pa naman salbabida si Allan pero hangang paa lang yung tubig. Hehehe..)


There was a solitary boat that was practically begging to be rode. We saw it was beside a gate. There was private property right beside the lake. And in the property was a traktor. Yayks. Ano naming ginagawa nun dun? E wala naming kuryente, much more a gas station to fill it up. (traktor run on gas, right?) Well, anyway, maybe it has something to do with future plans to make a resort in Anawangin. Who knows?


We found small “bukals” on the lake itself. And there was goo in some parts- like slimy stuff.


Our banguet dinner was sinampalukang manok. Yummy! J Again, slept on the sand and this time we were so exhausted we were comatose for the rest of the night.


DAY 3: LEAVING


I woke up to Allan cooking breakfast. And taking pictures of the mountains behind the beach.


We explored the left side of the beach this time and saw where the lake and the beach meet.

I still have no explanation how the lake and beach meeting up can separate the salt and fresh water in a few inches. There was no rock or plants dividing the water and using my goggles it looked like clear, gasoline-like mixing underwater.

Alam mo yung feeling when you take a jump (or fall) and you land flat (too flat) on both feet and a lightning bolt of pain goes up your knees and leaves you paralyzed for a few seconds?

That’s how painful it is to leave Anawangin..