SURFIN' LA UNION AND ALL THE BLOOPERS WE MET ALONG THE WAY

J's favorite sport has always been basketball. But I always told him that he looks more like a surfer to me... A cool sexy surfer dude! hehe.. 

Since February is the month where all the Family Physicians (me included) allover the Philippines troop to Manila for the annual convention, I took this oppurtunity to make  a little side trip to La Union in the weekend for some surf lessons, of course with J, who happens to be on leave that week, yehey!

So this little vignette will be a sort-of guide for interested travellers to La Union. Warning! This is not a how-to entry but more like a what-not-to, hehe...

At around 1:30 AM, we headed to Partas Terminal in Pasay to catch the 2AM trip to La Union. But apparently there were no buses to be found in Baclaran area near MRT Taft station where I thought Partas buses were stationed. We  wer told that Partas Terminal Pasay has now a new bigger terminal just a few blocks from old location. We also learned that they don't have any trips between 2AM to 4AM which leaves us to try our best to settle for the hard steel chairs for our bed for 2 hours. When the bus did arrived, we bought out tickets for 400 per head. It takes 6 to 7 hours to get to La Union. If you have your own car, it would probably take you 5 hours. But in our case, it took us more than 7 hours because the driver might have eaten something that got him to do several personal stopovers at restrooms. Believe me, some male passengers heard him doing his business in the CR. Poor driver! Tips for future travelers to La Union, bring some snacks, ipod, psp or a book to entertain you during the ride. But they also show movies on the bus. I got well acquainted with all Vic Sotto movies, they got a whole collection of it.

 We finally arrived at San Juan. We had reservations at San Juan Surf Resort.

  
This resort has the Billabong Surf School headed by hottie Filipino-Australian surfer/model Luke Landrigan, who bagged a silver medal at the Bali Asian Beach Games. We saw him hanging out all day in the resort. I was just  too shy to approach him for a photo-op and I don't want to come out like a craze-fan. 

(image from the web)

We already paid in advance, a downpayment for our stay. The girl in the front desk named Rowena was the one who entertained us. We wanted to get this package they were offering for P2050 per pax which includes 1 night accomodation, free breakfast for 2 and 3 hours surfing lessons (instructions, surfboard & equipment).  Since our room wasn't ready yet and we were completely famished from our trip, we had a late lunch at their open restaurant bar. J ordered the grilled chicken and I ordered the tuna belly. Their food isn't that amazing but it was alright.


The resort currently has 6 types of rooms namely: Standard Aircon Rooms, Bungalow Aircon Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Villas, Fan Rooms and a Family Room.

We stayed at the Deluxe room but it would be nice to have stayed at the bungalows. The rate for deluxe room good for 2 people: P1760.00 and for 4 people: P2360.00.

The room has a hot & cold bath, a small flat screen tv, aircon and a little terrace. Don't expect a phone or room service. You have to go down to the front desk or restobar if you need something.

Hoping to get our surfing lessons that afternoon, we asked Rowena to arrange it. She directed us to the shop beside the restobar where surf boards, Billabong apparels and other stuff where sold.

There was this nice lady and a surfer instructor who told us that the waves are pretty strong for newbies like us. It is better to do surf lessons in the morning or another option is that we will hire a tricycle or jeep to go to a Mcdo that is 20-30mins away, where the waves are tamer but since it was getting late the instructors there might be heading back already. Too bad, Miss Rowena didn't inform us of this situation. We told the lady and the instructor that if we do our surf lessons in the morning we couldn't avail the 3 hours we paid for since we will catching a bus back to the city in the morning. They were pretty sympathetic, the nice lady personally talked to Miss Rowena and had our money refunded. We have to wake up early the next day for the lessons and we can have a 1 hour lesson for P400 inclusive of instructor and surf board rental.

Since surf lessons were cancelled, we went to look for a nearby mall to buy a few stuff. We were instructed to ride a jeep to San Fernando and tell the driver to stop at Monterey. Then at Monterey, we got a tricycle to CSI, their mall which reminds me of Gaisano City in Iloilo. On our way back, we stopped at Midway Grill, a restaurant my sister recommends.

The place looks like it has a 50's theme. It reminds me of the restaurant in Archie comics. So cool! We ordered take out of Mongolian rice, Sizzling Pulpog (chargrilled pork cutlets with fresh onions, chilies & pepper) and lumpia shanghai. My sis was right. Their food were really good!  My sister told me later that their bestsellers are their baby backribs and their breakfast meals. 


Next day:


We were ready to hit the waves!

We were taught first of the basics. Crash course on Surfing 101. This is what I think I have retained in my brain. Disclaimer: Consult a professional surfer instructor before following this.

1. Strap on the leash into your ankle which attach you to your board

2. Jump on the board with your chest on the board and your legs obliquely on the board and water. 

2. Then, position yourself prone on the board and make sure you can fell the rope in the tail.

3. Paddle paddle paddle.. (or in my case, my instructor was the one who pushes my board, positioned it waiting for the wave and pushes it.

4. Once my instructor said get ready, I bend my right knee (left if you're left handed) with your toes lightly touching the back of my right knee.

5. When the wave pushes me forward, I try to get up, pushing my chest up (like push-up) and tries to balance on the board with feet facing to the right.

6. Don't forget to bend those knees.

7. If you fell down the water, make sure to over your head with your arms because the board might hit you.

8. Grab the board by the leash and pull it.

Honestly, when we got into the cold water and the angry waves greeted me by slapping me with lots of salty water on my face, I got a bit scared and I wasn't even on the board yet. My heart was pounding... But when I was on the board and the wave pushed me forward, I did the standing stance and I was.... literally balancing on the board!!! It was exciting! My instructor was so impress... He wouldn't believe it was my first time surfing. I told him I probably got lucky and also thanks to yoga.... Too bad, I don't I dont have pictures to prove this little shameless cyber-bragging, hehe.

We were having so much fun! And after an hour with our body was aching and our throat & noses has so much salty water in it, surf lessons ended.  We will try definitely to come back and stay longer.

with my instructor, Marley

Before heading back to Manila, we had our free breakfast first.

His breakfast: Longaniza

Her breakfast: Cheese omelette

After packing, we took a jeep to the nearby Partas Terminal. Since the schedule to Partas Pasay Terminal is a bit later, we took our chance in taking the bus to Partas Cubao Terminal. We wouldn't want to miss our 6PM flight back to Iloilo. J made a great call of deciding that we go down North Avenue and rode MRT to Taft instead. Less traffic, cheaper than taxi and we got to our plane on time. Thank Babe!

This was also our first time travelling outside Iloilo City. It was a learning experience for us. We learned that travelling is fun but it could be messy and unpredictable, too. There will be opportunities to get lost, test your patience, swim on the unknown, spend more than the budget, acquaint self to discomfort. And I say we should grab all these by the horn. Because these are circumstances presented to us  test our capacity to change and grow. All of those are what travelling can offer us along with broadening our horizons to new things, new culture and the time to just enjoy ourselves. Funny that this little trip made me realize a lot of things about myself too and what I can improve on in our later trips. First of which is my research skills needed improving, hehe. (No trips to La Union from 2AM to 4PM. Got it!hehe). And the best thing about it, as J said, is that we got to experience all these and just be together. For more travelling trips! Cheers!

San Juan Surf Resort(072)720-0340 / (072)242-0389
+639178803040
sanjuansurfresort@yahoo.com

Billabong Surf School La Union Philippines

San Juan Surf Resort, 238 Urbiztondo

San Juan, La Union 2514

billabongsurfschool@gmail.com

(+63)9178008004

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