Hitchhiking in Philippines: Dinadiawan Beach
13th of March, 2025.
I have to cross the whole town until I finally get a lift. What is with the Filipino drivers that they don’t really stop that easily for hitchhikers? Two friends in a pick-up drive me all the way to the viewpoint.
There are three view points now. One by the road, which is not that great because you have the electricity cables on your photos; one a bit up hill, the oldest one, which you can access through some small wooden steps by the road, but this one has been destroyed by the last Typhoon, in 2022; and the new one which they built right up hill, in bright white color. They just forgot to build a proper path there, either steps, so you have to climb up the hill on your own, which I passed.
It takes some time and a few cars to take me back to the beach. I could walk but it’s sunny and hot, so I wait for a ride.
As I walk through the beach, I see a lot of buildings under construction / restoration. I also see some huge concrete blocks broken down. That’s all due to the Typhoon. What I cannot see is any shade by the beach as all the buildings are back by the road, leaving a large sand bank area available but no shade.
When I look further in the horizon, I see the “actual” Dinadiwan Beach (according to Google Maps), and as it is in a different angle, with the beach facing South, I assume there will be some shade there, so I decide to catch a ride, as it is at least 30 minutes walking from here.
As I’m crossing a property to get to the highway, I see some huts and big trees making shade in this area. It’s not right at the beach, but within, with a great view of the sea, so I sit down here to rest for a few minutes. A woman who works here, Tereza, approaches me and we start to talk. I decide to ask her if it would be OK for me to spend a few hours here, so I don’t need to walk all the way to Dinadiawan Beach. She tells me that, as they are a camping site, they charge an entrance fee. I explain to her that I cannot pay so I will take my way. But soon enough the owners arrive, and I decide to ask them. They immediately say I can stay for free, no problem.
Jhoana and her husband Andrew are very kind and friendly people, and Barbaran Camping Site is an awesome and relaxing place to stay. There’s plenty of space for camping and huts where you can prepare your food and even a cooking area too. They also serve drinks and food here, of course, plus there’s a big billiard table.
I do a bit of a walking and sunbathing, but when I try to go to swim, it doesn’t really work. This area is more of a surfing place, so the waves are big and strong, and if you are not a good swimmer like me, it can be tricky to enjoy the sea.
As I rest and look at the map, I decide that it’s not necessary for me to go to Casiguran. It will take time to get there; I have no idea how it’s there; and, I will have to come back here afterwards, to take the highway going towards North. Therefore, I ask Jhoana and Andrew if I can camp overnight here. Again, they immediately say it’s fine.
Jhoana makes me some sandwiches for lunch, with also an apple, and after I finish it I have a nap. They all do. Laugh. We chat for a while after that, and they tell me how affected they were by the Typhoon. They actually show me the videos about the destruction. Now, they have managed to rebuilt almost the entire camping again already, and they are improving.
I go for a longer walk late afternoon. Then I write for a while.
Surprisingly, in the evening a lot of guests come over. Three different groups of people, and one of them it’s a big family. They are all camping and cooking here. I say surprisingly because Jhoana told me that their busiest days are in the weekend, and today is only Thursday.
The sunset is beautiful but it’s the full moon which catches my heart. I prepare my tent in front of the sea, and all of sudden, Tereza brings me a plate prepared by Jhoana for dinner, with rice, eggs and apples. I’m so happy for all this food, and allthese fruits I’m getting, as I haven’t had any in a while!
People staying over are a bit loud with their music and singing, but I manage to sleep tight anyway.
10 Years Around the World 