PANGASINAN 2015: SAN ANDRES, BOLINAO

For some, having kids is synonymous to saying goodbye to the "good stuff". Of course, being responsible parents, we need to save up for the future (FACT); but this doesn't mean we need to pass going on trips and enjoy what the Philippines has to offer. Like what I always say, travelling need not be expensive. And so here's our very tipid-trip to Pangasinan to spend the holy week.

Since we got Whitey (our car) last year, we realized that driving is the most convenient way to travel when you have a kid. (We reserve the "backpacking" part when it's just the two of us or with our -karen friends):

1) no rush in meeting PUV schedule 

2) child safely seated in the back 

3) can sleep whenever they want 

4) toilet break whenever 

5) stopover whenever. 

And so we drove from Paranaque to Pangasinan, (photos below)

DAY 1 - MARCH 30, 2015 (MONDAY)

Our darling comfortably stationed at the backseat :)

mommy and daddy

Skyway north-bound

First stop: Breakfast at Jolibee (NLEX) :)

 

And off we go :)

saw this DIRECTIONAL GRAFFITI. I was so relieved we're not lost ;)

My handsome driver

see what I'm telling you? 

And after 6 or so hours of driving, we finally reached EL PESCADOR RESORT & HOTEL

ADDRESS: SAN ANDRES, BOLINAO PANGASINAN

CONTACT NUMBERS: 075-554-2559 / +639999926184

*photo property of El Pescador

We were booked to the LEGACY QUEEN BED room located at the far south part of the resort. We originally rooted for the Kubo accommodation, but as per the booking officer (sorry I forgot her name), all rooms are already booked (which I accepted since it is the holy week)

THE LEGACY ROOMS (facade and driveway)

*photo property of El Pescador

LEGACY QUEEN BED (interior)

*Photo property of El Pescador

After we checked-in, we decided to have some late lunch. There is no intercom in our room, so whenever we need something -- food order or whatever request, we need to go out our room and walk for about 2-3 minutes to get to the reception counter.

UNSOLICITED ADVICE: List down items that you may need so you won't be going back and forth just to request for stuff. Also, you may order your meals in advance and request them to be delivered to a certain time.

After eating our lunch, we decided to go for a dip in the pool. El Pescador is the only resort in the vicinity that has swimming pools. They have one kiddie pool with slide, and an adult pool with a giant slide

shot with my Sony Xperia Z2. Ava just loves the water -- even going under it ;)

Bolinao sunset

After swimming, we decided to tour the resort. We found ourselves in one of the gazebos 
overlooking the beach. The beach in El Pescador isn't really for swimming. You'll find fishermen boats parked on the shore. Sand isn't really that fine, and unfortunately we found litters on the sand (bottles, candy and junkfood wrappers, cigarette butts, etc)

UNSOLICITED ADVICE: Anywhere you go, please bring a plastic bag where you can place all your trash. A candy wrapper you decided not to throw on the ground would save a million water species.

DAY 2: BREAKFAST

Filipinos love -silogs for breakfast, and El Pescador offers the standards with free 3-in-1 coffee. I personally am a tapsi and toci person, but whenever in Pangasinan, never miss out on their famous LONGANISA. I think they call it the ALAMINOS LONGANISA. It is very similar to the Vigan longanisa, but it comes in small round shapes. You will find a toothpick-like stick on each end (they don't really twist or tie the skin). Taste-wise, it is salty and garlicky. 2-3 pieces of it will satisfy your big breakfast tummy.

For those fastfood junkies, don't despair, Bolinao has a Jolibee truck. Menu is limited -- they don't offer chicken, spaghetti, and the more expensive ones. But you can get cheeseburgers, jolly hotdog and tuna pie :)

THE REAL JOLIJEEP -- in the flesh!!!

ROUGH BUDGET REPORT:

PARTICULARS	COST
Accommodation	3500
3D2N stay at Legacy
Free breakfast for 2pax
Meals (approx)
Lunch (day 1)	200
Dinner (night 1)	500
Drinks	350
TOTAL	4,550.00

UNSOLICITED REVIEW: 

El Pescador is one of the better places to stay in Bolinao. They offer affordable accommodations with free breakfast, free use of the pool and free 1 hour love boat ride (too bad we were not able to try it). Staff were nice, though there weren't really enough people to accommodate your requests 24/7 (given that we visited the resort during the Holy Week).

If you are a beach person, San Andres may not be the best shore for you. Like what I mentioned earlier, theirs is a working shore where fishermen dock their boats early morning with their fresh catch (though it might be a beautiful view from the gazebo in the morning).

I really liked that our room has its own terrace/veranda. It became our dining area and here's where we had our night caps. Aside from the pool area, the verandas are the best chill place. (recommended for big groups)

The resort has a 24 hour security, but it will be really dark at night (even inside the resort premises), there are street lights outside, but tricycles are not always available if you wish to stroll at night. There are sari-sari stores near the resort if you wish to buy snacks and drinks. 

If you are planning a not too expensive "huwag-naman-laging-pansol" family outing, then El Pescador in San Andres Bolinao may be the perfect venue. 

Overall, I give El Pescador a 7 out of 10.

Will be writing about our Patar experience in my next post. And of course, don't miss our Hundred Islands adventure. 

Till then..

BANTAYAN ISLAND, CEBU (SANTA FE BEACH) (2009)

If you are a Manilenyo, and wishes to escape from the stress, pollution, and noise of Luzon, Cebu is definitely the go-to destination. Cebu, the queen city found in the Visayas is known for its mouth watering lechon, danggit and dried mangoes. But what not all of us know is that Cebu also is the place to find paradise beaches; one of which is BANTAYAN ISLAND.

Bantayan Island is located just off the northwest tip of Cebu's mainland. I first went there with my friends (Mina, Janelle, and Cathy) in December 2009. Some would say we're crazy hittin' the beach in December, but I can say that this is the perfect time to get that tan without exposing your skin to the sun too hard. The wind is cool, too so you won't get that sticky feeling due to sweat ;)

Map of Cebu

GETTING TO, FROM and AROUND

Cebu Pacific flight MLA-CEB

L-R: Mau, Janelle, and Cathy before boarding the plane

I. Mactan Airport to Hagnaya Port

Since we are four going there, from Mactan Airport we decided to just rent a cab to bring us to Hagnaya Port. Renting a cab or a van for your group is the fastest way getting to the port. It only took us around 2 1/2 hours since we left Mactan Airport as early as 6am. 

Kuya Joel (the cab driver) was charging us P1,600 to bring us to Hagnaya, but we were able to haggle upto P1,400 (P350/pax). Though I only recommend renting a cab/van if you are in a big group so as to save some pesos for booze later in the island (haha!)

For couples and 'tipid-tips' travellers, don't worry for there are other (and a lot cheaper) ways getting to Hagnaya. 

AUV *Innova/Avanza (for group hiring)
From the airport or seaport to Hagnaya.
Good for 6-7 pax.
Non-stop trip
CHARGE: 1800-2,500 pesos
TRAVEL DURATION: 2 and half hours

Bus

From Cebu North Bus Terminal

Stops at every town

CHARGE: 135-150 pesos

TRAVEL DURATION: 4-5 hours

V-Hire
From White Gold Terminal to Hagnaya.
Very crampy ride.
Must be there earlier so you can have the best seat on the van.
Van leaves every hour or when the van is full.
CHARGE: 100.00 pesos
TRAVEL DURATION: 2 and a half hours

**Be nice to those offering rides to your destination. It's gonna be a lot easier to haggle, I swear! :D

II. Hagnaya Port to Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island

Once you reach Hagnaya Port, you must go straight to the cashier so as to check if there is a Ro-Ro waiting or if you still have to wait for the next trip. My friends and I were not so lucky getting in the earlier trip so we waited an hour.

L-R: Mau, Mina, Cathy, and Janelle (Thank you kuya stranger for taking our photo :))

Ro-Ro Boats (Shuttle Ferry Service)
From Hagnaya to the port of Santa Fe

CHARGE: 150 pesos to 170.00 pesos
TRAVEL DURATION: 1 and a half hour (maximum) 

Boats (Don Martin, Palacio Shipping Lines)
From the city to the port of Santa Fe
CHARGE: 150.00 pesos - 200.00 pesos
TRAVEL DURATION: 6 to 7 hours

Ro-Ro ride to Sta. Fe

**Tip for our 'byahilo' friends: Make sure you take one tablet of Bonamin an hour before riding the Ro-Ro. You won't want to be sea sick and spoil your trip, right?

A multicab c/o the resort was already waiting for us as we touch down-ed Sta. Fe. We immediately loaded the multicab and after five short minutes we arrived at Beach Placid Resort.

 our duplex :)

our very spaceous room with two double beds

view from our porch

It was very windy, then so instead of beach bumming, we decided to take a quick tour around the island. We took pedicabs (P20 for 2 pax already) to bring us to significant places. FIrst stop: Ogtong Cave :)

hello Cathy and Janelle :)

Ogtong cave can be found in Santa Fe Beach Club

So here's a lomo-ish photo of the cave from my cheapang digicam. (sorry..)

Lukewarm water. Too bad we were not able to bring our swimwear with us..

And oh, these Koreans. (They're everywhere..lol)

Here's the story. One of them approached us and asked if they can take our picture. We were shocked and a bit scared. Apparently, because of language barrier, they were trying to ask if we can take their photo because they do not have a camera with them ;)

Moving on, riding our pedicabs, we also visited a couple of sites -- went to the town proper and checked out where we're going for the night.

To end this sort-of-a novel entry, let me show you some photos of the Santo Nino Roman Catholic Church.

Thanks for taking time reading this nobela. Hope you got something from this. Will be posting another entry on Bantayan Island and other places I have visited in the Queen City of the south. :) Bye!

<3 motherbackpacker

MAUMAU: the frustrated blogger

I'm a frustrated blogger. I've always wanted to blog. I have signed up with a number of blog sites since live journal -- but failed to keep one; just like me trying my hardest to keep a diary when I was younger.

Now, here I am.. again.. trying to write. This time with no high hopes. Just me, in front of my ever reliable Biscotti (my laptop) sharing thoughts, dreams, and experiences -- places I have been to, shores I have walked on, adventure trips with my -karen (kaladkaren) friends, food we've munched on, etc.

Since this is my first entry, I want you to know the person in front of the laptop.

WHO'S THAT MOTHER BACKPACKER??

Yes, that's me in the photo; and yes I AM SOOO PREGNANT. That's why I chose to call myself the MOTHER BACKPACKER. That little angel inside my tummy was already a witness to two paradise in the country -- Malapascua Island, Cebu and of course Boracay.

I love to travel. I'm a self-proclaimed beach bum. I love to discover beaches no one has ever been to (or at least not so many, yet). I have been to a number of beaches in the country, and I must say the Philippines is such a magical place.

My next entries will be about the places I have been to. I'll try my best to make whoever reading it experience what I experienced. Will give tips on the 'know hows' so you won't get lost if you visit the place yourself. Of course will not forget to post where the good food is.

AND most important, I AM A BUDGET TRAVELER. I want to make people realize that traveling may not be an expensive hobby.

So I hope you stick around and learn something from whatever I write. :)

Til the first 'beach' entry.

<3 motherbackpacker