Lakas ng Trip

When we were in Bolinao, Pangasinan we decided to spend the night at Abrac Beach in Patar mainly because I love the sunset there and in the morning or late afternoon a walk along the beach would be really be nice.

Nipa Huts

If you’re planning to stay in Abrac Beach, you want to try staying in the Nipa Huts that are located there in the beach front.

Inside a Nipa Hut in Abrac Beach, Patar

What I hate about the nipa huts there is that they are really near each other and they have videoke in front! When I was talking with one of the owners of the nipa hut we were literally shouting just to hear the both of us. There’s a curfew for videoke, 10PM.

Some Nipa Hut is provided with a cottage and table in front and a cooking area at the back. Kuya Benjie’s Nipa Huts all has this.

Cottages in front of the Nipa Huts

Among the Nipa Hut lodgings in the beach I would like to recommend Benjie’s Nipa Hut because it is located in the farthest side of the beach, only a few of their nipa huts have videokes when we were there and they provide a spotlight for people who wants to do night swimming. » Read more…

Binungey

Located at the entrance of St. James the Great Parish Church. The sellers in front have a uniform and when asked what Binungey is they explained that it is “Suman sa Kawayan” or in English translation Rice Cake in Bamboo.

Fish Sauces/Paste

If you look at the origin of the word Pangasinan it’s Pang-Asin-an. Pangasinan is famous for its fish sauces or bagoong.

Some bagoong costs 15 Pesos per cup and some even goes up to 70 Pesos per cup » Read more…

• Island Hopping Rates
• Operating Hours
• Notes

At the Tourist Welcome Center at Lucap Wharf, Alaminos, Pangasinan we were given 2 choices for our island hopping adventure. Either we get the Day Tour or we hire a Service Boat for a day.

The Day Tour costs 800 Pesos for 1-5 pax and would only take us to three developed islands – Governor, Childrens and Quezon Island with a time limit of 20 minutes per island and the boat will leave us at the last island and will just fetch us at our desired time.

The Service Boat costs 1,400 Pesos for 1-5 pax and we could have the boat for the whole day and we can go to any island we want without any time limit. We get to have our own tour guide too which will be our boatman.

Since one of our target was to visit Cathedral Island, also known as Marcos Island, and do some cliff jumping to splash to the waters of Cathedral (Imelda) Cave, the Day Tour would not be our option. Besides, I am not a fan of developed islands so it is best to stay on the less developed ones.

Here’s an account of what happened to us during our island hopping tour inside the Hundred Islands National Park

10:46 AM – Arrival at Alaminos Town Proper from Bolinao via mini bus (45 Pesos/pax; Travel Time 1 hour 15 minutes);

10:47 AM – Rode tricycle to Lucap Wharf; 50 Pesos/tricycle

10:57 AM – Arrival at Lucap Wharf; Went into the Tourist Welcome Center to ask for details

11:14 AM – Registered at the Tourist Welcome Center. Paid the 20 Pesos Entrance Fee for a day

11:20 AM – Ate lunch at Lucap Wharf eateries

11:45 AM – Went to the Boat Dispatcher for the start of the Island Hopping

Boat Dispatcher at Lucap Wharf

11:54 AM – Start of Island Hopping. Woohooo!!!

12:22 PM – Arrival at Governor’s Island. Check View Deck and go around the island

at Governor's Island view deck

12:39 PM – Took a wrong turn to Pinoy Big Brother house. We got to a secluded beach » Read more…

Bus from Bolinao to Alaminos

From Bolinao you may ride a non-airconditioned mini bus going to Dagupan via Alaminos near the St. James the Great Parish Church. There are 2 bus stations that you can go to, Bolinao Express and Boltex Express.

Bolinao Express Station

First Trip is 6AM in the morning
Last Trip is 4PM in the afternoon
Bus leaves every 15 minutes and the two bus stations alternate their schedules.

Fare to Alaminos is 45 Pesos/pax; Travel Time is 1 hour
Fare to Dagupan is 100 Pesos/pax; Travel Time is 3 hours

Boltex Express Station

Contact Numbers
Bolinao Express – 0948-136-5011 Dispatcher
Boltex Express – (075) 554-2107

Tricycle from Alaminos Town Proper to Lucap Wharf » Read more…

1. LED Flashlight

Off-the-beaten-path locations are awesome when there is daylight but is a nightmare at night when you are not equipped with a flashlight. I use an LED flashlight because of the following reasons

•  Lightweight with a small rigid metallic body – Ideal for packing light and does not take much space in my pack.
•  Longer battery life than a halogen flashlight – The LED flashlight that I have uses 3 AAA batteries and usually lasts for 3 travels I have that I heavily use the flashlight.

Price: 165 Pesos – 12 LED; 100 Pesos – 9 LED
Can be bought at: Ace Hardware, Handyman and sometimes in the streets of Quiapo and overpasses. It is cheaper when you buy them from peddlers in streets.

Additonal Note:

• When you turn on the flashlight and sometimes it turns on and sometimes it does not, it means that you should change your battery. Do not be like me who bought another one. O well, at least I can share a flashlight when I’m with someone.

2. Triple Cube Adapter

Ever went to a coffee shop with your laptop and when you need to plug it in you found out that all the sockets are already taken by other customers? That also happens when you are in hostels and lodgings that only has a central charging station. That’s why I highly recommend travellers and laptop users to bring a Triple Cube Adapter. » Read more…