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Published: April 22nd 2008
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Sunset at Camayan Beach Resort
Sunset...mmm..wish this moment will last... The 6th Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival was held at Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, Philippines. It was a 3 day bike festival which included road races, mountain bike downhill, mountain bike cross-country, trials, and BMX freestyle and jumping and of course triathlon. Triathlon as a sport has now become popular among celebrities, mountain climbers, swimmers, bikers and marathoners.
Dennis decided to join the triathlon event of the 6th Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival a month ago and planned for this trip to Subic. The Subic International Hotel was fully booked so he looked for another hotel near the location of the race which was Camayan Resort. Camayan Resort then was also fully booked so he booked online at Bay...near the SBMA board walk. However, a week before the race, Camayan Resort called up and informed him that someone backed out and a room became available. Since we haven’t been to Camayan Resort, he grabbed the chance and paid for the hotel immediately.
On not using SCTeX
On April 5, Saturday, we took off at 8:30am (a bit late) from Manila and arrived at SBMA by 12 noon. We experienced a very slow traffic again at Lubao, Pampanga and a
All Hands Beach
View of the beach.. Allies taking pictures while waiting. hot climate about 33 °C. We should have tried using the new highway from Dau to Subic, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTeX). We learned later from a friend that it took them only 30 minutes drive from Dau to Subic.
First stop, Star Struck
We first stopped by Subic Convention Center where the information desk and registration of the Bike Festival was located. There were booths that sell different bike paraphernalia; and I saw a gel type ladies’ bike seat for my Mountain Bike but wasn’t able to buy it (oh shucks…worth Php 2,000.00). It took us a bit longer to look for Dennis’ receipt and good thing we did because we got to see Mark Nelson of Sports Unlimited (got ‘star struck’…)
Camayan Beach Resort
It was our first time to stay at Camayan Resort which was just beside Ocean Adventure and outside SBMA. We found out after we have booked that the event was a bit far from Camayan Resort. Anyway, from the parking lot the resort looks okay, but when we went in, we saw a long queue of people dying to get hold of cabanas and swim in the beach. Good thing, there is
All Hands Beach
Rocky shore beside All Hands Beach a private area of the beach limited to hotel guests. This area is not too crowded and has its own cabanas and lounging chairs with umbrellas.
The hotel room we rented was on the 2nd level, had 2 double beds, a TV, free bottled water and of course a bathroom but has neither refrigerator nor free coffee (breakfast was included for 4, we paid a total of Php 6,000.00 per room/night). It has an open and long balcony with a view of the beach. Bottom line…room and cost were acceptable for me.
After eating a late lunch, allies Ety Bea and Abby eagerly wanted to try the beach and check if they could see sea creatures nearby while Den, me and Rocky relaxed in the hotel room.
We went to the Convention Center again for Den to get his free jersey but according to the organizers the jerseys did not arrive on time. So he just mingled with fellow triathletes and cyclists. I saw a colleague from the office who is now into cycling and introduced him to Den. I met several acquaintances and saw known celebrities who are now into triathlon.
It was now time
Camayan Beach Resort
View from balcony of the hotel room for dinner and I decided that we eat again at Café Meat Plus (nearby Freeport Exchange) where the Beef Salpicao and mashed potatoes were very good. We liked their Ceasars Salad, too.
D Day at All Hands Beach
Everyone slept early in order to prepare and be able to eat breakfast before heading to All Hands Beach where the swim leg would take place. We would learn later that this was the location of the finish line. We were kind of late for I noticed that lot of bike were now perched at the transition area. A lot of cars were now parked opposite the transition area and made one feel there was no much space for the athletes and their allies/fans to move around.
Along the All Hands Beach shore, the allies took some picture of the triathletes and the beach. We tried our new Canon Rebel XTI using the lens (18-55) that came with it (the camera and lens were bought via Amazon.com) while Ally Abby tried her Nikon DSLR camera, one with a better lens.
All Hands Beach is a good place to swim in; water is not polluted, has a fair number
of cabanas, has a nice view of the sea and mountains and offers other water activities.
Back at Camayan Beach Resort
The sky was blue, clouds were fluffy, wind was hot on my face and I took a short nap by the beach. Rocky enjoyed the beach with Ety Bea and Abby while I relaxed on the lounging chair . Dennis joined me after checking out of the hotel. We stayed for a while and enjoyed the summer, the sea, the sun, sand and snorkeling.
We would come back, everyone liked the experience at the resort.
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