Western Luzon Road Trip (Cavite-Pangasinan-Zambales-Bataan-Pampanga-Cavite Series) [Part 1 of 3]

Exactly a year after our amazing North Luzon road trip in 2010, we had our latest road trip -- this time in the Western part of Luzon! Not as far as the first one, but I would say, this was more exciting and adventurous than our last. To all who wanted to try this itinerary, please feel free to duplicate and adjust for whatever will suit your own trip! Enjoy! 

The map will tell you which places we have been. Guided only by Samsung Galaxy Tab GPS, we worked our way to our destinations with no hassle, shorter time and never ever got lost! Weeepeee!

Marc, Joseph and Khen picked me up at our house in Cavite at around 2:30AM. Just in time with our plan to arrive at our first destination at 8:00AM.

 Here's our map!

Pangasinan Sun Rise

Khen brought her SIL’s lasagna for breakfast. Actually, it was supposed to be for all of us but I almost ate them all. Hahaha! Aside from the slight traffic along Guadalupe EDSA traffic and car accident along Balintawak Highway, everything went well with our travel until we reach Pangasinan.

Luckily, the weather did not go against us. The sun just happily kicked off its lovely stages as early as 6:00AM. We all agreed to pull over along Romulo Highway in Pangasinan especially my sunrise-addict travel mates to capture the perfect sunrise.

 We had our first stopover at Romulo Highway. Do you see the nice curves behind us? On our second day, we were on the other side of it heading to Zambales.

We love the clear skies that morning. We waited at the side of the highway until this amber sun came up.

Nice view at the other side of the road...

We had our road trips with White and Cruzee, so this time we chose Blue.

Pangasinan Hundred Islands

Believe it or not, our Hundred Island tour was the only one included in our “sure” list -- the rest were all such an adventure and so spontaneous! We reached Lucap Wharf, the dock area of the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, around 9:00AM. We parked our car at an open area beside the pickup point. We paid P200.00 each for the entrance and P1200.00 pesos for the unlimited boat ride for the four of us plus tip. It would be a good thing if all Filipino would be able to visit this wonderful place, curved by nature, and be able to witness such beautiful view.

As of 2011, here's the list of fees in Hundred islands

The boat ride was not that scary compared to some of our Galera trips. The sea was blue and calm.

This was taken at the Children's Island. Madami ngang bata hehehe. Probably because the shore area is kids-friendly.

Welcome to Old Scout Island. It is a small island na may kaunting swimming area.

Look at me at the back... super excited na akong lumangoy! Sobra! Hahaha!

Trust me when I say every island looks like a turtle or an alligator! Hahaha! Or optical illusion ko lang. Hehehe.

Quezon Island

Picture taking

Cuenca Island, parang cave na tagus tagusan.

I found these corals and i was able to spell out my name!

Now in Governor's Island, my favorite among the islands we visited

It has an amazing view from the top of the island. Nakakapagod yung papaakyat kasi ang laki ng steps, pero don't worry, may nagtitinda ng ice cream sa itaas. Hehehe.

With Khen, Joseph, Marc -- the fearless road trippers! Harharhar!

I only used to see this in postcards but now, I already experienced being there! Awesome!

Shot from Joseph's cam

Eto yung nakakatawa sa lahat ng binisita namin! Marc and I went to watch the corals and giant clams. Joseph and Khen stayed at the boat. I think  mga 500 meters yung lubid na hahawakan mo para makarating ka sa isa pang end point. Parang hindi pa ako nangangalahati... inaatake na ako ng takot! I felt may hihila sa akin pababa! Marc felt I was so scared Hahaha. We ended up going back to our boat sooner than we planned LOL 

Kulitan mode. Hehehe. "Why the hell are you using your camera phone?" Hahaha! Ganda pa man din ng pose ko dito...LOL

At first, we were given option whether to visit 3 islands of our choice for P800.00 pesos (most likely where the bankero would suggest where to take you especially if it is your first time) or unlimited island tour for P1100.00; we chose P1100.00. We all wanted to reach as much islands we could, what else we have to aspire with island hopping anyway! It was not bad at all; it satisfied our passion for astonishing landscapes in the form of a hundred century old islands!

The only disappointment we had was our lunch. There was this small canteen beside the wharf. They were selling overpriced flat-tasted meals. ;’(  So watch out… you might want to try dining at the nearby resort restaurants.

Our Hundred Island tour ended around 1:00PM and headed straight to Zzzzambales! “Here we coooome!”

Western Luzon Road Trip (Cavite-Pangasinan-Zambales-Bataan-Pampanga-Cavite Series) [Part 2 of 3]

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Year Starter

November, December 2011

Nothing looks worst than looking at a blog site where the last entry is a month ago – how about this… mine is empty since October 2011! That is a blogger’s ‘major major’ offense. Hahaha! Well, to give justice to my site, here is my pambawi.

I ended my last entry with my right foot swelling from a badminton injury. Today, my foot is better although sometimes it still hurts a bit especially when I try to run fast or when I go shopping for hours at the mall. What an awful way to leave my readers, sorry.

My November was never been better. I was enjoying juggling between work and my heart during that time. It was amazing to know every hard work always has a wonderful reward. December was even more fantastic. Now let me share with you the most memorable places I have been and experiences I had since I wrote my last entry…

 

Feel-Good Lunches, Dinners and Teas

It has been good for us to spend time during lunch or dinner because aside from enjoying the food we both love, it gives us time to talk about ourselves, share good things or bad things, gossip over something, or just even make kulitan with each other.

If I would be writing down the restaurants we have been and spent with, it would be down to 50 plus. My stomachs are full and our hearts as well.

 

Seaside Family Lunch

Unfortunately, we had a bad experience at one of the Seaside “paluto” restaurants, the one beside Claire Dela Fuente’s in Macapagal Boulevard. Sorry I forgot the name. The high prices are no brainer but please make their services better! We bought crabs, prawns and fishes which Tatay loves very much. The saddest part was inside this restaurant. There are a lot of flies flying around, there are noisy kids at the table next to ours, the floor was flooding with water from defective air-conditioner box and the cooked food did not taste good!

Tatay was so disappointed that every time he hears me saying I would like to take them to Seaside, he would say NO right away…kahit sa MOA yung tinutukoy ko. Sad.

But on his birthday this year, I will take him to some boodle fight restaurant along MOA seaside!

 

Western Luzon Trip

By December, we had our full 3-day road trip in the western part of Luzon. The full story goes here (http://meeyeow.multiply.com/journal/item/361/Western_Luzon_Road_Trip_Cavite-Pangasinan-Zambales-Bataan-Pampanga-Cavite_Series_Part_1_of_3)…

 

Aguinaldo Shrine Charity Fashion Show

I was invited by Sir Angelo Aguinaldo, the Aguilnado Shrine Curator and also a good friend from La Salle, to join a charity event entitled:”Pula, Puti, Bughaw”. It was a fashion show having the collection of Adrian Rios at the Aguinaldo Shrine. I was with Khen & Joseph and bumped into my old officemates at La Salle.