I can’t believe that I just spent two days and one night in a place devoid of any necessities (and what more, conveniences) offered by the modern world. And damn, I do declare: Anawangin Cove was LOVELY. Sure, we had our “I wanna go back home, OMG OMG OMG I miss my bed, I miss my boyfriend, I want a massage, I want flushing toilets and a proper shower, I want fried chicken, I want a chocolate milkshake, I want to go back home and blog, I wish I never came here, I miss Twitter” moments, but all in all, we fared pretty well.
No, that’s an understatement. If there’s anything we learned about ourselves this weekend, it’s that surviving in the wilderness on a remote island (with no electricity, no running water, no cellular reception, no cold drinks, and no fresh-off-the-deep-fryer KFC chicken) skills? WE HAZ ‘EM. And I shit you not when I say we had to gather wood for fire (because the dude with the stove was caught up in them mountains). As Anne said, while we were dragging the firewood from the beach back to our tents: How primitive. I shit you not, too, when I say that it took ten people to cook a pot of rice. We blame it on our sheltered middle class upbringing.
Anawangin Cove is, hands down, one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to. The landscape is amazing and something I’ve never seen before (probably because I don’t travel much and tend to stick to tried-and-tested vacation destinations): mountains, a gorgeous beach, pine trees, a river, a lake, foliage, chickens (srsly, chickens at a beach???), and the clearest moonlit night sky. It all sounds cheesy until you get there, so shut up, asshole.
Unfortunately, everyone had the brilliant idea of going there the same weekend as us. The place was substantially peopled, much to our annoyance (because we’re greedy and we don’t particularly like showering in front of an ogling male crowd or sharing two toilets with a hundred strangers), but it was an all right crowd. I guess. It’s not like we had a choice.
It is also worth saying that although we had with us several bottles of alcohol, none of us got drunk or attempted to get drunk. This camping trip earns the Most Sober Fun I’ve Ever Had My Whole Life award.
I love the Philippines =)
Pictures! Lots of them! Here and here and here and under the cut!
PITCHING THE TENTS.
CHANGING INTO OUR BIKINIS.
LAUREN, ANNE, AND I ARE READY FOR THE BEACH!
JUMP SHOTS!
THE BEER CAME ALL OVER ME.
FRISBEE AK-SHUN SHOT!
I LOBES THIS PIC COS I LOOK FIT & NOT THE OVERWEIGHT BLIMP I TRULY AM.
WE WERE THE LAZIEST GROUP OF PEOPLE OUT ON THE SHORE THAT NIGHT.
CRAPPY POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMS FAIL TO CAPTURE THE BEAUTIFUL NIGHT.
BREAKFAST.
CAMPSITE CAMWHORING.
MUH GIRLS! <3
WHAT THIS TRIP WASN’T.
OH, THE LOVE.
To get to Anawangin Cove, take the Victory Liner bus from Cubao headed for Iba, Zambales (bus ticket is PHP230). It’s a little over a four hour ride to San Antonio, Zambales. From San Antonio, take a tricycle to Pundaquit Beach (PHP60 per trike) and get on a boat to Anawangin. A round-trip boat ride (Pundaquit-Anawangin) costs PHP1200 and a boat can carry 5-6 people. Campsite entrance is PHP50 and PHP150 (DENR campsite. Cleaner bathroom, tables, better camping grounds). Don’t forget to bring YOUR WHOLE HOUSE.
Hi, I'm Helga Weber and welcome to my personal site. I'm 25 and in the process of learning how to make adventurous life choices. I dislike old people but I love grandma clothes. My goal in life is to build a ball pit right next to my bed. Currently searching for the perfect house coat. My lover is the greatest. 
Ohhh! Helga! Nice body! I’m your FAN!
[Reply]
If only I wasn’t so lazy, my summer would have been almost as awesome as yours.
[Reply]
holy shiz i admire you! NO electricity????? i can’t even unplug for a dayyyyyy :S
[Reply]
Chickens At The Beach doesn’t beat A Cow By Your Garage At Least Once A Month. That was the case with us before we gated and re-routed a couple of streets in our subdivision last year. Fucking Las Piñas.
[Reply]
You girls officially had the best summer ever.
[Reply]
NICEE!
[Reply]
Crazy trip was crazy! I MISS THE BEACH AWREDDY. :(
[Reply]
So.Friggin.Jealous.
[Reply]
I’m so jealous! Your food and beer looks good, as well as your body. I want to go somewhere that requires a swimsuit.
Also, it’s cool you have real life friends who blog.
[Reply]
It looks like you had a lot of fun! It makes me want to go to the Philippines even more now.
[Reply]
Not in any way beach-related, but I just wanted to thank you for pwning siege malvar and providing the LULZ.
[Reply]
That sounds like a pretty awesome trip, even though I’m not a fan of camping AT ALL!
[Reply]
ohmygooseness, no electricity. wow. i have to say i’m not a big nature lover and i probably could never do it. kudos to you, though. + you look sexy! you are made of pure win!
[Reply]
Dannnng girl, check out your bangin body.
The way you described your camping experience sounds very exciting and
fun, but knowing me, I don’t know if I would be able to survive
through all of that.
I think…maybe…if I can bring my own bathroom, I’d be good to go.
[Reply]
Where’s the Sports Illustrated shot I took? 8->
[Reply]
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Ish fo’ the boyfriend only! 8-> Teeheehee
[Reply]
How long did it take you to get there from Manila? That’s an awesome-looking island! When I saw pics from a friend’s Anawangin trip, I thought it was in Palawan or some other non-Luzon place.
Also, since I’m in the office, let me just say that the pics look sexy even in fast-scrolling action!
[Reply]
Ohkay. This one is just so contradictory of my last post. I am officially superduperfrickingjealously jealous. I miss my Philippine beaches :(
[Reply]
I wish i went with you guys!
[Reply]
i’m jealous. boracay, here i come.
[Reply]
Everyone’s going to Anawangin. WTF!
LOL with “Don’t forget to bring your whole house”!
[Reply]
looks like ya’ll had a blast. I want to go camping. So fun to grab a bunch of friends and just hang out having fun! I honestly cant remember my life before computers/mp3 players…wordpress!!!!
[Reply]
Is that somewhere near the Phillipines? I’m so jealous.. it’s soo damn cold here.
I haven’t gone camping since I was in Girl Guides… you should try making scrambled eggs on a turned-over tin can with a little bunsen burner in it… fun stuff. LOL.
[Reply]
Oh wow, looks like you had such a wonderful blast! Reminds me of my trips… I can’t wait for the snow to melt over here so I can start camping again!! I’m excited for that now!
[Reply]
Awwww! It looks like it was so much fun! Look at how cute you all look! I’m totally stealing bikini styles and seeing if I can find that pink one!
[Reply]
I WANNA GO CAMPING! We used to always go in a camper though…
Looks like you had a fun time. Nice bod.
[Reply]
to paraphrase david letterman:
you seem to have impeccable hygiene.
[Reply]
Whaaah! I was searching for Anawangin pics and I came across your blog, Helgrr. Loved the pics! I so wanted to go there last weekend. *Sighs* Maybe next time.
[Reply]
Hey I am from Zambales too. :) Saya sa Anawangin no?
[Reply]
Nice camping tip there :
“don’t forget to bring you’re whole house”
LOL
[Reply]
Hello Fellow Enthusiasts,
Please help us build a bigger community for Anawangin Cove in Facebook by becoming a fan of our page. Visit http://www.facebook.com/anawangincove and read interesting write-ups about Anawangin. There are very helpful articles to guide you if you’re planning a trip.
Let’s increase environmental awareness by promoting the natural beauty of Anawangin Cove. Don’t forget to suggest to your friends!
Thank you,
Anthony
[Reply]
[...] do conclude that twice in my life is enough for Anawangin. I am never going back there to spend the night, at least not during the [...]
These are some really great shots. Looks like a really fun time with some good people.
[Reply]