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Showing posts with label friend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friend. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Starting Summer in the Philippines as Early as February

Never would you miss out a fun in an island where you will not seek for the sun, sand, beach, and a little of those fun and memorable activities. Anawangin Cove, San Antonio, Zambales is one of the place where you can bask yourself under the sun, enjoy the beach, and the rigorous activities you can do such as climbing, snorkeling, and enjoying its nature's beauty.

As early as 7 we are all up and started our breakfast. Some ran along the Anawangin beach and some enjoyed sunrise watching. It was a different experience as we turned down our tents and waved goodbye to Anawangin Cove as our sail sets for Capones Grande Island or also known as Faro de Punta Capones. While our pump boat pushes its way against the waves, we have short discussions about the trees that grow along the Anawangin beach which was thought off as pine trees. NO! it’s not a pine tree but another member of the Plantae kingdom, Pinophyta division, and Pinopsida class called the Conifers or Agoho, which adds mystery on the place.

View at the docking station where some adventurers were taking photos near the cliff.
   

The docking station and the tip of the lighthouse at Faro de Punta Capones

Rhei enjoying the boat ride to Capones Grande Island and a view of the Capones Lighthouse tip.
A shot from our boat seeing through clear waters of Capones Island the beautyof corals laying magnificently and greeting us as our boats near docking.
    


The docking area at Faro de Punta Capones.
We docked at Capones Grande Island, went down our pump boat and get wet before we can really step on the islands dry area to climb the island and atop the historic lighthouse which guides international vessels to Subic Bay coming from the north to northwest to Manila Bay. It’s height is 65.0 ft. with a range of 25 nautical mile (46 km) which was constructed by brick masonry and was first lit in August 1, 1890.


We went up at the lighthouse feeling the creeps and excitement, for some will be fear due to its height. Upon reaching the top, you will see a magnificent view of the whole island.
 
Uphill climb at Faro de Punta Capones.
A bottom view of the Faro de Punta Capones from first ten steps of the docking station.
La Entrada - the entrance of the Capones Lighthouse with intricate bolted floral design.
A view of the lighthouse from the entrance.
Before we enter the lighthouse, I took another photo of it where you can see people at the viewing deck.
A shattered window of the Capones Lighthouse.

Kuya Mike and Rhei resting along the intricate staircase of the tower, using the window sleeves as their chairs.

A view of the unattached staircase with intricate details in a whole from floor next to the Capones Lighthouse's lamp.

Wholes around the Capones Lighthouse like those of the submarines and marine vessels giving a magnificent telescopic view of the island.

Top view of the Capones Lighthouse Garrison which was wrecked by previous typhoons.

Marz enjoying a meadow photo shoot with her rasta sarong blown by Capones Island breeze.

After enjoying the view we were asked to go down and this ends our Zambales tour. Sad as we will be back on our regular working lives, we are still happy as we have experienced yet another view of the Philippines and shove this off to our memory banks and treasure chests.  In addition, earning new friends is added atop the list for this trip.

This is just the start of my summer and will share more in the next post!

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Thanks! 

-Yu

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

My First Climb...

“Every height is completed by pain, striving, and out winning. Every step may take a gulp of water, a gasp of air, and perseverance.” This I told myself after accomplishing my first climb.  

I was contacted by my high school friend Sisylson who invited me to join them on their next climb while we circle UP ovals on a Sunday or Saturday night basis with our barkada <group of friends>. I think it’s time for me to take it up to the next level: mountaineering! Cool idea but do I have the stamina to go for it. They shoot me the email and I have agreed to join them. It was a booking with TriPinas, a local mountaineering firm, that organize and put into a package a mountaineering activity. To cut this short, our destination: Pundakit (Pundaquit), Zambales for the price of Php 1,750.00 with additional Php 100.00 for the tent rent and Php 450.00 for the food. Date: February 08-09, 2014 which a day in-debt from my work, needing to file for a time-off on the 7th for a person working at night where our trips leave at 2:30AM of the 8th.

In preparation for this climb, note that it is my first, I ran almost every day in our office gym after work and in UP oval on Saturday or Sunday to build stamina and leg strength. Bought a climbing sandal from Tribu which I advise 100% after the trip NOT TO BUY because its plastic buckles can easily be chipped. Aside from that climbing Pundakit trail requires better footwear. I suggest you buy close mountaineering shoes. I got the following prepared for myself:
  • Biker’s sleeves (rash guards will work)
  • Mountaineering pants (best if you wear longer or at least with inner leggings to prevent from getting rashes or cuts from grasses)
  • Comfortable clothing (cotton T-shrits)
  • Sunscreen (it does not mean you're going to the beach that's why you need it, exposure to the sun is the real reasons...skin cancer is a no no)
  • Head gear (ask me where you can get a cheap 21 ways head-gear.
  • Hat/cap (I did not wear it but I have one on my rubberducky sling bag) <Thanks ate Eileen Penafiel for the cap you’ve given me> ;)
  • 2-3 liters of drinking water
  • Face towel
  • Camera
  • Energy bar (Thanks Japi for sharing your treats! Every time I see a Jolly bar I remember you!)
  • GREAT COMPANY! <miss you all guys!>
  • I also got some can goods for our overnight stay at Anawangin Cove. (more to read…)


We took off at McDonalds El Pueblo in Ortigas with Kuya Mike (our guide and father of Anne who owns triPinas) around 2:30 AM. Saving our energies with a feel of new friends to be harvested after this trip, we slept ourselves during the road trip. It was a bumpy ride due to some driver’s uncomfortable feeling but we still arrived at San Antonio, Zambalez safe and whole around 6:30. We are advised to have our breakfast at a local eatery where I have a bowl of porridge with a hard-boiled egg. It was still a-not-so-cold morning which a hot coffee is a good zip. We were then advised that there were boatmen who will take our belongings to Anawangin Cove. <If we only knew, we could have brought our fridge… hihihi… you know what I mean! :D>

We started our hike around 7AM accompanied by Kuya Leoncio, the chief of local Barangay tanod. <wow! I felt relieved we are in good hands.> Sandy pathway leads us to the opening of the mountain trail showing a picturesque view of the area. We saw some housing projects which stands unoccupied pasted in a breath taking Mountain View background. You’ll never expect that a postcard view lays lively in front of you.

After the sandy path you will start to get a different view of which leads to a deeper forested-rocky place. The hike started to shift from an easy sandy to loamy – rocky road which you are welcomed by a portal-like trees formed in triangular pillar-like structures. It was the cool air that made not an eerie but more of a relax feelings.

Kuya Leoncio then led us to the mountain forest where you will find a not so noticeable red arrow marking in a stone pile and the tree. There we found an almost dried small river which did not surpass the expectation of we walking on a river and we passed another river which they called “Malakas” simple because the current in that river is strong when it’s raining. Mind you, it was dry empty when we crossed it, I may call it a river of round stones. We rested for a few as our guides switched places and Sir Mike, Ate Anne’s (owner of TriPinas) dad, lead the first bunch of the hikers while Kuya Leoncio became the sweeper.

The trek became harder as we got to higher altitude in the midday in a denuded mountain due to “kaingin” or forest fire. We gulped more water and dug in some energy bars as we stepped on lose clay grounds or crumbled stones. It was passed half morning when we reached the summit and the view was remarkable. Seeing Nagsasa Cove in a different perspective gave you more of the vicinity’s beauty. We took lots of pictures and I did my signature jump the “Buddha Jump” which Sisylson took perfectly using a burst shot in his GoPro. Then we proceed to again a different view of the mountain and a different terrain. Another switch of place by our hiking guides and we went down Pundaquit mountain chasing the sea breeze in a steep-sharp-edged-rough stone trail. This time it was really difficult with all the high weeds which could cut your skin and the sticky-slimy feeling of wet clay in your feet which snaps my trekking sandals. We made a remarkably six stops to rest as we climb down the mountain to again another river of stones. Kuya Leoncio guided 9 members of the hikers and 3 of us went missing. It was really hard to find the way as there are no markings on the round stones, not even foot prints are left not unless you reach the sandy area. There were 5 of us who first came to the campsite enjoying the view; Japi, Alvin, Me, Sisylson, Ellai, and Badeth. We then asked Kuya Leoncio to get those 3 people who were left as we are not sure if they went missing or if Sir Mike was able to find them along their ways as it has been 10 – 15 minutes since we haven’t heard or seen them. It took another amount of time waiting so we decided resting while Japi pitch her tents then we carried our feet to do the same thing. Sighting Rhei, Lani, and Tophet after same amount of minutes made we more comfortable eating ice cream on sticks and quenching our thirst with lots of water. Then Sir Mike with Mitch and Marz arrived then rested for a while laughed at some joke and a get-to-know-each-other activity then we prepped for our lunch. After the tiring but fun trek and filled stomach, we bathe ourselves in the welcoming waters of Nagsasa Cove and bask ourselves with sun’s rays until it went to sleep.

At night, restless we are we cleaned up and food was prepared in a boodle fight table which we ate a shared meal which each of the hiking members brought with them for the said night. Then we had some drinks over a bonfire before some of us went to sleep while some went for a walk along the shores to gaze the stars, the Dinoflagellates,  and of course to further know those whom we just came along with today then we walked back to our camps and called it a day.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

A Vase's Value



A girl who worked for an artifact store found the vase and took it to the store. The store owner then took the vase to the auction. The vase was first called for 500USD. No one called for it as the vase lost its real beauty. There were no bidders who gave money to it. So then put the vase back to the storeroom and decided never to include the vase to the auction anymore. The potters then got a shipment request from the artifact store. So they went and deliver 100 pieces of cloned china vase that will be sold in the auction.  One of the potters then noticed the vase and said “I know this vase. I can feel it’s someone I knew before.” Then he moved closer and he shouted in amazement and called the other potter. The other potter then exclaimed, “It’s our long lost vase. The first that we ever made.” So they have decided to get the vase and take it back home at the price of 1USD.