Anawangin Cove-A piece of paradise in Zambales.

180 degree view of Anawangin Cove

On my previous post I've mentioned that the journey from Camara island to Capones Island is one of the most frightful trip I've ever encountered. I have gone island hopping on the the islands of Bohol, Coron, puerto Princesa and Puerto Galera but nothing beats the fear I felt while travelling from Capones Island to Anawangin Cove. The water is so wild and the waves are monstrous. I pretended that I'm having fun while the waves are almost crushing our boats but deep inside it really scare the hell out of me because i don't know how to swim should our boat flip upside down. I wasn't really afraid of huge wave, I actually love them, I love the feeling when the boat kinda ride over a huge wave  during our island hopping tour in Bohol and Palawan but when I read something about boats flipping upside down on the way to Capones I became paranoid.The waves started to become calm as we approach a place with huge limestone formation.



Anawangin cove (View from the top of the mountain)

Anawangin Cove is a crescent shape cove with a pristine white sand beach along Zambales coastline.It is known for it's unique combined Boracay shore with Baguio Pine look as described by most of the travel blogs I've read. As we are approaching near the island the first thing that caught my attention was a huge limestone formation that looks like a high wall synonymous to the limestones of Coron Palawan. For me Anawangin is a combination of Boracay's White sand beach, Baguio's Pine trees and Palawan's Limestone formations.

fenced camp site

We traveled along the coastline of high wall-like limestone formation over a more friendly wave and calmer sea. As we draw near the end of the wall our bout turned left and from there a view of pristine white sand, turquoise water, high towering pine trees and lush green and brown mountain came to our sight. It somehow reminded me of New Zealand form a milk commercial I saw on TV during my younger years. The moment was magical, I felt like I was about to cross another country. All the fears I felt during our travel melted away. I automatically took my camera out and started taking photos the moment I set foot on the sand.Our boatman carried our things to the fenced beachfront campsite and started fixing our tents while I was trying to feel the sand under my foot. The sand was a combination of white, black and crystal like pigments that glitters when the sun shines on it but the dominant color is white. The place is pretty much convenient to stay though its beauty is preserved there were waterpumps, comfort room and stores that sell everything you might need during the stay.

Exploring the forest looking for the waterfalls

We followed the river at the forest

We took more photos of the site and decided to eat our pack lunch afterwards. We bought adobo and beef steak for our food so we didn't have to cook so much in the camp and it will not spoil overnight. After eating  we decided to explore the forest at the back of the site cause we are pretty sure we could hear waterfalls while we were eating. We saw a slightly drained river at the forest and followed its trail deeper into the forest to search for the water falls. we saw some tour guides along the way and ask them if there really is a waterfalls there but unfortunately it was drained due to the hot weather. They told us to climb the mountain instead to see the full view of the cove but due to the extreme heat of the sun we decided to go back to camp and take a rest and climb the mountain at around 5 pm instead. We just took a nap at the sand and felt the serenity of the place.

Island girl havin a hard time going down

at the top

Sunset

When the clock strikes five we automatically prepared ourselves for mountain climbing. The foot of the mountain is located at around 1 km away from our camp, it is located on the other side of the cove. I didn't have a hard time climbing, we reached the 3rd peak in no time took some photos and decided to climb the next peak to wait for the sunset there. When we reached the top we got to see the full view of the cove and see another cove on the other side of the mountain. After taking the photo of the sunset we decided to go down and start cooking our rice for dinner.  

    

Anawangin Cove San Antonio Zambales

Islands, Sands and Sea

PUNDAQUIT- THE GATE TO ANAWANGIN

Pundaquit Shore

Your island girl didn't know how to swim that's why she make sure that her live jacket is secured ; )

After 30 long minutes of tricycle ride from San Antonio Municipal hall we finally arrived at Tita Josie’s house at Purok 2 Brgy. Pundaquit San Antonio Zambales at around 3:30 am. She was the contact person given by the agency as the only authorized person that we need to transact. She was a lady in early 50’s ( according to my judgement, forgive me if i’m wrong). She was waiting for us in front of their house coz I gave her a call that we were coming. Upon reaching the place the first thing that came into our mind is to eat as we were starving after all the transfers and twist and turn that we encountered in our adventrip. Tita Josie assisted us and offered us utensils for us to be able to feed comfortably. She even served us hot coffee which was perfect to drink that moment which we latter realize as part of the package as welcome drink. After eating, the generous Tita Josie offered us room so we could take a rest since we came a little too early for our island hopping tour which will start at 6 :30 am. We comfortably laid our backs on the bed she offered us, had a little chitchat and finally fell asleep. It was 6 :00 am, I heard voices outside the room so I instantly got out of bed reach for my bag and went to the restroom to prepare for our tour. Tita Josie prepared the things we needed for the camp since we will spending the night in the island. She provided us with cooking utensils, charcoal, gas and matchstick as well as tent for the camping. Everything we needed was ready we headed straight to the shore where our boat is waiting a few steps away from Tita Josie’s house. The water is clear and the sand is grayish, from afar across the bay you will see a small rock formation standing in the middle of the ocean. On the left side of the bay was a vast brownish green mountain on which Pundaquit bay lay on its feet. The bay on that side was also surrounded by pine trees where cottages are located while on the right side of the bay was a not so crowded residential area. Pundaquit shore itself is already beautiful if only it is not surrounded by residential homes. A lot of boat in different sizes are on the shore waiting for their passengers.

Your Island Girl and her friends



Camara Island

When we were about to leave Pundaquit shore Tita Josie ask us if we want to add Camara Island to our itinerary. She pointed on the rock formation just across the shore. She told us that it is not included in the package tour since the waves to Camara is a little bit harsh and it can only be reached during days with fine weather. We instantly agree coz it only cost an additional Php 50.00 per head. And then we pleaded to the island and we were there in less than 10 minutes. 

The island is just like a small piece of rock from afar, our boat landed on a small rocky beach surrounded be tall limestone. I thought that’s all we got to see in the island but we noticed that other tourist were dipping into the water crossing the other side of the island and so we did the same. The water is waist high and the waves are crushing by the stones along the way.Good thing I was wearing my ever reliable aqua shoes I didn’t had a hard time walking on the rocks under water. On the other side of the island is like a wider and bigger version of beach that we landed on. From a hundred meters away you will see another rock formation that looks like a big drumstick fried chicken. I think it is another small island I just don’t know what it is called and so I call it fried chicken island. WE took good photos on every spot of the island especially on stones and trees.

Camara Island



Jumpshot at Camara Island



An isolated tree makes the island more picture perfect

 

Fried Chicken Island( View from Camara)

Capones Island

One of the most anticipated part of the Anawangin tour is the side trip to Capones Island.Capones island has always been famous for the Spanish colonial lighthouse located on the top of the hill. I have always wanted to see the lighthouse in person because the pictures I’ve seen from the web during my research on preparation for our Anawangin tour looks really fascinating unfortunately tourist are no longer allowed to go to the lighthouse as it was under renovation.

The journey on the way to Capones island from Camara Island is one of the most exciting yet frightful trip I’ve ever encountered. I have been aware that we were sailing the famous South China Sea which is now called West Philippine sea. I know for a fact how big the South China sea is and who knows it could be shark infested. Large waves are trying to push us to our destination as we are going with the flow of the wind, It didn’t really bother me but when the boat’s engine stopped my heart started pumping a little bit faster that it used to be. I was thinking what the hell is going on here I’m in the middle of a shark infested ocean and I don’t know how to swim should this mountainous wave crush our boat. I am really getting paranoid but I’m sure they didn’t notice. Good thing the boatman was able to start the engine again. But OMG it happened twice, the engine stopped twice. I found relief upon seeing that we were approaching an island in pure white sand and big stones. We didn’t even see the shadow of the lighthouse since we are on the other side of the island. We just enjoyed exploring the rock formations and the huge high hill as if we own the island since there were only two boats in there.   



Rock Formation at Capones island that looks like a man's face profile

  

Photo as were approching Capones Island





Shots from Capones Island
  

Photo Credits to :  Mr. Leo Gonzales

Our Photographer

How to go to Anawangin Cove

Preparation

I have heard of how wonderful Anawangin Cove is a lot of times and so to further attest to its beauty I have included it in my travel plans for this year. Yup, plan for this year, so it could be for the summer or on “BER” months, but who would have thought it would be this early. A couple of months ago or let’s just say last January, my BBFF Art called me ask me if I’m interested to go on and island hopping and camping trip in Anawangin and since I have been truly obsessed with exploring 7,107 islands in low tide I automatically said yes without even thinking twice.

I’ve have seen the Cashcash Pinoy Anawangin package Ad while browsing fb however due to lack of permanent travel buddy I was hesitant to purchase the voucher coz the fine print says the I need to purchase 4 vouchers in order to avail the deal. So I posted the deal for days in my facebook account but none of my friends seem genuinely interested. Good thing Art was able to invite 2 of his friends to join us to the trip. The vouchers validity is up to Jan 2013 that’s why I wasn’t really in a hurry to use it, but a day after arriving from my amazing Cebu Trip Art called me up to ask me if I’ve already set our Anawangin trip on March 3 and 4. I was shocked to hear it and this is how our conversation go.

Me: What!?! I just came from Cebu you want me to go to on another trip 2 weeks after my bonggacious Cebu trip?

Art(Dramatically speaking over the phone): What can I do? Leo and I have already filed our leave on the said dates. You know how hard it is for us working in our industry to file a leave. If it didn’t work we need to wait for another cut off to file a leave.

Of course me having a humble, pitiful and soft heart said yes even if it mean that I would have to suffer a whole cut off in misery and fitting into a super tight budget. And so I called, emailed and texted Amusement Island Travel and Tour to schedule the trip and Ms. Lara of Amusement Island replied and ask for some needed details and scheduled our trip. She gave us the details we needed to get to the place as well as the name of contact person to look for when we get there.

The Journey

Our itinerary says that transfer from Manila to Zambales was not included in the package so aside from the details given by Ms. Lara I also did a little research on how to get there as well as the schedule of victory liner since our time in not that flexible coz we will travel after working on friday. I was expecting to leave Lipa by 12 MN on a chop chop ride since Art told me that his sched is closing shift but luckily he was able to exchange his shift to his colleague.

We are all packed up and ready, we decided to meet at the bus station and we were almost left by the last trip but we were able to catch it. We depart Lipa at around 10 PM and reach Victory Liner Terminal in Cubao at around 11:20 pm just in time for the last trip to Olongapo.

But wait there’s more. Our 5 hours trip to Zambales is not just your ordinary road trip it is more of an adventure trip. Upon arriving a Lipa City bustop we still saw few buses that we can ride on our way to Cubao and since we think they will still wait for other passenger coz the bus is almost empty Art decided to eat first since he came all the way from work and he is starving. After eating we hurriedly proceeded back to the bus terminal and we saw the bus going away. We run after the bus with our bulky backpacks on but it seems that the driver didn’t notice that we were running after them. Good thing the guard from the nearby store who saw us running after the bus suggested that we wait on the other side of the road since the bus will take a u turn at the u turn slot nearby. We crossed the road laughing at our stupidity.

We ask the conductor to drop us at Victory liner in kamuning but I was wrong. Trip to Zambales is on another terminal across Baliwag Transit near Gran Prix hotel and so we had another taxi ride to terminal. When we reach the terminal the last trip to Iba Zambales has gone and the first trip will be on 6 am so we decided to buy a ticket to Olongapo and have another ride to Iba at Olongapo. I was asleep all through out the journey to Olongapo I didn’t even take a pee break when the bus stopped at Double Happiness San Fernando Pampanga.

We reached Olongapo at around 1:00 am and we walked around the area and ask the guard we see on the street where could we find a bus going to Iba Zambales they told us to stay at the terminal since the only bus that travel to Iba in Victory Liner and so we waited for around ten minutes then a bus arrived. Unfortunately the bus is already full, then another bus arrived and we decided to transfer but it is still full so we just ride in it even if we will be standing.

The road on the way to San Antonio is a zigzag road I had a hard time standing at the bus with all my baggage coz of the twist and turn of the road that lasted for almost 30 minutes. Most of turn were sharp curve that you really have to learn to sway and dance with movement of the bus. We reached San Antonio Municipal Hall at around 3 AM. We had another tricycle ride to Pundaquit.Here are the list of fares on the way to Zambales to sum up our expense:

Lipa City to Cubao-          132.00

Cubao to Olongapo-         207.00

Olongapo to San Antonio-   58.00

San Antonio to Pundaquit-  30.00

Total Transpo Expense per Pax (Round trip)   Php    854.00

Anawangin Package tour via cashcash pinoy           799.00

Additional side trip to Camara Island                        50.00

Total Expenses excluding meals                  Php  1,703.00

The Experience, the adventure and the blissful memory I gained  - Priceless