Our Anawangin Weekend

I’m an adventurer. I work hard, yes. But I need to recharge every now and then. Every few months or so, I give in to the somber feeling of my feet missing the lapping of the waves… My face longing to feel the touch of the gentle sea breeze… My eyes wanting to see either the sunset's burst of colors or maybe the hope that sunrise brings. In me there is a need to give in to the wanderlust of my soul… Otherwise, my heart will slowly perish from the seemingly aimless tunnel of life I am passing through. And when that happens, I pack my bags and allow life to lead me to places that my otherwise practical self will not dare go. And today is one of them.

I had the foresight of buying cheaper internet deals a few months in advance, for the days when I needed “me time”. So with my blue-moon buddy Pia and my good friend Robert in tow, we joined a group tour offered by McTrail Travel and Tours to the beautiful island of Anawangin. We contacted them a week in advance and they were kind enough to accommodate us in one of their scheduled weekend trips. And it was one hella trip indeed!

My Blue-Moon buddy Pia and good friend Robert in the first stage of the trip.

Scouting trips is so not my thing. I’m a girl used to the creaturely comforts that living in the city offers. I’ve never used an outdoor bathroom, nor pitched a tent… and certainly not sleep in one. I thought I had to be stinking drunk to get any sleep at all. To my surprise, this weekend proved to be the most comfortable vacation spot I’ve been to in the last 5 years.

For an additional minimal fee (1k/pax), we were offered a private van that would take us straight to the Pundaquit port, stopping by San Antonio to buy supplies for our guides and for us, a chance to pay homage to the San Antonio Church. We initially planned on riding the 11pm Victory Liner Bus to Olongapo, then the bus ride to San Antonio, Zambales. From there, we were to ride another tricycle going to Pundaquit. But, surprise surprise… we ended up sleeping comfortably in a luxury, air-conditioned van with music in the background… J

San Antonio Church

Next we rode the Bangka going to Anawangin, with a 20-minutes stop in Capones Island for some photo ops, which we did so enjoyably. We left Eton Centris Station at 3am, arrived in San Antonio at 6:30am, rode the Bangka at 7:30am and arrived in Anawangin at 9:00am.

First Glimpse of Anawangin Cove

9:00am – Siesta Time

Instead of us hankering about to prepare lunch, our thoughtful guides installed the tents so we can rest while they are preparing our food. We napped a bit, teased and bantered with each other, stayed in the tent (where we almost got cooked because Pia positioned the tent directly under the sun) and waited. At 11:30am, we are served with a generous helping of Fried Pork Chops, lotsa rice and veggie sidings.

We ate first, then took pictures later. Sorry guys.. the food was too good to keep waiting :)

After lunch, we relaxed and contemplated on whether we wanted to wait for the sun to go down before we go swimming, or if we want to join the group that would go trekking up the mountain to see an aerial view of the island. Because we are here to relax (and Pia’s knees are old… haha), we decided to go swimming/snorkeling instead. Yeah, we’re tamad! Lol

We went swimming and found this small cave near the far side of the island where we got brave enough to remove all (except the bare necessities hahaha). The water is so clear you can practically see the fishes that are swimming very near the sand. The sand is so fine you can use it for body scrub. The waves are gentle and it feels like they are soothing your body with their subtle motions. The air is devoid of any pollution except for the smell of wood being used for cooking. Life is soooo good!

The Camp Area

fine, white sand on my feet!

When the group came back from trekking, we proceeded to get drunk! The good thing about joiner tours is that you meet people that you will otherwise not cross paths with under usual circumstances. You meet young professionals from different fields of specializations. We are from the IT industry, the group also have nurses, BPO folks and others that I forgot to ask…Even if you travel alone, you will not feel alone. You can meet new friends, maybe your special someone, along the way… Well, once can hope. J

Dinner was Pork Sinigang and unlimited rice again. I swear, you can get fat in 2 days from all the feeding they do. We were drinking with the other joiners and our coordinators, and we ended up sharing our junk food, our alcohol, the guide’s “pulutan” and in the process, learning about each other too.

5am - STAR GAZING!!

It’s the best time to go stargazing! One of our guides, Darius, was kind enough to exchange the warm cocoon of his sleeping mat, take it near the water’s edge and share it with me. I laid there watching the moon, the stars and the slow ascent of the sun in the distant horizon while he slept on the other side of the big mat. He was snoring, I think… haha. But I was oblivious to it because music is blaring in my headset.

Sunset View, Jan 30 - 5:55 pm

Sunrise view, Jan 31 - 6:11 am

At 9am, we were invited to breakfast of coffee, egg, 2 hotdogs, a very delicious heaping of fried rice and fried eggplant as side dish. And the pounds keep accumulating in my belly!! Jeez

We left Anawangin at 1030am, arrived in San Antonio at 11:30. After which, we went on a sidetrip to Subic Duty Free to buy pasalubong. By 5pm, we’re back in Manila.

This trip may not be comfortable by standards because there were no beds and has limited privacy, but the adventure we had was priceless. We were well taken-cared of by the staff of McTrail Travels, all our needs anticipated in advance. We were told of each step of the trip and the food was not scrimped… we ate until we can’t eat anymore. Kudos to them for a job well done!

Our Guides/Cooks/Coordinators Kuya Marcel and Darius

Boat ride going back to San Antonio - and yes, we made new friends!

Truly, waking up with the warmth of the early sun on my face, sand on my feet, smell of the ocean, the feel of the refreshing air and the sound of the calm waves of the sea is such a blessing. Sensory overload yes, but truly a reason to be thankful for and to continue on with life, one day at a time.

NOTE:

McTrail Travel and Tours offers affordable exclusive and private tours that are highly recommended. You can visit their Facebook Page (link below) for their offered tours. I promise, it’s worth it!

McTrail Travel and Tours

Many thanks as well to our guides – Marcel, Joms and Darius. Our weekend was very fruitful and relaxing. We will not hesitate to avail of your services again in the future. J

Anawangin Joiners Tour Jan 30 - 31