10/8/2017 2 Comments Weekend Soul Searching in ZambalesEverybody that lives in a busy city–such as Metro Manila, knows how draining life can be. Well, at least for people who prefers the actual wildness of an actual jungle than the monstrosities of its urban counterpart. It’s been more than 5 months since the last time that I have seen the oceanfront, and for somebody like me who spent my childhood with the beach as my backyard even a month away from the sea kind of make me feel incomplete. (Read more about my childhood playground here.) One of the things that every young, working adult complain is that we can’t go to travel for leisure as much as we want anymore. Gone are the days where spontaneous road trips to borders and out-of-plan travels fueled our youth. Just a few days more, and the thought of being confined in this hell of a city would really consume me with stress. I needed a getaway, even just for the weekend. And hell, yeah it was great. Just a few hour drive away from the hustle and bustle of the metro, is a haven for souls that are craving for a getaway. Just a few minutes from the main road of San Felipe, Zambales is a famous surfing alternative from the mainstream surfing spots in the North. Probably the best thing about Liwliwa in my opinion is that you immediately feel the “chill” vibe everywhere. The locals are super generous and friendly and the place (even though their shores can’t rival with Boracay or Palawan) is very much closer to nature than all the beaches that I have seen in Luzon. There’s this special feeling about this place that would really clear up your mind and at the same time, enjoy your friend’s company. I’m not really good in creating itineraries, and for that reason I will not be giving a very detailed description of how to get there. HOW TO GET THERE Basically, you need to ride a bus for about two and a half hours to Olongapo City, you can get on a bus in one of the terminals in Cubao for less than a hundred pesos. From there in Olongapo, you need to get on another bus to San Felipe for about one and a half hour ride. Just be very mindful of the sign, it’s not a grand sign that says “Welcome to LiwLiwa!” The sign is relatively small. You can also ask the bus driver or the ticket officer to tell you where to stop. Finally, you have to ride a tricycle to get to LiwLiwa proper for around 15-20mins. The drivers will ask where you would stay and drop you there. Overall, I can estimate my fare for PHP300.00, one-way. WHAT TO DO THERE Well, since Liwliwa is famous for its waves you should probably try to surf. Locals and hostels offer surfing lessons. You can eat at Mommy Phoebe’s delectable, home-cooked meals as well as refreshing. If surfing is not your thing, you can always swim at the beach or go sunbathing. Just remember to be smart and responsible for any waste that you leave, we don’t want to stain this beautiful place. WHERE TO STAY There are numerous hostels and villas that are lined up along the sandy pathways. The most recommended would be the Circle Hostel. The hostel gives this very chill and relaxed ambience that is perfect for a weekend break from stress and work. The place is filled with love messages painted on its wooden posts and foundations, and it also is covered with all these quirky murals that add to the overall experience. The hostel costs PHP450.00 per night with free coffee in the morning. Their brewed coffee was so good! Snapshots Overall, the weekend was fun. Met new friends, new ideas and personalities, it was the best thing that happened to me. Can’t wait for my next short travel! Ciao!
2 Comments
Jules
10/8/2017 07:45:34 pm
Love the snapshots 💜 i now have an idea where to go in zambales yey
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Bryan Casio
10/9/2017 06:10:25 pm
Thanks, Jules! Let me know when you go there! xx
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Part-time art junkie,
full-time gastronomic enthusiast. Sometimes a poet, always a dreamer. Archives
October 2017
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