Anawangin Camp - Capones 2012

April 2012 - Finally

Anawangin Camping - Capones side trip


Another package from Metrodeal, which actually not a good one I must say.

DORA and friends explore Anawangin Cove and Capones Island 
in Pundakit, San Antonio Zambales.  

via Victory Liner Bus - Iba Zambales Route

Anawangin is way different compare to my first visit to the cove way back 2009. Today, it looks like an evacuation area by the beach...so crowded and the Beach is not as clear as before too.

But the experience of Camping by the beach was my first, and so far i enjoyed it, no cellphone, no lappy, and my first time to sleep in a tent! hahaha

And since we didn't enjoy the beach of Anawangin, our supposed to be 30 min side-trip to Capones 
became 3 hours! 

our slightly rough boat ride

From the Capones Lighthouse, to the beach side of the Island where we achieved our Tan-Lines! 

Overall, this weekend adventure with my GB friends was Fun-field experience.

And since I have found a new LOVE this year, my name wont be alone on my sand mark this time -- our names together.

Batanes -- Pangarap kna lang ba?

Batanes will always be part of my travel list.

Why is it soooo hard to reach YOU.... is it because you are at the northmost part of the Philippines? 

According to Wikipedia, Batanes is the smallest province of the Philippines, both in terms of population and land area.

But why is it so intriguing... I've heard several people dreaming to visit and explore this island.

Here are some of the interesting places in Batanes --- (I've got them from google)

Marlboro Hills

I am impressed with this place.... it looks like it's from another country....

 so green.... feels like so refreshing.

Ivatan House

Native house of Batanes - Stone Houses in Batanes made of limestones

Ivatan -- Native people of Batanes

One of the endemic clothing of the Ivatans is the vakul. A vakul is a headgear designed to protect the wearer from sun and rain. It is made from abaca fiber of the vuyavuy palm.

 Lighthouse

Lighthouse facing the Pacific Ocean on Mahatao Batan Island, Batanes.

Honesty Store/Coffee shop

Only in Batanes -- this stores expects your total honesty. 

According to the people who've been there, that whenever you get something from the store, you have to write down what you've got on a notebook and drop your payment on the box.

Cool huh!

Batanes Beach

And ofcourse, their Beach

But then again, will it be just a dream? Pangarap kna lang ba, Batanes?

I am just not sure, but it seems like going to Batanes is the most expensive local flight in the country. Accommodation and tour around the Island is very cheap though.

Batanes is accessible by air and served by the following airlines:

SEAIR (http://www.flyseair.com/destinations/batanes)

Sample flight details from Seair (for Feb 2012)

SKYPASADA (http://www.skypasada.com/)

Sample flight details from SkyPasada (for Nov 2011)

 

You see what I'm trying to figure out here? 

Imagine 16K or 12K airfare just for a local flight?! 

It almost cost like a cheap Hongkong Package with Airfare! (*sigh)

Seems like it doesn't fit my budget....

but surely, one of this days... I am going there!

Or maybe I need a Sponsor....Anyone? Hahaha

Corregidor - Invading Historical Island

Corregidor -- April 2008

Corregidor is a small rocky island in the Philippines about 48 kilometers west of Manila which is stragetically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island fortress stands as a memorial for the courage, valor, and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders who bravely held their ground against the overwhelming number of invading Japanese forces during World War II.  And it is also known as "the Rock" it was a key bastion of the Allies during the war.

We booked our trip there via Sun Cruises. You can also see their Package/Rates from here.

Sun Cruises offers Day Tour and Overnight Packages. We decided to avail the Overnight package to maximize the Corregidor Invasion. (Inclusions: Roundtrip ferry trnasfers; shrine, entrance and terminal fees; Guided island tour, (1) buffet lunch on day 1 and overnight accomodation at; Corregidor Inn)-- PHP2,000 + Lights & Sound Show - 150.00 Php and 300Php/head for the guided lateral tour/ghost hunting inside Malinta Tunnel, with sidetrip at the Army Hospital, also includes: Sunset and Sunrise viewing plus early morning easy hike going/passing through Japanese Tunnel.

Day Tour

Day Tour Tram

Day Tour is a guided Tour riding in the Tram -- and drop-off to the ruins of the WWII

Here are some of the highlights on our Corregidor Tour

The Big Guns of Corregidor

The Battle's Ruins

The Middleside Barracks

us @ Cine Corregidor

Cine Corregidor

Me @ one of the big Guns

The Spanish Lighthouse

The Lights and Sound Show inside Malinta Tunnel

Around 2-3PM the Day Tour is done - and the Day Tour peeps will sail back to Manila.  And for the rest who got the Overnight pass, we stayed at Corregidor Inn until the next morning.

And like I mentioned earlier on this post, we paid extra to maximize our experience in this historical island.

The MileLong Barracks

us @ MileLong Barracks

After the day tour, we rest for a while, and the call time for our extra tour is before 5PM -- we're not able to catch a good shot of sunset since it was a bit cloudy that time. Then, we dropped-off at The Army Hospital's Ruins, where I can felt goose bumps, we haven't seen any ghost in there, but.... I can feel them.

The Army Hospital

And we headed up to the Main Event that night --  The Night Lateral Visit at Malinta TunnelThis is done inside the tunnel's unexplored side. A 1,000-bed hospital area during World War II. A walking tour of the tunnel's unexplored side.

Our experience inside Malinta Tunnel that night was really FUN and scary at the same time. It was just the 5 of us plus 1 tour guide.

It was cold inside, not just because we're inside the tunnel, but it really feels like the someone was walking along with us aside from our tour guide

...and yet, it was an Experience!

We went back to the Hotel and grab something for dinner.

TIP: If you are going to get the overnight package to Corregidor, it's better to bring your own food, atleast like cup noodles,biscuits, or chips.... because there are only few stores in the Island, and their Cafeteria foods is quite expensive.

The next morning.... we were up really early to catch the sunrise

sunrise @ Corregidor

the tail of Corregidor Island

We also invade the Japanese Tunnel

some of our pics inside Japanese Tunnel

we found this Marine Boat docked in the Island that day

Of course to max out the Corregidor experience... we spent the rest of the morning under the sun and enjoyed the Beach in the island.

Overall, the Corregidor Invasion is worth it.

It feels good that somehow we're able to see and feel the Battlefield of WWII

...from our History