Travel Diary : Kwebang Lampas

I know the title may seem odd to some but don't let it put you off because once you get to experience this unspoiled paradise, I can assure you that you will also find that little piece of heaven somewhere not far from home.



I grew up in the province of Quezon and spent almost every summer at the beach. I remember the black, coarse sands and salty wind. The pungent smell of the sea as fishermen brought their haul to the shores with the awaiting buyers and sellers. I didn't mind that salt water turned my hair into a dry mess nor that my skin is burnt because there's something about the vast waters that feels like a safe place, a solace.


Kwebang Lampas has been gaining rave reviews on social media and I was surprised to learn that this majestic beauty is only an hour from where I live. I've lived in Quezon most of my life and it felt like this paradise is right under my nose yet I failed to recognize it. So when I finally got the chance to go home last June, I've requested my family to join me on this adventure. I've looked up the photos and I still couldn't believe my eyes that somewhere so close to my hometown is a paradise patiently waiting to be discovered.




We hired a jeepney to take us to the Capascapas near the power station, this is the jump off to Kwebang Lampas. At the jump off, there's a lake clad by mangrove. You can hire a boat for 25php to take you to the other side. If you're into trekking then you can hike your way to Kwebang Lampas. Flex those legs and walk for a good 10-15 minutes. The road is a bit tricky, though safe. There were lot of scattered branches and it can be slippery during off season.
You can opt to take the shorter route with a price of course. With 250php you can reach the pristine beach by boat in about 3-5 minutes.







It was mid June and contrary to the rainy weather forecast, it felt like summer. We literally had the entire island to ourselves. I took a deep breath and decided to float in the water for a few minutes. I felt a sense of freedom.I spent the entire morning basking under the scorching heat of the sun while bumming around with my siblings and their children. My parents watched us patiently under the nipa hut.





The island is a stretch of white, fine sand with a mix of scuba blue and lucite green clear waters. It is surrounded by tall, coconut trees and nipa huts.. The bermuda grass under the shade of the coconut trees was indeed a surprise. I lay there for a couple of hours, eyes closed while listening to the sound of the waves, disconnected from the digital world.







At the far end of the island is a small cave surrounded by rocks. It is easily accessible via a short swim or trek among the rocks. The cave which spans through under a cliff protruding out from the mountain ranges.It’s a relatively small cave that has an opening out to sea. The water inside the cave is shallow and noticeably warmer than the waters of the cove . The openings on both ends of the cave serve to illuminate its interior.






Kwebang Lampas is certainly a quick beach escapade whether you're residing in the Metro or somewhere in Quezon Province. By 5pm, we found ourselves in an outrigger ready to head back to the city. With smile on our lips, we bid goodbye to Kwebang Lampas. It was a whole day of laughter, family bonding and tons of photographs.Being there with my loved ones was an added bonus to this new found gem.With its unspoiled beach and pristine waters, it felt like it's a secret you wish you could keep in the hope of preserving its true nature. Truly a paradise worth visiting over and over again.

Beat the Haze Lah!

This is a long overdue post. Singapore has been cloaked in sea of haze over the past couple of months. And for the first time in weeks, the sky has slightly cleared up.  At the height of the haze where PSI ( Pollutant Standard Index) was at 300++, most people stayed indoors and locked their windows and doors to escape the haze. While others opted to travel out of the country to take some time off from this eerie.

My brother is visiting from Manila and as it is his first time in the Lion City, it would be a shame not to show him around despite the haze. It was September and the sun even at its zenith was in bloody orange trying its best to shine despite the fog. We braced Raffles City and roamed around Marina Bay Sands with our masks in tow. I thought I've seen worse in 2013 but this year topped the PSI ( Pollutant Standard Index) record at its highest with 321. Classes were suspended and everyone was encouraged to stay in as the situation can impose health risks. But not even the haze could stop us from showing up to Merlion Park and trying to paint the town red.

Top : from Bangkok | Shorts : Cheris | Bag : Cotton On 

We spent the afternoon taking snap shots and walking around Marina Bay. You literally can see just the shadow of Singapore's famous landmarks. Everywhere you look, it all seemed like a blurry sight as if my eye grade rose to 800 mark. It's like that scene from that lousy sci-fi movie "The Mist" which was based on a Stephen King's novel. There were a lot of tourists flockering around the area, making the most of their itinerary hoping to get a descent shot of MBS and Merlion. Tough luck, I tried really, but there's no way you can get an instagramable worthy shot of any of these famous landmarks. Not to mention the burnt smell would really throw you off with the feeling of being choked.

We walked a bit more and took snaps here and there. Despite the haze, it was rather a good afternoon spending some time with my little brother. He seemed to have enjoyed it despite the burnt smell and yes, haze ( pictures don't lie do they huh? )

Fervently praying that the haze would totally clear up in a couple weeks as we roll into the fuzzy, holiday season. The forecast is that, it will stay on until early 2016 ( hopefully not ). Though it would still be best to keep our masks handy at all times and armed our immune system with loads of antioxidants and vitamin C.  Surely, we can definitely beat the haze lah!

♥♥,

Jhesy