show me your eyes
all your inside lies
come undone
get gone
nothing to be scared of
there's only the beach to strip
you off
no one's here to judge
maybe you just need a little
nudge
it's just the bitchy waves and
whistly air
with you here, all is fair
It
had been three months since the last time sand graced my feet. It felt too
long, and I was missing the breeze. I was actually supposed to go someplace
else, not the beach but a relaxing one too. Long story short, things got in the
way; it got cancelled. I was already feeling blue until this escape plan came
into being. Ah, thank God I live just a few hours from some really pretty
beaches.
Puting
Buhangin Island and Kwebang Lampas
Puting
Buhangin (White Sand) was the first island we visited as per the advice from
our boatmen that we start from the farthest island to save time and be more
efficient with the tour. This little paradise may be found after boating for 45
minutes from the drop-off point in Padre Burgos.
Personally,
I would say Puting Buhangin is the nicest of all the three islands we visited. It’s
best to go swimming here. It has the clearest water, that which is a play
between the green and green blue gradient, so fresh to the eyes on a sunlit weekend.
Its sand, as its name suggests, is fine white but that which becomes compact,
the kind that doesn’t break or loosen under the feet.
Locals
warn swimmers about the risk of salabay (jellyfish) in the area.
Actually, all the islands have this. Good thing it is off season this month, so
we got to swim quite freely while still being watchful. No one wanted to get
stung.
 |
| This is how you shower island-style! |
It’s
not that huge, though. Okay, it is actually huge, but there’s this Kwebang
Lampas, a small cave/tunnel that divides the island in two. One needs to go
through it and out to make it to the other side. I think it’s passable when
tides aren’t that high, but I didn’t even consider trying when we were there.
To me, the cave was already a treat in itself.
Kwebang
Lampas consists of rocks and stalactites that add mystery and subtle beauty to
it. More than anything there, though, is the fact that it has the beach inside
and outside; water goes through it. From inside it, one can watch the beach
through a huge opening with uneven borders and edges which form a dark
silhouette that makes the water outside of it stand out more – dramatic and
picturesque. I’d say it’s the best spot
to sightsee and take it all in, everything while swimming. Aaah, yes.
If
anything though, I wish we could’ve stayed here longer.
Dampalitan
Island
After
more or less 25 minutes onboard the boat, we caught ourselves in yet another pretty
island, Dampalitan.
Setup-wise,
Dampalitan is obviously the rawest among the three. What you see is what you
get in this island. Everything looks as is, as though there’s not much effort to
maintain and make it look inviting to tourists.
Based
on observation, this has the best sand quality. It is white, soft and loose. So
yeah, the best sans some natural trash found. There are dry leaves and seaweeds
scattered ashore. Well, I guess it comes with being a raw island.
Dampalitan
is filled with shrubs and trees, some of which resembling the ones in Anawangin
Cove, Zambales. They provide natural shade and comfort since there aren’t much
shaded portions near the water.
Lunch
time was apparently not a good time to get here, as this is when it’s low tide.
Also, the heat was insane at 12 noon, so we decided against swimming even for a
bit. Our time spent here had been divided into strolling around, stopping here
and there for some picture-worthy shots, resting on torn down logs, and eating
lunch before we left again for our last destination for that day.
Borawan
Island
Based
on what I’ve read from other blogs, people who come here in Borawan often end
up feeling disappointed because they make this crazy expectation about the
place. I mean, I guess I get it because what else is anyone supposed to think
when the island’s named from Boracay and Palawan, the two arguably most
beautiful beaches here in the Philippines? (Sadly, I haven’t been to any of
both beaches yet. Someday soon maybe!)
Borawan’s
name is such because people compare its sand with Boracay’s and its rock
formations with Palawan’s. I’d say this is bad advertisement, and people should
give it credit for its own beauty. Its sand is of the color cream and in fine,
loose form while the huge rocks are such a sight to behold from near and far.
Strolling around is a great idea because of the island’s long stretch of
greens, creams and green blues. People are not going to run out of scenic views
to ogle at.
Our
boatmen told us that people couldn’t land ashore this island in the past, as
the water was always really high that its sandy shores were buried deep under
it. Looking at the rock formations, some still have lined marks that tell just
up to how high the water used to get. Time and again, the sand would disappear
and appear until it stayed visible making the island visitable.
Of
the three islands, this has got to be the most developed, but that’s still not
saying much about it. There are a few kubo-style
cottages that can be rented if tents are not preferred, but I’d say it’s not
really fit for sleeping for big groups. There’s a table and built-in seats
inside each, but it’s not a closed unit. The shower and comfort rooms are
decent and clean for an island. There’s even a protective net around a small portion
of the beach to prevent swimmers from getting stung by the jellyfish. Some say
water can sometimes get murky inside this part, though.
We
spent our time here swimming within the net’s limits, sunbathing, snacking,
exploring other parts of the beach, and people watching different sorts of
other guests.
It
was a rather short trip but a good one.
Was
the money worth it? Considering that we didn’t actually spend a lot but still
got to check out three nice islands, it’s safe to say that it was!
We
were happy campers!
There
are a lot of bests about travelling. The most fundamental of which is
discovering oneself. People often think travelling means discovering new
places, but subtly and actually it is a revelation of oneself. It is a chance
for us to re-create or, better yet, modify ourselves. Travelling is
adventuring. Adventuring is surprising ourselves because we get to surpass our
own limited estimate of what we are capable of because finally we get to jump
off cliffs, chase waterfalls, dive from the sky, swim with whale sharks, rough-ride
4x4’s, free fall, and so on. And none of these things we thought we could do. Until
that moment we let our feet take us somewhere. Travelling is proof that we can.
 |
| Borawan Island |
One
can be a whole new being out there - free and unafraid. He/she is not scared of
acting silly. I know this is something I take advantage of many times because
how often are you given the chance to be someone else you want to be? Or at
least try to tweak something about you? Without judgment? It’s not pretending. Maybe
some people just find this to be a way to completely detach themselves from
everything.
Or
you know, if you happen to fall on the other side of the coin, you can be just
you, the real you.
 |
| Puting Buhangin Island |
Because
many days, for some of us, we have to put on a face of strength, determination,
control, power, of whatever it is that our daily life requires us. Travelling
lets us let our hair down. And where else is the best place to do that but when
you’re away, where no one, again, is there to judge or exploit you.
Travelling
is a lesson in motion.
Don’t
do it because it’s the “in” thing; do it because it naturally occurs to you.
Extending
my thank you to: a) Ate Vanessa for quickly attending to all our concerns and
arranging the tour for us and to b) Tatay Omeng and Kuya Dino who had been such
accommodating boatmen.
Should
you wish to visit the mentioned places, feel free to hit her up at
0915-106-7594. I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to assist you. :)
Fees
and fares:
|
|
P260
|
two-way
fare Turbina-Lucena Grand Terminal
|
P70
|
two-way
fare Lucena Grand Terminal-Padre Burgos
|
P1500-P1800 (1-8
pax)
|
island
hopping fee for Puting Buhangin, Dampalitan and Borawan
|
P800 (1-8 pax)
|
island
hopping fee for Borawan only
|
P80/P160
|
entrance
fee in Puting Buhangin for day tour/overnight stay
|
P80/P100
|
entrance
fee in Dampalitan for day tour/overnight stay
|
P150/P220
|
entrance
fee in Borawan for day tour/overnight stay (with unlimited use of shower and
CR) (discounts for senior citizens and students also apply)
|
P300
|
tent
rent in Borawan/Dampalitan
|
P200
|
tent
space fee in Borawan/Dampalitan
|
P50
|
cost
of water per container in Dampalitan
|
*All
photos by me!
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