We've had our summer outing too early this year and with the weather this hot, I'm wishing for another outing come April or May. Wish granted! Somebody suggested going to Zambales and when I checked out the place in the net, i told myself i have to get me these awesome pics, too!
This is not going to be our typical R&R . For one thing we are going camping this time - no chill time here folks, we'll have to rough it out! Careful plannin
g is needed here because the place is eerily disconnected from the rest of the world - should there be any untoward incident, it will take a couple of hours to the nearest help which, more often that not, would be too late (so to would be campers - beware, be safe!). With that in mind, the safest time to go there would be on the summer months - unfortunately, that also means more campers sharing the beach and the CR.
Planning starts! We got contacts from a forum (thanks riandrew!) of reliable boatmen in the area and we decided to go with Mang Johnny (heretofore will be called MJ, just because it's cuter. :D). Not only will he provide the boat, he also rents tents, and will practically buy and cook everything you need for the trip for you - so much for careful planning and roughing it out huh, this guy will do everything for you! :P
We took the last trip from Pasay to Iba - make sure you tell the cashier that you'll get off at San Antonio or you will be charged the whole trip. Departure time is 11:30PM. The trip only took 3 hours - we slept the whole time, against the usual 4 hours for day time trip. (On a side note, San Antonio is around 1 hour after Olongapo for those who wishes to know.) At San Antonio, we took a trike going to MJ's place, 30php each because it's nighttime - i guess they have to have night diff too! The tour starts at dawn so we slept the rest of the night at MJ's reception area.
MJ's Reception Area
Rise and shine! A few minutes before we go, MJ gave us some coffee and told us to change into our swim clothes because we'll get wet at Capones. As soon as there was light, we went to the beach to board our boat. The boat was really small! We can only sit in a single file and there's no roof to protect us from the sun - or the waves.
One of MJ's boats
First stop, Camara. This is a small island with huge rock formations. The beach is a combination of corals and sand.
Camara
Great background for portraits, btw!
If you have an underwater camera (or any camera that you are willing to risk getting wet, there are lots of rock formations along the way that you may want to take a shot of. and of course there's the glassy water - yes it's really calm in the early part of the morning, with the awesome reflections that you wouldn't wanna miss).
Next is Capones. This is where the famous lighthouse is. The boats can't get near the beach because of huge rocks that can damage it, so be prepared to get wet. You may opt to stay at the beach, or hike to lighthouse - us being the unbelievably fit people that we were (not!) chose to hike. The beach is composed of huge rocks - reminiscent of takeshis castle challenges, and torn slippers (make sure that your footwear is sturdy enough or you will add to the pile).
Capones beach
There's a staircase in the middle of the hike and then rough trail for the rest.
Stairway to heaven (not!)
There's a small tree at the top which will make a good background for you photo op. Don't forget to take a scenic landscape of the view from the top as well and of course the jumpshots - which we were too tired to take. After that, you'll have to walk a bit further if you want to see the lighthouse. We're already there so why not proceed to the lighthouse,right?
The lighthouse
The spiral staircase is full of rust and it's moving (the bolts that are supposed to be connecting it to the walls is no longer attached). After the spiral staircase, there's a steep ladder with a small opening for the upper floors. And then the last one up is a vertical ladder (which only one of us was able to climb up).
Vertical ladder which we were too tired to climb
Oh well, so much effort for nothing. But if you were able to climb up the top there's another climb for the topmost part of the lighthouse. Again, if you were able to, take a picture of the 360 view from the top.
View from the top
Last stop for the day is our campsite at Nagsasa.
Honey and Mark trying to pitch the tent
Final
ly!(MJ ended up pitching it for us. :P) After breakfast, lunch (MJ's wife is a good cook. the adobong pusit is yummy!) and a short nap (plus a lot of other things not worth mentioning here), we decided to check out the place.
Mountain
Lagoon
Creek
Beach We also improvised an underwater cam (underwater pouch + honey's camphone. :D) so that we can take a photo of the fishes.
Underwater Shots
Don't forget to have a shot at the sunset.
Sunset
Since it's getting dimmer, we decided to prepare for the night (long queue in the CR, i guess same thing occurred to most of the campers at this time. :P)
CR nearest our tent
Surprisingly, there were no mosquitoes and we were cozy at our tent. Ho hum...
We woke up early to catch the sunrise. Most of the campers were also up doing the same thing.
Nagsasa Sunrise
After breakfast (leftover from the day before), we broke camp and went to Anawangin.
Farewell Nagsasa
Last stop, Anawangin. This is where most of the campers are. Compared to Nagsasa, Anawangin is smaller, more crowded (with people and boats) and the current is stronger.
Anawangin Beach
The lagoon is much bigger though and more photogenic (unfortunately, some parts already dried up).
Lagoon
And our battery died. So we didn't stay for long here. Back at San Miguel, we took a shower at MJ's place (we wouldn't want to bring the South China Sea back with us, :p) and then we headed to the market to buy some of the famous Zambales mangoes. After a few minutes and several kilos heavier, we went to the highway to catch a bus ride home.
Farewell, Zambales! Au revoir!
Total Damage for 4pax: P1500 ea
Posts
