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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Pink Sand Beaches at the Great Santa Cruz Island



            I seriously doubt if all of you have seen pink sands instead of white sand beaches. But can sand beaches be pink other than being white or black? Well of course, because in an island across Zamboanga City, called the Great Santa Cruz Island, beaching on pink sands is possible. These are not artificial sands. They are real.
            The Great Santa Cruz Island also has a sister island quiet smaller than it is, called aptly as the Little Santa Cruz Island with white beaches. The little Santa Cruz Island is a naval facility. It used to harbor enemies of the state. Well, actually both islands before. The presence of the Philippine Navy however has deterred the enemies who have run away hiding in their dugouts. So there is no reason to worry. The Philippine Air Force also monitors the premises from time to time so you are assured of your safety.
            We took the Philippine Navy motorized rubber boats to the island. Not that the PN offers free commuting services to sun worshippers like us. We were just in the right place at the right time, with the right people. In other words we were lucky to get the ride and have our own armed body guards.
            The trip does not take long with a number of beautiful distractions such as the picturesque Zamboanga coastline and the Zamboanga port decorated with ships and colorful boats that dwarfs as we approach the island. Island hopping is always a thrilling experience for anyone. We rounded the little island first before approaching the bigger island. Trees and mangroves line up the coastlines of the bigger island. As soon as we disembarked on the beach we were greeted by two guards from the Philippine Navy and a dog. Actually the dog at that time was the only permanent inhabitant of the area in addition to the trees and mangroves and fishes.
            The sands were not conspicuously pink from a distance. In fact it looks a little on the brown spectrum from afar which must be the works of the bright sunshine or my big dark shades. I actually I did not know the island has unique colored sands until I sat on the beach and dug a hole to fit myself into a comfortable sleep. Obviously amazed and amused of the color, I dissected the sand and discovered that it is larger than the fine sands we have on white beaches in Palawan or black beaches like the ones in Zambales. Dissecting further, I noticed that the pink sands, and I surmised, must be parts of a larger pink stone or coral, smashed into tiny fragments and are carefully strewn on the beaches. I was partly right because I was lectured that the pink sands come from the red-organ-pipe corals that are crushed and smashed by nature for eons of time until they turn into tiny little fragments that they have become now. Mixed with the pink coral sands are white sands which I surmised must be the original sands of the area. The combination gives both a fine and rough texture to touch.
            On the other side of the island is a stretch of white sandbar that one can explore under the scorching heat of the sun. Sandbar as it is, it appears and disappears with the rising and ebbing of the tides. Adding to the experience of the pink sands under my back and the sandbar are clown fishes that we happily refer to as “nemo”. They can only be seen through snorkeling. So that we snorkeled for hours and hours looking for the great nemo and his family disregarding all the others.
            But what do beach and sun worshippers do on an island aside from swim and sleep half-burrowed in the sand? We cooked and ate. No need to bring fuel, that was in our case because we have our assets, the Philippine Navy who can cook without fire. Just kidding! We grilled fish which we bought from the Zamboanga City market. It’s actually the best place to find the premium type of fish and exotic sea foods to include the curacha.
            We had more swimming, snorkeling and sun basking after lunch. We have to be careful however not to drift far away from the beach or run the risk of being caught by the strong current or drowned into the deep. We never had the opportunity to put our feet on the little white island, called the Little Santa Cruz Island. I had wanted to but it was not possible at the time we were there. So I sour-graped! We have a white beach in our neighborhood anyway! But the pink sands are awesome because it is rare. I’d spent an hour staring at the marvel.
            The pink sands of the Great Santa Cruz Island, is just one of the many attractions in Zamboanga City. Pink beaches are a rare phenomenon in the world. So if you happen to be in the Philippines try flying over to Zamboanga City and find your way to the island in its most peaceful and sunny state.

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