Ditse's Birthday Surf

I wasn't supposed to be going to the beach anytime soon. As I previously said to myself after being burned and browned from our Calaguas Beach outing, but no, I impromptly went to the beach with my sisters and friends! It was Mariel's birthday weekend, and she really wanted to go to the beach. She supposed to go with Deo and the other BU people, but Deo cancelled because he went to Hong Kong abruptly. So two days before the weekend, after arriving from Cavite from work, I planned a surfing outing for my sister.

We were thinking between Zambales (a three-hour drive) or San Juan, La Union (5-hour drive), and basically decided against Baler (um, a 12-hour drive, I think?). I made a page on Facebook, and people went! Haha More than the number of people who confirmed for Deo's planned surfing weekend Haha

Anyway, we weren't in a hurry so we met late morning on September 22, 2012 in Trinoma, had some last-minute shopping done, and go! We arrive in Zambales area around 2 pm, where we had lunch in a small panciteria that only cost less than PhP 50 for a pansin palabok or pansit malabon (or in Shee's case, pala-bon because we had the malabon but added palabok sauce for free).

We arrived in Crysal Beach Resort around 4 pm, perfect time to go swimming. But not for surfing, since the waves were soooo calm. There was a group of mountaineers' night as well, so the resort was fully booked. We were able to stay in its neighboring resort at Kakay Beach House, where it was cheaper and better because we had the resorts all to ourselves!

Sorry, poor picture of the inside of the room hehe

Can you see the contact number of Kakay's Cottage?

 We stayed in a fan room (duh, it's the beach! it's supposed to be windy and yes, it was cold sometime in the early morning where some of us were awakened). There was a room with two sets of double-sized bunk beds and a room with 1 set of double-sized bunk bed, hence good for 12 people. And how much was it? It was originally PhP 2500, but they gave it to us for only PhP 2,000! Yey! They also offered to rent surf boards good for half day with instructor (PhP 800) or without instructor (PhP 400), and whole day. Unfortunately, they only have two sets of board. And these boards were for professionals! Haha! Yes, makapal ang mukha namin porked naka pag surfing na once haha


Anyway, it was late afternoon, so it was time for a costume change, and walk around the beach area if not to swim.We had some photo-ops. Buti nalng si Shee din may dress, very girly tuloy kami haha Some local guys were skim boarding, and we watched them for a while. It was almost sunset, so more pictures.

Borrowed the Skim Boards from the Local Boys

Group Shot

Then we went to Crystal Beach Resort for dinner. Overpriced for me (actually around 3 USD but the place was ordinary and the food was usual), but hey they were the only restaurant in the area so there really is not much other choice. But there was free wifi hehe

After dinner, since it was a mountaineer's night, they had some band where we could actually watch. But no, we'd rather be left to our own devices. Some star gazed and enjoyed the beach breeze, while some of us had some fun night swimming (aka moi). After about an hour of bouncing around in the water, we decided to get up, take a bath, and start the "socials." Since it was Mariel's birthday, and she did offer to pay for the drinks, it was on her! Haha


The next morning, we woke up, praying for higher waves. We rented the two surf boards and tried surfing, sharing the boards amongst ourselves. The others (Macy, Matel, and Shee) who was late taking their time in waking up, rented boards via surf school in Crystal Beach for PhP 400/hr with trainer especially since it was their first time. It was actually worth it for them because they even had matching rash guards, and some stickers and gift vouchers from Rox.

Calm waves...

Stoked

Surfing School with Matching Uniforms

Photo Op nalang kasi wala masyadong waves e

Eventually, we were all done around noon. No one ate breakfast because we were going surfing, and we would rather have lunch somewhere on the way. We were thinking if we're having lunch in Subic, but decided it's too far, so we settled for Chic-Boy instead. We had a stop-over in Nathaniel's in San Fernando, Pampanga for some pasalubong and some merienda. We arrived in Manila a little before 6 pm, barely made it to the mass in UP hehe

Expense:
Transportation (gas, toll, and driver) - PhP 300
Accomodations (PhP 2000/8) - PhP 250 + 10 (for the 5-gal water)
Dinner (group meal for 5: PhP 650, I think) - around PhP 130
Surfing (PhP 400 x 2 boards/5) - PhP 160
Drinks and junk food - c/o Mariel

Total: PhP 850 (plus personal KKB food)

Cool! Two days only to plan and yet our expense was less than 1k! Not bad... Plus we were 8 considering that we only had 2 days haha It could have been more kaso short notice. I really thought I was going to Tagaytay with my parents this weekend, instead of celebrating Mariel's birthday at the beach. Next time, we'll research also on the swell and wave which really SHOULD be included in planning for a surfing trip. Siargao, anyone?

Multiply to Blogger

I'm not supposed to be blogging.
But hey, I received an email that my multiply site is closing down.
I'm not sure if I have a copy of my pictures somewhere because it's the digital age.
And there were a lot of good times during my college days, when my Multiply page was very active indeed.
Anyway, I decided to export my Multiply site to my Blogger page.
Unfortunately, I still have to manually add each picture to each site.
So bear with me as I update my ex-multiply site into my blogger account...

As if anyone's reading this! Haha
It's not as if I'm not that busy and spending only 3 days a week at home... or less especially when I'm out with friends or climbing mountains or living life...

Edited:
Pucha! Bakit ganoon?Hindi pala na-save ang mga pics ko. Though I mainly used my Multiply for my pictures, they weren't posted! Only the first pics of the album were posted! Anak ng @#%@
Sige na nga! There's nothing I can do! I even noticed that I have unfinished drafts that I should be more concerned about, if ever!

I don't live in the past. I live in the present. And if I love my present well enough that I cannot sleep, that's when I blog about it :)

Mt Talamitam Climb

For the past several days, it's been so sunny and hot it feels like summer again. And I've been studying for what feels like an eternity when it's actually just 7 looong days. I need a break. I need some mountain air. Apparently I'm not the only one who has cravings. It's been a month since our last climb in Mt. Tapulao and even if it cost me 5 days of being house- bound due to muscle pain, I missed the mountains hehe Abby, Rein, Ralph, LJ, and Mike were game. Milcah also missed the mountains but she wasn't crazy enough when there were occasional rains 2 days before the climb. I also invited Julie because she wants to experience it without being limited by her daily bathroom rituals.

I got my things on Wed even when the climb was on a Saturday. We met in Pasay Mc Do supposedly at 4 am. I arrived at around qtr to 5 hehe but LJ was late by an hour! Hence some free Bulalo hehe

Waiting for LJ at McDo Pasay

It was an easy enough climb. No swearing or cursing happening much hehe or is it because I feel fitter and healthier? Or is it because compared to the climb on Mt Tapulao, this is easier? Hehe

Anyway, the hardest part of the climb for me, was the first part with its inclines (reminds me of Pico de loro) but its very much manage-able. Then you'll reach a short clearing, where you could see some views of a house, the road, and some mountains. Then you'll pass by some planting areas and some grasslands, and a meadow where lots of cows were grazing. (Hmm Imagine if the weather is sunny, then this will be too hot!) Then, there's the assault to the summit with its very steep incline, the hardest being as high as your waist. (So Yes, having long legs is an advantage.) but once in the summit, it was beautiful. It wasn't as high as pico de loro or batulao, but because of the great weather, the view was spectacular... With some essence of a sea of clouds. :-)

At the Barangay Hall at the Start of the Trek

Within 30 minutes from the jump-off point, you will pass this bridge

First Stop-Over

Second Stop-Over: another clearing with lots of cows grazing

Prior to the assault to the summit

View from the Summit

View from the summit

Yes for some partial Sea of Clouds!

View from the Summit

At the end of the climb back in the barangay hall

Going down was also easy despite the mud, where we only took 1 hr going down. Actually, it could be done much faster without any need for a break haha

We changed clothes and went on our way. We could do a twin dayhike, but a lot of us wants to get back to Manila early. (ahem, Ahem)

We just passed by Rowena's and had early dinner there, knowing that it would be traffic on the way back to Manila. Yey for some free Bulalo from LJ!

Rowena's