Nagsasa, Zambales

March 16-18, 2013

The amazing experience in Anawangin and in my search for undiscovered beaches has made me gone craving for more, and so we head on to this beautiful landscape of Nagsasa cove in Pundaquit, Zambales for us to officially welcome the Summer of 2013.

One thing that will always make me smile from my travels are the funny scenes.

The lady guard in an inspection routine for passengers before entering Victory Liner terminal at Caloocan city: We lined up ready to get our bags inspected;

 The guard asked us courteously “Camping ba? May dala ba kayong butane?”

We all looked at Rex, our companion…

Glad and willing to hand over the butane canister to the guard Rex uttered with utmost sincerity 

“butane? butane? Eto po”

The guard smiled and cordially delivered her godly spiel…

“Ang butane po ay maaring magdulot ng pagsabog habang nasa loob ng bus, kaya mahigpit po naming ipinagbabawal ang pagdadala ng butane, Salamat po”

portable stove with butane

With all honesty we will all answer “NO” to Ate guard when she asked if we brought butane canisters had we known that it was going to be confiscated. We were wowed on how the question was asked and how you can say no to it. But on second thought we appreciate on how the bus company strictly implements the policy, it’s for everyone’s safety after all. 

The original overnight trip has led us to 3 days 2 nights embrace of the cove. We all had common interest in mind in this trip mainly for adventure, but quite not easy to convince our sweet babe that everything in this remote place will be perfectly fine. NO electricity, NO cellphone signal, NO fancy hotels to sleep at night, NO restaurants and we had to set our pace to stone aged lives.

Our boatmen decided to dock and camp us at the right far end side of the cove the “kamp bira-bira” side. It’s on these side of the beach where the trail to get to Kamp bira-bira mountain is, this is also where you will appreciate more the silence of the place compared to the middle part of the cove where most campers set their tents and where a small store is located.

Nagsasa at night
photo courtesy of:
Joey The Pictorialist

And you will be surprised at how the restroom on this side is cleanly maintained with faucet. 

The following day was a very long day for us, sleepy with hang over from heavy drinking that first night we arrived. Stunned at how the time ticks slowly that made us appreciate more the life we were experiencing at that moment compared at how time flies so fast while here in Manila.

The Pictorialiast

And how ideal is it to end the day with a lovely sunset by the beach....

Truly an unforgettable Summer of 2013.

DIRECTIONS/TRANSPO EXPENSE/TRAVEL TIME:

Take Victory Liner bus either in Cubao or Caloocan (Caloocan terminal has a more flexible bus schedule) to San Antonio, Zambales /PHP251.00 (4-5hours travel)

Take a tricycle from San Antonio to Pundaquit (to your boatman or arrange a pick-up with your boatman) /PHP30.00 (10-15mins travel)

Boat from Pundaquit to Nagsasa  /PHP400.00 (2hours travel)

Entrance and overnight fee at PHP150.00

REMINDERS:

You can arrange for your boatman to cook food for you and arrange for corkage fee. This is advisable if your group is tired and hungry from the long travel and you want to just eat right away upon arrival.

Bring canned goods, water, rice, candles, and flashlights, insect repellent, and other valuables you may need just enough for the whole stay. There’s a sari-sari store but goods are sold pricey.

Charge your cellphone and camera or bring spare batteries just in time for you to share pictures online while on the bus going back to Manila.

Be sure to bring tent or ask your boatman if they’re renting out tents for campers.

For campers with private cars, your boatmen will accommodate you for parking at manageable parking rate.

Twice the experience during our Anawangin and now Nagsasa trip, I highly recommend

Our contact boatman, Mang Ed and his wife are accommodating, I asked for them to cook food for us on these 2 occasions and they never failed us, the food was great and honest tally of expenses were explained to us.

Mang Ed: cellphone No. 0929-383-2877