Bolinao | Scenic Rock Formations

BOLINAO | Scenic Rock Formations
A Place For The Sun To Bid Farewell For Today

Perhaps this is the place to look forward to when visiting Bolinao, Pangasinan. This is a photograpers delight even to an amateur photo enthusiast like myself. I've got no ND Filter to capture photos in slow shutter in a harsh daylight of mid afternoon, but perhaps my CPL filter is just enough as it captured huge waves crashing through the rocky shoreline in action while removing any harsh reflections in the water. I would have wanted to wait untill sunset, but alas with traveling, the best of places are always there except time to linger for more waiting for just that perfect moment. As I have observed in these last few days, Bolinao has some of the most scenic sunsets to behold. Located in the country's western seaboard, figuratively facing the so called West Philippine Sea where the sun ussually bids farewell to the locals from here.

Standing at the edge of a grassy rock cliff overlooking a part of the Cape Bolinao. The crashing waves are more powerful than they look in the photo that the sound they create can be heard from a distance.

I have so much to say about Bolinao, probably the reason why I waited to make my own post about the place. Some of my fellow travel bloggers also went there recently, we were just days apart from each other, so I'm figuratively waiting for their Bolinao post to quite down before I make my own share or perhaps I'm waiting for that inspiration to hit me and I could share a more inspired write up than this. I have not much time though as 2012 is about to close, at least I could tell you something about Pangasinan before I welcome 2013 with new perspectives.

 Renting a kubo fan room from Benjie's Place in Patar Beach, the furthest resort, almost at the end of the concrete road. Not the best of accommodations mind you, but I wouldn't change it for any other location simply because it has the best part of the Patar Beach with its golden white sand, a good spot for snorkeling just off the shoreline, the clearest horizon with starry starry sky nights, and a beach quarried by towering Talisay's and Bitaog trees.

This is a part where the rocky shoreline meets the water, rocks are leveled making it look like a water table.

My lucky shot, as I tried to get closer to the shore barely inches away from getting wet by the sea sprays. I startled these birds that are hiding on the rocky crevices, lucky I get to take the shot before they get to far from my camera lens.

Bolinao has a lot to offer if one is up for more leisure trips. The highest point is Cape Bolinao Lighthouse, the 2nd tallest lighthouse in the country. I've swam in two of its underwater caves that has the clearest water, more so that I was alone, not really the coolest thing but I got to let go of myself without worrying about others. I've jump through the high cliffs of Bolinao Falls, my latest feat of adventure and one I'd like to do so more often from now on, getting higher and higher. I didn't fail to visit the towns church, St James The Great Parish as part of the Archdiocese of Alaminos (more about the church in the next post), a church with a facade of expose black coral stones, charming, unpretentious and in dire need of restoration.

Some of these places are best enjoyed on your own. It was a good thing I made my visit to the province of Pangasinan after a long holiday Halloween weekend. Perfect location for me to spend my birthday, away from a lot of distractions, I endured the bad 3G and cellphone signal or that there is no TV around. I did enjoy the late night videoke challenge while drinking alcohol mixes with the locals. They failed to push me to a drunken stupor so I outdid everyone with my singing prowess (dream on). Kuya Benjie, my humble resort landlord related stories of other travelers who frequent his place, and yes even other travel bloggers who got here before I did. Now, this made me wonder if I'll ever be a subject of his future drunken stories, what would he say about me, singing with his buddies, while sharing a cup of some strange alcohol concoction. it did make my knees buckle but I still woke up earlier than he did.

The sharp rocks, looking deadly and very much unfriendly to uncovered feet. A probable testament to Bolinao's violent natural history.

 

Make shift huts around. Nice place to relax on a late afternoons listening to the music of the waves and sharing drinks with buddies.

Though shot in mid afternoon with slanting sunlight, aside from my photos of the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse, this small area from a long coastal part of Bolinao was gem to behold and gave me the best shots i could use to present Bolinao as a great destination to visit. It would possibly be a delight for geologist, to date these rocks that are obviously overflows of lava from some long ago volcano, its black, its charred, sharp but then it compliments the entire environment. To see a spot where waves crash through Rock Formations, looking at distant gazebo's and the make shift huts for leisure trips. The sound of waves is very calming, I could imagine myself putting up hammock and lounge on a given free day.

More of my back packing adventures about Alaminos and Bolinao, Pangasinan trip Itinerary and Accommodations in the upcoming post.

Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, Faithful lover, True Explorer...

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