Revisiting Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas

It was 2010 when I first visited Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas in Pagbilao Quezon. Back then, the owners of the cove didn't allow guests to stay overnight. It was sad leaving the cove after just a few hours of lounging at the shore. The place is nothing but captivating, your sweet respite from the hassle and bustle of an urban jungle. It's a joy when I heard that the new and current owners of the cove (current because the land ownership is still on trial with the higher court) already allows beach camping and overnight stay. Without second thoughts, I decided it would be the perfect place to bond with my husband's siblings before her sister goes back to US and more importantly, to have our prenuptial photo taken. 

The first time I went there, I took a boat from Brgy. Bantigue as stated in my previous blog. This time, I decided to try the other route suggested by other bloggers that would involve a short boat ride and some trekking. 

Commuting to Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas

Ride any Lucena bound (city capital of Quezon province) buses from Manila. We rode Lucena Lines stationed inside Araneta Center in Cubao and paid Php217. JAC Liner and Jam Liner both in their Buendia and Kamias Stations have hourly departures too. Travel time is around 3 and a half hours. 

Alight in Lucena Grand Terminal. Look for the queue of jeeps going to Pagbilao town. Travel will take around 20 minutes and  fare is Php10. The jeep will take you directly to their jeep teminal in Pagbilao near the market. 

On the same area, ride a jeep bound Ibabang Polo. Inform the driver you're going to Kwebang Lampas so he can drop you to the jump off point where you can start your trek to the cove. It took us about 45 minutes to arrive and paid Php40 each. Once you've alighted, please ask the locals to point you the way to make sure you're on the right path. We did it and the locals were very friendly and very eager to help.

Fares may change. It is what we paid on our trip last December 2012.

The Trek to the Cove

The trek would start on a concrete road that would lead you to what looks like a barrier in the middle of the road (It looks like a checkpoint without people manning it). From there, you'll start walking on rough and unpaved road with interesting views of hilly terrain.

The only sad thought is it seemed there's an ongoing mining in the area (I could be wrong though) that left several pits and expanse of barren brown land. It took us about 20 minutes of walking before we saw few houses. Walking towards the back of the houses, we arrived in what seemed to be a lake or a pond.

The locals said we can cross the lake by walking as it is shallow and just thigh deep. It looked wide and a bit murky so we kind of felt concerned for the two kids trekking with us. We don't want to gamble our safety so we decided to ride a small boat that helped us cross the water for just Php10 each.

Arriving at the other end of the lake, we continued treading until we saw a very gorgeous view of the rocks and the sea with the Pagbilao Power plant in the background. We stopped for a while for some photos.

We continued traversing with the visible pathway until we entered a forested area, slowly engulfed in the  thickness of the trees.  The trail is quite slippery because of the previous rain but is not so bad, although proper care is still advised. Our two kid companions was able to do it without any problems, I'm sure adults would find it easy. We continued walking until we arrived in the area with coconut trees, the grounds for Puting Buhangin, that is. :)

On Pitching Tents and Fees and Some Reminders

We were greeted by Mang Lando, the new caretaker of the the cove. He allowed us to choose our spot where we can pitch our tents. He also offered a small open hut with tables and chairs but politely declined, it's just too much for me. That night however, while we were cooking using our tiny camping stove, it rained. We were using umbrellas while cooking as not to get wet. Kuya Lando approached us and offered us to use the hut for free. Who would decline such an offer right? I feel grateful for his generosity. You may contact Mang Lando at 09475911630 or +639475911630 (from abroad).

After setting up tents, I also asked him about their other fees. I don't want to get surprises, if you know what I mean. 

Rates as of December 2012

Entrance Fee Day tour                                        Php50

Entrance Fee Overnight                                       Php100/night

Open Hut with Table and Benches                          Php400

Fresh Water                                      Php50/pail or bucket (I find it unreasonable)

Pitching Fee (Own tent)                                         Php150

Tent Rental                                                         Php300-500 depending on tent size

They have functional bathrooms/shower rooms but it is not clean. There's water stored in their big containers used to flush the toilet but is not for bathing purposes, again it is not clean.  There's no available drinking water so it is a must that you bring your own. There's no electricity and bonfire is prohibited when we went there (There's even a sign posted on a coconut tree informing guests there's a fine for violating this) so make sure to bring flashlights or headlamps to be able to move around at night and a camping lamp for your socials. Like in other remote places, mosquitoes can be notorious so insect repellent is handy. Locals say there's a jellyfish season in Puting Buhangin but we we're lucky during our visit, that it isn't. One of our kid companions  still got stung by a jellyfish though that caused him pain, swelling and redness in his arms. It's a good thing we brought vinegar just for this purpose. We applied some on his arms and a few hours later, he was back wading in the water.

The Cove

They say an experience could never be created twice and I agree with that. I know however that one thing can create a wonderful experience twice or more, it might not be on the same level but has the same intensity at some extent. I was mesmerized by Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas when I first visited. (Please chick here to read my previous blog.) My second visit still left me in awe. It still is my happy beach - secluded, serene, beautiful. The emerald green water is still sparkling. The sand is still as white as ever. The shore is devoid of any debris or trash. The cave still has an amusing effect on me. My only disappointment is the vandals who left their names known to all guests by inscribing it in the stone walls. That's very irresponsible and uncivilized. Deep in my heart, I'm hoping this stops soon.

On the lighter note, I'm glad that Puting Buhangin retained its raw beauty. I could still sit in one area for a while just looking at the beauty before my eyes. It consumed me. Our several hours of travel was worth it. We stayed for three days and 2 nights and my favorite moment is the evenings when the full moon radiates it's glory to the sea and the white sand underwater illuminates and makes the sea sparkle against the dim night. The second night, the moon seemed to shy away leaving only the stars flaunt their beauty on the dark sky. It was priceless and romantic.

Our last day had the best weather so that's when we have our prenuptial photo shoot done. I didn't wear any make up. Fresh from swimming, I just slipped my dress and combed my salt water drenched hair. My then boyfriend (now husband) did the same and in a few minutes, we were wearing our best smiles and comfortably posed together in front of the camera. The photos turned out lovely, probably because our background is beautiful and we felt hopeless romantics in this gorgeous beach.

As the clock ticks on the third day, I am left quite sad knowing we'll be leaving soon. Our three days in this beach made me a kid again, carefree and spontaneous. Puting Buhangin and Kwebang Lampas is and will always be my happy beach.

Burot Beach: A Cheap Get-away to Calatagan Batangas

This visit to Burot Beach is more of a spur of the moment escapade rather than a planned trip. I was browsing the lists of the latest blog posts of Pinoy Travel Boggers in our Facebook page when my attention was captured by a title of a blog entry. It mentioned both the words beach and budget and having been deprived of the beach for a few months already and since I'm now on my thriftiest year saving for an upcoming wedding, I quickly checked where the beach is located. To my delight, it is just in Calatagan Batangas, a town about 3-4 hour drive south of Manila. The following week, I had found myself traveling from Ortigas to Lawton, sleepy from my night shift to meet my companions and ride a bus plying Calatagan.

There are no longer Calatagan bound buses in Park n Ride Terminal in Lawton as stated in the official website of Calatagan. The buses there would take you to Nasugbu instead. We just took the bus and alighted in Lian Batangas where we rode a jeep to Calatagan. The supposed to be three-hour ride took us five. Apparently that day, there was an ongoing demolition of informal settlers' houses near Coastal Road where our bus was passing.

It was already past noon when we arrived Lian and we rented a jeep that would take us to Calatagan, to avoid waiting for a long queue of jeeps waiting to be filled. We paid Php300 for all of us, 8 adults and 2 children. We added Php100, the driver seemed really helpful.

In Lian, we had our lunch at a local diner (carinderia), bought more supplies including 2 big containers of drinking water then arranged for a tricycle ride. We paid the tricycle drivers Php300 each, with an arrangement that the drivers would fetch us the following day.

The road to Burot Beach is kind of bumpy. After a short cemented road, it becomes a narrow dusty road that may be uncomfortable. After about 30 minutes, the tricycle entered a gated property and started driving in an even more dusty unpaved road. In just a few minutes, the view changed from a ragged dirt road into a scenic view of water world and mangrove areas in both sides.

We reached the end where there is a serious looking guard collecting for a Php150 entrance fee per person. He was carrying a shot gun which reminded me of security guards in Banco de Oro.. The blogs I read mentioned of this place  as a property of Henry Sy or his coporation, which when I asked the caretaker and the guard, they said it's true. Btw, there is a separate fee for using the bamboo tables in the beach, it ranges from Php300-500.

We started pitching our tents under an umbrella tree. There is no accommodation in the area. The weather is too dry and hot when we were there and the umbrella trees did great in providing a cool shade. I was planning to take a nap feeling really tired having been awake for 24 hours but the excited voice of my companions already wading in the water changed my mind. I joined them and found out the water is too shallow for swimming even if we walked far, with lots of sea grass and worse, sea urchins. It was really not possible to take a dip. I was dismayed. To be honest, I even thought it was not worth the effort. Nikko even got stung by something in his face and arms and it might be a jellyfish, the jellyfish we previously saw swimming with us though doesn't sting so we're not sure what caused him the rashes and pain. At that time, I can't wait to go home the following morning and lay my weary body to a comfortable bed. It suddenly changed when the sun started to set. It was a glorious sunset changing the colors of the sky from blue, orange, red then indigo. It was the most dramatic sunset I had witnessed.

Night time came and we happily feasted on our food, chicken and pork adobo plus salted egg in tomato. Both are simple dishes but at that time, it seemed to have transformed into food of the royalties. :D Electricity has not yet reached Burot Beach so the area could have been pitch black if not for the bright light illuminating from the caretakers lamp. We also had our own lamp that is reliable all the time.

The following morning, the beach is a picture of serenity. It was still low tide and I haven't seen a single wave. I'm even starting to doubt if this is really a sea. I know it is because the water is salty, it's just that the water is so calm and silent. We roamed around the place and admired how beautiful it is. The sand isn't fine, the water is too shallow but the serenity and peace the place offers is next to none. There is a rocky area on the  left of the camping area that is so picturesque.

Late morning, we noticed there was a change in the depth of the water then we realized the tide is getting high. We tried our luck swimming in the water and found out it was deeper than the day before.I could actually swim! Yey! We spent long hours snorkeling and discovering more of the underwater. We saw several star fish, more jelly fish, and a school of small black fish. On the far right end of the beach where there are rocks that looked like a remains of a building, the water is even deeper and there are actually corals, sea slugs and more and bigger sea urchins.  I saw a post underwater that may had served as a foundation for the razed structure. 

With the view, the deeper water on the second day and with the company of adventurers like me, I was really having a good time and almost forgot my dismay the day before. :)

Burot beach is, after all, worth my sleepless hours, the long travel caused by traffic jam and the bumpy ride, not to mention the Php150 entrance fee. Provided it's high tide and you've brought an aqua shoes or sandals to protect your feet from the large population of sea urchins, it is an enjoyable place, rustic yet charming. They have clean water source that can be used for cooking but I just hope that the bathrooms/restrooms in the beach be improved soon because it's far from being decent. It is next to disgusting. The allure of the place weighs more to me though that the restrooms so if asked if I'm willing to go back there, I'd say yes, I'll just try to minimize my use of the restroom. :)

At 3 PM, our tricycles arrived and we had our final picture as a group with our sun-kissed skin. We arrived back in Manila in just a 3-hour van ride paying Php180. It was the cheapest overnight (and out of town) trip I had for the past years. :)

***Thanks to Marx of www.Marxtermind.com for sharing this place and for answering my questions. Thanks to everybody who joined in this  overnight trip. Let's do it again soon. :)

The Blogger would like to share: Tips on Creating Your Do-it-Yourself Trips