Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets... 3

The seascape view in front of my eyes starts to transform when the sun's reflections touches everything into golden hue. And the shadows of the running bancas, mountains and islands of Tingloy and Sombrero complemented this gorgeous scene of the moment. The clouds were starting to clear the horizon. The sun turns bolder and bigger as it starts to set down. And it was the start of the most beautiful moment of the day - Anilao Sunset. 

Me and my travel mates on this Anilao day-off trip were still in the middle of chats and eating session when the sunset starts to show up. We were just tired from a whole noon of island hopping to nearby islands, coves and beaches of Anilao. We were tired but we enjoy the exploring the seascapes of Anilao.

The most beautiful moment of the day in Anilao...

The sunset just motivated me to practice my skills in capturing photos. One of my colleagues also starts to join me and coaches me in focusing the subject and using the lens since of my she brought a SLR camera. Then, we were joined by chats of my other travel mates. It was a good opportunity to share stories, to bond together and to enjoy the beauty of Anilao in front of us.

I can't get enough of this beautiful scenery in front of my eyes! I think I clicked countless times on my camera just to get perfect shots of Anilao Sunset. I can't count anymore how many times I snapped the click button! But I was satisfied whatever photo I've captured since the whole sunset moment was stunning, breathtaking and marvelous.

Sunset unfolding in the beach front.

Anilao Sunset.

Gorgeous!

I continue to took shots of the sunset while having a good conversation with my friends. The sky and sea is bath in golden yellow color. It was a gorgeous sunset and seascape scenery that I felt I become partially deaf for a moment while listening to my colleagues share of stories and chats. I’m always drawn to sunsets for its magnificence and loveliness. They are really best viewed by the sea!

Everything is reflected in golden sunshine.

After sunset... still admirable beauty of nature.

As the sun sets down and I also sat to watch it gone by. I reflect. It was the most beautiful moment of the day in Anilao. Three words - stunning, breathtaking and marvelous. I'm truly astonished to this moment of the day by the beach! It was an unforgettable seascape and admirable beauty of nature. Anilao Sunset made my day-off trip in Mabini, Batangas truly memorable!

A few more reflections after the sunset ends... This is one day-off that I won’t forget! Not only I did have a quick vacation on my day-off to destress and relax but also explore the beauty of Anilao. I also got to spend this “best day-off” with my best buddies and friends at work. Day-offs should be like this - stress-free, spend on a wonderful place, good share of stories, endless fun and great people to share this day-off with – that what makes the best day-off ever!

The end.

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Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets... is a 3-part series recounting my trip to Anilao, Mabini, Batangas last November 2012 where I had a "best day-off ever" bonding with my workmate friends for having same day-offs from an operational schedule of work. See the story here.

Anilao Postcards is a share of my photo captures and story of the gorgeous Anilao seascapes and stunning Anilao sunset that truly captured my eyes for its unforgettable beauty. What made these postcards memorable are friends whom I shared this beautiful place with while on a trip.

Here are the other parts of the series: 

+ Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets...

+ Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets... 2

+ Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets... 3

Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets... 2

Pass four in the afternoon. The afternoon sun starts to low down yet its heat still radiates a bearable warm likened to a summer afternoon sun rays.  Though some of the clouds starts to cover up in the sky, the sun is clearly setting the scene by the vast seascape of Anilao. The sun says reflects a beautiful wash of light over the sea. The reflection of sun light creates a dramatic seascape that I only witnessed in Anilao.

I was carried away by the view of the beach front. I didn't noticed that my colleagues were keep on calling me to eat a late launch mixed early dinner. Though I still clicking on to take photographs, I gave in to their call to eat as I'm already hungry too like them. My travel mates slash work mates just came from a whole noon of island hopping around the seas of Anilao. We finished early noon so we failed to eat lunch but despite of it we still enjoyed the island hopping in Anilao to the fullest! The beauty of nature that we discover in the coves, beaches and islands of Anilao is something that me and friends will never forget.

Anilao's golden moment!

After satisfying my hunger, I return to clicking photographs again. It was then I realized that the setting of the sun is starting to change the color of the seascape into a golden sepia tone.

The sepia tone - experimenting using my point and shoot Samsung camera.

Dramatic Anilao Seascape.

Oh the sun!

The golden tone with a gorgeous sky and sun with the shadow of the islands and a mountain on the background made me feel astonish and marvel at the beach front scene of the rest house that we are staying. And when a banca passes through over the beautiful sunlight reflected sea, it made the seascape a stunning scene to behold.

Reflection of light.

Anilao Seascape like no other!

Golden moment - Bella! Bella! Bella!

I marvel at these beautiful seascapes of Anilao. They were worthy of postcards photos that we see in bookstores and souvenir shops. Photos that are good reminder how beautifully blessed our country with beauty of nature.

My friends at work on these trip were also enjoying these marvelous Anilao seascapes. And it was a pretty good moment to have chats with them - knowing them more deeply with their stories over a beautiful scenery in front of us. We even practiced how to take good shots of scene photographs. But few hours later, the seascapes in front of us starts to transform. It was time for the most beautiful moment of the day in Anilao to happen.

To be continue... 

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Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets... is a 3-part series recounting my trip to Anilao, Mabini, Batangas last November 2012 where I had a "best day-off ever" bonding with my workmate friends for having same day-offs from an operational schedule of work. See the story here.

Anilao Postcards is a share of my photo captures and story of the gorgeous Anilao seascapes and stunning Anilao sunset that truly captured my eyes for its unforgettable beauty. What made these postcards memorable are friends whom I shared this beautiful place with while on a trip.

Here are the other parts of the series: 

+ Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets...

+ Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets... 2

+ Anilao Postcards: Of Seascapes... Of Sunsets... 3

Undiscovered Sampaguita Beach of Bauan, Batangas

The last days of Summer is approaching. And I'm tempted to have one last summer escapade before the rainy season comes. Just a quick, short and nearby summer escape is all I need to quench my thirst for a one last summer trip.

The undiscovered Sampaguita Beach of Bauan in Batangas province.

It was timely when a friend of mine invited me to check out the beaches in Batangas for a summer trip. After online searches, we found Sampaguita Beach in Batangas with resorts located at the municipality of Bauan, which is just near to our province in Cavite. So we went off for a 2 hour trip to Bauan from Dasmarinas, Cavite. Upon arrival in Bauan, we took an Anilao bound jeepney and drop-off at Barangay Sampaguita which is just near the border between the municipality of Bauan and Mabini. From the drop-off, we took a tricycle that will take us to Barangay Sampaguita-Baba. There are two barangay of Sampaguita - Baba and Taas. Barangay Sampaguita-Baba is where the resorts of Sampaguita Beach are located. It is a 40-45 minute tricycle trip down to the mountainous and hilly terrain of the barangay. The end of the road is the jump point to the beach.

The road within a "forest" that one must past through before reaching Sampaguita Beach. 20-25 minutes from jeepney drop-off point.  

The long shoreline of Sampaguita Beach has numerous beach resorts.  But we had a challenge - to reach the other resorts of Sampaguita Beach when the land entry point is block by a private resort. The second option is to cross the resort on a knee-deep water to reach the other side of the shore. Though the water is just knee-deep, our heavy things and packed food is making our cross difficult. So my friend devise a plan by pretending looking for rooms to stay and then excuse to come back when we wouldn't able to find rooms. It actually worked!

Residencia de Riego Beach and Dive Resort beach front.

Residencia de Riego Beach and Dive Resort beach front area with its boats.

The resort's accommodation - all-fan room nipa-hut style rooms.

After scouting for other resorts, we settled to Residencia de Riego Beach and Dive Resort which offered us affordable room package. It is also a very nice resort. Plus it has a beautiful beach front of Sampaguita Beach. Residencia de Riego Beach and Dive Resort is known for its signiture look of bamboo designed cottages and rooms and wide space grounds for music band performances. Bamboo trees also adorned every corner of the resort which invokes a feeling of tropical resort relaxation. But what I like the most about the resort is its good share of Sampaguita Beach shoreline that is gives a stunning seascape view from the front of the resort. They also offer snorkeling and island hopping activity. And unlike any other resort in Sampaguita Beach, only them offers diving activity to its guest.

The pristine Sampaguita Beach.

Violet cowrie shells at Sampaguita Beach.

Sampaguita Beach is a hidden charm of Bauan. It has an ivory-white sand beach with clean shoreline and pristine waters. The beach also has scenic seascapes of mountain ranges set against the blue-green waters of the beach. Also at the beach front, one can see the gorgeous seascape and its nearby islands of Anilao, Mabini and Tingloy. Those gorgeous sights added to the charming beauty of Sampaguita Beach.

The other side of the cove.

I coudn't resists its clear and clean blue-green waters so I swam to it under the midday sun. I think my break was just lunch time and by 4 in the afternoon I return to the beach again to swim again. It was a relaxing and calming swim under the summer sun. But how time flies fast that its time for me to witness the sunset of Sampaguita Beach. It was a momentous event of the day for me because it is the last sunset of Summer 2013. It was a beautiful golden Bauan Sunset that I will never forget! It was simply breathaking, stunning and marvelous. I watched its golden beauty and I'm glad to watch that sunset. And as it goes down, I watched until it faded in the faraway side of the sea up to until it faded in my eyesight. Witnessing that last sunset of summer is a great way to bid goodbye to summer season.

That night we had our packed dinner and a few booze of beer over sharing of stories. Unfortunately for those who are looking for a loud sounding nightlife in Sampaguita Beach, there is none to be found except doing a drinking session of beer or alcohol liquors over sharing of stories. Nightlife in Sampaguita Beach is mostly quiet, relaxing and tranquil to the body and soul.

Corals just a few meters from Sampaguita Beach. Perfect for snorkeling activity.

The following morning we did one last swimming in the morning at the beach. Though, I tempted to do snorkeling at the beach's coral garden reef or do island hopping activity since we still had enough time. I refuse to do so and instead choose to have a relaxing swim to the beach. I find it a calming and relaxing activity option to do in the morning. But in case visitors tries to do snorkeling, a coral garden is just near the beach where the resort's boat can fetch back and forth to the location of the coral reefs. For island hopping, one of the island itineraries is a visit to Sombrero Island, named after the shape of island which is a hat. Sombrero is the Tagalog term for hat.

Bauan Sunset - beautiful, beguiling, breathtaking...

Saying goodbye to the last sunset of Summer 2013...

Residencia de Riego  Beach and Dive Resort is a nice and affordable resort with friendly staff but the only drawback here is its location and how reach it from Bauan town proper. It's a challenge to reach it especially to commuters. But visitors can take the resort's private boat transfer arrangement service from Anilao port to Sampaguita Beach for an add-on fee on top of the room rate. But overall, its worth a try to stay in the resort and its location shouldn't let visitors refrain from visiting the resort. Plus Sampaguita Beach is truly a hidden charm in this side of Bauan.

Deep submerge.

Discovering and exploring Sampaguita Beach's beauty and charm was a great way for me to end my last summertime thirst for adventure. The Bauan sunset that I witnessed that day was perfect enough for me to say goodbye to summer. Though my last summer escapade experience is just quick and my stay at the resort is just short, I think I had the most of it with just discovering the undiscovered Sampaguita Beach of Bauan. Those great summer experiences made my summer a summer to remember.


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Undiscovered Sampaguita Beach of Bauan, Batangas is my fourth and last trip of Summer 2013 that happened last May 29-30, 2013. I will soon have a separate post of photo gallery of Sampaguita Beach and Bauan seascapes that I captured during my visit last summer and an accommodation review of my stay in Residencia de Riego Beach and Dive Resort.

Residencia de Riego Beach and Dive Resort
Baranggay Sampaguita-Baba, Bauan, Batangas
Contacts: 09065576922/09323823081/09474517974
FB Page: Residencia De Riego Beach
Email: residenciaderiegoresort@gmail.com