before the year ends...

Hoping that things will fall into place before the year ends.
Patience is indeed a virtue but you also need to move and make things happen.

Be silent in moments you need to be, and observe the world.
Listen to your soul as it whispers you to either to step it up or to slow down.

Live the moment you have.
Learn to love your passion and draw strength from it.

Open your arms and hands, feel the wind go through.
Grab opportunities in front of you.
And soon enough you'll take that flight to the endless possibilities of life.  



 

PART 3: SURFvivor the TRAVEL FACTOR way!

October 30, I woke up quarter to 6 in the morning. I went out side my cottage. It was my check out day in Monaliza Surf Resort. I was mesmerized by the majestic, the beauty and the force of the waves. It was breath-taking. I inhaled the cold, fresh, sea breeze. It was so calming and I was so at peace. Then, I asked Nanay, the owner of the resort, if I could have a cup of hot water for my coffee. We talked for a while, then she gave me a cup of hot water. I ate my breakfast (a cup of coffee, a small can of Century-corned tuna, Skyflakes Garlic crackers and Quaker Oat cookies). I had the perfect, scenic breakfast view- the beach and the LU waves. After that, I packed my things and took a bath. I was so excited while I was taking a bath. I wanted to meet the group. Then, I got a call from Aica, one of the travel consultants of Travel Factor. They've arrived and were eating their breakfast at the Surfer's Retreat Restaurant. I was even more excited. Finally, I checked out, said my goodbye to Nanay and started to walk to Surfer's Retreat Resto.

There they were! The Surfvivor LU group! Aica, Eden, Keng, Paula, Tina, Allan, Rene and Don. They were still kind of beat up from the long travel but they were full of enthusiasm to surf. We introduced ourselves, had small talk. Then, we went to our resort, San Juan Surf Resort. We changed into our surfing gear and were informed that we're about to surf in Bacnotan Beach, since the waves in San Juan were too strong for us.

When we arrived to Bacnotan, we chose our instructors and listened to the basic surfing moves, then off we went to the sea! Kuya Jazzie was my instructor. He's a really great surfing coach. He made sure to look at my stands and the way I surf, so I can improve. And I did! I was able to stand, balance and surf easily. I was able to get hang out of it. He made me paddle on my own and even taught me how to turn my surf board on my own as well. He also made sure that I catch really great waves. I was getting addicted and even made more enthusiastic to surf. I wanted to surf the whole day, non-stop. While we were waiting for a good wave, we had talked all about surfing. I asked all the questions about surfing especially the tricks and tips and about Kuya Jazzie's experiences as a professional surfer and instructor. Oh yeah, some how he was delighted about my performance and the improvements I made. Surf's UP!!!

In between the surfing lessons, the Surfvivors chilled out in the beach, look at the hot surfers- guys and gals, took photos, mesmerized the great LU sunset and most of all enjoy each others company. There were a lot of "kulitan moments" when we were in the beach and while we were in the jeepney back to the resort. Everyone had a blast and some of us, including me, wanted to surf more the next day.

Evening came and everyone was a bit tired and hungry. Jorge and Lan arrived, our new bunkmates, and joined the evening socials. And the rest was history that evening.The surfvivors who stayed in San Juan Surf Resort had a great evening- good talk adult talk and chilled drinks. I leave it to the imagination of the readers.

Everyone was dead asleep the next day, except for Jorge, Lan and me. We were supposed to surf that morning. But just decided to skip it since we wanted to watch the surfing competition on the other side of the beach. Besides, our surf instructors were also competing that day. Honestly, I was so amazed with the professional surfers. On how they rode and played with the majestic and powerful waves of San Juan, LU. Well, since I'm an ambitious person, I wish that someday I could surf the waves of San Juan as well. Oh yeah, Don and Allan were up early as well. They wanted to shoot surfers in action.

The time came when we had to leave the surf camp and we took photos in the resort .We ate our lunch at MIDWAY GRILL. They offered great food in very reasonable prices. I ordered Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich with French Fries(199php) and refillable ice tea (35php). With our stomach full and appetite fully satisfied, our journey going to our last pit stop began.

There we were, in our final pit-stop, at ISDAAN in Tarlac. It was my first time to go there and boy it was really a huge place. Talk about gigantic, crazy, unusually statues scattered everywhere. Everyone went around the whole restaurant or should I say a resto-park. Scary looking people were roaming around as well, as part of the Halloween theme and celebration. As usual the surfvivors didn't leave a chance without taking photos while waiting for dinner orders to be served.

Dinner was done and last wee-wee breaks before we hit the road back to Manila. Everyone was settled on their seats and got to their sleeping positions.

Surfvivors are back to their reality again but gained new friends and new surf experiences, and top of that hungry for the next TRAVEL FACTOR adventures.

Me too... I was hungry for the next TRAVEL FACTOR adventure. I'll definitely sign up and explore more the beauty of PILIPINAS.

PHOTO: From one of the albums of the participants of SURFvivor La Union

PART 2: SURF BREAK 5 (La Union 2010)

I settled in my room, washed up and took a nap. I woke up around 1:30 in the afternoon. I put on my bikini and spread some tanning oil in my body. I brought my traveling baby (Fisheye2) and some cash. I was starving. So I walked and crossed the rocks and "the wall", to get to the other side of the beach. There were a lot of stalls. Food and drinks, tattoo shops, souvenirs, registration booths, etc. But as I was crossing the huge, a bit sharp, dead reef rocks, my traveling Havanias for two years broke! I just removed it and continued my journey. Oh well, I needed a new pair anyway. But I was kind of sad because I knew I had to threw it. On top of that, I had a lot of traveling memories with my Havanias. The brown, slim and gold strap, with flower designs Havanias.

I remembered I was so desperate to buy new pair of slippers. The sand was scorching hot!  I was pretending that I was enjoying my afternoon walk. So I bought this pink, with colored small hearts, Old Navy slippers from one of the stalls. I didn't think twice, I just bought it. Then, I continued my journey, looking for a really good food stall. I was starving. I ate chicken inasal with one cup of rice and a cold bottle of ice tea.

I continued my walk and checked out other stalls. I was looking for a coffee stall. I needed caffeine! I passed by a henna tattoo stall. I wanted to get a real tattoo but a henna tattoo would be better for now, just to see what it looks like if its already a tattoo. Then, the guy from the stall asked, " Miss, gusto mo na maging model ko para sa henna tattoo contest?". I asked him "Anu ba concept mo?", the artist said, "Si Jesus Christ nag-susurfing!". I replied "Teka, mag-kakape muna ako at iisipin ko malupet kung gusto ko." Luckily, I saw this coffee stall just near the henna tattoo stall. Just chilled out a little bit with my coffee and thought about being a walking canvas. I was quite hesitant at first because I didn't want to have a henna tattoo of Jesus Christ for two weeks. When I finished my coffee, I decided to be his walking canvas. Hey it was a great bargain! I got henna tattoos for free! Which usually cost a lot! Deny, the artist, started working on my back. He did explain to me that he won't tattoo Jesus Christ on my back anymore, he decided to put a sea goddess. Whew! That was a relief! He started around past 3pm and finished around 5pm. While he was working, the other models were also there in the tent. And take note, all of them were men. I thought I was the only female model in the contest.

Then, the judging began. Well, it was just simple. The judges scrutinized each designs and it was done! The winner was announce later that evening. Oh yeah, there was a bikini-open contest that evening and some sort of show, but I went home early to get a good rest for the following morning.

PHOTO: Thank you Louie Andrew Go