LOOK LEFT Pundaquit…read moreBeach is the dock-off point of travellers heading to the islands of Capones, Anawangin, and Nagsasa. We prepared less for this trip and it took us 6-hours to queue at the bus station. We took an Iba-bound bus for another 5 hours on the road. We arrived San Antonio by sunset. Quite honestly we are initially disappointed upon arriving at our accommodation. It is an extremely tiring trip and there's is a big group occupying half of the resort. They tend to be rowdy through the night. We stayed here since we refuse to camp in the islands. We got non-aircon cottages which is actually a steal for a budget of less than Php1000 per night. Meals is not a problem, they serve pretty good breakfast. Tables and chairs are also provided outside the cottages. There is also a tree house deck for relaxation. Like most backpackers inn, the rest rooms are communal but well-maintained. There is no vehicle parking in their premises but there nearby spaces available for rent. On to our second night of stay, as soon as the big group leave, it turned out as a quiet place to stay and unwind. The hotel staff also assisted us in getting a boat to Nagsasa for our Day Tour. We booked the boat for Php1200 back and forth. Tried Ohana Art Cafe for dinner. Food is just okay. We ordered the set meal for P350 per plate. For our last night in Pundaquit, we had a Filipino food feast at Canoe Beach Resort. Menu extremely affordable and surprisingly good. We had Sisig, Sinigang, Caldereta, Ensalada, Grilled Fish, and Drinks for Php1200.

Out of the other coves you can visit in Zambales, Nagsasa is my favorite. Just a few hours from…read moreManila, the campsite is not as crowded and you can go on a nice hike across the mountainous area to enjoy two waterfalls. There is also a very basic toilet and shower so you can still do your business and clean yourself up. I like that on the right side, if you're facing the cove, is an open area where you can play Frisbee or tan to your heart's content. The water is also calm and warm. Guides are available for the hike. We did this on a whim so we did not have the right attire, but we survived our in flip flops and swim shorts. It's always better to be prepared, though. If you're on a budget, buy food at the wet market before boarding the boat to the cove. You can cook in the little kitchen hut at the campsite, just remember to ask your guide nicely. You can also ask them to charge your gadgets for you for a small fee (less than P30), but that means they will take a boat back to your take-off point where there is electricity. If you run out of water, you can also ask them to get water for you. We found out that one of the waterfalls is the source of that water so if you're picky, bring plenty of bottles or a portable filter.

Somebody in our batch suggested Anawangin for our batch outing. We were asked to contribute about…read more500php each, that's to cover the transportation, the boat ride, the overnight stay and whatever's left would be money for food. Of course we were encouraged to bring snacks and whatnot because when you get to the island, you won't be able to buy anymore since there are no tindahans, there wasn't even a cellphone signal. It was one of the best and cheapest trips I've been to. At that time Anawangin wasn't full of people and it wasn't offered as a promo on the group buy sites. It gave me the chance to actually sleep in a tent, cook my own food, gather around a bonfire and live a full day without the comfort of technology. The view was spectacular, and the experience was awesome. It'd really give you a chance to bond with the group and appreciate the simple things.

One of the great unexplored past times in Manila is camping. Sure, the metropolis is smoggy and…read morecongested, but there are really nice forests and beaches just 3 or 4 hours away from the city. A weekend escape from the trudge of modernity is always a great way to relax and unwind, and trailblazers are always finding new places to pitch a tent. Over the past decade, Anawangin Cove has become one of the most popular camping spots close to Manila. Only a 5 hour drive away, the cove is surrounded by hills with an interesting feature: pine trees. While they aren't quite the Temperate variety, the back end of the beach is littered with pencil pines. The rustling of the needles creates a very soft white noise, and the place remains peaceful even with the presence of a large amount of campers. The beach is great too; wide enough for a good game of frisbee or beach football. We stayed here overnight and even barbequed our own steaks, and we couldn't help but notice eyes leering at us with envy. Fortunately, they were only envious campers and not smarter-than-your-average-bears.

We called the night before our visitation because we are fully aware that it is raining and asked…read moreif water activities will still be available by the morning, they 100% confidently said YES to us and even tried to explained that the waves is not that big, guess what? SURPRISE! No any activities are available at all and they still asked us to pay for the entrance fee without informing us about being nonsense inside the resort, even the food? NONE. They literally gave us a menu just for a display. 700 pesos per person for NOTHING.

Place has gotten better fr years I haven't gone back. Well maintained as it can be... only thing…read morewas signage said FREE access to shoreline dining... as how my sister remembers how it worked and yet they charged admission fee for my sister who i brought with me to have lunch while I go for a swim

This place was beautiful and loved all the activities offered but my only gripe is that it wasn't…read moreclose to the beach so it was pretty hot when we went there. We only did the day tour and didn't stay overnight. You can order prepared food there or bring your own to cook at their BBQ grills. We didn't reserve til the day before so we couldn't get a kubo but was able to have a shared covered area with tables and chairs. They had bathrooms with showers and a sink area to wash dishes. But as usual, bring your own toilet paper and soap. My family did the zip lining, repelling and rock climbing. They said they loved it. We used the pools which were an awesome site. We really liked the maze, too.

I expected a longer travel time to Shercon Resort & Ecology Park from the heart of Manila, so I was…read morepleasantly surprised when our bus rolled into its gates after a little more than two hours. But while the trip was convenient, the stay was not very much so as it does require a bit of walking from the function halls to the rooms to the pools and to the teambuilding areas. For families or small groups, bringing your own van might be best. Still, the forced exercise (we probably needed it anyway) was worth it, given the accommodations we received. It was no small feat, considering there were almost 200 of us for our office teambuilding, but we felt well cared for. Food was delicious and abundant, the staff were friendly and accommodating (they even went the extra mile to assist us when one of our members got sick), and the facilities were well-maintained. For the swimming addicts like me, you'll love that this resort has six (!) pools, so there's definitely no overcrowding at the pool. But the best part of our stay were the teambuilding activities they facilitated for us. We got to experience ziplining, wall climbing, rappelling, and games, which definitely boosted our group spirit. All these great experiences and extraordinary service, for suprisingly friendly rates. I will definitely be coming back. Winner!

Early Morning jog or night jog…read more Are the two decisions I have to make when going for a run at track 30 Beware sometimes can be over crowded if going at peak times. So I suggest a 5am run or a 10pm run perfect cool temperature so not many runners will distract your Also at these times you can avoid pollution from the traffic. Happy running!

Like what someone has mentioned before me, Track 30th is the older version of Terra 28th. The Kuya…read moreand the one upfront about his weight training to make pa-pogi to the chicas. Track 30th is part of my running routine as well. It doesn't have the quirkiness that Terra 28th has, but it has areas wherein you could do your free-weights training. I like how there were two structures there were assembled for pull-ups, sit-ups and stretching. There are labels on the wood installations, so don't fret! There's also a running track on another side of Track 30th. However, I don't think would deem suitable for anyone. Maybe for a kid, yes. There are also groups who do training sessions here. I've seen some who do arnis and dance trainings as well. But mostly free-weights training are ideal here. There's just so much space and you could bring your equipment, too!

Mountaineering can be a very expensive hobby, and it is one of those activities that require good…read moreand reliable equipment, or else you compromise your comfort, convenience and safety. In my climbing and hiking trips, I would get such equipment envy seeing other people with really specialized equipment, especially well-designed and hyper-functional camping backpacks and rucksacks. It is comforting to discover that for beginner hobbyists and mountain climbers, a local brand can compete to the very expensive foreign brands such as The North Face and Columbia. Sandugo is a homegrown brand that caters to the mountaineering crowd. Their entry-level equipment is reliable and handy enough for out-of-town camping trips, and even seasoned mountain climbers swear by the durability and the dependability of their equipment. They cost effectively a third of the big brand names, yet with their sandals, shoes, climbing gear, backpacks and rucksacks, you don't really have to sacrifice quality and hardiness. It is a perfect starting ground for when you are only testing the waters as far as mountain climbing is concerned. The knowledgeable staff in their Metro Point branch will tell you about the pros and cons of using their products. They are very honest and straight to the point, as they are also experienced climbers themselves. They are able to give you expert opinions as to what equipment will be more effective for specific types of travelers.

ROX is basically an outdoor lover's playground. Three floors of serious gear, an indoor climbing…read morewall that goes up multiple levels, and everything from bikes to hiking, camping, snow, and motorcycling essentials. The brand mix is solid, Birkenstock, Allbirds, Reef, Billabong, Roxy, Columbia, Garmin, Camelbak, New Era, Nike, Fox, Deuter and more. It's rare to find this range in the Philippines, which makes this place feel like a real destination, not just a store. Even if you're not shopping, it's fun to walk through and explore. If you're into the outdoors, this is the kind of place you could easily lose an hour in. Great value coming here

One day, I decided that I wanted to try Rock/Wall Climbing so I wrote it down on my bucket list…read more After a few days I started googling places that had Rock Climbing gyms. I found really good ones but they were in Quezon city, a bit far from me. Fortunately, I found one that was just a few minutes away. I found out that R.O.X., a one stop shop for anything outdoors, had Rock Climbing facilities. What's great is that their shop is in the heart of the city: The Fort, and they are just in Bonifacio High St. They're literally inside a mall. How convenient! So I skedaddled to their Rock Climbing facility and signed up for a class. The thing was, there are no classes. There's just a quick briefing about the activity, plus a few tips. A few warnings and advices later, I found myself with a harness, a wall to climb, and zero experience. The coaches were very friendly and supportive. They guided me at the start and when I got the hang of it, I just found myself at the top of the wall tired and sweay. When I was done, I had climbed three walls; one easy, one intermediate, and one difficult. The learning curve for rock climbing isn't that steep. All I needed was myself, the desire to learn, and I had fun with it. Rock Climibng was a bit challenging but it was a very awesome experience for me. I really had fun traversing the walls with just my arms, legs, and a harness for safety. It's a bit expensive though, but a good price for this kind of activity (considering that the coaches also help you if you're a beginner). You might spot famous rock climbers in this place! When I went there, I had the privilege of seeing one of the female Filipinos who climbed Mt. Everest. And yes, I was very intimidated and honored at the same time.

Great service!…read more Surfing was a blast, instructors make you feel like you're old friends. Beach water is rather opaque because of the rough Zambales waves, so I'd say it's more of a surfing beach rather than a swimming beach. Beach is wide, gorgeous, and clean. It reminded me how much I LOVE living in the Philippines; we're so so blessed with indulgent and rich beaches. Definitely a picturesque place. Just one word of caution to those who intend to bring pets: Crystal Beach is home to many cats and dogs. They're sweet to people, but I was on guard because I brought my cat. All in all, wonderful place!

It's safe to say that I'm a mermaid...I mean, a beach girl. And I say that with the utmost…read moreconfidence even if I'm not the best of swimmers, haha! I do love the salt water and feel at home underwater. I've gone to a lot of beaches, love beach movies, want to go to Hawaii and I also want to surf. Zambales is a great surfing area if you don't want to go as far out as Siargao or Baler. They have a number of surf spots there for beginners and advanced surfers. Crystal Beach is the perfect and safe surf spot for beginners. The waves aren't massive that it's scary when you fall and the sand is very fine. Not rocky at all or filled with corals so you don't have to worry when you wipe out. No sea life as well so no worrying about ye olde sharks. My friends and I didn't stay at the Crystal Beach Resort but that's where we learned surfing. It's P400 per walk in and it Includes a rash guard, board rental and instructor's fee. The kuya instructors were patient, nice and supportive that my friends and I didn't feel like inept fools whenever we'd wipe out. It's actually really fun! I got to stand up on my first try and for most of my tries, but oh mannn, it can get really tiring and you swallow a lot of salt water! It's definitely a workout. Pack lots of bottle water so you can immediately re-hydrate once you get off the water. The instructors are from the Quicksilver surf school and are certified so rest assured you're in good hands. :)