La Union: The Vacation

Summer is fun and there's no better way to spend it than travel. So I'm sharing a few things which you can find in La Union. I think being in La Union is less expensive than other tourist spots you find especially because you don't have to go by plane in order to go there. You can even find reasonably priced restaurants in and outside the city. Technically, La Union is such a big place with many towns you can pass through in a jiffy. If you're coming up from Baguio which is known for its cold place then you might as well check the 2 hour bus ride or 1 and a half ride on a private car to La Union. Remember I just blogged about Pugad Pugo Adventure La Union. Now, the destination is simply not too far away the main town San Fernando City La Union.

The first stop is fine dining at Jochen's Euro Deli and Bread. Go there for a good pizza and Spaghetti Bolognese, it's quite heavy on the stomach but so delicious. It's found just near a beach. Although quite secluded, pizza days happen to be only during Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For the other days of the week, it is closed and remains private. It is owned by a German.

Inside the Euro Deli and Bread

A Cute Photo Inside the Restaurant Showing Ingenuine Artifacts and Interiors

If you want the tastiest halo-halo which is ultimately the Filipino dessert for summer. Then go at halo-halo de iloko. It's found somewhere near the town of San Fernando City. Even a tricycle ride can be in a jiffy. An okoy could also make your day. They are small prawns made into flour patties and dipped into the delicious sukang iloko. It's a landmark in itself and visited even by "balikbayans" and famous people. The ambience is truly uniquely Filipino.

With my sister at the Halo-halo de Iloko

The half-filled "okoy" (Sadly, I forgot to picture their famous halo-halo)

And if you love the beach then go to San Juan La Union. But let me warn you, the waves are not that calm. It really is for surfing. Its sands are real fine. Along the beach, you can see surfing boards for rent, some food and drinks for filling your stomach and some miscellaneous items. You can have a real tattoo or even a henna tattoo which I was told could last for two weeks. I got one made on my back which was a version of my favorite butterfly. There are really many beaches in La Union you can explore but I think none as popular as San Juan. So water buffs, do try visiting La Union. It's the place to be!

Me. Cha and Zye: In the midst of all the beach happenings

The Butterfly: My first henna tattoo

One Palm Sunday

It's the start of Holy Week and for Catholics its a devotion to wave Palms at Church and have them blessed by the priest after the mass. That's what happened today. We went to Manaoag, Pangasinan which is the "mecca" of devoted Catholics in Northern Luzon. We left Baguio at 5 a.m. today despite hesitation that the journey may be long and tiring considering there are many people who will be at church today. But my parents said that when you make promises going to Manaoag, you shouldn't postpone or delay it. So after further discussion that night before, we decided to go on. Besides saying our prayers, we went there to have Clau's car blessed. Indeed, there were no hassles when we got there. I'm sure God did want us to really go to his house. In fact, we had finished the car blessing, the mass and palm blessing by 9:00 a.m. that day. So swift!

After the car blessing, we dropped by Pugad Pugo, La Union. Actually, it's just along the way to Baguio if you're deciding to take the Marcos Highway route. Although it is still being developed, the place showcases a lot of budding promises. First stop were the zip lines. There were three zip lines - one which they call "superman", the fastest one which amounts to sitting down while traversing on a zipline and the last, the one going over the poolside. There was also rock climbing, rapelling, ATV buggy and other facilities which included swimming at the pool all day. I was told that soon there will be a firing range and paintball facility within the area.

We have planned on making the tour to Pugad and had brought along swimming clothes. However, we forgot to take towels and the things we use to make a shower. So we opted for the zipline. The zipline we chose was the "Superman". If you're reading my blogs, the superman is the same zipline I tried at Subic, Zambales. But unlike the last one, there was nothing to support your hands and feet to keep you balanced. But the amazing thing is, all things come naturally. Once you're there, the feeling exudes you. Looking down you glimpse various trees, fields and hills. Technically you're traversing from a 250-300 meter deep zipline with an elongation of 400 meters which I think is half deep and long as the one I've tried in Subic.

I had the mishap of getting stuck in the middle of the rope. I wasn't in fear only I was wondering why the attendant had to go to me and have me rescued to go to the landing stop. Soon did I realize that I was stuck with a possibly 250-300 meter deep zipline. But I was told that it happens especially because of the wind movements and if you're too light for the rope. Whatever it is, I did enjoy it. Although, I experienced my knees shaking after the adventure. So I must have been that courageous due to adrenaline rush. I thought I was already that brave!

Pugad have started only in September last year. I was told it was owned by a retired general. Compared to Kultura which was the next stop that day, there are more activities to do there and the entrance and cottage fees were less expensive. Also, you can bring in your own food and have a grill or a picnic. But if you're destination is for a splash, Kultura can make sure you have a fun time swimming. With the beautiful architecture, wave and dolphin-shaped pools, who can ask for more?

Oh, how I wish I was able to take a swim this Palm Sunday! Anyway, holy week is for more swimming in La Union. I can't wait!

The priest blesses Clau's car

Feeling like a beauty queen or a palm vendor?

With Henz and the palms at the Manaoag Church

The new Manaoag Shrine Fountain?

Pugad: The Place To Be

Gearing Up with the Help of "Kuya"

All geared up. Good thing the helmet fits me!

Trekking up towards the zipline 1 location

Literally preparing to fly...

And I am superwoman!!!

Kultura Splash Rates

Wondrous Architecture: The Kultura Information Lounge

Kultura Slide Pool: More Fun than what Meets the Eye

Vanity Calls

I know this blog may be a bit vain. My first thought was who in the world would like to read a blog about my new explorations of myself and that of a little bit about the world? You might be asking where my exploration have led me to - it's right at our home with the laptop, the webcam and cameroid.

You might be asking what cameroid is. Actually, it's my little sister's new found friend application. It customizes taking pictures with your own webcam. Cool isn't it? Technically, it's for vain people like what I call my lovely little sister. But anyway, I think the vanity got into me. I did the same thing she was doing, take snapshots of myself. Anyway, who isn't vain enough to take pictures of one's self? Then raise your hands!

But I realized that this is the first time I had to take pictures of myself with my eye glasses. That is what my explorations in life had led me to - eye strain (lol...)! This has what my years on thinking about something to write and lay it down on paper. This is what years of reading those novels had made me into - a four-eyed googler (lol...). But with my fits for fashion, I decided to take a branded frame so that I won't look too old in my glasses. That's another thing my exploration has led me to - age. Perhaps my eyesight is a symptom of aging. Or is it? I refuse to believe so. If you're wondering what my age is, the answer is "never mind" or maybe "next question please"! I promise to make these blogs essentially travel-oriented. But mind you, how can I see and explore the world with poor eyesight? Sometimes, I'm having trouble stepping through stairs and the like just because it was too dim or too bright.

I still did want to enjoy writing and bask in excitement reading them. I hope you would do too. Here are snapshots of me wearing eyeglasses. If it bores you, pardon me. Just think of it this way... I just need to document this (lol...). Zy says it's for her to dream, love and travel. I do it to live, learn, love and explore. I would be writing more from this time on. I promise!

Side View???

This pose of for people actually having nothing to do but just pose (lol...)

Sleepy four-eyed googler

Airplanes

I remember the first time I rode an airplane. it was on our way to Cebu then. It was the first journey where I didn't go on a trip on a bus ride or a car ride. So as they say, the first time was always exciting. Like a child I was dragged on the way to the airport by my companion. i didn't know the ins and outs then.

As the airplane was going up I was bracing myself for the jerking experience. i was asked many times if I was fine and i would reply I was indeed fine. However, I was bracing myself for something else to happen. But I didn't know what it was really. The thing that truly bugged me was the pressure while the airplane was on air. That day was really sunny so there was not a lot of jerking because of the winds or any rain. Unlike when we went to Thailand on a night time. That was my second airplane experience which is completely a different story.

So going back to the airplane experience going to Cebu. We landed in the small airport of "I forgot the name" airport in Cebu. You can't blame me with the many airports I've been  to right now they all got somehow mixed up. A day later, we ended up going to Tagbilaran Bohol through a ferry and from Bohol two days later took a flight back to Manila. The flight back to Manila was really much like the flight to Cebu... no hassles.

I also happened to seat on a four-seater airplane which was to my thinking was way too small. I need not mention the airline, but more than the thought of the small airplane bugging me. They also had us delayed for hours. So I'm not making any transactions with that airline company anymore. Not to mention, I spent my birthday at the airport waiting for the airplane!!!

So in this regard. I'm not making any complaints really. Oh, I love airplanes because they give me the same excitement and the time to explore the horizons. I' m not afraid of taking the trip. They say, come what may. I'm going to brace myself for the next airplane trip and I'm sure it's going to be another exciting experience. Everything is always worth the trip whether it be far. So I'm leaving the airplanes video by b.o.b. with Hayley Williams wishing I could really use a wish right now. What would it be? An enjoyable next trip perhaps?

M - A - N - I - L - A

"Manila, Manila... I keep coming back to Manila..." A certain Filipino song goes this way... True enough although born and raised in Baguio City, I've always been fond of traveling to Manila either through commuting in a bus or joining my friends on a joy ride to the shopping haven.
Yes, Manila has always been a shopping haven for me. From cheap finds to the most luxurious ones, you can find it all in Manila. It's a lively place where you have all the access to transportation, especially when you're destined to travel to other parts of the country or outside the country. Compared to the small city I've grown in, there are more sights and yes shopping venues that you can explore. My first travel to Manila as my mother would say was when I was still four years old tucked in my father's arms going to report at his office. He was a Seaman then. Little did I know, that this traveling perhaps have led me in my later years to find this addiction for traveling and fine dining.
Fine dining is another one you can find in Manila. I used to complain how there are not much restaurants here in Baguio. But now, with the SM malls invading Baguio City. I guess there's plenty of choices to dine around. There are even restaurants you can find only in Baguio City. Take for example, Hotel Veniz which is more than a hotel and function venue but also has their own restaurant. I recently had the experience of going through a function there and mostly going back to their Veniz Grill. It's mostly a combination of American and Italian dishes. The food is priced just right...not too expensive and not too cheap.
Going back to Manila, you might be asking what I did this time there. If you're thinking I went shopping well I did! But I really went there to attend the christening of two beautiful babies who happen to be twins named Zairich and Zurich. The baptism was at the Fort Bonifacio Church and reception followed at the Fort Bonifacio Clubhouse. One thing memorable about Fort Bonifacio was hearing airplanes literally flying over your heads. We even chanced by a helicopter landing at the reception area. Even at night time, the apartment mainly maintained for soldiers and their family were being passed over head by airplanes. The view from the veranda were merely breath-taking. Top it up with warm hospitality and good home-cooked meals by Tita Vic and there's absolutely nothing more to ask for.
I will certainly be back to Manila some time soon. There are a few travels still on my list and surely I'm going to document everything. It's going to be a real fun summer!

At the reception: The Fort Bonifacio Clubhouse with a wonderful view at the back

With pretty EM at the Veranda

Patricia holding up the unusual find dead leaf at Tita Vic's Veranda