La Union: Weekend Budget Travel Guide

I've been to La Union twice already but for some reason I've never visited any of the famous surfing resort which La Union was known for. It's a shame actually because I just witnessed one of the most magical sunset ever. I should have visit this place years ago. Anyway here's a quick guide if you're planning to visit eLyU!

How To Go To La Union

Estimated travel time from Manila to La Union is around 6-7 hours depending on the traffic so it's best to leave around midnight so you can arrive there by early morning. Partas Transportation in Cubao & Pasay have an hourly schedule that departs from the terminal. Board the bus bound to Vigan or Laoag & tell the conductor to drop you off in San Juan. Another option would be to take the San Fernando (Php 453.00) bus & then ride a jeepney (Php 8.00) or tricycle to Urbiztondo, San Juan.

Where To Stay

Once you arrived in San Juan, you can see that all the resorts are just sitting in the highway & behind them are the enticing ocean waves beckoning towards you. Have I known this beforehand, I think I would be here every weekend lol! There are a lot of resorts to choose from but I already made up my mind from the very beginning to stay in Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel, mostly because I love the name so much (its very catchy, natutuwa lang tlga ako haha). Also, it's for all kinds of traveller whether you want to splurge or you are on a budget. They have a mixed dormitory room for as low as Php 680.00.

Flotsam & Jetsam Hostel

Chicken Parang worth Php 250.00. This dish is divine! One of the best seller in Flotsam & Jetsam restaurant which is also open to non-guest.

You can also try the following resorts in San Juan or book thru Agoda.com
San Juan Surf Resort
The Circle Hostel
Thunderbird Resort

Note: Sadly I didn't get to try surfing that afternoon because of strong current. I even tried to insist but was strongly discouraged. So don't me lol I guess it's only for precautionary purposes since tourist/guest were not advisable to swim. Infair ibang klase rin kc ang lakas ng waves. Afraid haha If you do try which is a must, the rate is Php 400.00 per hour inclusive of board rental & surf instructor.

How To Go To Tangadan Falls

Another famous attraction in La Union is the Tangadan Falls. It is located in San Gabriel, around 40 minutes to 1 hour away from San Juan. A lot of resorts offer a Tangadan Falls tour package just like in Flotsam & Jetsam. It was around Php 850.00 each for 2 persons and Php 1,400.00 if it's only for one person. Because I'm on a budget I decided to do it DIY.

Getting There:

• From San Juan or any resort you're staying, ride a jeepney going to San Gabriel
• From San Gabriel, ride a tricycle going to Tangadan Falls jump-off point. 

Stated above was supposed to be my "expected" itinerary but in "reality" that wasn't the case. Well if you've been travelling a lot, this is not surprising anymore. There will always be last minute changes no matter how much time you planned on the trip. Which is why sometimes I don't plan any itinerary at all, just go with the flow & trust your instinct. It's better that way.

I was informed by the locals that it's difficult to ride a jeepney to San Gabriel since only a few passed by along the highway. Due to time constraints, I just have a tricycle tour package (Php 400.00) back & fort from the hotel to Tangadan Falls. Upon arrival in the jump-off point, you can choose either to walk a 45 mins-1 hour hike towards the falls or ride a habal-habal (Php 150.00-200.00 fee) & then walk for 15-20 minutes. Of course I just choose to walk, it's a good exercise anyway. Anyone who wants to visit the falls are required to take a tour guide. Minimum tour guide fee is Php 500.00 for 5 persons. If your group is 6 & up, then its Php 100.00 each. So if you're going to here & you're less than 5, the total amount you will pay is still Php 500.00. For my case since I'm going solo, I was about to back out lol. Seriously, I just haggle in my tour guide but I ended up feeling guilty since he doesn't insist on what amount I should pay him. Ako na daw ang bahala. In the end I paid him Php 400.00 since it's his only source of income. You can contact Kuya Oliver to be your tour guide here +639121759520

20 feet Cliff diving spot!

Tip: Trekking hours can start as early as 5:30 in the morning & only up to 3:30 in the afternoon. You can stay for as long as you want in the falls though so it's really worth the visit.

Itinerary
Ok I have to confess, I went here solo. Sorry Mom. Like I said, I've been dying to go here so I really don't care whether I'm going solo or not. It's do or die haha Para sa blog lol I am forever grateful to all my guardian angel out there, I hope you won't get tired of my recklessness & impulsiveness because there's still more to come. Anyway I went to La Union just over the weekend with a sidetrip to Tangadan Falls and I think that's already enough to explore eLyU but you can extend a day or two if you couldn't get enough of it.

Breakdown of Expenses:

Day 1
Bus Fare: Php 453.00
Breakfast (Stop-over): Php 50.00
Accomodation: Php 936.00
Lunch at Flotsam & Jetsam: Php 250.00
Dinner: Php 120.00
Kikiam (streetfood): Php 10.00

Day 2
Breakfast in Flotsam & Jetsam: Free
Tricycle tour to Tangadan Falls: Php 400.00
Tour Guide Fee: Php 400.00
Rent (Life-Vest): Php 50.00
Entrance Fee: Php 30.00
Food (Drinks): Php 40.00
Jeepney to San Fernando: Php 8.00 **
Tricycle from San Fernando Market to Partas Terminal: Php 15.00
Bus Fare: Php 453.00
Dinner (Stop-over): Php 50.00
TOTAL: Php 3,265.00

I know its pretty expensive and I didn't even bought a pasalubong lol. But you can still bring down the cost if you are travelling in big groups though.

**Tip: If you're really hungry or haven't taken a lunch yet, buy some food first on a nearby fast food chain once you arrive in San Fernando City/Market because there's no food stall available near the Partas Terminal.

Quick getaway to Masasa Beach, Batangas

January has always been a busy month for me, well aside from April which is hellish to describe it mildly lol! I think you will understand what I'm talking about if you're Accountant/Auditor who works for a big company. Anyway I don't want to bore you about my job so lets get to the good part. Considering this month is already the start of my busy schedule, I actually push myself to just getaway from draManila even though I wasn't really feeling well that day & I woke up late that morning but I still decided to go because maybe I just needed some vitamin sea to feel better.

My destination for that day was Masasa Beach, it is a public beach located in Tingloy Island in the province of Batangas. I don't think it's famous yet (for me at least) which I actually like because I personally prefer secluded beach, that 'away from the crowd' thing, yung lakas maka-The Beach choz so its more private. I've only knew about this island last year when I was searching for beaches here in Manila that are not too crowded & Masasa Beach came up along with Cagbalete Island (which I chose to go at that time) & many others.

Anilao Port

Batangas is always my go-to place if I am craving for a beach (malala na ata ako choz). I cannot count how many times I've been here because Batangas definitely have a lot of nice beaches but I do remember that the first itinerary that I ever made was going here, the famous Laiya beach. It was a success actually (ahem) & I never stopped since then.

Tingloy Port

How to go to Masasa Beach:
Jam Liner & DLTB bus lines in Buendia terminal offers a daily trips going to Batangas Grand Terminal. Travel time is around 2-3 hours depending on the traffic. From there take the jeep going to Anilao (the jeep will leave once it is full) & tell the driver to drop you off in Anilao Port. Travel time is 45 minutes to 1 hour. Upon arriving in Anilao Port, you will be asked to register your name before you can ride in the public boat going to Tingloy island. Travel time is almost 1 hour. Once you reached TIngloy island, there are a lot of tricycle available in Tingloy port so you can ride one & tell the driver to drop you off in Masasa Beach, Travel time is only 10 to 20 minutes. But its not yet the end though, there's a short hike going to the beach for about 10-15 minutes which I think was actually part of its charm. Don't worry the rice fields & lush mountains scenery is quite refreshing after those long travel time.

Rice fields on the way to the beach

Note: First trip from Anilao Port going to Tingloy island starts at 9:00AM. The last trip from Tingloy island to Anilao Port is at 3:00PM.

Where to stay:
Since the island is not yet developed, there are no resorts available in the beach. You can bring your own tent (free) if you want to stay overnight or you can stay in Aling Rosie's Bahay Kubo for Php200.00/person. You can contact her at 09196864368.

The water was very clear..all the more reason whyI like Batangas!

Here's a short clip of Masasa Beach. It's my first time to post a video though so don't judge haha

Breakdown of Expenses:
Bus from Manila to Batangas Grand Terminal: Php 157.00
Jeep from Batangas Terminal to Anilao Port: Php 37.00
Public boat from Anilao Port to Tingloy Port: Php 70.00
Tricycle from Tingloy Port to Masasa Beach: Php 20.00
Entrance Fee in Masasa Beach: Php 30.00
Tricycle from Masasa Beach to TIngloy Port: Php 20.00
Public boat from Tingloy Port to Anilao Port: Php 70.00 **
Jeep from Anilao Port to Batangas Grand Terminal: Php 40.00
Bus going back to Manila: Php 157.00
Total: Php 601.00

** In case you missed the last public boat going back to Anilao Port which happened to me (kc nman bkt maaga ang last trip, nagtatampisaw pa ako haha), there are private boat that can take you back to Anilao Port but of course it will be for a higher price. It's a good thing that there are also a lot of us stranded in Tingloy Port so who chipped in together & haggle to the boatmen. We agreed for the boat price of Php 2,500.00 to be divided for 15 persons so it will be Php 170.00 each. Be mindful of the boat schedule at wag ako tularan haha

How I spent Php1,000.00 in Cagbalete Island:

Cagbalete Island

I'm a little hesitant to blog about this island because this is one of my secret spot. You know we all have that one place where it always leaves a special mark in our heart & I guess this one is for me. Maybe because for the first time I finally tried the solo backpacking thing. Yup no one knows about this not even my Mom who constantly checks on my whereabouts. It's a good thing she's not reading this lol. Personally, I don't like travelling solo because (1) I don't have somebody to take my pictures (ang vain lang ng reason ko haha) & (2) it is more costly than when in groups. There are not many places where you can travel solo on a budget but for this trip I think I did well & forced myself not to go overboard & surprisingly enjoyed my solo trip. Anyway, I'm sharing this trip because I don't think I have a lot of readers & even if I have, I doubt that they will read this word by word lol. Seriously, I have many realizations during this trip. That it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, that it was both liberating & exhilarating, & that I finally understood the hype about solo travelling. I might just do it again next time haha

How to go to Cagbalete:
There is only one bus who goes directly to Mauban, Quezon and that is Jac Liner Bus. They only have 2 bus schedules though, 4AM & 11AM. The fare is about Php 270.00 & estimated travel time is aound 4 to 5 hours. In  case you missed the first trip (which happened to me), you can take the bus going to Lucena & get off  in Lucena Bus Terminal (Php 210.00). From there, you can take another bus going to Mauban (Php 50.00) & drop off in Mauban Public Market. You can opt to ride a tricycle from Mauban Market to the port (Php 10.00) or you can walk if you're not in a hurry.

Mauban Port

You should be in the Mauban Port on or before 10:00AM to catch the first trip going to Sabang Port (Cagbalete Island). Boat fare is Php 50.00 & travel time is around 45 minutes to 1 hour. In case you missed this, the next scheduled boat trip is already at 3:00PM but there are also private boat who offers to get you to the island for a higher price. Fare depends on the number of passengers. Small boat for 4 people is about Php 2,000 while the bigger boats cost Php 4,000 but I think you can still haggle though.

I arrived on the island around 1:00 in the afternoon & was surprised that the island surrounding the resort was in low-tide. I mean I was so used to the idea that when somebody says it's low tide, the water is at least still visible in the naked eye but the case here is different. The water was totally wiped out or pushed back from the island for about 1 to 2 kilometers. I was so amazed that I asked the boatman if this is always the case here, he just casually confirmed "Opo ma'am, ganito po talga dito araw-araw" (Yes ma'am, this happen everyday)

This is how it looks during low tide. I have to walk for 10 to 15 minutes to reach the resort.

That little house is the Villa Cleofas Resort

The water will go back to normal at around 4:00PM (high tide) up to early morning then it will start to recedes at around 11:00AM. You can see it right before your very eyes the transformation of the sea levels. At one point I feel like I'm Moses actually especially when I walked towards the sandbar (the main haighlight of the whole trip) when it was just starting to appear. Lakas maka-mahika ang ganap dun haha I think that was also the start of my obsession to sandbars lol

Ahhhhhh sandbar!!!

Tip: Electricity in the island is on rotational basis. It is available from 6:00PM to 10:00PM & will be back on 6:00AM to 10:00AM the next day. I'm not sure if this is also the case to other resort so make sure to bring your power banks.

Where to stay in Cagbalete:
There are various resorts to choose from in Cagbalete Island which I listed below. As for me I choose to stay in Villa Cleofas because they allow their guest to pitch their own tent for a minimal fee & also because of their own sandbar which makes it even more better.

This is the first time that I've seen a sunrise by the beach. Puro sunset lang kc naabutan ko haha

Yun lang against the light lol

Other Resort in the Island:

• Dona Choleng Resort
• Pansacala Beach Resort
• Villa Noe Beach Resort
• MVT Sto. Nino Resort

Tip: Be mindful of the boat schedules that will depart from the island because the last trip is around 1:00PM or so depending on the number of passengers so make sure to catch the last trip or else you will be stuck in the island.

Note: The reason why I was so confident to wear bikini because there are only a few people in the resort aside from the staff. I think most of the guest are still sleeping or already went home so it almost looked like my private resort lol

Breakdown of Expenses:
Bus to Lucena Bus Terminal: Php 210.00
Lucena Bus Terminal to Mauban Public Market: Php 50.00
Tricycle from Mauban Market to Port: Php 10.00
Environmental Fee: Php 50.00
Boat Fare from Mauban Port to Cagbalete: Php 50.00
Entrance Fee in Villa Cleofas: Php 50.00
Tent Fee (Overnight): Php 250.00
Boat from Cagbalete to Mauban Port: Php 50.00
Tricycle going to Jac Liner Terminal: Php 10.00
Bus from Mauban to Buendia (Manila): Php 270.00
Total: Php 1,000.00

Tip: You can bring you own food in the island because once you got there, almost everything are twice the price. Well since I was travelling alone, I just brought basic food (bread, snacks & never ever forget water). I was telling myself that I'm on a diet anyway so I don’t have to eat much lol. But I got hungry that night & ended up ordering one cup of rice & century tuna canned goods which already cost me Php 100.00. So much for dieting haha

Hong Kong (On the spot itinerary)

And you would have thought that I made any preparation in Hong Kong compared to Macau since HK is obviously bigger, I didn't lol! Well except for our accommodation which is the first thing that I always secure. I'm not that reckless yet hehe So this feels like I have a big exam tomorrow and I just study the night before. But before any one of you start panicking, Hong Kong is one of Asia's most tourist-friendly destination.

Getting around in Hong Kong is fairly simple. It is highly recommended to buy an Octopus card (HKD 150.00, the HKD 50.00 is a refundable deposit) which is a prepaid contactless debit card that can be used to pay for almost all kinds of public transport, as well as for paying in convenience stores, supermarkets, many restaurant especially chains such as McDonald's, vending machines, museums, and many more.  Their Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is the fastest way to get around & almost all the famous attractions in Hong Kong are accessible through this so you really don't have to worry of getting lost.

If you are coming directly from Hong Kong airport, you can buy the Octopus card in the customer service section. Well since we are coming from Macau, we arrive in Hong Kong past 12 midnight. Note: We still have a spare Macau Pataca (Macau & Hong Kong have different currencies) that we thought was acceptable in Hong Kong since Macau accepts Hong Kong dollar but for some reason it doesn't work the other way around. Also MTR stations only operate until 1:00AM so we almost missed it.

You think our misfortune in Macau doesn't follow us here in Hong Kong, well things just gets worse. We are staying in the vey infamous Chung King Mansion and arrive here around 1:00AM (puyatan po tlga kapag magtravel). We went inside the guesthouse where we have a confirmed online booking & was welcomed by an angry owner. He was angry on why we didn't informed him that we are arriving late & he already cancelled our booking. Just like that, cancelled the 4 nights we already paid for. To cut the long story short (after protest & arguements in 1:00AM mind you), we were left with no option but to leave. Saklap dba?? I was like "Where are we going to sleep, on the street?" Good thing though the Indian guy who works to other guest house offer to help us that he knows someone who still have a vacant room at this time of the night. So we got transferred to another guesthouse & obviously have to pay again. It still hurts when I'm writing this you know lels.

I've been to a lot of backpacker's & budget hotel before but this has totally taken me by surprise. (1) The first thing you will notice here is the crowd of guys outside the building offering you rooms (just ignore them if you've already booked a room). I've read in some blogs that its actually cheaper if you just walk-in here without reservation compared to booking online because you can haggle & see the room for yourself. (2) The building is 17 storeys tall & consist of five blocks, A, B, C, D & E. You should be particular on what blocks you are since there are also five different elevator serving each block. (3) Once you get inside the building, there are various stalls available from mini shops selhling foods, cellphones, clothes, money changer & almost everything you can think of. (4) You're going to be amazed on the different nationalities you can see here. It's like a mini version of International airport. (5) There are various guesthouse inside the building with different owners. Some have good reviews, some don't, some exaggerated, some outdated, but mostly true. We stayed in Nagaland Guesthouse. For some reason the owner was overly accommodating to us but I think he's extra nice to all his Filipino guest. Click the link here for more info about the guesthouse Booking.com Personally, the place wasn't all that bad. You kind of get used to it, just get through all the madness downstairs & you will be alright. I think the biggest surprise would be how small the rooms are compared in the photos. We were given a room good for 3 person & it's still wasn't big enough than I'm used to. Well this kind of set-up is common in Hong Kong because the rent here is very expensive & beggars can't be choosers anyway. Location wise though, Chung King Mansion is just a stone-throw away from Tsim Sha Tsui station, bus station going to the airport & ferry going to Macau & China.

I could write a book about this place but there was one who did already, http://guilhermesolari.com/review-ghetto-at-the-center-of-the-world-by-gordon-mathews/ so I conceded lol. Do I recommend staying in this place? It can go both ways. If you are adventurous & have a tight budget, then this place is for you. If you are claustrophobic or have a bigger budget, then better stay in a fancy hotel.

How to go to Disneyland:
Since this is the most popular tourist attraction in Hong Kong, we just follow the signs located inside the MTR station haha From Tung Chung MTR line, get off at the Sunny Bay Interchange. Just across is the Disneyland Resort Train or the famous "Mickey Mouse" train.

Yung totoo wala pang kalahating araw masakit na paa ko haha so pls lang, wear your most comfortable shoes #dontme

Be sure to catch the Disney Stars parade at night. Sulit yung 3k entrance fee lels!

How to go to Ocean Park:

Take the MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui station to Admiralty. Once there, find the bus station located at Exit B and get on to Citybus Route 629.

Ayun mahirap magpanggap..back to sneakers!

Victoria Peak

How to go to Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car:

1. Ride the MTR Station from Tsim Sha Tsui and get off at Lai King Interchange
2. Just across is the Tung Chung Line & alight at Tung Chung Station
3. Exit at Exit B
4. You are on the right track when you see the City Gate Outlet Mall, beside it on the left side is the entrance going to the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ride

Mong Kok! The famous shopping district in Hong Kong

Avenue of Stars

Below here is my sample itinerary. As you can see, this is just a throwback travel post because I wasn't really planning on making a blog until last month. Well if not now, when? haha So forgive me if I can't give the exact breakdown of all our expenses but I think the rough estimate was about Php 20,000.00 (HK & Macau) all-in for 5 days & 4 nights.

July 23, 2016	1:00AM+ 10:00AM 11:00AM 10:00PM	Check-in at Nagaland Guesthouse (HK 200.00/night) Breakfast in Jollibee Central Station (opo may Jollibee sa HK lels) ETA in Disneyland (Spend the whole day in Disneyland) ETD from Disneyland to Guesthouse
July 24, 2016	9:00AM 9:30AM-6:30PM 7:00PM 8:00PM-10:00PM	ETD going to Ocean Park Ocean Park ETD going to Victoria Peak Victoria Peak
July 25, 2016	9:00AM 11:00AM 11:00AM-2:00PM 2:30PM 4:00PM 6:30PM	ETD going to Ngong Ping 360 ETA of arrival in Ngong Ping 360 Ngong Ping 360 ETD from Ngong Ping 360 to Mong Kok Shopping in Mong Kok Avenue of Stars, Victoria Harbour (located in Tsim Sha Tsui)
July 26, 2016	7:00AM	ETA going to airport