[TRAVEL - DAY 1 ] PANGASINAN : Meet up with Couchsurfer and Arrival in Bolinao
I have been a Couchsurfing member for few years but haven't been active then. Last year, I tried join some meet ups and hangout with some Couchsurfers, who visited the Philippines for the first time. The concept of Couchsurfing is culture-exchange. You get to meet complete strangers and share your take on your culture. Most of the member are backpackers, who would like to extend their budget and take advantage of know a place by means of locals and not with travel agencies. Then, that stranger would share his/her experience with his/her country's culture. Most of the time, a member hosts a Couchsurfer at home, allowing the Couchsurfer have a free lodging on an agreed span of time. If the host is free, he/she can tour the couchsurfer also. If not, the Couchsurfer can just leave his/her things while he/she is travelling.
At first, I have met members of Couchsurfing Manila is a sharing event.
I met with my Couchsurfing friend, Sar for a Bolinao trip. Both of us have not yet been to this place, it must be fun!
How to get there:
There are several commercial buses going to Alaminos and Bolinao daily. We choose to ride Victory Liner. Since trip to Bolinao is limited, we opted to ride the bus bound to Alaminos. Once we get there, we will ride a jeepney or a van going to Bolinao. It is a four-hour bus ride passing the towns of Pampanga, Tarlac, and Pangasinan. The fare is
My sister and I met Sar at the Victory Liner Bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon city. We left Manila at 9AM because the bus haven't arrived yet and the driver is waiting for the bus to get full.
The trip to Alaminos has one meal stop in Tarlac city. You can get something to eat or have your restroom break on the establishment on the stop-over.
Where to stay:
There are a lot of choices from high-end resorts to budget cottages in Bolinao. Adaphobic showcases cheap accommodations that you may stay when in Bolinao. Backpackers, by nature, chooses to stay in cheap accommodation to extend their cash while on the road.
If you are quite hesitant for safety, there are high-end resort such as Puerto del Sol, Treasures of Bolinao, and Villa Riviera.
Of course, you always get what you paid for. :)
Since our budget is minimal, we decided to get a kubo at Kuya Benjie's cottages (mobile number: +63910-836-6257). Travel Tip: Always make reservation prior the trip, this will ensure that you have a place to stay otherwise, if you have a tent, disregard this advice.
For P1,000.00 per night good for 6 persons, Kuya Benjie's offer a beach front hut and a common toilet and bath. Just be cautious of your personal things, the cottage door DO NOT have a lock from inside. We had a bad experience during our stay.
Beware at Kuya Benjie's cottages
We stayed in a kubo with a double deck bed, a broken jalousie window and a wall fan. It was well ventilated however there was NO LOCK from inside so we just improvised and get a plastic straw and tied the door to the other end of the double deck post.
After a long trip, we slept early like 8PM. Sar decided to sleep on the upper portion of the double deck while my sister and I is at the lower portion. We slept with the lights on because the lighting is shared with the other cottage.
I woke up with Sar's shout and she suddenly went down the double-deck, quite afraid. I asked her "What was that?!". She said there is somebody outside holding a long tube with a cup and getting it through the broken jalousie window. We saw it! It was done THREE TIMES!!! Looking through the jalousie window, we can only see a person wearing a white shirt and we could not recognize the face. Outside the cottage and the vicinity of the place is very dark.
We tried calling Kuya Benjie's cellphone but he was not answering. My sister bravely walked outside trying to get Kuya Benjie and tell him what is happening. Sar and I were left in the cottage. I hold the door because those bastards might enter. The guy holding the tube suddenly talked and said, "Ate, ate, sex tayo..." I was shocked and just replied, "Umalis ka na! Sa iba ka lumapit!" I never told Sar about the translation of the words the guy is asking for... I do not want her to more unsafe. After few minutes, the woman staying in the cottage beside us knocked on the wooden wall and asked us if we knew who was the guy trying to put the tube inside the room. The people from the other cottage experience that as well. I replied, "Hindi po namin kilala yun! Yung kasama ko po pinuntahan si Kuya Benjie kasi hindi ma-contact yung cellphone number nya..." The lady hurriedly get Kuya Benjie's contact number. After few minutes, my sister arrived with Kuya Benjie. He said he will stay awake for the night to watch after us. He told us that there are some teenagers nearby that could be responsible for disturbing us and he already scolded them.
Having that said, three of us know stayed in the lower portion of the double-deck trying get some sleep. Looking into my watch, it was just 10PM... I can hardly get back to sleep due to that incident. On the back of my mind, I would like to leave the place and move other resort safer.
From then on, I have some standard while scouting for places to stay in my destinations.
First tour: Light house, Caves and the indoor fresh water pools
Prior going to Kuya Benjie's cottages, we asked if he know a tricycle driver that we can contact to go to Patar beach. The same tricycle driver offer to give us a tour on nearby sites for P600.00 for all three of us.
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| selfie in a fast-moving tricycle |
Cape Bolinao Lighthouse
Since Bolinao is a coastal town, like the other place BakingByahera has been, this lighthouse serves as guide to boats and vessels passing by. This was built by the Americans in 1905.
Entrance fee: NONE
What to expect: 180-degree view of West Philippine sea, perfect sunset spot during summer or non-cloudy days. 360-degree view of Bolinao on top of the lighthouse. Steep concrete road leading to the lighthouse and view deck, get your legs ready.
Notes: We were not able to go on top because the door was locked.
Rock view
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| Click the photo for full-version |
Entrance fee: P10.00 per person, to be paid to Rock view Inn
What to expect: Rocky trek over the black limestone formation cracked by huge waves. Can also be a good place for sunset viewing. Not good place to swim due to sharp rocks and waves.
Wonderful Cave with fresh water pool
What to expect: Cold and clean water. Refreshing dip if you don't want to have sunburn.
Notes: Be careful. the water might look shallow but in the middle part, it is almost 6 - 8 feet deep. Bring your aqua shoes for protection. No lifeguard.
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