Camp rocked!

No, we still haven't had time to go on a proper honeymoon, but we finally did get to go camping! I had never gone camping before, so this was going to be an adventure!

After weighing our different beach options (Putipot, Anawangin--which, I hear, is overrun with campers now), we finally decided on MV's suggestion: Nagsasa Cove in Zambales. If you want to know how to get there (including expenses), just scroll down after the photos. For now, let's do a little photo narrative...

The jump-off point is Purok 1 in Pundaquit, where we met our boatman Mang Vic. I pretty much found him off the net--aside from being referred by Nagsasa veterans, he had his own blog! (Unfortunately, I can't find the link now!)

From the jump-off point, you can see Camara and Capones Islands. They were out of the way so we didn't make the trip.

You'll pass the more popular Anawangin Cove before finally--finally!--catching sight of Nagsasa Cove, about an hour's boat ride away from Purok 1. (Note: Try to get a boat with a roof! That sun could get pretty harsh.)

Once you get to the cove, you'll be helped out of the boat by Mang Ador and his men, who are some of the few people who live on this part of the island.

H and I with Mang Ador

They don't really charge anything, but it'd be nice to leave them a little somethin'-somethin'. Especially since Mang Ador recently found out that his wife has cancer.:( Do pray for her and for the family. It was a little heartbreaking when he asked me all these questions about cancer--if it could be cured, if there were herbal alternatives to chemo. Sigh. I really really wish I could help. My own little way of doing that is promoting Nagsasa, and just saying what a totally kick-ass "host" he is!

To entice you, a few photos of what the cove has to offer:

Crystal clear waters that are super calm, and a view of mountains; the sand has some lahar mixed in, courtesy of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption

Pine trees! Right by the shore! Some people say that the seeds came from the ashfall courtesy of Mt. Pinatubo. We set up our tent by one of the big picnic tables, away from the other campers. We were there for peace and quiet and relaxation.

Lots of trees from which you can hang a hammock and doze off (which is exactly what I did)

A freshwater stream that runs behind the campsite

A 15-minute hike that leads to...

...waterfalls and a cool freshwater swimming hole! There was just a trickle of water when we were there since it's dry season.

A sari-sari store that sells halo-halo


A gorgeous sunset


A chance to complete the camping experience with a bonfire. This one was built by the locals for some campers nearby. But since they weren't gathered around it yet, I snuck in and roasted some marshmallows, on a perfect twig that H found for me.

More breathtaking photos by other Nagsasa visitors can be found here and here.

It was such a wonderful experience, even if it meant sharing a no-flush toilet in a makeshift bathroom with more than 20 other campers. And our feet were freezing because we didn't expect it to be so windy and cold, even inside our tent! (Note: Bring a blanket!) It also felt like we were in a different country, with a nice beach, rolling hills, a lake, pine trees, and waterfalls all in one place!

Want to go on a camping trip to beautiful Nagsasa Cove? Details:

• Take a Victory Liner bus from Caloocan, going to Iba or Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Caloocan's a better option than Cubao because buses to Iba leave every hour (or half hour) going to Iba. (Note: That blanket I mentioned earlier will certainly come in handy here. Victory Liner evening/early morning buses are FREEZING!)
  
• Get off at San Antonio, Zambales--this isn't so far from Olongapo. Bus fare is PHP251, plus voluntary insurance for PHP5.
• Take a trike to Purok 1 in Pundaquit, PHP30 per person.
• Take a boat to Nagsasa Cove. You can try contacting Mang Vic, 0929-7170739. It was a little pricey since it was just the two of us (PHP1,700 round trip) but it should be cheaper if there are more of you. (Note: They don't offer life vests up front, but do ask for them.) Tell the boatman exactly what time you want to get picked up the next day if you're staying overnight. You can't just text or call because there is absolutely no signal in Nagsasa.
  
• Get off at Nagsasa Cove and enjoy!
• Going home: Once you get to Pundaquit, take a trike back to San Antonio and wait for a bus either bound for Manila (few and far between, we're told) or to Olongapo (which come every few minutes); from Olongapo, you could get on a bus back to Manila.

You could also opt to drive to Pundaquit and park at a resort--I hear some allow overnight parking. But you'll have to research about that.

Sigh. I'd love to go back, especially now that I'm sick from all the stress and that pesky bug going around lately. Camping in Nagsasa Cove is something I will always look back on with fondness. And I do hope to be back some day soon. Til then, Mang Ador and his family will be in my prayers, and I hope they'll be in yours too.

It was legend--WAIT A MINUTE!--dary!

It was the Warriors' first time to join the Boracay Open. Seventeen players from our team flew to paradise to play and par-tey, and while that's a pretty good number, we still missed the folks back home who were slaving away in the midst of busy season.

The boys in their matching shorts

Took so long to post about the trip coz I've been tamad to upload photos. I still am, so I just stole a bunch of them from Jacq and JP. Hehe.

Highlights:

Game vs. Ultimate Summer. By far, the most fun game we played during the tourney was against this local team. These dudes and dudettes just fly on sand. Iba na rin ang homecourt advantage! We were down 10-5 or something, so they had one point to go. So for the last point, EVERYBODY played. Both teams made their way to the endzones, then the Warriors yelled, "Luhod!" It was the only way it was going to be an even playing field, so we all got down on our knees! It was crazy tiring trying to run/crawl around, with so many people crowding the playing area. But guess what? We scored!

Overheard from local spectators, "Kung kelan nakaluhod, du'n pa sila naka-score!" Hahaha.

Warriors Yoga. "Ako ay may lobo..."

Par-teys! The first night was kind of low key, although we were treated to a performance by Fafa Fel! But the second night—ahh, the second night. Boracay + a PUA party = a recipe for debauchery! (I was a mere spectator. We all found out why Master is called Master! Hahaha.) The third night...well, it lasted til morning. All the single ladies met a bunch of new dudes, c/o Bugaw Extraordinaire Sarah. I was being anti-social. Haha.

The Xavier Boys vs. Others Battle. Since I wasn't on the prowl and meeting new men wasn't on my agenda, I served as photographer for some of the boys who were already in my life! Dondi-Doc teamed up versus Mike-Fel-JP in some weird contest wherein each team had to get as many pics as they could, without the other team getting into the pic for a D. No contest. The Others won this battle. (X Boys, ano ba naman, I tried helping you out pa!)

And by the end of it, I had 60 photos in my camera, all of their faces. Syet.

Lowlights:

Getting a bunch of weird tan lines. Racerback layered over old racerback tanlines, the strings and straps of my various bikini tops, and the outlines of my various bikini bottoms (aka “panty”). Ang my skin is reacting badly to the sun exposure.:(

Totally missing H. My teammates were so sick of hearing just how much I missed him. And he was probably so sick of me telling him that I missed him. Haha. It didn’t help that one of our best dates ever was on the island. I was just constantly wishing that he was there.

Totally missing H’s championship game. Which they won! Damn, I always miss his crucial games. And I also missed the B Boys’ game, wherein Tek and Jerry Bear got into a fight with a, er, matinee idol. Hahaha.

Quotable quotes:

Gladys: OMG! I know right?

~*~*~*~

Tish: Pwede kayong humingi ng extra kumot.
Mike: Dalawa naman kumot namin ah.
Greg: Oo, pero 'yung dalawa kasi nasa isang kama lang kanina so hindi ko nakita.
Tisha: (to Mike) Teka...Ba't nandu'n 'yung dalawang kumot sa isang kama? Kayong dalawa lang ni Nana sa kwarto kagabi ah. Sa isang kama lang kayo natulog?

(Ooh!)

~*~*~*~

Sidelines cheering for Lei and Tish during the games: Go panty girls!

~*~*~*~

Warrior 1: Sino nga pala 'yung basketball player na magkaiba kulay ng buhok?
Tisha: Si Tubid?
Warrior 2: Hinde, si Rodman!
Warrior: Ayun! Si Rodman!

(OK sorry, PBA watcher ako. Hahaha.)

~*~*~*~

Sarah (approaching random foreigners): Shot! Shot! Shot! Have you met my friend Jomen?

(Tapos iiwan na niya. Hwattabugaw!)

~*~*~*~

Sarah: Have you met my friend Jomen?
(A girl from another team approaches the group and grabs the guy’s arm)
Girl: He’s mine!

(Sabay alis, dragging the guy along with her. Taraaaay!)

~*~*~*~

Waryoritas

Warrior 1: First feet!
Warrior 2: Oo nga, first feet!
Gladys: Yeah, first feet!
Dondi: Anong first feet? First foot!
Tisha: Dumb and dumber ‘yon ah.
Dondi: Hinde, tatlo eh, so dumb, dumber, and—
Enteng: Dummiest!
Dondi: (kulang na lang mangamot ng ulo) Oo. Dumb, dumber, and dummiest.
Enteng: Ay, mali, more dummiest pala.
Tisha: Dapat most dummiest.
Enteng: Hinde, more dummiest muna, tapos most dummiest pa ‘yung susunod. 'To naman o.

(Anakng. Nakakabobo ‘yung usapan na ‘to!)

~*~*~*~

Tisha: Hanapan mo nga ng boys 'to! (referring to Jo)
Xtian: Ano ba type mo?
Jo: Kayumanggi!
Tisha: Na medyo gusgusin ang hitsura.
Jo: Na matangkad.
(Later, an African dude walks by)
Xtian: (excited) Nasa'n 'yung kaibigan mo?

(The next morning, Tisha tells Jo about what happened)
Jo: Nasa'n na si Xtian? Kailangan kong i-reorient. Sabi ko kayumanggi hindi...(looks at my taho) arnibal.

~*~*~*~

Jim: Heyew!

~*~*~*~

Dondi: (mimicking How I Met Your Mother) It's going to be legend--
Gladz: Wait a minute!

(Hahahaha.)

Jump, Tisha, Jump!

Photo by Fel. Booty by the Almighty! (Although ice cream probably had something to do with it as well. Haha.)

Tisha reporting live from QC after four glorious days in sunny (sometimes painfully so) Boracay. The tourney was alright; Dragons are champions yet again. Marc Nelson was there, but we all got a crush on a hot girl from HK with mad skillz (she throws a mean forehand). For the most part, we had fun at the parties (hedonism comes with the whole Boracay package, but I was a mere spectator). I just loved chillin' with my teammates. Lots of new quotable quotes, words to be added to the Warriors' Dictionary, and great memories!

Will post a lengthy recap soon. I just wanted to upload that fab photo by Fel first. I'm not skinny but I don't give a crap. Haha. I just love the composition--the sun, the water shooting from my toes, the height of my jump, no matter how formless it is. Although my ballerina friends would be scandalized.

For now, I gotta crash. Went straight from partying to breakfast to the airport. Last time I did that was Bintan two years ago, and it hasn't gotten any easier! I. Am. Out.

My name is Tisha...

...and I am off the alcohol!

I now know just how bad my allergies can be. Saturday night saw me wheezing and crying in panic because I felt like my chest was constricting. It was kinda like I was drowning on dry land. There was a doctor in the house, and he carried me (I'm told. I vaguely remember being carried) and lay me down on the floor, put my feet up, and talked me through it. Apparently, I had too much oxygen in my system and not enough carbon dioxide. So I had to exhale longer than I inhaled.

I shall be happy to go back to my duties as designated cleaner-upper.

On the up side, it was another fun beach trip. Our new members have been officially inducted into the Warriors School of Partying. But all the ugly things that happened in Laguna shall stay in Laguna--bits of spaghetti and chunks of beef empanada and all. Haha.

Although they're bound to make an appearance in the brand new Boom-boom Room. Golden Ticket, lezgo!