What I Discovered in Sto. Tomas and San Fernando La Union

KAMBAK Restaurant serving
mouthwatering Ilocano cuisines.

La Union is the province that links Pangasinan to the North, especially to Ilocos. Legend says that before naming the province of La Union, Pangasinan used to be at war with the North.

Then the folks living in between began reconciling both provinces. That's when it was started to be called La Union or The Union.

But that's not the discovery I'm referring to here. It's something more exciting than that.

Recently we went to La Union to attend a funeral and along the way I discovered some things new to me.

First, it was my first time to use the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). It only took us from a few minutes to about an hour to reach our destination from Balintawak. After a continuous drive passing by Tarlac and Pangasinan overlooking vast acres of rice fields and mango orchards, we found ourselves already in Binalonan, Pangasinan.

After the bridge that connect Binalonan to La Union, we felt hungry and looked for a nice place to lunch. Along MacArthur highway in Sto, Tomas (to your right when going to San Fernando), we discovered this fine eatery serving superb native Ilocano dishes---KAMBAK.

At first, I wondered what KAMBAK was all about. I thought the ad concept was that you'd "come back" (kambak) to the place after you get a taste of how good the food dishes are. But after we asked management, it turned out the resto's specialties are Kambing and Baka native dishes. Thus, KAMBAK. The menu sounded interesting and we ordered dishes that sounded the most exciting.

Aside from the popularly known dishes like pinakbet, dining-ding and pinapaitan, we tried Kinigtot (which we were told meant "surprised" beef). But the pinakbet was far from being just ordinary. So with the dining-ding and pinapaitan. Aside from being authentic, the flavors were enhanced so that each bite tickled your appetite more. The kinigtot tasted like pinapaitan without the bitter taste.

Sunset at the beach from our hotel's window and terrace.
San Fernando,La Union.

We also tried their binagoongan rice, kilawing kambing, bagnet, bagnet pinakbet, tinolang native chicken (which was so tasty and the chicken meat was tender), and sinigang salmon head. They were all perfect.

After lunch, we decided we'd definitely come back to KAMBAK on our way back home.

When we got to San Fernando, we looked for a hotel. There were few hotels in the city. After we did, and after a short nap, we looked around and found this view of the sea that highlighted the sunset. The hotel itself wasn't that nice but the beachfront at the back somewhat compensated for the lack. When we got back from the funeral, we found the beds comfy enough and the air-conditioning working. There was water in the bathroom and toilet. That was good enough for a cheap hotel.

Hotel in San Fernando.

Oh, during the funeral, we were treated to a dinner where I tasted crunchy and tasty fried "espada" or sword fish partnered with fresh tomatoes. The triangular suman (rice cake wrapped in leaves) cooked in gata or coconut milk was delectable and creamy.

Back to the hotel, which was beginning to be a mystery to me. The picture above is the hotel's corridor and staircase. When my wife first stayed here years back (also for a funeral) with her family, she told me of a scary episode. The lights turned off by themselves and there were strange knocks on the door. And she said they felt something eerie.

View of the highway in the morning. Taken
in front of the hotel.

Anyway, back to our stay there. In the morning, the hotel restaurant offered delicious breakfast, which was somewhat surprising. I didn't expect the tapa and fried egg  to be as I wanted them and the pancit guisado was superb with its fresh and really crunchy vegetables. I had several repeat servings which proved too much for my tummy. It became bloated later, but the trick was to walk some and not drink water until an hour after breakfast.

Establishments in front of the hotel.

For lunch, we roamed around San Fernando and saw a Tapa King outlet where I had pinakbet. It was unexpectedly delicious for its cheap price of only P49.00. Then we went straight for the church funeral.

After the funeral service and burial, we proceeded home and made good our promise---to be back to KAMBAK. We had almost the same menu and enjoyed them all the more. I told myself, I have to feature this resto on my blog. If you want to follow in my footsteps when traveling up North, make sure to drop by KAMBAK and sample the dishes I mentioned here. And muse how the Local Hiker also ate the same in that very restaurant. In a sense, we have crossed paths.

Ariel's Point, Boracay: Why You've Got to See It

Photo from Ariel's Point

If something is featured in classy magazines like Cosmopolitan, Asian Traveler, and Mabuhay, you got to do everything needed to go see it. And I mean, right now, if need be. Book a tour and stay for this coming summer.

Like Ariel's Point, Boracay. If you want something different in your visit to Boracay, something your friends who frequent to this tourist haven have probably never seen yet, then try Ariel's Point. Traditional Boracay just gives you a noisy night life---disco, singing, bars and some restos and beach. Sometimes it's boring to do the same old, usual things again.

Have you tried cliff diving?

Ariel's Point, Boracay is some 35 to 40 minutes from main Boracay (so it's a real new thing) via an outrigger boat (makes it more exciting). It's actually an eco-adventure experience going here to try some cliff diving (ever heard of that?), snorkeling and kayaking---all in a fresh, unspoiled, pristine tropical environment. Like being in a hidden paradise.

No less than the Huffington Post listed this resort as among the foremost cliff-diving sites the world over. It's famous day-trip package is recommended by Fodor's Travel and lots of topnotch travel bloggers talk about it, too.

Image from Ariel's Point

Aside from the extremely adventurous cliff-diving, what else can you enjoy at Ariel's Point? 

Kayaking is one. Enjoy the pristine shorelines of the small coastal native village of Buruanga, Panay. You may also venture to the small deserted beaches nearby. Ask local fishermen where you can spot more flying fish and take photos of them. 

Paddle boarding is another option. This feature started in March 2016 at Ariel's Point. Try your balancing prowess by standing on the paddle board while it is afloat on the sea tides. If you fall down, you enjoy a nice cool splash in the sea.

Snorkeling is advisable if you get bored of the scenery above water. Experience the underwater world at Ariel's Point, and you're bound to see better sites than what main island Boracay can offer. Those who have enjoyed snorkeling here swear that sea turtles and even dolphins frolic in the area.

Boat cruising is the perfect way to see what lies beyond the shorelines. Go around the islands and even farther out to see lush forests, volcanic rock formations and deserted or unexplored beaches. Discover your own beach! The boat ride offered takes some 35 to 40 minutes, with cool beverages available on board. 

Now, there are many more exciting things to do at Ariel's Point, Boracay, and you better discover them for yourself and your family. I don't have to mention details about the lunch buffet packed with delicious native grilled foods (pork, meat and seafoods), vegetable food dishes, fresh fruit selections and stylish meriendas. 

And how about the open bar that serves your favorite drinks or beverages? And the prospects of sunbathing on a tropical island blessed by the sun?

Gigantes Islands: Islands of the Giants?

I saw it being featured once on TV. I fell in love with it instantly. I thought that Boracay was the finest spot the Panay area could offer. I was wrong. There is the Gigantes Islands or Islands of the Giants.

Some say it's better known as Islas de Gigantes. It's a group of small islands, about 10, located off the Estancia and Carles towns of northern Iloilo. The two biggest islands are North Gigantes (where a lighthouse is found, that should be exciting) and the South Gigantes. From Iloilo City, it takes some 5 hours to get there.

To check on hotel prices in Iloilo, please visit this link.

If you're looking for pristine white sand shores where you enjoy a laid-back island retreat plus rich fresh seafood to feast on while you stare at strange but wonderful jagged rock formations (which some local folks link to some mysterious tales---then Gigantes Islands should be your destination.

It's still underdeveloped unlike Boracay, so you get a chance to wallow in yet unspoiled waters and virgin environs. The beaches are definitely perfect for hiking.

By the way, why "Gigantes"? Well, a cave there called Bakwitan was said to contain large coffins with gigantic sets of bones inside. So, because of that, the islands started being called Gigantes (giants) during the Spanish times. It's not just clear,though, if the bones were of human origin because some local folks there say they are bones of enkantos or fairies.

Aside from the enchanting islands and rock formations, the white sand beaches and abundant supply of seafood, Gigantes Islands also offer an astounding salt water lagoon called Tangke. It is hidden in South Gigantes protected by mesmerizing cliffs. Local folks say waters in the lagoon mysteriously rise each June 24 in time for the feast of John the Baptist.

The lighthouse in North Gigantes used to be an old one built during the Spanish times but was destroyed by a strong typhoon in 2008. Japan donated a modern replacement which is run by solar power. But some old ruins remain there.

As Juan Hiker, I've been to Iloilo with my wife and kid but we have never heard of Gigantes Islands before. What we did was enjoy the beach at San Joaquin and some fish ponds near the capital city. And of course lots of seafood.

I heard that there are not many lodging places in Gigantes and that's good news because it means the place is still safe from spoiling and pollution. So what you do there is either camp out or look around for houses that rent transient rooms. Anyway, the important thing there is to get a decent bathroom with toilet facilities.

However, there are a lot of good hotels in Boracay and you may opt to check in there and then go to Gigantes Islands to spend the day in.

Tangkaan Beach - Leyte

From tripadvisor.com.ph

Tangkaan is synonymous with "clear blue waters" for a lot of tourists who have been there. It has lots of rock formations beneath, so if you're one into reef diving, Tangkaan is for you. In fact, most of Tangkaan is crushed corals driven to shore from the sea. So make sure you put on rubber slippers or sneakers when roaming its shores. But where there's sand, you get it white. Lots of tourists, in fact, go back to Tankaan for its white sand.

It's perfect for fishing and snorkeling.

Tangkaan beach is among places you should see when in Southern Leyte. It's public but you can enjoy peace and quiet on weekdays. Better yet, just dive below waist-deep waters and enjoy the underwater scenery to drown out noise when all the locals are there on weekends. But even the locals there provide good company and fun, according to some visitors. They're fun to be with.

Venturing farther from shore into the deeper parts, you may chance upon dolphins, pelagic fish and turtles (especially turtles). Some say you can enjoy sights of turtles just 10 meters away from shore.

From the beach you can see Limasawa  Island from a distance, which is about 30 minutes away by boat. Tangkaan in Padre Burgos is close to Tacloban. Actually, Southern Leyte has Sogod Bay as the main body of water supporting the beaches. So you'd never run out of good beaches there---Peter's Dive Resort, Michael's Resort and Dive, Padre Burgos Castle Resort, Sogod Bay Scuba Resort and of course Tangkaan.

While enjoying a dip in Tangkaan, why not sample their sweet and famous "Budbod" which is sticky rice wrapped and cooked in banana leaves. And then have a full-meal picnic later under a native hut-shed rented out at about P50 each. The entrance to the beach is only P5.

I haven't been to Southern Leyte, not even once, though I've been hearing about how good the places there are, especially if you love eating seafoods. Being Juan Hiker, I "hiked" to places in Leyte on the Net, especially when I was still working for a client with a travel website.

When I was also an artist at the Department of Agrarian Reform, I heard a lot of good things about Hinunangan, Leyte where our housing project for farmers was located.

Lighthouses in Batanes

The first I heard of them was in a TV Travel show where a small restaurant served native and foreign food dishes. They said the resto served one of the best they'd ever tasted. Since then, I always looked forward to watching shows featuring lighthouses in Batanes.

And I and my dear wife have been dreaming of spending vacation there some day.

Well, my friend and former schoolmate, Dan, went with his wife recently and took this picture. There are actually 3 lighthouses in Batanes:

Basco Lighthouse

It's on Naidi Hills (first lighted in 2003) where the old telegraph facility used to be. The Americans built it when they occupied the country but the Japanese demolished it in World War II.

Tayid Lighthouse (or Mahatao)

Built in the 1700s facing the Pacific, this square-shaped lighthouse is said to be less accessible but readily seen from Racuh a Payaman or Marlboro Country and the Dirua Fishing Village.

Sabtang Lighthouse

This is one is nearer the coastline (and adjacent to a cliff) near the port in Sabtang.

Another thing I like to personally see in Batanes is the highest point where they say you get a good view of both the West Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Hitting a Hundred Islands with One Zip Trip

My wife and her family went to Hundred Islands early this year. She bragged about enjoying one of the longest ziplines she's ever rode on---from island to island. And I believe that zipliner in the picture above was her. 

You had to slide across the vast sea to get to your destination. Anyway, if you fell from the line, the sea water would catch you. 

My wife is a real adventurer when it comes to crazy rides like this. She loves roller coasters, high ziplines and other insane rides like that. 

But she easily gets dizzy during long distance road trips. Well, on second thought, she often gets really dizzy just riding an air-con bus during a 30-minute ride. 

See that? It always puzzles me each time.

By the way, I wasn't with them during the trip to Hundred Islands because I always have a problem with my morning trips to the toilet. Yeah, I hike to places a lot, being Juan Hiker, and get to use toilets in hotels. But I need "quality time" in the morning to relieve myself of everything in the toilet.

Get what I mean?

And I can't be on a trip where you always get in a hurry because of the hectic schedule. I need something like an hour or 2 in the toilet to get everything done there. Hihi!

Remember, a hiker is never in a hurry. That's why he walks through life, not run. 

Anyway, my wife's a hiker, too. 

Here are more pictures of the trip:

Watch this video I got from Youtube: