Life Lessons From My First Solo Travel to The Most Famous Cove In Luzon

“Traveling alone affords the individual solitude in order to step out of society’s role-playing games” Cameron Carstin.

It’s been a couple of years since I got bitten by the travel bug so that the Wandering Feet (& Mind) in me went on and on to travel some of the most beautiful parts of the Philippines. Not only that I had enjoyed each of those travels but learned countless lessons that are truly valuable for travelers and hikers.

One day, I realized that my travels were monotonous. When I say monotonous, it means I had always traveled with a group. But don’t get me wrong, traveling or hiking with a group will always be fun, safe, and cheaper. I just think that breaking the monotony will give me something new to discover.

Three months ago, I happened to read a post about traveling solo by one of my favorite Filipino Travel Bloggers and it inspired me to try the same for a change and to realize that plan of uncovering something new. In addition, it’s high time for the Wandering Feet & Mind to be given a break after veering away from traveling (i.e. hiking and swimming) since the school semester started. After just a week or immediately after the last day of the first semester, I realized that head trip. I picked the most famous cove in Luzon, The Anawangin Cove, as a destination considering that it’s a perfect spot for both hiking and swimming.

To be honest, I’ve been frequenting the province of Zambales since 2009 but I have always ignored the inkling of setting foot on the said cove. The reason was I have read a long time ago that place is no longer as halcyon and attractive as before because of its exposure to tourists from different walks of life. It’s been a crowded place since. I am not saying though that I am against tourism; in fact, I am supporting it with all my might. The problem lies to rubbernecks who are not environmentally conscious. Unfortunately, there are more irresponsible ones than what’s most needed in today’s collapsing ecosystem. There are more of those who regard tourist spots as private playgrounds for littering and frolicking like there’s no tomorrow.

I thanked the mountains for teaching me to see things in a higher perspective. The green leaves of the trees and grasses on the mountains taught me to appreciate and respect what is left on the earth’s surface and to live by the mountaineer’s creed — to take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints and kill nothing but time. There’s still so much to be saved on the earth’s surface for future generations and the beautiful places I presented to the world via my blog are attestations to that. At any rate, I went to Anawagin Cove on a weekend last October.

I arrived at Pundaquit’s wharf early in the morning, but I had to wait until 7 o’clock to be entertained by boatmen for the bargaining. The rental fee ranges from P800-P1500. So when a boatman approached me for the dicker, I utilized my negotiation skills to evade the minimum charge. My goal was to, at least, bate a hundred pesos. Fortunately, I got double of what I initially wanted because the boatman gave in to my P600 offer. I seized the deal for a ferry back and forth PLUS a side trip to Camara Island! I never knew I could do that. Talking about learning something new here.

A few minutes before “my” boat headed to Anawangin, I had the privilege of witnessing a fluvial parade. Though it’s not something as lavish as the annual fluvial parades like the  Calumpit Libad Festival or Pagoda sa Wawa (which are both held in Bulacan) where decorated pagodas are the stars of the scene, I was amazed because it’s my first time.

The small lump in the background of the photo above is Camara Islet where I will be spending a brief excursion off the main route of my itinerary.

I got only three favorites to show from Camara: the distant horizon, the pile of stones and the rock boulders.

Following in time of savoring the islet, I (through the boatman) zoomed off to the journey’s end. It took me an hour to reach the most illustrious cove.

What greeted me upon descending from the boat was the boscage of verdant pine trees that made me feel like I were in the western part of the globe. Kudos to the people behind the zone’s upkeep because they disproved the bad impression I have, instantly.

Before I asked how this beauty was formed, the boatman initiated that many of the pine trees were actually planted after the Mount Pinatubo eruption although there were already pine trees in the place prior. He added that before the eruption, the place is used to be flooded by rocks. The “almost” white sands and earth that were spewed by Mount Pinatubo covered those rocks and — voila — the beautiful beach and camping site you see.

The cove’s beauty can definitely persuade a traveler to wander around instantly so I did  to feel what it’s like to be in a crowd where no one knows me. This time, there’s no camera at hand. Gallivanting around gave me that feeling of intense liberation that was overpowering. I couldn’t help myself shouting for joy literally and figuratively. There’s a superb feeling of comfort amid the cattle who don’t have my past to hold against me. I did what I wanted to do and I was amazed at the spontaneity that flowed within me. I would eat, guffaw, rest, or lie down when I wish to. No pressure, no worries, just a plain spirit on the loose. However, the chain was temporarily broken when I decided to traipse across the piedmont mountains of Mount Pundaquit standing majestically in sight. After turning my old Kodak Cam on, for a possible scenery on my way to the hills, a warning telling that the battery’s running out popped out of the screen, until it finally went off. Instead of fretting, I decided to just reach the top of one of the hills to fulfill that part of my IT. At that moment, it was scorching hot due to the sun’s rays so I charged the batteries by exposing them directly to the blazing rays.

I stayed at the hilltop for hours till I got enamored by the blue waters of the beach. My sweating, tired body was magnetized; I hurried and surrendered to the blue element. I dived, floated, frolicked, and swam in the clear waters like I am the only person in the place. When I settled to the shoreline, the sun was just about to set. I have always admired the exquisite beauty of the sunset so I used the “sun-charged” batteries right away to capture it.

At night, I watched the diamonds in the sky while lying down on the sands with hands under my head. I couldn’t deny the sense of inner peace I was feeling as I was looking at the bright stars just like when I look at the vast horizon of the sea, listen to the waves of the ocean, or watch the sun as it sets and rises. Doing any of these things has always been an energizing activity to me.

I frittered the night by letting my body kissed by the earth while covered in a blanket. I didn’t bring a tent to avoid a heavy pack.

The next day, I dipped myself again in the inviting waters of the beach and took another long sauntering before I bid goodbye to the cove.

Traveling alone is something I’ve never done before and I must say I reveled in it so much! I even made a promise to myself to do it again, and probably again … and again. This trip paved the way for me to redefine my connection to nature with just me. It let me off the hook of all expectations of me for I didn’t have to explain, listen, nor argue to anyone. There was just but full indulgence of myself. I didn’t have to meet anyone’s needs. I had no particular schedule, no lesson plans, no phones, no worries, meetings or deadlines with projects, papers, and exams.

Indeed, traveling alone made me step out of society’s role-playing games. But, above all, it helped me develop a sense of higher awareness. I felt the need to double my efforts in taking care of myself. From now on, I have to be extra aware of my surroundings. I have to be extra cautious of my actions to avoid falling into the pit of whatever danger lurking in the wilderness because I have my wife and children waiting for me. The love I have for them is strengthened each time I’m away from them.

If there’s one thing I could consider a downside of this new endeavor, it would be the dreading single supplement particularly on fares. However it may be, the invaluable lessons that I learned from this experience made it all worth it.

For more information (how to get to the place, where to stay, tips, other activities, etc.), visit this website: www.lakwatsero.com.

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