La Union Beyond Surfing

I have been to La Union once and have tried surfing in San Juan, which I thought was really fun because the waves were bigger than the ones I experienced in Baler, Aurora. And like many people, I see La Union as just a place for surfing and nothing more than that.

But one recent trip proved me wrong! I had a planned vacation leave for holy week and being meticulous when it comes to traveling, I listed all possible places that I could go to considering various factors such as expenses, location and variety of activities. And while planning days were running out, I was also removing destinations on my list one by one and after thorough research, I ended up scheduling my trip to La Union. And based on the information I gathered, this was the game plan:
Go to San Juan and enjoy the beach (To surf or not to surf? That is the question)
Go to San Fernando and check out the different historical sites such as Ma-Cho Temple, Chinese Pagoda and Christ the Redeemer
Eat and eat at different famous restaurants in San Fernando and San Juan
Well that sounded just right for me.

So the adventure began!

March 21 – We left Cubao through Dominion bus at around 6 am. It was a long trip as there was some heavy traffic in some parts of La Union (hello election!) and ended up reaching San Juan at around 12:30 pm. We got down at San Juan Surf School and find the nearest restaurant to have lunch!  Then we found “SURF SHACK” which was one of the more famous ones in San Juan according to my research!

Love their table!

We ordered buffalo wing and rice and I liked, especially the dip although it was a bit pricey for my taste.

The next agenda was to find a hostel and although The Circle Hostel was on top of my list, I realized that it wasn’t on the beach side (TYSM Google Maps) so the next one I had was Flotsam and Jetsam, however, we realized that we wanted a more comfy and private space so we had to look around (near Orbiztondo beach) but either the prices had risen up or they were just making up prices depending on the guests. LOL. At the end of the day, we settled for a nice private room near the beach which was 1200php for two people with TV and AC. Yey!

Then it was time for the real thing. The original plan was to just chill on the beach and watch the sunset. I have tried surfing at San Juan before so I decided not to do it this time.

Check out some of our photos below:

March 22 – Sorry. Everything I was thinking of was food and the plan was to eat breakfast and drink coffee at El Union. So we had a meal at Sebay.

Nothing beats Tapsilog for brekky

But when we went to El Union, man, it was Tuesday. And they are closed on Tuesdays. How lucky!

By the way, we also checked Flotsam and Jetsam to have breakfast but unfortunately they wouldn’t open until 8 am.

To make it short, we didn’t stay long in San Juan. We swam a little and had at lunch at Choka, which by the way is budget-friendly and is very accessible because it is along the highway. Check them out guys!

Next up was San Fernando, which by the way is a city so I expected people and crowds.

We rode a jeepney to reach the place and then looked for our hotel of choice. Research told me that Hotel Almira would be a good pick so with the help of my map, we made it there (with a lot of sweat though).
We got the 1700php room, which had a tv, AC and wifi (which didn’t work at the 4th floor 👎).

After a little rest, we agreed on visiting some notable sites in the city. And we shouldn’t miss the sunset by the way.

There were four on our list: Filipino-Chinese Friendship Pagoda, Halo-halo de Iloko, Christ the Redeemer Statue and Ma-Cho Temple. And I just said it in order.

So we first made our way to the Pagoda, which according to some blogs gives a good view of San Fernando Bay. It was an uphill slope and it was kinda hard to reach but it was worth the long walk.

What I didn’t like about it though was that there were many vandals everywhere. Not cool.

After that, we went to Halo-Halo de Iloko well aside from it was on our plan, it was also scorching hot! We ordered the Fiesta Halo-Halo and Pancit Palabok.

I fell in love with the first scoop! It had a lot in it and the taste was definitely worth the price!

It was almost sunset so we had to hurry to Christ the Redeemer Statue. We rode a tricycle (20php) and luckily we made it with the sunset. The statue was on top of a hill so we had to walk up again.

Indeed, timing is everything!

After spending some time there, we realized we could not make it to Ma-Cho Temple anymore so we had to move our visit to the next day.

March 23 – Last day in La Union. Time went by so fast! So after breakfast in the hotel, we did some charging and packing. And then we went to Ma-Cho Temple through another tricycle (20php). We ascended an uphill road to reach the temple.

Upon arriving, I only expected to take some photos but I realized that there was something worth doing there. We went inside the temple as encouraged by a Chinese man inside and we saw some instructions on the table.

So I did. And I wished. And the answer was YES! THANK YOU MA-CHO!

By the way, these are some of my photos of the temple:

And then time for lunch (my favorite). I did a little research once again and found Kaw Bin’s which was a chinese restaurant.

I think we order too much though!
It was satisfying overall! We paid just around 500php for all of these.

Then it was finally time to go home as I had another trip for the next day.

At the end of it, I proved myself wrong. THERE WAS MORE TO LA UNION THAN SURFING. 😉

EXPLORING INDONESIA

So… this happened. I had my first ever travel to Jakarta, Indonesia to visit my sister! All I can say is that Indonesia is a place where rich culture and tradition are prominent. The people are very welcoming and helpful (although I had to learn a few Bahasa terms to get by). Check out some of my photos below!

Baguio Breeze

As many people know, I worked in Baguio three years ago before I went back to Manila. Although the place was nice and cold, you would always see me either wearing my white nurses’ uniform or just a shirt, topped with a jacket and a pair of pants or shorts. Short to say, I didn’t take time to pick my clothes.

However, after coming back to Manila, I learned how to wear better clothes and so coming back to a cold place like Baguio gave me an opportunity to create looks that are perfect for the weather.

For my first look, I tried to layer my clothes and I came up with this:

I bought this sweater from Cinderella in 2013 and I never thought I could use it again!

On the other hand, the checkered polo from Aeropostale really matched the look!

This bag from Eastpak is one my favorite bags at the moment because it is handy and versatile. (BTW, it was given by my sister’s boyfriend. Thanks Nik!)

And my whole Baguio look wouldn’t be complete without this pair of leather shoes from Bench and some nice-looking socks!

And some probably don’t know, but Baguio is not all-cold. So for my second look, I tried to leave the heavy layering behind and went for a sort of “summery look”!

These are some of my favorite spots in Baguio and i’m happy to share it with everyone!

I got this blue long-sleeved polo from Penshoppe and I paired it with a tank top from H&M. The bag is still there, though (I guess, I mentioned it’s versatile!)
I love Baguio, not just because of the weather but because of the many memories (good or bad) that taught me not only to become a better nurse but a better person as well. Definitely, I’m coming back!

P.S. Watch out for my upcoming vlog on my Baguio trip. Remember, life is good!

Photos by: Jerome Carlo Magtajas

Photos

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Chinatown Day Trip

Going to chinatown in Binondo, Manila is definitely not new to me. I’ve featured this location in one of my video blogs and every time I come here, I always do have the best time. Recently, I came back to this fantastic place with two of my college best friends, Jam and Johnjo, and being the casual diner here, I took the responsibility of touring them around (although we were lost at one point. LOL). I brought them to Meisum where we had a couple of Dim Sums, to the beautiful Binondo Church, and to my favorite restaurant, Sincerity Restaurant! It was actually a long day of walking for the three of us but for sure, the experience of exploring a joyful place together is the one that counts the most. Check out some of my photos below. I also posted a couple of them on my instagram account. Go check them out at @archiemaclang. 

The complimentary tea at MeisumEnjoying our food at Meisum
The Dim Sums at Meisum

Sincerity Fried Chicken, Oyster Cake and Sincerity Fried Rice

Binondo Church and I The Beautiful Binondo Church

Found these cute figurines at a Chinese Shop

And of course, my Binondo OOTD. So I thought of a sporty look and I got this Nike Inter Milan shirt, black shorts and rubber shoes from Adidas.

Mini College Reunion at Charlie’s Grind and Grills

Imagine sitting down with your closest friends after four or five long years – exhilarating! Yes, it’s been years ago when I last had a decent and long conversation with my friends whom I met in my freshman year in college. We’ve been close enough to be able to do all the crazy and *ahem* evil stuff inside the university. We were together in all sports classes, that included aerobics, folk dancing (wtf?!), swimming (I dreaded this!) and volleyball! We made it through to the overly exhausting nursing subjects that we never thought we would surpass. And ultimately, we are proud of each other for having reached this far. (Photos Below)

Charlie’s Grind and Grill in Kapitolyo, Pasig takes pride of their meaty burgers and I actually found their Angus Burger really satisfying. I really thought that we found a perfect place for our mini reunion!

Angus Burger with fries  A Fun-Filled Night at Charlie’s Chilling at Starbucks after a sumptuous meal.

Embracing the North

The Philippines is indeed gifted with breathtaking locations and picturesque scenery. Aside from the beaches, the country is also home to beautiful land formations which are definitely eye-catching.

This May, I was able to visit two of the best places in the northern part of our country which are both in Ilocos Norte. One of them is Pagudpud Beach, located in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and another is the Bangui Wind Farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte.

I was lucky enough because I had a free accommodation in the province of Cagayan, courtesy of my friend, Jerome’s aunt. Our trip going to Cagayan is by far the longest bus ride I’ve ever had – 13 hours from Cubao, Quezon City to Sanchez Mira, Cagayan! But I guess the long ride was worth it simply because I had an experience of a lifetime.

Short to say, we did not go to Pagudpud and Bangui Windmills straight from Manila but we actually came from Cagayan. It was a two-hour drive from there to the beach. I was so excited along the way because it was my first swimming experience for the summer!

The beach was a perfect beauty just by itself. I’ve never seen seawater as clear and blue as that one. It was so calm that the waves hitting the shore were the loudest sound in there. We didn’t waste anytime and we immediately jumped into the water. Oh, I can’t forget how happy I was at the moment I lied down in the sands and forgot every stressful feeling I had.

But as the sun was setting down, we had to leave the place as we had to go to another place, the Bangui Wind Farm. The latter is just a 30 minutes from the beach (so I wasn’t afraid of losing the sunlight!) so we made it there in no time. The place is just composed of windmills, which is an energy source in there. Although it doesn’t really sound like a tourist attraction, the placement of the windmills near the sea is just beautiful. It is a good background for a shoot!

My overall trip in the north was definitely unforgettable. Aside from a good company, I had the opportunity to enjoy life without problems – something I have been looking for since the beginning of this year. Going back to the city, I must say that I felt rejuvenated and was ready to face the stressful city life once again!

Below are some of the pictures we took during our vacation. Too bad Jerome’s DSLR was not working but he still tried his best to capture great photos using his ipad.

Pagudpud Beach

Bangui Wind Farm

Summer is almost over and the rainy days are just around the corner. Have you had a wonderful season?

Photos by Jerome Carlo Magtajas

special thanks to Asanias family for the warm accommodation

Concrete Jungle

Summer is a great season for most people, especially in the Philippines, where there are only two seasons. It is the definitely the perfect time to roam around different places, dive in the beaches, and well, try to keep cool.

From the beginning of this season, I have never really went out of town because of time constraints and although it doesn’t feel so good (because I love swimming), I just try to enjoy the fun that the city gives me.

I recently visited a great place in Metro Manila to show one of my summer outfits (naks!) and I should say that I really enjoyed the photo shoot because of the serenity that the environment was giving despite the hustle and bustle around it. Maybe it was because of the freshness that the trees and grasses were giving.

Below are some of my photos. What do you think?

Button Down (Penshoppe), Tank Top (Penshoppe)

Fedora Hat (SM Accessories) ,Shorts (Uniqlo), Shoes (Regatta)

The place is gorgeous, isn’t it?

And just some final words; Wherever your feet send you this summer, always remember to appreciate and cherish the moments (and wear your best clothes too!)

Photos by Jerome Magtajas

Red Box: Rock, Dine & Roll Review

I love singing. It is something that gives me freedom more than anything else, although it’s sad to say that I don’t have a golden voice. It’s actually amazing that here in the Philippines, people are given a lot of chances to sing a lot; and I’m talking about karaoke.

In one of my recent walks, I got to visit one of the best places to do Karaoke (in my opinion) in the city – Red Box: Rock, Dine & Roll! I have heard really good reviews about it so I tried to give it a try and of course documenting was as important as the experience itself.

One more thing about Red Box is that it offers different rates depending on the time you would come to their place. In my case, I chose the Lunch Buffet which was from 12 noon – 3 pm at Greenbelt 3, Makati. It was inclusive of an Eat All You Can Buffet and a Free Drink plus a private room where you can sing your heart out! All of these for only 399php, reasonable? Yes. Yes.

They offered a variety of dishes, some appetizers and desserts. For my drink, I ordered the English Breakfast Tea from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

English Breakfast Tea

I actually love the foods they served. My personal favorite was the Potato Marble Salad which I thought was really tasteful. I didn’t eat much rice though because I didn’t want to get full early.

Now for the place itself, I thought that it was really cozy. The rooms were clean and spacious and the sound system was really good. One more thing was that there was a wide variety of songs to be chosen and it was easy to navigate through the list. And, ehem, I actually felt my voice sounded better there than in any other Karaoke Bar.

I would also give a good rating on the staff as they were really friendly and were able to assist us in whatever we needed. Great job!

The Corridor.

The Room

This is what I call singing my heart out!

My overall experience at Red Box was actually amazing. I believe this kind of Lunch Buffet is fit for someone who loves to sing and to eat at the same time!

Visit the nearest Red Box: Rock, Dine & Roll in your place and unleash the singer in you!

Photos by Jerome Carlo Magtajas

Details

Noticing the small details of things makes me appreciate life even more – one realization I had a couple of days ago. The expression of the eyes, the genuineness of a smile, the movements of hair strands that touch one’s face – these things are sometimes the ones that we sometimes neglect as there are moments when we tend to look at life so quickly.

I then took this concept as an inspiration in one of my recent walks in a huge park in Quezon City.

Just to give you a brief background of the place; the Quezon Memorial Circle is both a national park and shrine and was built supposedly to be the location of the national capitol for the House of Congress. However, the plan didn’t come to reality due to certain circumstances. By the way, it was built to honor our late President, Manuel L. Quezon.

The monument below stands 66 meters or 217 feet tall (It looks amazing in person!).

The Quezon Memorial Circle Monument

For the first time, I decided to have this photo session right before sunset to achieve better effects. People often term this as the “Golden Hour”. I would have to agree with this since at this time, the sunlight is not too bright, which just gives your skin its perfect color.

For the photos, I gave some of them a monochromatic effect to give a dramatic look. I must say that while I was editing, I realized that the black and white effect just gave so much story on each picture and it felt amazing. I guess, it’s really easier to appreciate the details in that kind of color scheme.

And here are the final photos:

Embracing the natural light

Now there are times, when we feel like stolen moments give better photo effects. We see the imperfections of our features but we still love them because those imperfections make us who we are and the same time, we capture the true scene and we create a good story behind it. Well, here are some of them:

The smallest details definitely give life to a photograph – That was what I learned here. Every expression has a meaning and every gesture suggests something. The bottomline? Little things create the biggest impacts.

What do you think?

Photos by Jerome Carlo Magtajas

Laid Back

I recently had the opportunity to visit Intramuros (Walled City) in Manila after almost two years. Just to give you a short background of the place, Intramuros is a Latin term which means “within the walls”. It was built during the Spanish colonization in the Philippines. It became the seat of the Spanish government at that time. Although it has been destroyed by World War II, it still stands in its place up to now because restorations were made after the destruction.

At the present, Intramuros is surrounded by schools and other buildings although when you’re inside, you would only step on stones. This came to my mind as a good place to take photos since I was thinking of a “laid back” shoot.

Here are some of my photos:

Well I tried to use different shades on my photos depending on what I felt fit them. I do believe that experimenting in colors is really important so that you’ll be able to see the best shade your photo can have.

At the end of the day, I just felt good after seeing the shots because I thought that I really took the idea of being relaxed and mellow. I put my hair down and wore something cool and comfortable.

Top by Forever 21 Men

Shoes by Regatta

So what do you think?

Photos by Jerome Magtajas