Baguio Meets Bora: A Crowded Paradise

It was a hidden paradise three years ago. Now, it has become a weekend getaway for families and friends. It has become a destination to foreign tourists and a target of company outings.

Its sand is a combination of fine white and shiny black sugar-like consistency. It feels good to walk barefoot on it. There's a swing in front of the beach and hammocks were set up everywhere. There were a couple of stores there that sell stuff at a very high price. A small block of ice costs 60 effing bucks! I thought it has fallen to the ground because it was full of dirt in it. I was told that it was purposely dipped in a box full of rice husk (ipa) to keep it from melting too fast.

At the height of the sun's scorching heat, we dipped in the sea. Someone laughed at the way I swim and he offered to teach me how to swim and breathe properly, so I got a few lessons, but I don't know if I had learned any.

After dipping, it was time to wash off the seawater using groundwater which we had to manually pump out of the ground. A pail of the fetched water was to be taken into the bathroom, so we can wash ourselves up in private.

Socials were to be done after dinner and since we weren't invited to the dinner we believe was part of what we had paid for, we resorted to having our socials in the confines of the tent, sharing childhood stories. A few hours later, we found ourselves headed for the other group's bonfire where the people were warmer.

A few bottles of brandy after, we headed back to our tent for lights out. The itinerary for the next day had to be demanded for.

Island hopping after breakfast and a few pictorial sessions... First stop: Capones Island. A ruin of some sort of an office and a lighthouse was found in the middle of grassland. We reached the island at noontime and left it a few minutes after.

The second island, Camara, has a rocky mountain nearby and we had to swim our way there. When we reached the island that looked like the head of a baby elephant, we decided to rock climb without any equipment but our bare hands, bare feet, and our instinctive sense. At a point on our way to the peak, I heard the ground call for me and I almost let gravity pull me down. It was a death-defying experience! Reaching the top brought a unique feeling of pride. I conquered it!

We had lunch in Camara Island. After a few dips in the sea, we decided to head back to the shore where Mr. Boatman's place is. We washed the seawater up from our bodies at Mr. Boatman's house, had isaw and grilled chicken head, then, took a tricycle ride back to San Antonio where we caught a bus to Olongapo.

Climb 002: A Leisure Pre-Birthday Climb

DESTINATION: Anawangin Cove via Mt. Pundaquit 464 MASL

JUMP-OFF POINT: Brgy. Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales

SPECS: Minor Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail Class 2

CLIMB DATES: March 5-7, 2010

I left work 30 minutes early to be able to catch the last trip to Iba, Zambales. The traffic in the Metro took 45 minutes of our travel time. It was to be expected since it was a Friday night, gimik night for most yuppies.

We arrived in San Antonio at around 3:30am but we had to wait for Manong Boatman until 4 o'clock. I had balut while my companion was having a cigarette break. We stayed at Manong Boatman's house and waited for our climbing guide. He arrived with a few pan de sal which he secured at his side, near his bolo. I had to ask if the place was dangerous and what the bolo was for. The guide assured me that it was for the branches and whatever which would be getting in our way through the trail. I was relieved but I couldn't hide my fear. I knew the bolo was for something else.

We started trekking before the dawn broke. The way was dark so we had to use flashlights. I tried taking pictures but I couldn't get a clear shot. There were orbs in every attempted take.

When the sun finally rose from its slumber, Manong Guide told us about why some of the grasses were burned. I thought it was "kaingin" done by highland farmers. I was wrong. The burning was done by hunters. And what do they hunt? Deer and wild boars. So, that's what the bolo was for. He assured us that there had been no attack to climbers. However, there was a mishap in the past, when it was rainy season. He showed us the riverbed where a few climbers got taken away by a sudden rush of water from the mountains. They got killed by it. No danger at that moment, though, as it was summer and El Nino just gulped almost all the water that the ground could produce.

When we reached the summit, the beautiful cove could already be seen and we could almost taste it. The way down was confusing but a few stone arrangements helped us find our way out. We went ahead of the guide, that's why... A hour and a half after we reached the beach, the group arrived with our guide.