Beaches, Beaches, Beaches

The castle above is just 10 minutes by motorized banca (boat) from the shore. You can go to one of the beach resorts along Olongapo coastline to find a boatman to take you there. This castle-on-the-rocks used to be a restaurant. But it became no match against the storms and waves. Now it's just a shell of what it once was - but still, it's a fine place to swim: there are less people and the water is very clear.     Zambales, north of Manila, occupies the western side of Central Luzon. Along its coastline are small bays and coves, backed by tall, rugged mountains. Subic Bay and Olongapo are the places that are frequented by visitors who want to get away from city life (Manila), but not too far that one can get back to it at the end of a day at the beach. (It is just 127 kilometers or 79 miles away, a 3-hour bus ride.)

There are offshore islands between Olongapo in the south and Santa Cruz (another town)in the north where coral reefs and drop-offs make snorkelling and scuba-diving possible. It's a year-round dive site around Subic Bay.     Along the shoreline are several beach houses and resorts. You can go windsurfing or jet-skiing. Or hire a motorized banca that will take you to these offshore islands.      (For more photos on our "Castle Experience", click here)

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