Accommodations in The Stretch (San Juan,Urbiztondo)
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| Long boards await their surfers in San Juan Surf Resort |
Accommodations were pretty standard in the stretch, fan rooms for 2 around P700 pesos, a/c rooms for 2 around P1,300 for an overnight stay. For more comfortable amenities in more upkeep resorts just add around P1500. For group packages maximum of 20pax you can easily scout cottages that can house you overnight at around P3000.
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| Choose your ride! A surf shop in San Juan, La Union |
It all boils down to the feel for the resort of choice. All of the resorts here offer reasonably priced stays that won’t burn a hole in ones pocket. Almost all resorts offer surfing lessons for around P400 (board rental/instructors fee). And yes, some resorts are Wi-Fi ready!
Surf Nation
"That was totally guster bro.", "That was a kamikaze wave!”… Once I heard these on the beach I knew I was definitely in surfers paradise. La Union Surfing is a mix of Aussie (Australian), Cal (Californian), Hawaiian inspiration blended in local surfing. A lot of expats and servicemen have reached this place and decided to stay here for good just like the concept of surfing.
La Union is located in the southwestern part of Region I bounded on the north by Ilocos Sur, on the south by Pangasinan, on the east by Benguet, and on the west by the China Sea. Tagalog is used but Ilocano is the common dialect. English by American influence is spoken here too. In the 1970’s the Americans held different bases in the northern region like Subic, Camp John Hay and Wallace. Surf loving servicemen stationed here would frequent beaches of this region for their down-time and discovered the great surf possibilities.
The discovery has turned this leisure into a sport and a passion and has been handed down as a way of living, a tourist destination, and now a surf nation.
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| Surf board multi-level parking |
The discovery has turned this leisure into a sport and a passion and has been handed down as a way of living, a tourist destination, and now a surf nation.
Rule #1
Be mindful of other surfers waves. There’s nothing like someone who’s oblivious to other surfers and hogs every wave that comes in. Like someone stealing your thunder. Common courtesy please. Surfing also has an etiquette.
Gung Ho!
With all the rudiments, the science, the do’s and don’ts, the wipe-out stories with battle scars to prove it, I was still bent to rip (surf to my hearts content). The best teacher is experience so I mustered my energies and I went gung ho! My heart beat raced while my brain was still recalling pointers as I waited for my perfect wave.
At a distance, it taunted me. I knew it was challenging me for a ride. Never chicken… and well more because it was too late to scaredy-off and disappoint my instructor. I took a deep breath and paddled with everything I was worth. The wave seemed like a big kahuna, a tsunami even but that’s just in my head in reality it may have been just an itsy bitsy wave, never the less I paddled like a maniac.
I felt the moment I was on my ride and knew almost instinctively when to pop-up into form. It was my first attempt and I owned it! I rode it to the shore, slapping high five’s with my instructor and other surfer dudes and dudettes watching from the sands. I was ecstatic, I don’t mean to brag but it was a feat specially for a Rrr-Aging Betty (a girl that surfs) or a squid (a newcomer/beginner).
It was addicting even when I fell face first, even when I brushed up the reef enduring scrapes and gashes. It took its toll though when I was stung by a very mean jelly-fish with a sensation of excruciating and electrifying pain that would initially cause anyone a minor panic attack. First aid, just pour some vinegar on it and leave it alone even if it’s painful and itchy. It left a long black mark on my forearm sad to say but well worth it. Every scar on my body has some interesting and some just ludicrous story to tell. This mark on my forearm is a medal for sheer valor for my battle with a man-of-war jelly-fish on my surfing expedition in La Union. I would suggest sun block spf50, board shorts and long-sleeved rash guards when you surf.
At a distance, it taunted me. I knew it was challenging me for a ride. Never chicken… and well more because it was too late to scaredy-off and disappoint my instructor. I took a deep breath and paddled with everything I was worth. The wave seemed like a big kahuna, a tsunami even but that’s just in my head in reality it may have been just an itsy bitsy wave, never the less I paddled like a maniac.
I felt the moment I was on my ride and knew almost instinctively when to pop-up into form. It was my first attempt and I owned it! I rode it to the shore, slapping high five’s with my instructor and other surfer dudes and dudettes watching from the sands. I was ecstatic, I don’t mean to brag but it was a feat specially for a Rrr-Aging Betty (a girl that surfs) or a squid (a newcomer/beginner).
It was addicting even when I fell face first, even when I brushed up the reef enduring scrapes and gashes. It took its toll though when I was stung by a very mean jelly-fish with a sensation of excruciating and electrifying pain that would initially cause anyone a minor panic attack. First aid, just pour some vinegar on it and leave it alone even if it’s painful and itchy. It left a long black mark on my forearm sad to say but well worth it. Every scar on my body has some interesting and some just ludicrous story to tell. This mark on my forearm is a medal for sheer valor for my battle with a man-of-war jelly-fish on my surfing expedition in La Union. I would suggest sun block spf50, board shorts and long-sleeved rash guards when you surf.
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Major surf stations along San Juan beach stretch are (Australian owned) San Juan Surf Resort/Billabong Surf school, (Filipino owned) Sebay Resort/Surf Central, (German owned) Mona Lisa Cottages. Other La Union surfing sites to try on your surfari are Darigayos, Poro Point, The Point, Urbiztondo Beach Break. Other surf destinations in the Philippines aside from La Union and Siargao are Baler Bay in Sabang, Quezon or better yet further south of Sabang where you can find the best surf point in Cemento featured in International surf magazines. Puraran Bay, south of Catanduanes land of the Howling Winds. Infanta and Real Surfing worthy to explore. Last but not least, Calicoan Island in Eastern Samar, Leyte its white-beaches and big waves make it a haven among surfers worldwide.
A whole new nation with a whole new language. Surfers have their own lingo and you might find yourself getting lost in translation at times. Here are some of the most commonly used terms to help you out when you cross the boarder.
- Amped - Overdoing it; excited; stoked.
- Awesome - Great; fantastic
- Beach Bunny – A chick who watches surfers and pretends they can surf
- Bogus - False; lame; ridiculous; unbelievable
- Boogie Board - A soft, flexible foam body board invented in the 1970s (unlike a surfboard, a boogie board is ridden lying down).
- Bummer - Too bad; a total drag.
- Deck - upper surface of surfboard
- Dude - A male surfing enthusiast (women are referred to as "dudettes")
- Gnarly - Treacherous; large and dangerous
- Grommet - A young /beginner surfer
- Hang Five/Ten - To place five (or ten) toes over the nose of the surfboard
- Hit the Surf - to go surfing
- Hot-Dogging - Fancy surfing done by a skilled surfer.
- Kahuna -The Hawaiian god of sun, sand, and surf, a big wave.
- Kamikaze - Riding the board at the nose with arms held straight out to each side.
- Leash – Urethane cord which attaches the board to the surfer by means of a Velcro strap
- Long board – a surfboard eight to ten feet long
- Massive – 1 big wave
- Men in Grey Suits - sharks
- Nose - The bow or front end of a surfboard.
- Off the Richter - Used to describe something that's very good, excellent, "off the scale"
- Pop-up – Quick jump up on to your board in a standing or crouched position
- Poser - A surfer "want to-be"; someone who only dresses the part.
- Primo - The best
- Psyche – Just kidding dude.
- Psyched – Thrilled by surfing the wave, excited, stoked, amped.
- Quasimoto - Riding forward in a hunched-over position
- Rad/Radical -Very good; tops; excellent
- Rails - The rounded edges of the surfboard.
- Rippin’/Ripping – Surf hard and energetically making excellent maneuvers and controlling the wave
- Surfs Up - Waves are breaking and surfable.
- Stoked - Happy; excited; contented.
- Surfari - A surfing trip; a hunt for good surf.
- Switch-foot – A surfer who can surf with either foot forward
- Tail - The stern or rear end of a surfboard.
- Wax - Substance applied to the top, or deck, of surfboards for traction.
- Wicked – Something really good, totally awesome,sweeeet
Surf lingo has evolved and you can check out more modern terms commonly used at www.Riptionary.com. Even surf music has evolved from the Beach Boys, the Revelaires, Surfaris to an upbeat/pop Gwen Stefani, louder Gorillaz, and more amped almost to a shockwave Dare Devil Jane.
Where’s the GRUB at?
After a physically punishing activity under the sun, I was spent and hungry. After trying several food establishments on the stretch, I was belly satisfied with the food served at Sebay Resort/Restaurant. Plating was primo, hefty and superbly tasty yet the price was right. I would recommend eating there all meals of the day. Must try’s are the wonderful omelets and toast for breakfast P100, literally not for the faint of heart crispy pata P300 or their house specialty bulalo which my friends from France tremendously enjoyed for lunch and the pancit bihon P100 with generous amounts of “sahog” meat and vegetables for dinner, all good for sharing. I ate as I watched the goings-on by the beach, the summer breeze blowing away my aches and pains. Fruit shake or ice cold beer at hand calming the senses for a relaxing siesta.
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Side-Bars
Air Lines:
Zest Air
Domestic Road, Andrews Ave., Pasay City
Tel. (632) 8531957 / 8547158
Cebu Pacific
NAIA T3 Andrews Ave., Pasay City
Tel. (632) 7020888
PAL (Philippine Air Lines)
PNB Financial Center, President Diosdado Macapagal Ave.,
CCP Complex, Pasay City
Tel. (632) 8558888
Tel: (072) 720-0340
Sebay Resort/Surf Central
Email: sebayresort@yahoo.com
Tel: (072) 2425484
Bus Lines:
Partas
Pasay City, EDSA
Tel.(632) 8514025
Or
Bernardino St., Aurora Blvd.,Cubao
Tel.(632) 7257303, 7251740; 7251256; 7249820
Farinas
Lacson St., Sampaloc, Manila
Tel. (632) 7438582
Resorts/Accommodations in San Juan,Urbiztondo, La Union:
San Juan Surf Resort/Billabong Surf School
Email: landrigan@sflu.com
Tel: (072) 720-0340
Sebay Resort/Surf Central
Email: sebayresort@yahoo.com
Tel: (072) 2425484
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One of the best place to relax is in a beach resort which gives you a refreshing and a relaxing feeling. Every weekend I bring myself to a resort to experience fresh air and to be with the waves :) enjoy your weekend guys. This is one of the best beach resort I've heard, someday I'll be here.
ReplyDeleteXahnn from Postdoctoral Fellowships
Looks like a lot of fun. Hopefully, I can visit some day.
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