Bolinao! Boracay of the North!

March 16, 2012 it was Friday night, weekend and this is the day we left the overcrowded city of the metro.  8:00 pm is our meeting time at the Victory Liner Cubao there were lots of passengers waiting on queue to buy their tickets bound to north.  Unfortunately we didn’t get a ticket for the last trip bound to bolinao because it was already fully booked so we decided to move to Five Star bus line to ask if there still available trip going to Bolinao the dispatcher told us that there are two available trips but it was only bound to Anda and the bus is not an air-condition, Since were already in the station we decided to ride on the non aircon bus bound to Anda because there were no other trips available beyond 10 pm.

 9:30 pm our bus left at the Cubao station, and the estimated travel time is 5 to 6 hours, we drop to Alaminos by 1:45 am and transfer to another bus going to Bolinao town proper (cutting trip mode) another 1 hour travel bound to Bolinao , 2:45am we arrived at the Bolinao Town proper we stayed for a while in the station because we arrived too early than what we expect, everybody are tired from the trip but more than that we are very excited my group decides to get a room to stay while waiting for the dawn,

 there were lots of tricycle waiting at the station and one of the tricycle driver offered us to bring  to the resort, on our way it was cold and the place was very dark and creepy, more than half hour and we reached  the tip place of Bolinao which is the Brgy. Patar.   Our driver brought us to the public resort which we didn’t like because the room is too pricey for the day trippers, aside from that we didn’t like the shower room and we also worried for the safety of our things.

At 5:30 in the morning we left the public resort and started scouting for the new one, but before that we visit first the Cape Bolinao lighthouse.

The place was breath taking; the lighthouse overlooks the South China Sea, our group was the first who visit the place during that day, after the lighthouse we went down and started again our adventure, we walked for I think almost 4 kilometers and ride a tricycle after, were lucky because the driver agreed to load six people and we end up and stayed in Puerto del sol which is not in our plan because the resort was a bit pricey.

 We entered at the Puerto del Sol resort and inquire about their rate for the day trip, the guest relation officer was very approachable and accommodating actually all of their staff were very nice and approachable, Nica, Azza and I went inside the resort for ocular, we checked the shower room, the cottages, rooms and other facilities of the resort we went back after to their lobby.  Since we’re only stay for a day we get a simple cottage nearby the sea .

 
All of us are what you called “Backpackers” we travel only for very a reasonable price, though we checked in in the high end and classy resort but we survived the whole day without spending too much money.  Aside from that we found the best place to celebrate the Post and Pre birthday of my two friends Azza and Day! 

Our last stop is the St. James Church located at the Bolinao town proper, one of the oldest churches in  town.

All in all It was a very memorable trip for each one of us, the laughter, the roller coaster road trip, the creepy we had experienced, and the 5 to 6 hours tiring trip were all worth to remember.

you may click here for other Bolinao review :)

Kidnapped! Trip to Lingayen with the Dagupan Artist

The supposedly trip to Zambales became Lingayen trip with the Dagupan Artist.

Two years had been past but still can't forget my first visit in Lingayen Pangasinan, the visit was not in the plan but thanks to our friend Kaye Oyek for inviting me and malou. 

Me and my friends stayed in the house of kaye's friend named Patz he live in Binmaley Pangasinan, the next day we woke up early in the morning to start our Lingayen exploration, Patz cooked breakfast for us, he served their specialty which is Boneless Bangus! *drooling* best bangus ever.  After we ate we went to his drawing room and saw his painting inside which is really beautiful. Patz is one of the member of the Dagupan Artist in Pangasinan, aside from him there are two other artist accompanied us, they are Boni and Jojit.

Our first destination Lingayen Capitol! This  is one of the best Capitol in the Philippines, they allowed tourist to get inside  and witness the beauty inside of it, its also open during weekends.

View from the top of Lingayen Capitol, Pangasinan

                                           

outside the capitol few walks and you will see the Veterans Memorial Park

 And of course the entrance free resort  was here in Lingayen! We didn't let the day past without dipping our body in this sea water.  We seen only few people in this area, no cottages along the shore but you can set a tent if you want to.

Soloista Backpacker (Birthday Edition)

It was Sunday and a not so good weather in Manila during that day but still i pulled thru my plan to celebrate my special day outside Metro Manila,  i decided to celebrate it alone and try to be a soloist backpacker for one day. But before that a month before my special day came i kept on thinking on what best place to celebrate it, to think that i have no enough time to search on the net because holiday seasons is coming over and people were too busy buying their gifts for their love ones and aside from that i am on a tight budget.  But when my mom told me that Manaoag Church was nice place and one of the best place to visit i did not think twice to make Manaoag Church as one of my first travel destination as a "Soloista backpacker". I started to save some money for my plan.

and when the day came i am very much excited to think that i woke up as early as 4am which is not usual for me and prepared my stuff.  5:15 am i reached Victory Terminal in Caloocan and the rest is history..

i enjoyed my solo trip going to Pangasinan and the boredom didn't strike because i am busy reading birthday messages coming from a great friends of mine ^_^

and during my trip going to Pangasinan i saw this famous resto along Mc. Arthur in Gerona Tarlac

Isdaan the famous resto in Gerona Tarlac "Taksiapo!"

How to get to Manaoag Church?

Go to the Nearest Victory Liner or if you want there are other Bus Lines going directly to Manaoag Church 

such as Dagupan Bus Lines. 

If you ride Victory liner ask them to drop you off to Urdaneta the trip takes about 4 hours then if you reach Urdaneta ride a tricycle or tribike going to Magic Mall from there there were lots of tricycle waiting going to Manaoag Church.

Bus Fare from Caloocan to Pangasinan

Victory Liner Caloocan to Urdaneta Pangasinan P280

Urdaneta going Magic Mall (tribike) P10

MagicMall going to Manaoag Church P30 a 15 to 20 mins. travel going to church.

Town Hall of Manaoag Pangasinan

you will also see their Town Hall in front of the church

Tupig!!My favorite! :)

and here is one of the best delicacy you'll find in Pangasinan

after i attend mass i walked behind the church where candles and garden located

during my trip i met a not so old woman while i was eating in one of the fastfood chain located in front of the church, i approached her and started to ask if she's a visitor or one of the people lived in the town, i had a good conversation with her but i forgot to ask for her name but still i will never forget her because she's the only person i chatted with during my stay in the town.

Some say "don't talk to strangers" but who cares! if you're foreign in one place and you're not familiar don't be afraid to ask somebody for a help but always make sure to be attentive. :)

Again another fruitful year has been added and there are lot's of things to be grateful.

It was a really tiring trip but still i really had fun! every destination is a memories, every people you met is a blessing and every step you take is a lesson learned.

Ciao! ^_^