Monday, November 3, 2008

Zambales’ Hidden Treasures: Camara and Capones Islands and Anawangin Cove




View of mountain slopes and cloud formations from Camara Island


Toni just came from Canada for a vacation and as we all wanted to have an escape, Liz suggested to visit a place in San Antonio, Zambales. We slept in Weiss’ house then got ready for a trip with Liz, Toni, Mitch, Mabeth, Johann and JC. Hmmm..Ben was out of sight. As we reached Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, we stayed at Nena’s Resort for that would be our staging point going to different islands nearby.




Rock formations in Camara Island


First stop, we took a boat ride going to Camara Island. It’s the nearest island in Pundaquit where we grilled our own lunch as we reminisced our college days. It was a small island that boasts of unspoiled surroundings. After lunch and petiks moments, we took another boat ride going to Capones Island.



Shot during one of my 'serenity walks' in Camara Island

Rocks look like a human face




Tilapia...(From Weiss' camera)


Capones Island has a lighthouse but unfortunately we only saw if from a far because we arrived there late and it may take several minutes to reach the lighthouse. I noticed unique rock formations and the same clean surroundings. We took a different route going back to Pundaquit to better appreciate Capones and Camara Islands.

Capones Island







Rock formations in Capones Island (hgarcis)



That night, we gazed through the stars after a night of booze while we remembered the ups and downs of college life. Ahahah…The following day, we headed to Anawangin Cove. It’s a bit far from the two other islands but it was worth the ride. It was undeveloped. The boatman even talked to one of the locals just to inform them of our presence. We also cooked our own lunch as we enjoyed the beach and the forest that surrounds the area. It was a perfect picture of nature’s wonder! There’s the beach, forest and mountain as your back drop. It’s sad to see though that some of the forest areas were now gone.


Pine trees are said to grew after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Pine trees in Anawangin Cove along the river.



Some of my college friends. Author second from left. (Taken from Toni's camera)




Nice but I wonder what happened on the hill at the back




White sands are said to come from lahar







Shot during one of my 'serenity walks' along the cove


We should have camped out in Anawangin but time did not allow it. But I look forward going back to Anawangin. We had dinner in Subic on our way home; arrived late in Manila and rushed to bed coz in a few hours I had to wake up to work again. Hay…

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