Zambales Day 2: Capones & Camara

So it's our second day at Zambales. Last night I can't sleep so I decided to sit outside the tent, to my surprised I saw kuya Dwaine watching PLL on his phone. We just sat there for how many minutes, then I noticed that a couple was doing something on the sand (it's not something green guys). Anyway kuya Dwaine got tired and already went inside the tenet to get his sleep, but then for me I just can't sleep so I just continued sitting down there, then finally I felt sleepy already so I went inside the tent, wishing that I won't have the worst sleep at that night. The next morning I woke up with the sun shining so brightly already.

Since our Kuya Bruce and the others will arrive a little late that day, we decided to take a walk on the southern part of the island. Took some photos. I'm not on the mood at that time so I'm frowning.

Finally kuya Bruce and the others have arrived. So we went back to the camp. Pack our things and went directly to the boat and hit the sea to the next two islands.

Since it is our second time riding the boat already some of my colleagues tried the saw-saw paa to the water pose. But I did not try that one because I am scared you could say that.

While we were enjoying the ride, our boat suddenly stopped at middle of nowhere but not too far from Nagsasa. Before we even realized our boatmen already jumped off the water. We were scared as hell, as well as curious on why did they jump. We looked at them, only to find out that there are dead fish floating. Even though we were scared we enjoyed catching those dead fish. HAHA! After a long time. We hit the sea again.

Before we got to Capones island our boatman kuya Bruce asked us which would we prefer the light house or the beach, and so we chose the beach ignoring the poor light house. Anyway we finally arrived at the island. Unlike Nagsasa the beach at Capones is very deep, to the point that you need a life vest to survive. I did not swim long because I just scared. The waves were even big. Demmit!

After the deep beach at Capones, we  went next to Camara island. It was beautiful but when I got off the boat, I got sad. There were o many trash along the shore of the beach. I did not swim at all at that island. My brother told me that rocks under the water were filled with moss. Which is gross!

                                                                                                                                                                        

After the last island. We hit the sea again, this time to go back to Pundakit. In not less than 20 minutes we finally arrived at the Pundakit. Stop there for a little bit. Then it's time to hit the road again from Zambales to Manila for them, but for me it's Zambales to Ilocos! :))

  

Zambales Day 1: Nagsasa Cove

Summer was almost midway through when I and my friends realized that this humid, sunny, sweaty, blistering, happy season should not be wasted on catching up on TV series in front of a laptop. We wanted to get out of summer loser zone so we immediately planned a weekend summer getaway. My friend Joy pointed to Nagsasa Cove which  was foreign to me since I’ve only heard of Anawangin before. I had to do a little research aka Google, and I gladly landed on Lakwatsero’s blog which served as our bible for this trip.

We arrived at Victory Liner Cubao by 3:30AM, just in time for the first trip to Olongapo. However, the first two trips to Olongapo were already full so we got tickets for the 4:30AM trip. Everyone was competitive in getting up the bus since there was no seat assignment. Sitting for about 3 hours was far from heaven, given 3 of us were big guys. We arrived at Olongapo, had breakfast, and tried to poop. Our travel instruction included riding a local bus to Iba where we’ll get dropped off at San Antonio. Then from the public market, we’d ride a tricycle to Pundakit. Good thing a man approached us, given we really looked like tourists with our sunglasses plus big backpacks, offering a van ride direct to Pundakit. It cost us P20 more, but we really didn’t mind since the Cubao-Olongapo trip was a pain in the ass, literally.

An hour after, we were already by the sea in Pundakit. We met up with the boatman in Pearl Island Resort, then wasted no time and prepared for the boat trip to Nagsasa Cove. I was already feeling nervous, given my grave fear of anything. But I knew I couldn’t back out since I was the one who arranged all this. It was more than enough for the 6 of us since the boat could fit in 12 max. Kuya Bruce, our boatman, pulled the motor and our hour and so water travel started.

The view of different islands, rock formations, and bad-ass boatmen was such a treat. The water was so blue, I wanted to taste it. And I actually did. Forgot it was the sea, it was damn salty. I’ve never seen any sea water this clear that you can even see the bottom at times.  We read somewhere that waves can get as crazy as 4 ft high, which when you try to measure is really high. We kinda expected for the  most terrifying travel ever, but it didn’t come. Despite having terrible rainy weather in Manila the day before, the sea was very calm. Half an hour through the ride, I was feeling really sleepy.

And it was time for Touchdown Nagsasa. I was a bit disappointed to see a lot of tents in the area since I was expecting a few campers based on the blogs I’ve read. I guess it’s stupid of me to think I’m the only person who can read travel blogs. We chose our spot, and Kuya Bruce built our tent. Yes, we’re really legit campers. We settled in for a bit, changed to swim clothes, and tried the waters. The water was so shallow. I didn’t realize I was very far from the shore, and I could still touch the floor. It wasn’t long before we got hungry, so we ate our late lunch of.. KFC Bucket Meal. Talk about real legitcampers.

Of course we wouldn’t wanna waste the beauty of the place by not taking pictures around. We walked and tried to get as much nice pictures we can get. Most likely for Facebook consumption when we arrive home.

 Then it started to get dark, and nearby tents were starting their fire to cook dinner. We felt the pressure, so we started attempting top cook too. I was afraid of failing to start the grill so I insisted I stick the hotdogs.  Camille successfully fired the baga. Ed pulled a big log where we could sit in. Marie ate meryenda while we were sweating, with Duane helping her out. Kathy pretended to help in firing the grill and asked us to take a picture of her while doing so. Pro campers, I know. We had kebab + hotdogs for dinner plus bread. We were scared shit to try cooking rice at out first camping experience and eventually starve ourselves.

 

By around 7PM, the whole place was already dark. It was the perfect time to start our bonfire. Even before I put dinner and other food in our grocery list, I was already fantasizing about having smores so we had our marshmallows and graham crackers in our bags. It was too hot to sit by the bonfire given the weather as is wasn’t cold either.

PS: Copyrights http://whorontheworld.com/2012/05/zambales-day-1-nagsasa-cove/

Eating Experience at Friuli! :) (Late)

Hello friends, I'm so nervous right now coz this is my first time posting things like this. HAHA! Anyway, last May 05 this year I went to Manila together with my brother. For what purpose? Siyempre kami ay pupunta sa Nagsasa Cove (which will be my second post). So much for that. Since nakarating kaming Manila ng maaga nagpahinga muna kami sa bahay nila, kasi naman sobrang pagod kami sa bahay. Afterwards I contacted ate Nitu kung may gagawin ba siya that day, sabi niya wala, so we decided na maglaro ng Badminton muna since madaling araw naman ang biyahe namin papuntang Zambales. At that time I'm craving for some Japanese food kaso wala raw malapit. So we decided na sa isang Italian restaurant nalang kami pumunta. We went to Maginhawa Street which is near UP Diliman campus, bumababa kami ng kuya ko sa isang shabby place. I was kinda disappointed when I saw the building. The name of the restaurant was Friuli. Went inside and still the place was so small that I think a claustrophobic person can die. HAHA! JOKE! We waited Nitu before we ordered. After  97898787897898 years dumating rin siya. So nag order na kami. Here's what we ordered:

(food)

(Me and ate Nitu)

(Kuya Ron)

Pasta with malunggay pesto which did much impressed me. Some fried ravioli and I can't remember the other one but it's yummy. I was kinda shocked at that time because I never taught that a shabby looking restaurant can serve food as yummy as these above.

                       After eating we went on a Badminton court to burn what we have just eaten. HAHA!

PS: There are lots of restaurant along Maginhawa street. Ranging from filipino restaurant to other culinary cuisines. I highly recommend this place. Hoping you can visit sometime. :))