Since 2007, I’ve been going to Putipot, a small scenic island off Zambales. I missed last year due to Jeanne being relatively small. So when Val said Gilbert is coming home from Japan and that Mines is organizing a road trip/outing, I suggested Putipot as one of the choices and eventually it was chosen. Since Jeanne is around and not everyone have the camping gear, we decided to stay at a resort. Glenn was able to make reservations at Puerto Del Mar.
Early Saturday morning, we linked up at NLEX where we learned Mines wouldn’t be joining us. It was just Glenn, Gilbert, Val, Jeanne, Michelle, and I. The drivers, Glenn and I, had a quick huddle to work out the route (Jay: Let’s just follow the road) and convoy order (Glenn : I’ll follow you) and then we’re off along NLEX, SCTEX all the way to Subic, then through the various towns of Zambales. We made a quick stop at San Antonio for a visit to the pamilihang bayan or town market where we bought a fish to cook on the island. More on this later.
In due time, we arrived at Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales and then to Puerto del Mar which turned out to be a relatively secluded resort quite away from the highway. But it’s amenities are reasonably good. The cottages where we stayed in have queen sized beds, their own bathroom, air conditioned, even have refrigerators. Unfortunately, they seem to have a problem with power so the air conditioners and refrigerators do not function well unless the generator is activated. But they do that for only 3 hours at night. Still, you’re not supposed to simply stay in your room during vacations such as these. In this case, you’re supposed to go to Putipot. And we arranged just that for the afternoon.
Unfortunately, i got downed by scombroid fish poisoning again. Remember the fish we bought at San Antonio? We were planning to grill it a Putipot but we got to the resort late for lunch and there was no immediately available food. So we asked the resident cook to grill or fry it. She said it doesn’t look fresh enough to grill so she fried it. Heck, it’s not fresh! As I ate it, my lips started to get itch and some rashes appeared. But stupid me ate on. Soon the usual symptoms appeared and I was down and out for the afternoon trip to Putipot. Jeanne and Michelle also didn’t go to keep me company.
Luckily, I recovered enough by dinner time. I no small part with the help of stomach cleansing :D and some antihistamine from the resort manager Allen. I was able to join everyone for dinner and eat the really good sinigang for dinner. But everyone was tired from the long trip so we hit the bed early.
The next day, we went to Putipot just a bit after sunrise so that we can swim while the sun is still not too hot. The island was about the same as my last visit except there are concrete tree houses. WTF! I think there’s just one or two but I simply ignored them. We staked our claim on a rudimentary looking table with benches and proceeded to enjoy breakfast, the beach, and– since we need to check out by noon– the early lunch. Right after eating, we climbed the boat back to the resort, packed up, check out, and drove back with a short detour to C’Italian for dinner.
It was a nice road trip despite the fish. But I think I’ll let Putipot now and next time go somewhere I haven’t gone for a change.
Photos taken with Glenn’s Canon and Val’s Canon.