10,000 Tulips of Bucay Abra

The lightning artificial flowers were first launched in Cebu and I find it so adorable. When I knew that there is a lightning tulips in Abra we decided to pay a visit.

The place is so beautiful, there are mountains and trees that surrounds the resort giving you a fresh air and awesome ambiance. When we arrived (September 2019) there are construction on going near the entrance of the hotel.

If you plan to stay in the placefor an overnight or more, they are offering accomodation prices vary depending on the type of accomodation. The entrance depends also on the time of your visit since lights open at 6pm and ends 9pm the entrance is Php30.00. They also has a swimming pool and cottages just right for a happy family bonding. Below are the rates during our visit, September 2019.

As to the travel time and proximity of the location I shall be honest with you from Bangued(capital of Abra) it will take you 40mins to 1 hour and the resort is a bit too far from the capital, there are zigzag road just like in Baguio. If your driver is not familiar with the place this will be a bit challenging. So be safe always in driving.

Below is our expenses from Bangued Abra;
Tricycle fee - Php600.00 back and forth
      Better to hire back and forth because              there are no available Jeepney or
      Tricycle going to the resort and back to
      Bangued.
Entrance fee - Php20.00 since we arrived at
       5:00PM
Bring food and water so you wont get
      hungry, the food in the resort is a bit   
      pricey.

Hope this will help you as you plan to visit the place.

For more videos you may also visit my youtube channel - Mhystar Travel and Experience. https://youtu.be/KUmHk8Rpo5E

The surfing beach of Urbiztondo San Juan La Union

I really wanted to visit La Union and finally we had a very short but memorable experience in the surfing beach of Urbiztondo San Juan La Union. The place has a lot of professional surfer compared with in Liwliwa Zambales, I was just amazed to see them even at far surfing against the big waves of the sea so lovely.

There are alot of accomodation to choose from nearby the beach area. I can't say that it is cheaper because when we arrived they are on a peak season since ber month is a surfing season. We were able to ask around and they are offering Php1,500 for a halfday  stay (4hours) a bit pricey right? so we decided not to stay long since we are actually going to Abra for a long week vacation. If your hungry, there are restaurants near the beach but if you want a more cheaper one there are also along the highway such as carinderia and seven eleven store (7/11).

Back to the beach, I love the gray to black fine sand and the waves that makes for surfing possible though it is really scary for someone who dont know how to swim and surf like me. I just enjoyed the surfers doing their stunt and exhibition so awesome to watch. By the way we did not pay for any entrance fee since we were only there to watch and walk around.

If you plan to visit the surfing beach, best is during ber month starting September because the waves are much bigger suitable for surfing though ber month is their peak season expect higher cost of accommodation but if your in a group you can save a lot.

Breakdown of our expenses;

Transportation
Partas bus -Php 300-500 can be higher depending on the type of bus you will be getting ours is deluxe only for 300per head this is aircon already.
Food in carinderia
Php200 to 300 for 2persons (sorry forgot the exact amount but not more than 300)
for 3 viand(ulam) and 3 rice

We ask around possible expenses if you plan to stay long.

Php2,000 to Php4000 for accomodation can be higher depending on the type.
Surfing with board & instructor
500per hour

I recommend to ride Partas Bus via Vigan just ask to drop you off at exactly in Urbiztondo La Union just a couple of walk to the beach. They have a bus station in Cubao and Pasay. The last trip in Cubao is every 12midnight and in Pasay is 3am, this was during the time we visited La Union September 2019.

For more videos you may also visit my youtube channel "Mhystar Travel and Experience" https://youtu.be/xPXCubsStG4

Thank you and God bless everyone!

Beaches in Marinduque, Philippines

Awarded as one of the most peaceful place in the Philippines, my husband and I decided to visit the beautiful Island of Marinduque.
We arrived in the afternoon at around 5pm, since there is no longer available PUJ we decided to take a tricycle going to Boac for an overnight. We stayed in Boac Hotel, a very small hotel and we paid Php1,500 for an overnight stay. By the way you can also buy pasalubong in this hotel.

The following day we went to Tejeros, just two rides away from Boac. 
Going to Tejeros White Beach 
Ride a jeep going to Tejeros
Ride a tricycle that will drop you off to the beach itself. 

The beach has sort of admin office where you will pay for environmental fee and they will assist you to your choice of room accommodation, the rate when we stayed was 1,500 for an overnight stay. 
We rent a kayak, puddle and life jacket so we can do kayaking. The beach is swimmable with fine sand but a little bit of stones so better to have a shoes while swimming to avoid scratches /wound on your feet.

After White beach we proceed to visit the Palad Sand bar and Maniwaya Island. I enjoyed the sand bar a lot because it is very much swimmable just like in Tejeros. Low tide starts at 11am and still available until 2pm. On the other hand Maniwaya Island is a bit rocky and not that swimmable because the sand are not so fine. The Island is better for an instagrammable post.

How did we get there from Tejeros

    Ride a Jeep/Tricycle to Sta. Cruz

    From Sta Cruz ride a jeep that will drop you off

         near Buyabod port or the port going to 

         Maniwaya Island

    You can walk but its a bit too far or you can ride a                 tricycle to drop you off exactly in the port. 

    At the port ride a banca schedule is every morning 

             only every 6:30 and 11:30 AM. 

              From Maniwaya public boat leaves at 6:30     

                     AM.

      

PALAD SAND BAR

      MANIWAYA ISLAND

We had a lot of fun and adventure in our Marinduque trip and we highly recommend that you also visit this place.

My mother and I visited Albay Bicol specifically in Ligao City to help my sister in getting the Baptismal certificate and certified true copy of birth certificate of my late father for her filing of correction of clerical error on my sister's Birth Certificate.

After a few days, one of my sister who reside in Sorsogon joined us in exploring the beautiful tourist spot in Albay Bicol.

First visit is Cagsawa Ruins, which happened to be the remnants of a 16th century Franciscan church, The Cagsawa Church.

Next is Daraga Church where the Mayon Volcano is also visible, unfortunately when we arrived the perfect cone Mayon was covered by clouds. We rented a tricycle from Cagsawa to Daraga Church worth only Php100.00

After Daraga Church, we went to Sumlang Lake where we experience an Instagramable picture perfect spot. We enjoyed taking pictures while seeing the beauty of nature.

And our last destination is the breath taking mountain view from Kawa Kawa Hill Natural Park. It has an overlooking view of Ligao and of course Mayon Volcano as well. This is located in Tuburan Ligao Albay. As you walk up high to the top of the hill there are Statues of the Station of the cross. 

Just make sure that you are in good condition as the hill is higher and needs a lot of your energy but worth it when you reach the top.

How to be in Ligao Albay Bicol;

 You may take an airplane (Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific)via Legazpi City which is one hour away from Ligao.

You may also take a bus which is 8 to 10 hours travel time in our case from Araneta Center Cubao Quezon City. We took Alps bus, we are lucky because this bus never pick up passengers along the way and seldom has a stop over so we only travelled for 8 hours. You can also opt for a comfort via Isarog bus because they have beds and restroom but more pricey than Alps.

From the City proper you can take tricycle going to Kawawa hills and if you want to visit Cagsawa ruins you can take a Jeep from the crossing of Tuburan then ask to drop you off at Cagsawa. For comfort you can rent a Tricycle going directly to Cagsawa but of course additional expense on your part.

Hope you visit my father's hometown and experience the beauty of nature God has given us.

Goodluck!