3/28/08

Our bonfire was a an abundant supply of fallen palm leaves and dried up, beached seaweeds.

Kuya Kolet: “Baliwala naman yang mga ahas. Hindi naman nila kayang gumalaw sa buhangin.”

Leia: “Eh bakit sa Discovery Channel o kaya sa National Geographic kaya nila.”

Rex: “Sa desyerto pa nga eh!”

Kuya Kolet: “Ah, ganun ba?”

Ced: “Hayaan niyo na, mas malaki naman tayo sa kanila eh.”

Rex: “Diba takot sila apoy?”

Ced: “Ewan. Diba na-a-attract nga sila sa init?”

Time for socials a.k.a. drinks. Being the cheapskates that we were, we burned our throats with none other than 2 bottles of GSM 4×4! It was a good thing that Kuya Kolet didn’t drink, but I think it he had a hard time sleeping because we were too noisy.

And because we noticed we lacked group pics, we shot some. I mean we shot alot.

Four Drunks and An Abused Inflatable Red Horse.

It was a long and fun night to say the least. We were more presentable / web-worthy the following morning. Here we are basking in the morning glow.

Here are some photos of our campsite and us breaking camp.

And a final shot of Snake Island.

I know I’ll be back.

Snake Island or BUST!

3/27/08

Leia asked me if her beach preference standards were too high. We probably have the same standards, I replied, having seen many beaches already.

“Mababaw lang naman ang kaligayahan ko. Basta malinis, hindi maingay, kaunti ang tao. Kahit nga hindi white sand, basta malinaw ang tubig, ayos na.”

When you’ve visited almost all the popular beaches around, and you really are a natural beach bum, you’ll probably develop an indeliberate but steady stream of consciousness dedicated towards finding that next ultimate beach. Hoping that you’ll top, if not equal, your last beach experience, risking money, safety and logic along the way. Such is the path needed to attain beach nirvana.

I guess it also comes with age (Haha!). At first we’re drawn to the peopled beaches, Boracay and Puerto Galera come to mind, what with their throbbing beats and boozed-out nights. But pretty soon all the noise just gets old, you become territorial and you are relegated to the fundamentals.

Frustration was already written all over our faces after visiting Governor’s Island, Quezon Island and Children’s Island. The three islands stood for everything we were avoiding! On the way though, we chanced upon this small island with a small piece of shore. It had already one tent pitched on it and another group was beginning to set-up their tent. We decided to join the fun thinking that if ever the tide claims our campsite at least we would have companions.

When we disembarked our boat it was already drizzling and we were losing the sun fast. So immediately, Rex and I began pitching the 2 tents while Leia and Ma-ann began setting up our kitchen. I was looking forward to shooting the sunset but the drizzle prompted my camera to stay dry in the tent. I had lots of shots earlier anyway.

Our journey began 10PM the night before, scrambling for a ride in Cubao. Eating siopao in Chowking Dagupan and working our way throughout Bolinao, Alaminos and the Hundred Islands. My shirt reeked of sun and sweat and white salt maps were already showing. With that, I lunged for the gin-clear waters and impossibly fine sands of Scout Island.

It was like a reset button. Forget sleep deprivation. Forget fatigue. It was one of the most organic feelings I felt in a long time. RESET.

After wolfing down a generous serving of rice and corned beef, we started downing our cheap and reliable GSM 4×4 which was really funny because our next door campers were drinking Absolut Kurant, which they shared along with their singkamas (turnips) and tahong. We humbly shared back our cheap gin and our mangoes. Later into the night our group and theirs even shared 3 Bangus (milkfish) and 1 Yellow Fin (tuna) we bought from a visiting fisherman. Here’s to the kindness of strangers.

That moonlit night we kept on coming back to the clear, clear water to cool down and rinse off the fine, fine sand which kept on attaching to us. An REM song comes to mind.

“Night swimming deserves a quiet night.”

With rested, albeit mildly under the influence, minds, we retreated back to our tents and called it a night.

Here’s a picture (without me) the day after.

Rex, Ma-ann, Denise, Dino, Beth and Leia.

This is Scout Island. Our home for the first night.

Note: The boatmen will tell you that camping is not allowed on the undeveloped islands but it is. Just argue your way.

We spotted other undeveloped islands which looked like good, clean campsites too. Some of these are Romulo Island, Lopez Island, Marta’s Island and Marcos Island. I’m just not sure how the tides behave. I’m sure there are many more since there are 123 islands in total. If you choose Governor’s, Children’s or Quezon, know that you have been warned.

And if you’re camping be aware that they charge up to P200 per pitched tent per night and a certain entrance fee. Also, make it a point to bring with you everything you came in with.

A clean campsite is a happy campsite.