Anawangin looks like another world. As you approach the bay, you couldn't help but wonder if you are still in the Philippines. Unlike most beaches, Anawangin stands out as one of the few where you have pine trees instead of the usual coconut trees. The muted green needle leaves of the pine trees that lined the shore contrast nicely with the salt-n-pepper colored sand. The barren mountains at the back of the bay provide a backdrop of varying shades of green and brown.
Anawangin is one of the best real "getaway place". It is "shielded" from most of man's daily tech. No electricity, no cellphone coverage, no radio and TV signals.

I have read articles and seen photos of Anawangin for almost two years now. Been planning to go there for the longest time. Last January I read about it again in an in-flight magazine on the way back to Manila from the province. So I decided that thats it, its going to be my first destination for 2008. Luckily I have officemates who like the outdoors a lot too, so forming a group for the trip was easy.

Getting there
We took the 11:30PM Victory Liner Bus (bus going to Iba, Zambales) from their Caloocan station. The jumpoff point to Anawangin is in Brgy. Pundaquit in a town called Sta. Ana. Its about 2 hours or so from Subic. We arrived there at 3:30 AM, too early for the boat ride to Anawangin. Luckily there are open "gotohan" (goto is rice porridge with ox tripe) near the police station so we decided stay there for the time being. We planned to get supplies (food + water, there are no stores in Anawangin) but the market opens at 7AM. Lady Luck seemed to be smiling on us that day, for one of the tricycle drivers offered to take us to Brgy. Pundaquit (about 20 minutes ride from Sta. Ana town proper) and introduce us to a boat man who can provide us with a place to sleep/rest. He also offered to be the one to go to the market for our supplies! (see my previous post for the boat rates).

First day, first time
Anawangin used to be really secluded, only a handful of people go there. But not anymore. We were not surprised to see several tents already pitched when we got there at 8AM. I heard from the caretaker that the place can get really crowded during the summer vacation (and Holy Week).

The sun went away somewhere during our first day so I spent most of the morning sleeping in my tent and on my friend's hammock (I was able to pry him off it every once in a while).

In the afternoon I checked out that nice river lined with pine trees just several meters away from our campsite.
Anawangin is a photographer's haven. Its fairly common to see folks toting tripods and serious looking photo gears.
Essential stuff to bring in Anawangin

• food and drinking water (there two water pumps there for washing)
• toiletries (there are I think two CRs there, the one near our area has walls are made of some reed)
• flash light + batteries
  
• cook set (better if you have a portable burner)
• tent (it can get cold so a sleeping bag and/or jacket would help)
  
• camera + lots of batteries + lots of CF or SD cards!
• lots of booze!