#backpackersph

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Went for a morning birthday surf and spent 2 hours in the water. My body’s still sore from yesterday but idc hahaha excuse my face for I was so tired after. My instructor already taught me to catch my own waves without him having to push my board and I had to paddle my arms off! Lol hahaha. Ahhh i’m not ready to go back to Manila just yet :(

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Since last year, I’ve already been planning out on where to go and what to doon my birthday. As you guys know, I went on a beach trip last weekend (January 6-8) in La Union for my 24th birthday in which I already posted some photos here. I’ll be sharing with you guys some more details regarding this trip incase you'd want to take a visit or plan to spend your vacation in La Union in the future. In this blog, you’ll find a guide on how to get there, fares, where to stay, and expenses. I’ll be having a separate post for the places you can eat around La Union.

I don’t really know much about La Union aside from the fact that it’s the surfing capital of the Philippines. It was my first time to go there and just relied on google and maps in locating places. Also read a lot of blogs before this trip so I know my how to’s and must try places. Find more about this trip by reading the whole post :-)

How to get there:

1. Ride a bus going to Vigan/Laoag. (Partas Cubao and Pasay is the best option as per other bloggers as well, they said there’s a direct bus going to La Union but I wasn’t able to find one lol. It took me almost 7 hours to get there due to stop overs. I saw that you can book a direct ticket through this website. One way fare is 449php)

2. Drop off in San Juan (the driver might ask you where in San Juan, depends on where you’ll be staying but I did drop off at San Juan Surf Resort. If you don’t wanna walk, there’s a tricycle terminal nearby at 40php if you’re solo and 10php per head if 3-4 persons)

Our bus left at 6am and I think there’s an hour interval per bus (not quite sure tho). We had about 3 stopovers I think that’s why I found the trip long. But they say usually it’s just around 4-6 hours. I arrived at my hostel around 12:30pm.

Where to stay:

CHARLIE’S SURF & HANGAR HOSTEL

I was originally supposed to book my stay at Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel. However, there’s no available room in the dorm type that I wanted for January 6 and I didn’t want to change hostel. Luckily, I found this newly opened hostel called Charlie’s surf and hangar. I was chatting with my surfing instructor and he told me he was teaching one of the owner’s daughter of that hostel and told me they were a family of pilots. So maybe that’s the story behind their interior. It was so cool seeing this big plane (which you can actually enter inside).

I booked for the 8-bed dorm for 750php each night. It’s air-conditioned and shared by both males and females. They keys were electronic which you can tap at the doors for you to enter. They will also provide you keys for the locker and like a storage area where you can leave your gadgets while charging. They do have common bathrooms (separate male and female) and a lounge area with the seaside view. Each room has a veranda where you can hang your wet clothes. Aside from the 8-bed dorm, they also have a 4 and 6-bed dorm priced at 850php and 950php per night. There’s no free breakfast though unlike other hostels. If you want a cheap place to stay I would definitely recommend this place. It’s very neat, clean and a relaxing place to stay. 

What to do:

One thing you shouldn’t miss doing in La Union is to go surfing. 

San Juan Surf School (own by famous surfer Luke Landrigan) offers surfing lessons for 400php inclusive of the board rent and instructor per hour. If you already know how to surf, their surf boards are available for rent at 200php per hour. They teach you the parts of the board and the basic positions and how to’s of surfing. Aside from surfing they also have paddle board, skim board, and kayak that you can rent. My instructor, Kuya Joel told me that some people where asking them why their quite expensive compared if you go surfing in Zambales or other areas. The reason behind it is that their instructors have permits and they undergo training. I went surfing on my 2nd day for 1 hour and a half and another 2 hours on my 3rd day. It was so addicting. Although my arms hurts from paddling. 

Overall, it was really great experience. I’ll definitely come back here. I still have a lot of things on my list that I wasn’t really able to try. I wanna go trekking to Tangadan falls next time and go cliff jumping. There’s just so much to explore in the beautiful place of La Union. By the way, sorry if I only have a few photos. Lol. I didn’t really take a lot of pictures and just enjoyed the moment. And most of my photos are food photos. Hahaha. Lol. Watch out for my next post! :-)

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I just got back from my Boracay trip yesterday morning. As some of you may know, I went on this trip alone. My college friend was suppose to join me on this trip but something came up and she was not able to make it to our flight and only told me the night before. I actually had hesitations wether to still push through with the trip or not. But I knew deep inside I really wanted to go even if I'm alone.

I had a lot of firsts this year and this trip has made it to the list. It was my first time riding a plane solo, with no friends or any company of some sort. It was a little nerve-racking to be honest. It's not my first time to ride a plane but it feels different when you don't know anyone. Good thing it was just an hour ride so I was able to survive it.

This is also not the first time that I traveled solo outside Manila but technically, its the farthest I've ever been by myself. And its not just an overnight but a 4-day trip to be exact. I don't really have troubles in traveling alone because I always do research prior my trip. Plus there's always google to help me out and it doesn't hurt to ask incase you're lost.

I always tell my friends that they should try traveling alone even just once in their life. I swear, its a life changing experience for me. It also gave me the chance to reflect in life and realize a lot of things. Surprisingly, you'll also get to discover more about yourself.  Its funny though because I can travel alone but still lack courage when it comes to socializing and talking to other people. I'm trying my best though, and going on solo trip helps me enhance my social skills and be less awkward. Its also challenging at the same time which I love. It's like a game of survival.

I have no regrets on going in this trip even though I went  there by myself because I was really never alone. My high school friend was there so we were able to meet up, I guy from my hostel approached me and started a conversation. I got to meet new people and gained friends from Boracay Pub Crawl. Also, it doesn't make you a loner or an emo kid just because you travel alone. I'm just really making the most out of my early 20s. Its the time to be selfish they say. I'm just trying live life and do things while I'm still young and while I can.

[wanderdess]

🏎 . . #philippines #gokart #drive #wheninbaguio #travel #wanderlust #photography #blog #nikonphotography #diytravel #backpackersph #noedit #nofilter

[home168manila-blog]

Need an affordable place to stay? We now offer transient rates at 250 per day. Free 100 mbps wifi and minera water. (Minimum of 5 days stay). Book now: globe 09772614080 & smart 09494898282 #home168manila #hotelmanila #backpackersph (at Home 168 manila)

[shiksteen]

Sorry guys, I might be able to upload the 5th episode of Japan vlogs tomorrow. 😔 Anyway, magfofood trip nanaman tayo sa sikat na food destination sa Osaka, ang Dotonbori! Yay! Abangan niyo! 😉 . . . . . #foodtrip #foodjp #dotonbori #japan #japanvlog #osaka #travelph #traveljp #travellingcouple #travel #backpackersph #backpacker #wander #wanderlust #wanderers #food #asia

[shiksteen]

Away from Manila. Fresh air!!! 😎 . . . . . #nipahut #bolinao #philippines #pangasinan #travelph #backpackersph #wanders #wanderlust #wanderers #travel (at El Pescador Resort Hotel)

[shiksteen]

Food trip vlog in Fushimi Inari Shrine (Kyoto, Japan) now up on my channel. Link is on my bio. . . . . . #japan #kyoto #fushimiinari #fox #torii #toriigates #japanvlog #vlogjp #traveljp #travelling #backpackersph #backpacker #shrine #shinto