Archive for December 2014

Home Archive for December 2014

After catching up some waves in San Juan, you can catch up some delicious food at Halo-Halo de Iloko. Located on Zandueta street, San Fernando, a 5-10 minute ride from San Juan Surf hostels. There are also some restaurants and food places can be found around the area.

"Magpasarap Ka Muna!"

La Union's Best

This restaurant is very popular in La Union in fact, it's always crowded when we try to go. We tried calling for a reservation, but they said they don't make reservations. But if you're persistent enough, they might give you. A lot of celebrities also tried this restaurant as displayed in the photos hanged all over the place.

Restaurant exterior

Ground floor dining area, crowded

Second floor, also crowded

The restaurant is a 2-story house that have a very nice interior. There are some old vintage stuff displayed around the place. I'm not sure what their store hours is, but it says on their Facebook Page that they are always open.

Their tables are named after the municipalities in La Union

Vintage and wood-work displays around the restaurant

They also sell some "walis tambo" and "sukang ilocos"

They serve delicious Filipino dishes. They make sure that all the food they are serving are freshly cooked upon order so there is a little waiting time, but It's worth the wait plus they serve free chichacorn while waiting.

Cheese flavored chichacorn

They have all day breakfast and pancit for solo serving and a group serving which is good for 2-3 person. They also have appetizers (fries, buffalo wings, calamares), kalye foods (isaw, chicken skin) and of course their Halo-halo. Solo plates cost around PhP 135.00 - PhP 150.00, while group meals are around PhP 160 and up.

Okoy Tikyoso (PhP 90.00)

Sinampalukang Buknok (buko at manok - PhP 395.00 good for 2-3)

Pakbet nga nasagpawan ti Bagnet (PhP 220.00 good for 2-3)

Surfer's mixed seafoods in sweet and spicy sauce (PhP 395.00 good for 2-3)

Buko Halo-halo (PhP 175.00 good for 2)

So if you are in La Union and haven't tried this place yet, make sure it try it. Certainly, one of the best places to eat in La Union. Thanks for reading!

Mangatayon!

Contact Details

12 Zandueta St., 2500 San Fernando, La Union
09178527919
Facebook

My friend invited us to go surfing in La Union and since I always wanted to try to surf, I absolutely said yes. San Juan, in La Union is the nearest surfing spot from Manila. We went in December which is the most crowded time in the peak season (October to April). The waves here are perfect for a beginner.

How to get there

Getting to La Union is easy coming from Manila. There are several buses that you can ride to get there. You can take any air-conditioned buses bound to San Fernando, Vigan, Abra, or Laoag. Most bus lines in Cubao and Pasay have these routes. Just make sure to tell the bus conductor to drop you off in San Juan. Bus tickets would cost you around PhP 400++ for a one-way ticket.

If you're going by a private vehicle from Manila, just continue driving on McArthur Highway until you reach San Juan. Surf resorts are just along the highway so you can find it easily. Travel time would be around 5 hours (via TPLEX) for private vehicle and 6-7 if you will take the bus.

Volkswagen Camper owned by lifestyle brand Coast Through Life

Where to Stay

A lot of resorts offer accommodation in San Juan. But take note, that the rooms are always fully booked upon peak seasons. So you need to make early reservations if you're planning to go on a peak season. Any resort would do, it actually just depends on your budget. Some resorts start their room rate PhP 1700.00 (for non peak, will probably go up for peak season) and the expensive ones start at PhP 5000.00 per night (good for 2). If you are on a budget, you can always go for the budget friendly hostels and transient houses. Some transient houses have dorm type rooms which start at PhP 300.00 per person, or a good for 2 fan room for PhP 1000.00 (a/c rooms are about PhP 1500.00) per night.

A lot of resorts along the main road

We stayed at my friend's aunt resort, Hacienda Peter's Surf Resort. There are no available rooms at the moment, since it was a very peak season. So we put up our tents and camp in the resort's Nipa hut veranda. It was near the beach so it's awesome how you hear the waves splashing. By the way, here's the room rate at Hacienda Peters per night:

Fan Room(good for 2): PhP 1000.00

A/C Room(good for 2): PhP 1500.00

A/C Room(good for 4): PhP 2000.00

A/C Room(good for 6): PhP 3000.00

Surfing 101

The first thing you need to do to learn to surf is to find a surfing instructor. Our friend arranged our lessons and instructors. You can inquire about lessons from the booths around Urbiztondo beach. Surfing lessons for beginners starts at PhP 400.00 including the instructor's fee and the board for an hour. If you got the basics, and feels that you don't need an instructor anymore, you can rent a board for PhP 200.00 per hour, PhP 500.00 half day and PhP 800.00 for the whole day.

Surf school booth

The instructors will begin with the basics, with the proper stance, and how to stand up in the board. When you got the basics, you will proceed to the waves, but don't worry cause the instructor will still assist and guide you. It's not quite easy to stand up, but if you got your timing and balance right, you'll get used to it.

Our instructor teaching us the proper position

Standing up in the board

Beginner's Area

As early as 7 AM you can already surf, and for me it's the best time to surf since the waves are smooth. When the waves are too high, they won't allow beginners to surf or you can go to other surfing spots:

Bacnotan: 10 - 15 minute ride from San Juan surf resorts near a cement plant. This surfing spot is less crowded than San Juan, since there are no resorts around the area but still a nice spot for surfing.
Carille: 5 minute ride from San Juan surf resorts, known for the right hand point break. This surfing spot is not recommended for beginners. The water here might get you itchy after since it's near a soft drink plant.
Darigayos (Taboc): 25 - 30 minute ride fron San Juan resorts. Also a good spot for beginners. The waves here are not that strong since there is a rock that is breaking the waves.

Brgy. Urbiztondo

Continues waves

Some are also just going for a swim

So take a break, pack your board shorts, and go surf and have an extreme experience in La Union. Thanks for reading!

Quick Tips

You can surf as early as 7 AM

If you don't have a rash guard, you can borrow from the surfing schools

A lot of cheap eateries and restaurants along the highway for budget meals

Don't forget your sunblock and get stoked!

I wish I was this good

A hidden destination in the municipality of Bolinao in Pangasinan, Patar White Beach is probably the most popular beach in Bolinao. It faces the West Philippine Sea in the north western part of Lingayen Gulf.

Patar White Beach

How to get there

Bolinao is around 5-6 hours from Manila. Several bus companies have trips going straight to Bolinao. The fare is around PhP 400-500 for air-conditioned buses. Once you reach Bolinao town proper, you can ride a tricycle to reach your resort destination. Patar Beach is quite far from the main road. It will take you probably 30-45 minutes to get there. Along the way is the lighthouse that you can have a side trip.

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

Where to Stay

There are several resorts and accommodation you can choose depending on your budget. There are some resorts like Puerto Del Sol and Treasures of Bolinao that is near Patar Beach. If you are on a budget, you can rent a small Nipa hut in the beachfront of Patar Beach. Nipa huts provide basic accommodation which can accommodate I think 4 persons, for PhP 1000-1500. If you are in for a day tour, cottages can be rented for PhP 300.00. Public restrooms and shower rooms are available but have a fee. You can try to haggle for the Nipa huts and cottages.

Nipa Huts and Cottages

Where to Eat

There are several eateries and restaurants along. You can also bring your own food. It's best to buy some food that you can grill from Bolinao market before going to the beach. A grill, including coals, will be provided if you rent a cottage. There are also some vendors selling fruits and sea urchins around the area. No kitchen utensils are provided so you will need to bring that also.

Bolinao People's Market

A Restaurant's Menu

Grilling some Tilapia

Sea Urchins

Hidden Treasure of Bolinao

Patar beach is blessed with a fine and creamy white color sand. The coastline is around a kilometer and it's similar to Saud Beach in Pagudpud. Though there are a lot of visitors at the beach, it is still clean and maintained. The waves are also a little big, but not that strong, I think you can also surf here. Patar beach and Urbiztondo beach in San Juan, La Union both faces the West Philippine Sea.

Sand is very soft

Patar Beach's shorelines

A resort nearby, you can also play beach volleyball

Waves away from the shore

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse is also seen when you dip in the water. As for the marine life, you can see some fishes in the rocky part of the water, but there are only a few. You might need to go further, but the waves are a little strong in the deep area.

Little waves in the shore

"Bilog ang Mundo"

The Nipa hut cottages with some sunbathing tourists

That relaxing scene

The best way to end the day here in Patar Beach is the sunset. Enjoying the fresh breeze of air while gazing at the orange sky. So whenever you are in Bolinao and you just want relaxation at the beach, make sure to go to Patar Beach. Thanks for Reading!