Sunday, January 25, 2009

Dingalan's Shoreline and More

Dingalan is a place for nature-lovers. It has amazing landscapes of mountains and the sea. It has a newly-constructed port making its shores busier than ever. For beach-goers, Dingalan shores offer something different. There is no fine, white sand here where you can build castles. The water here is neither calm nor blue.


Dingalan Beach has stones and pebbles as its shore. The waves here are much, much stronger that if you are not careful, you may hurt yourself. The color of the water here borders from gray to green - far from your typical tropical beach scene but these do not stop the locals and tourists alike from swimming and bathing here.

The best thing to do there is just walk in the beach lazily and marvel at the amazing landscapes or simply watch the local fisherfolks do their job. If you really like to bathe in the sun, I strongly recommend the river instead where the waters are cool and clearer.

Colorful Boats on a Pebbled Beach


Kids Trying to Bait some Fish at the Port


Stranded Cargo Boat That has Become a Playground


A Solitary Boat amidst the Sierra Madre Backdrop


Driftwood Used for making Charcoal


Fresh Water River heading to the Sea


Lunch Worth Less Than Php 500 ($10)


And while you are at the place, Lawstude highly recommend that you take your lunch in one of the nipa huts near the fish and seafood stalls. You have to buy fresh fish and seafood in one of those stalls and the cooks there in the nipa hut will prepare the food the way you want them. In our case, we bought squid and blue marlin and asked the lady cook there to make calamares, adobong pusit, sinigang na blue marlin sa sampalok and inihaw na blue marlin.

We were taking our lunch when the town mayor, Zeny Padiernos, paid us a visit and invited us to see more of Dingalan, specially its new development after the place was devastated by a storm a few years back. We promised her that we will invite more people and tourists in her place so if you happen to like what you see here, do consider Dingalan in your future travel itineraries. I guarantee that if you are looking for an escape in your busy city life, then this is the place for you.

Please check out my best travel buddy Dong Ho's feature about the Coastal Town of Dingalan here and the cargo boat that was left ashore here.

34 took the journey:

the donG said...

no one wont be in love with dingalan. it may not have a good beach but it offers a lot of things only best seen there.

the cheap food, the very friendly people and the privilege of meeting the mayor was something ill treasure.

but im really really grateful for having to join you on this travel. without your help, we could not have discovered this place.

salamat! salamat!

cyndirellaz said...

ang ganda ng place! i must visit this place before i die! food looks great at pang nature lover talaga!

Sidney said...

The first picture is my favorite of this set... and the last one (of course!)

payatot said...

ang ganda ng mga shots mo bro, nagutom din ako sa mga pagkain na nakuhanan mo..di ba magulo dyan dati? pero maganda nga ang lugar base sa mga pix mo...

Reena said...

i really like the 2nd photo because of the colorful fishboats. Shouldn't they paint all boats in red for emergency purposes? :)

i like the simple life in the provinces. Cheap and fresh food, tranquil views, nice people...i just don't know if tatagal ako. i'd probably become restless after some time. :)

Earvin said...

Astig!

luna miranda said...

i like the solitary boat shot, and of course the mouth-watering collage of your lunch.:D i hope i'd be able to visit this place this summer...di kasi kayo nagyayaya ni dong e.:D

Neva said...

What a great set of photos..the food looks awesome ! Looks like a fabulous place for a vacation!

bw said...

The first pic of the sea is awesome :) The food - so scrumptious. Darn it made me really hungry - sarap !

miss igorota said...

ohmygod...that's P500 well-spent!

Nanaybelen said...

Wow grabe ang sarap! Bababa na ang cholesterol level ko pag ganyan ang ulam ko lagi. Mataas kasi eh

As usual. ang gaganda photos mo. ang galing mong kumuha.
Happy Happy Chinese New Year!

alicesg said...

Very beautiful photos with so superb scenery.

The food looked so delicious and for that price, it really worth it. Gong Xi Fa Cai to you and your family and may the year of the Ox bring good luck, good health and good fortune to you all. Do you celebrate the festival?

MeL said...

Ayon kay Kuya Doms, marami raw tuna at blue marlin dyan tapos mura pa. Nagutom naman ako bigla dun pati sa mga pagkain dito.

Kung Hei Fat Choi, Lawstude! :)

kegler747 said...

You convinced me atty! It's the whole package of a place that attracts people. Sabi nga nila, it's not just the physical beauty ;)

olan said...

Ei bro, what i like about beaches like this is that u need not to take a swim or enjoy the shoreline, even just staring at the great landscapes alone will surely touch ones heart. Ganda kasi ng place bro.

sheng said...

Ang ganda, I visited Dong Ho's post about Dingalan, and the rusty pics of the ship amazed me. I miss riding in the boat and the ship!

Vanessa said...

I agree with the other comments here. You and Dong Ho complemented each other in this series. Parehong ang ganda ng mga kuha nyo. Sarap siguro sumama sa lakad nyo. Plus, nakakagutom ang food. Yummy.

my-so-called-Quest said...

the place!
the food!

wow kuya! ang sarap jan!


happy chinese new year kuya!=]

vinzent said...

Kung Hei Fat Choi!!!

GMG said...

Hi Norman, all this looks gorgeous! And the lunch... Yummy!!
Have a great week!

Blogtrotter, with a new post for you!

Twin said...

love the 1st shot...sarap ng kinain nyo :)

beero said...

great place, great sights, and great food. wow! parang meron lahat sa Dingalan ah. next time gusto kong sumama sa inyo ni kuya dong. hehe. btw, ganda ng third pic kuya oman.

Photo Cache said...

talagang mapapasarap ang kain mo pag ganyan kaganda ang view.

carlotta said...

calamares? sinigang? inihaw? adobong pusit? :D kainan na!!!!!

fishing guy said...

LS: What neat photos of the beach area and the a wonderful treat to get the freah catch of the day.

Your EG Tour Guide said...

This is another selection of your beautiful photos!

Happy Lunar New Year!

Gata Verde said...

Fotos lindíssimas...

Anonymous said...

Wow. You have been around attorney. Love the photos.

-JM

Luke Wiley said...

Looks like a very good lunch. And very affordable!

estan said...

pre, salamat sa post na to. I should visit this place soon :)

jeanny said...

bloghopping. Lovely shots at natakam ako sa food shots mo :)

Raft3r said...

ang sarap ng calamares sa picture
penge naman!!!

fishing guy said...

LS: That is so beautiful as I sit here in the cold.

beerbear said...

Hi! Fantastico blogg!
Give me a hint every time you are in a river....-)
Chers
http://happycaveman.blogspot.com/