Eye in the Sky: Sunset Walk Along Subic Bay's Boardwalk (Zambales)

Sunsets in Subic are golden. The sheen and hue of the sun infect like a virulent strain of joy. I have been here several times, but this is the first time I wasn't in any rush. The beach promenade, aptly called boardwalk by the freeport zone, is gorgeous and nothing too fancy. In this area, near Mansion Garden Hotel, there's less commerce, which I prefer.

From the hotel, it's a 3 to 4 blocks of stroll to this spectacular sunset viewpoint, passing through tree-lined Malawaan Park. Huge ships are found docked nearby. There's a tourist-friendly "Subic Bay" letter display near the breakwater. There are statues and hand-casts of politicians. I saw Meat Plus Cafe. The Reef Hotel and Residences have their highly rated Pirates Bistro. There are a couple of Duty-Free Shops beside Mansion Garden Hotel, and a Mini Stop beside the hotel. There's also a 7-11 nearby.

In this strip of the boardwalk, people are more laidback compared to the more commercial area about a kilometer or two from here. I could just sit and watch the sun disappear into the mountain horizon. It's moments like these that are more precious than a checklist of sites to see. However, seeing some establishments closed shop, like the once-popular Legenda Hotel, makes me wistful. Like this beautiful day, there are ends to things that are transient.

This is the Eye in the Sky!