Travel Philippines: Baguio, Laoag, Pagudpud

Last Summer Blast

My mom celebrated her birthday yesterday in Clark, Pampanga. I'll post a few photos that I was able to save one of these days. For now, I'm going to diligently conclude my summer posts. Well, at least they're just in time before the rainy season in the country starts! Here are photos from my 10-day Holy Week vacation.


Baguio







Laoag





Pagudpud

I published two sets ahead. They can be found HERE and HERE.

Take It As It Comes

I've this ability - or defect depending on how one perceives it - to let something emotionally difficult to handle, to rest in the deeper recesses of my mind until I've mustered a strategy on how to best deal with it. I can fairly handle the changes in my life especially if at the end of it all, I know that I would benefit from it considerably but I have a few episodic outbursts where I,  simply put, fall apart. Then again, no one would know when this happens except me. As I've said in one of my posts, my world could crumble down under my feet but no one will ever know when it's already happening. For someone who speaks her mind all the time, unsolicited opinions or otherwise, I do the shutting up like a pro. 

It's been weeks since I've received the results of what I hinted as what was supposed to be the game-changer of this year. Let's just say that I wanted to get A so badly that I didn't even come up with back-up plans because I didn't want to compromise the situation should I get it, but in the end I was offered B. I couldn't accept B even though it was a good alternative because it wouldn't bring me closer to my goals. To say that I was disheartened would be a great understatement. I had to let go of all the possibilities that it would have opened for me as abrupt as they've sent me the news. I wouldn't even try to delude myself into thinking that everything would eventually turn out better because I'd never have the chance to know. So for now, I'm just settling with doing the most of what's left. This includes finally learning to speak French! Je parle un peu français. Je suis etudiant en Alliance Francaise. And in a few months, I'll be going to other places. I'm taking small steps and formulating other plans along the way just to be sure. I don't want to get jilted the second time around. Hahaha!

Shoes: Celine | Dress: borrowed from my grandmom | Polo: from Bacolod | Bag: Coach | Bangle: from Thailand | Belt: Mango

I'm getting lazy at taking photos of what I'm recently wearing so I had to use this set which was taken last April. These past few weeks, I'm out and about almost on a thrice a week basis because my friends and I are spending the most of the time with my friend Jana Medel. She's leaving for Singapore in a few hours where she'll be staying for the next 2 years. She has signed a 2-year contract there which will serve as her first job after graduating. I consider her as one of my closest friends. She's our batch drummer every intramural season so it's no wonder that we're together from dismissal time to 12 midnight every underground day. We have witnessed each others' best and worst moments in HS (which as I've repeatedly gushed here happened when we were in 3rd year). 

I'm going to miss you, M! If only Multiply didn't shut down, I would've had more photos of just the two of us. Have fun there! We'll visit you soon!

Travel Philippines: San Juan, La Union

Watch Out For The Waves

Recently (in my blog's dictionary, 'recent' means having commenced at least a week before), I went to San Juan, La Union with my beach buddies Jana and Karen. I have to be checked; why on Earth do I dare to wear bikini in the company of these two.


We were there for an overnight trip to learn how to surf. I don't know how to swim but I'm not afraid of being engulfed by the waves. Besides, I love doing water sports. I'm mostly found under water than on the vehicle or equipment but so what. Just thinking of having ears that will slightly get blocked once water enters or nose that will get painful once stuffed with water, I'm sold. Haha!


Of all the photos that were taken of me, I only have 2 decent photographs that captured my attempt at staying on top of the board. The others showed how I fell from it. My instructor brought me to the deeper parts away from my two other buddies perhaps so that I'll rely on no one's words but his.





Of course, as the sun sets in and the food gets eaten, out came the drinks over a few games with consequences. We stayed in San Juan Surf Resort. I think it's recently opened but its service, food, and accommodation are recommendable.


I brought the O'Neill rash guard as I don't want to borrow from the wetsuit reserve of the resort. At the end of the day, it was only me who had a problem with her skin color. My arms were halved into darker and lighter sides. I looked like I'm wearing black gloves according to my friends. Oh well, charge it to surfing experience!


The breakfast of champions!

Thanks for the photos, M!

Travel Philippines: Sand Dunes, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

Swimming in Sand

That has been the busiest 25 days of my summer! I've literally just got back home and now before I start my meeting-up with friends campaign, I'm going to publish photos taken during the Holy Week. It's weeks late, I'm aware, but never forget that my blog's motto is the undying "better late than never". The first batch is all about the sand dunes in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. 

At 5:30 am, just before the sun completely showed up, we were already in the Sand Dunes, which is highly recommendable to anyone who wants to experience this as well. The sun can be very unforgiving especially when the ground it's shining high above on is made of sand. 

I wasn't expecting the 4x4 ride to be as daredevil of a ride as it had been. I expected it to be a little rough and perhaps a little scary due to the truck's huge wheels but I wasn't prepared to face its ferocity. It's been wild! I wanted to just sit down and strap myself in a seat belt but I couldn't because there's no where to sit on and there's no way I could find anything to strap myself in. More than the sand boarding, I believe the whole sand dunes experience is all about the ride on the 4x4 trucks.






We went down when we passed by the shore. And then of course came the sand boarding.




I'm not a morning person. But I would sacrifice my morning sleep anytime for the adventures on the sand dunes of Paoay. At least now I have new photos to replace my memories of the place. The first time I went here, I barely remember anything save for that instance where I ran after my cousins while in my red Mickey Mouse pyjamas. Although I haven't outgrown running after my cousins, at least I've bidden good bye to those PJs. That's considered a passage of maturing for me, at least. Haha!