Anawangin Cove

This is not the first time na makasama namin sila Ton & Mau, our first adventure where in Singapore last July 2007. Pero sa tingin ko mas adventurous ito, Although, hindi kami sumakay ng eroplano sumakay naman kami sa bangka. Anawangin is a secluded cove on the coast of Zambales. Secluded kasi it can only be reached by a 30 minutes boat ride or a five hour trek over the mountain of Anawangin. Isa pa, There are no accommodations nor any amenities in Anawangin. So, matutulog kami sa tent at magluluto kami ng pagkain namin, walang tindahan doon para bilhan ng food.  There is only one toilet available and an old fashioned hand cranked water pump (Poso) to provide fresh water. oh diba? Mas Adventurous to. 

Andrew and I arrived at Victory Liner in Sampaloc at around 9:30 pm. Nakapila na si Ton para bumili ng ticket. The ticket cost Php 228. Isang oras at kalahati din kami nag hintay. We left Manila on the last trip for that Friday night. We arrived in San Antonio around 2:00 am Saturday, There we've met  Mang Amboy the friendly tryke driver. (eto po cell number nya 09198814943, Mabait yan. Nag-offer pa nga sya na next time daw na bumalik kami dun pwede na raw kami magdala ng car at dun daw namin i-park sa kanila.)
Sabi niya kain daw muna kami ng goto bago kami pumunta ng Pundaquit Beach. The tricycle ride from San Antonio to Pundaquit cost us Php 25 per person. Ang goto naman mura lang Php 12 lang. 
We got to Pundaquit at around 3:00am but the sea was a bit agitated and Mang Nante the boat owner advised us that we have to wait till sunrise. Pinag stay nya kami sa isa sa mga kubo nya :) So we laid down  and tried to catch some sleep while we waited.
A boat here going to Anawangin cost Php 200 per person going to and fro. A boat can carry 3-4 pax. So off we go on a 30 minute boat ride to Anawangin. Medyo natakot ako kasi ang lakas ng alon. At isa pa di kasi ako marunong lumangoy  We saw several islands and rocks formations along the way. We also passed by the island of Capones and Camara on our right. I also spotted a few caves along the cliffs.Then we made a left turn, We were already at the cove mouth and was heading towards the shore. Around 6:00 am nasa Anawangin na kami. WoW! was all I could say as the morning light made the cove landscape look really amazing. The place is breathtakingly beautiful.   The pristine sand are not as white and powdery as Boracay, (as if naman nakapunta na ako ng Boracay) :) But undoubtedly clean. Which for me makes it deserving to be called a paraiso (paradise). And It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a beach with pine trees along the shore. Sabi ni Andrew di raw pine tree yun, Eh dami ko naman nabasang blog sabi pine trees yun. Pero hindi nga ata kasi wala naman ako nakitang pine combs. hhmmm what ever .... Basta,
ang alam ko it wasn't the typical beach found here in the Philippines. Instead, it was filled with tall evergreen trees. oh diba! Evergreen Trees daw  San naman nanggaling yun? hehehehe
Syanga pala, There are no faucets, electricity, telephones and cellphone signal dun.Andrew and i decided to pitch our tent between trees, wala lang kasi maganda lang syang tingnan sa gitna ng trees .
There is also a crystal clear stream in the cove just a few steps from the beach, the green color in the stream is due to the algae (lumot)... but the water is very clean you can see the reflection of the tall evergreen trees on the surface like you were in enchanted forest.



After we ate our lunch, ang masarap na adobong manok (all drumstick) ni Mau , Mau and i took a rest. Si Ton & Andrew naman nag picture-picture. Naglaro ng mga camera nila. At isa sa na picture-an ni Ton ang lalaking nalunod. Sabi nila tatlo daw yung nalunod, yung dalawa conscious na pero yung isa di pa raw nagigising. Di na namin nalaman kung ano at paano sila nalunod ang nakakatakot eh, Napakaliit ng chance of survival dahil....
---wala pong life guard sa Anawangin,
---30 minutes boatride pa bago madala ang lalaking ito sa Pundaquit (yon eh kung maswerteng may bangkang naghihintay ng pasahero.)
---from pundaquit sa San Marcelino pa ang pinakamalapit na ospital, there is no Hospital in San  Antonio.

Before pa naman kami pumunta dito sa anawangin nabasa ko ang blog tungkol kay MEL.
Pinadala ko agad kay Mau yung link ng blog para mabasa nila ni Ton. Medyo nagkatanungan pa after namin mabasa lahat ang blog. "O, ano natakot na kayo?" tanong ni Ton, syempre "Hindi" sagot namin ni Andrew. Pero sa totoo lang, natakot din talaga ako. Si Mel kasi yung nalunod sa Anawangin noong mahal na araw. Sadly, Mel died.
In my opinion, nakakatakot talaga ang alon sa Anawangin, Kahit swimmer eh di talaga sasantuhin ng malakas na alon at current sa ilalim nito.
Pero sa lahat naman ata ng lugar o dagat ay may kagaya nitong aksidente. Drowning risk in beaches like Anawangin is no different from any other beaches or to any resort. Accident happens during travel, take care of yourself, Don't tease the ocean, be extra careful, always look over one another. Remember your far away from home and always ask guidance from our God.

Maaga kami nag prepare for our dinner, 5pm palang nag start na kami kasi mahirap mag dinner ng walang ilaw.  Ton cooked the rice, in fairness magaling syang magsaing ha, pero with the help of Mau. hehehehe. Si Ton at Andrew din ang naggisa ng corned beef. Nakakatawa kasi pinagsabay nila ang bawang at sibuyas sa paggisa, nasita tuloy sila ni Mau pero katwiran ng dalawang boys, "Maiiba raw ba ang lasa kung magkasabay man o hindi ang bawang at sibuyas." Makipagdebate pa ba sa mga tanging-ina.... Baka gusto ma-outside de Tent later.... hehehehe.
While preparing dinner, syempre may kasamang kulitan at pose sa camera.  Tamang stollen shot kunwari.
Sunday Morning, Time to go home, while waiting for our boat nag jump shot muna kami at konting chikahan kami ni Mau. Si Andrew & Ton nakilala pa nila si Julius, sya daw yung magga-guide sa amin next time na bumalik kami ng Anawangin. Sa ganda kasi ng lugar we are planning talaga bumalik doon pero try naman namin mag trek.