Exploring is what we humans are made for. We are designed to roam the planet and to take care of it. We are entitled with great abilities and an enormous responsibility for our future generation. A responsibility to leave no trace of our earthly infestations. 

The ocean cures everything, even our souls. 

We headed to Anawangin Cove with excitement. Yes! We are going to taste the ocean once again and get to breathe fresh air provided by the trees. We went there with high hopes of forgetting our burdens and relieve the stress out of the system we live in.  

It's a perfect mood for everyone when we get into the van. We even get to meet a German guy who we wished fancy our friend Grinasour aka Ditay Istariray aka Grina aka Grinabel (well, she has lots of names). 

For a group of 8, we contributed 2,000 Php each and that includes the following:

Expensive it is, but we are that so desperate to escape the city with comfort. 

I wanna dance with Zambales, I wanna feel the beat in Zambales

It was 6:00 in the morning, when we arrived at Pundaquit shore. 4 hours drive from the Metro, the view will never get you bored, well depends on the type of view you are interested with. 

There was a 15 to 30 minutes wait time before the boat arrived, so I had the chance to get to know the locals and their perspective of tourism. You'll get to see lots of transaction from selling local goods to haggling boat prices so do not waste the chance to learn from it.

The boat ride from Pundaquit shore to Anawangin cove takes for about 15 minutes. I highly suggest you to be observant with the water as there are sea turtles lurking. I personally saw twice and there was even an instance where it showed up its head like as if its bidding goodbye to us.  

Anawangin ko sa habang buhay, makapiling ka, makasama ka, yan ang Anawangin ko

All tents up, we settled in Anawangin cove 8:00 in the morning. I have lots of questions in my mind during that time. 

I felt like the area was so congested. I had thoughts that maybe the government should limit people from visiting. 

We then walk the shore and discovered that there are lots of fences everywhere to determine ones property. ARGH!!! IT IS PRIVATIZED!!!

If you wish to have photos with the bulk of pine trees behind you, there is an entrance fee. 

If you wish to see the lake you saw on your facebook friends photos, you must pay an entrance fee. 

If you wish to climb the mountain safely, you need to pay an entrance fee again! 

It's not that we don't want to pay, but who would want to pay, when they say that some of your payments will go to place maintenance, but you see the following: 

Warning! These images can be very disturbing! Oh well.

We even discovered where they get the woods they are selling 80php per bundle for people to have their bonfire at night. It was like a crematory place for trees and indeed depressing.

I can't just blame the locals. The visitors has their responsibilities as well. Being prepared and knowing where you are exactly going is not that of a big deal at all and bringing your own trash bag would not be that of a burden to your baggage as well. 

Also, those people who wants to sleep and get drunk at the beach should know that whatever they leave there, even if its as small as a cigarette butt creates big impact to the environment. Those plastic you plant in the sand will never grow into a big tree! You shouldn't carry your filthy habits when visiting areas like this. You're not stupid, so you know what I mean.  

It's the climb.

Everything looks good above, I hope this is also what it looks like below. We climb the mountain nearby to feel nearer to God and to thank him for his creations. For a moment, I stayed silent and apologized for the contribution we made for the slow slaughter of nature. I felt like I'm drawn nearer to discovering my purpose. Nuks! On a much serious note, even if it's just a small climb, it allows me to cast all the worries I have for the future and for such I am thankful.

Leave no Trace!

It is good to know that there are plenty of cheap options in exploring different places nowadays. Making the impossible, possible. I just hope, that each of us can go as far as we can be without forgetting our purpose: TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PLANET.

As the saying goes, take nothing but photos, leave nothing, but memories.  Leave no trace, fulfill your purpose. 

Have fun on your next adventure! #JOTG