Living in Metro Manila is a bit stressful, with all the fast-paced, daily hustle and bustle, the week seems so long and exhausting. Most people agree that the best way to relax is to commune with nature. Studies even prove that being with nature truly allows an individual to unplug and thus,decreasing secretion of stress hormones.

After a very busy month, I’ve decided to unwind at last. The first thing that came into my mind was to go trekking and stay overnight under the stars, but this option was not feasible because of two reasons: I don’t have a tent and it’s now in the wet season. So another option would be to stay at the beach and accessible locations would be Batangas, Quezon Province, Cavite, Bataan, Pangasinan and La Union. Influenced by a desire to learn how to surf; despite being the farthest among the choices, La Union was the chosen destination.

La Union is a well-known destination among surfers who want to catch the waves and for weary souls who want to recharge. San Fernando and San Juan are amongst the most famous surfing spots in this town. Tourists and travellers alike flock these towns on weekend.

The trip

It took us 4 hours to get to Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union from Manila. According to bloggers, it usually takes 5-6 hours depending on the traffic situation. The drive was a bit long but the view was very rewarding. Scenic views of the countryside greeted us along the way.

The decision to stay at Fatwave Surf Resort was undoubtedly perfect, this resort offers a beachfront view with a bar that opens until midnight I think. They even serve complimentary breakfast – a hearty meal and coffee to fuel the day.

The beach, bars, restaurants and even the streets usually get crowded with travellers in the afternoon until late night. Swimming and surfing is limited from 6AM to 6PM for safety reasons, so most of the people are bar crawling and partying in the evening.

The perfect time to stroll in the beach would be early in the morning, however the beach is facing the west side so sunrise could not be witnessed from the beach side, but the view is equally stunning. The moment the sky changes from dark to pinkish to bluish is very spectacular. Sitting on the sand, listening to the rumbling of the waves, waiting for the water to play with my toes was just the perfect weekend. I can almost hear Zac Brown Band sing:

“I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand

Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand

Life is good today, life is good today.”🎶🎵

The sea, sand and the sun – truly the best medicine for the enervated.

That might have been relaxing already but the experience even went better, I had also a chance to pick grapes from the farm in Bauang, La Union. It’s not harvesting season yet but I had so much fun. Looking for ripe fruits under the grape vines was like a treasure hunt; it was very invigorating both for the mind and the spirit. Yes, we could easily purchase all the grapes that we want at the supermarket but the helping local farmers is a lot fulfilling; the experience and the thought of being able to contribute to local economy make the grapes tastier. 😉

After a very rough month, “I certainly deserved that break”, I told myself and I did. I felt so relaxed; I was at home. Nature truly is the best place to recharge and heal. As mentioned in a Chinese proverb, “Nature, time and patience are the three great physicians.” Nature by the far is the most accessible.