For a very long time I have been wanting to experience a getaway, I've never been to Boracay nor to Puerto Galera but I think I already found the perfect one, Anawangin cove.
Several of my co-staffs from St. Luke's are fond of climbing mountains, trekking and nature tripping, and so i've heard stories of a plan to trek then lay on the sands afterwards. I thought, that would be nice! I definitely want to come.
It was the 22nd day of November of 2008, Saturday, 2:30 PM, Charisse, Welmar and MJ were already there at the cove since they left Friday night for a night trek. I was supposed to go with them but my schedule won't permit. We, I, Laine, Jhim, Fhiley, Rizza, Mitch and her son left Caloocan in bus to San Antonio, Zambales. It was a long ride, if I can still remember I think the fare was 235 PhP. It was a good 4-hour trip or so. Upon arriving at San Antonio proper (the town is flanked with a row of 2-storey establishments and a long road island). There we took a tricycle ride, 30 Php each to Brgy. Pundaquit. Pundaquit is the jump-off for mountaineers if they are going to traverse Mt. Pundaquit/ Mt. Anawangin to Anawangin cove. But in our case, a traverse is not feasible even with a guide since only Jhim is experienced. Safety first! At Pundaquit we hopped onto a pumpboat to the cove. The night is so dark, the sea is damn calm, the the air is icy cold. Moreover, as we ride the waters, crystal splashes gleam underneath the moon's light, definitely enchanting. It is around 9PM, all I can see are the night shadows casted over the dark desert. Momentarily, we were silenced. Then after like 20 minutes of nothingess we had a glimpse of mini chards towards our route, this should be the cove. I don't know what to say since I can't picture out the view since it is so dark. We can hear people jamming on the sands as we hopped out of the pump boats, some of them are already tipsy. Now the problem is, where are our friends who are supposed to be somewhere along the shoreline and by the stars guidance I think it's a few kilometers long. Good thing the boat guys knows where they are. Upon reaching our camp the bonfire were already set, as well as the grillery. We immediatelly pitched our tents, lucky for me I don't have to pitch any since I don't have a tent but where will I sleep? Anyways, we had our group dinner under the starry skies then we went near the seashore and laid on the sands to feel the evening glory of the cool wind and strong waves. Nearby, are our fellow backpackes who were already having fun courtesy of alcohol. Will a night pass without one? We drank but we wern't drunk that night, but I felt exhaustion, maybe because of the long trip. I laid on a bamboo seat as my eyes shut. I was told that there is an empty tent at the end of our campsite, though I'm so tired to walk, I did. I went inside that tent and slept my worries away.
Several of my co-staffs from St. Luke's are fond of climbing mountains, trekking and nature tripping, and so i've heard stories of a plan to trek then lay on the sands afterwards. I thought, that would be nice! I definitely want to come.
It was the 22nd day of November of 2008, Saturday, 2:30 PM, Charisse, Welmar and MJ were already there at the cove since they left Friday night for a night trek. I was supposed to go with them but my schedule won't permit. We, I, Laine, Jhim, Fhiley, Rizza, Mitch and her son left Caloocan in bus to San Antonio, Zambales. It was a long ride, if I can still remember I think the fare was 235 PhP. It was a good 4-hour trip or so. Upon arriving at San Antonio proper (the town is flanked with a row of 2-storey establishments and a long road island). There we took a tricycle ride, 30 Php each to Brgy. Pundaquit. Pundaquit is the jump-off for mountaineers if they are going to traverse Mt. Pundaquit/ Mt. Anawangin to Anawangin cove. But in our case, a traverse is not feasible even with a guide since only Jhim is experienced. Safety first! At Pundaquit we hopped onto a pumpboat to the cove. The night is so dark, the sea is damn calm, the the air is icy cold. Moreover, as we ride the waters, crystal splashes gleam underneath the moon's light, definitely enchanting. It is around 9PM, all I can see are the night shadows casted over the dark desert. Momentarily, we were silenced. Then after like 20 minutes of nothingess we had a glimpse of mini chards towards our route, this should be the cove. I don't know what to say since I can't picture out the view since it is so dark. We can hear people jamming on the sands as we hopped out of the pump boats, some of them are already tipsy. Now the problem is, where are our friends who are supposed to be somewhere along the shoreline and by the stars guidance I think it's a few kilometers long. Good thing the boat guys knows where they are. Upon reaching our camp the bonfire were already set, as well as the grillery. We immediatelly pitched our tents, lucky for me I don't have to pitch any since I don't have a tent but where will I sleep? Anyways, we had our group dinner under the starry skies then we went near the seashore and laid on the sands to feel the evening glory of the cool wind and strong waves. Nearby, are our fellow backpackes who were already having fun courtesy of alcohol. Will a night pass without one? We drank but we wern't drunk that night, but I felt exhaustion, maybe because of the long trip. I laid on a bamboo seat as my eyes shut. I was told that there is an empty tent at the end of our campsite, though I'm so tired to walk, I did. I went inside that tent and slept my worries away.
The next morning, November 23rd, I was very surprised with what I saw upon waking up! This is what they were talking about, the beauty of Anawangin cove! The sun rose on the leftmost part of the cove (facing the sea) and it illuminated the rightmost part of the grassland terrain. Stunning, since it reflected an orange vibrancy that will surely amuse you. I couldn't help but to capture the moment. (see the video)
But I have to pass on feeling the entire moment since I'm sure that the beauty won't go anyways, better have breakfast first to enjoy, scout and own the cove. We had a full breakfast for energy. Afterwards, we walked to the leftmost part of the cove, we passed by a body of water that we thought at that time were a mini-lake, then after a long stretch of shoreline is a breakwater, a connection between a sea and a river. There we had our pictorial! And man, talk about privacy, we were the only people there, we can all die at once and no one will know, of course only after we decay. Kidding aside, the view was still stunning, I sat on a rock to have my pictures taken. Beauty. Then after getting tired of picture taking we went uphill to get a greater view of the cove. It was a 10 minute trek from the breakwater. It wasn't so steep so it is kind of easy to climb. Upon reaching the mini-summit i whispered, "Magnificent." And it's true!
After the trek we went went to to the lake-like river bend. I felt an eerieness at first since it was like not flowing and there were tall trees everywhere but we had fun since we laughed on how we are going to cross the algae-rich waters, there might be a frog lurking somewhere beneath the freshwater! Aye! Afterwards ,we went back to our campsite to have our lunch. Come afternoon... Siyesta! But... there's still more! We haven't seen the rightmost part of the cove and it is inviting because the thin Agoho trees are planted in line across the shoreline, almost in a very straight line and in rows! What's more inviting is the rocky side of the mountain where you can climb to see the left side of the cove. Me and my bestfriend Ellaine stayed in a very big rock to get a tan while eyeing our friends as they swam on the leftmost part of the cove. After an hour or so of photo op we went back to the leftmost side of the cove to have a dip on the shallow seashore as the other group climbed the mini-summit. There were little fishes and jellyfishes on the shore. The waves are just right, not strong, not placid.
After discovering so much of Anawangin, we had to go. It is almost 5 in the afternoon, the pumpboats are at the shoreline and we can't leave when the darkness falls, anyways most of the tourists have left the cove earlier than us. After packing all our stuffs we had our pictures taken first the the lined Agoho trees. The trip back to Brgy. Pundaquit is equally stunning. We saw islands that pokes out of the mid-sea and whole part of the shoreline between Anawangin cove ant Pundaquit Beach. It was such a nice getaway that I forgot how did we went on after the boat ride, how was the trip back home... but what I know is that it wasn't the last.
True enough we went back to Anawangin January this year (with Charisse, Welmar, Benjo, Che, Cocoy, Julius, Kiko, Fhiley, Dr. N. Cruz and his men). This time we did a mountain traverse from Brgy. Pundaquit to Anawangin cove (see similar post It's been a while...). The trek was kind of hard for me because it was my first time and furthermore it started at night. The trail is not consistent in a way, it went up, then down, bamboo trees, other small trees and bushes are all over and are literally in the way. Rocks are everywhere. I tripped so many times. Then comes the dry rivers where we have to pass MASSIVE rock formations. There was a moment I had with my buddy Fhiley wherein we can almost see the summit but we can't climb no more, we were super exhausted. Our O2 saturations are depleted. But together we stepped up like a baby! Upon reaching the summit, just in time for the sunrise, the stress were all gone! Stunning view from above! I can almost smell the sea breeze! But what caught my attention is the pyramid like land formation just before the cove, beyond the forest. The guide told us that it was manmade since the area was a farm back then for Tamaraws. We had our breakfast on the summit before completing the traverse down to the cove. Just an insider, the summit where we laid upon wasn't really the true summit, it is way up on the left if your facing the cove. Some of the group went there, except me, I'm too tired. Anyways we went down and it was scorching hot! It was the same trail, rocky, but the difference is it's now going down. Relatively, going down would be much faster but as time goes by all I could think of is that I'm going to lay on the sands of Anawangin and sleep the bodyache away. I'm getting tired and bored of the trek. But along the trek we passed by another dry river, this stip does have truly MASSIVE rocks. the guid etold us that during rainy season a rapid stream of water rages the river bend and may tourists lives were claimed by passing the angry stream. Luckily, it's January. We continued the trek and an hour after the beach welcomed us.
Still, I'm mesmerized by the beauty of nature, privacy and enchantment that Anawangin Cove offered us the first time.
Here are the albums of our Anawangin getaways:
Anawangin Cove (November 2008)
Anawangin Cove (November 2008)
