Not Your Typical White Sandy Beach

July 05, Malabrigo Beach - Part of my month long birthday celebration, I have decided to spend one of my boring weekend in a secluded beach far from the noisy and polluted city to relax and to feel refresh after. When I was searching for places to go, almost all website are pointing me to beaches in Laiya, Quezon and some other fine sand beaches, but Malabrigo Beach. Malabrigo Beach is not your typical white sandy beach because all you will see is small to medium size pebble scattered around. So I decide to give it a try visiting the beach even if it is almost four to five hours away from Manila by commute depending on the traffic. I love adventure, anyway. 

Going there is quite easy. I just followed the routes the same as what I have read in other blog except the prices has changed. We left Manila at 8:00 a.m., and arrived Lobo, Batangas at around noon. It took us around four hours to reach Lobo which includes almost an hour zigzag road going there from Lubijo. We took a short lunch break in a local restaurant there and have their famous Batangas noodle delicacy, Lomi Noodles. While having lunch, we got to chat with the owner of the restaurant and got to know some of the directions and time schedules of the last trip going back Batangas. 

After we had our lunch, we walked a little bit to take a tricycle ride going to Malabrigo. We asked our tricycle driver to drop us at the Malabrigo Lighthouse. After half hour tricycle ride along the road beside the rice fields and mountain ranges, we then arrived at the hill top where we have seen the majestic Malabrigo Lighthouse. The lighthouse is one of the two lighthouses in Batangas province, the other is in Calatagan as per the caretaker. 

The lighthouse was built during the Spanish period, but still is functional until now. We took a short walk around the lighthouse and have some short chat with the caretaker. The caretaker then pointed us the direction going to beach side which is just few big steps down the steep stair near the lighthouse,I tell you it’s the most tiring thing you will do there. When we got to the last few steps and got to see the beach side, almost all our hard work going down the steep stair has washed off and we felt just to run naked toward crystal clear water. The water was so clear that you can see fishes swimming around, and the waves were not that strong as those in beaches in Quezon. The place was so calming since it is far from the residential area and we are the only one swimming in the beach aside from the other guys. The sun was not that hot and air was so refreshing, all perfect just for a short beach nap. The place is really ideal for those who planning to relax, to do yoga, or just to skinny dip.

Around 3:00 p.m., our driver picked us up in the beach side and told us that we should leave to catch the last trip of the jeepney going back to Batangas. We then dressed up just behind the big rocks and went up to the lighthouse. Before we left, we still got to have short conversation with the caretaker about lighthouse. We left Malabrigo satisfied and with a perfect suntan, just right for a weekend getaway. 

Malabrigo Beach is truly one of the hidden gems of the Philippines. The beach was very secluded and uninhabited so you will rarely see trash around the area. I just hope that people will keep the area as it is. I also hope that the government will help to maintain the lighthouse and also, the beach side. This trip really made me beach sick and wanted to see more of the beautiful hidden beaches of the Philippines. Now, it is time for me to plan for my next beach adventure again! 

How to get there: From Buendia Taft, take the bus going to Grand Terminal, Batangas, From there take a jeep going to Lubijo. Then take another jeepney from Lubijo going to Lobo, Batangas. Finally, hire a tricycle going to Malabrigo. Tell the driver to drop you off at the Malabrigo Parola. 

What It Feels Like to be an Exchange Student in South Korea?

Last 2010, I have received an opportunity that I have never expected that would change me for a lifetime, which until now I still can't believe that it had happened. An experienced that really changed the way I live and the way how I see things. It was really a life changing experienced that when I got home, a new and better me was born.  

I have went to South Korea without even any knowledge of their language, culture and customs. It was my first time to go out of the country and I was literally culture shocked. As days has passed, I eventually learned how to cope with their culture and language. Just after two weeks, I  can haggled and asked for directions  every time I go downtown, or somewhere. After a month, I can ask for something, and order my food in the restaurant all ALONE.

Also being an exchange student in South Korea has also given me a chance to visit from the northest to the southest of the South Korean peninsula. I have been to the almost north of the South Korea, the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, where I had a glimpse of the North Korean city of Kijongdo, and visited the underground tunnels and military base camps along the border. Also, I have walked along the streets of Seoul where I have seen the famous Gyeongbuk Palace, Insadong, Dongdaemun Market and of course the Namsan Tower. Also I got a chance to visit the the archaeological and historical city of Gyeongju where I have visited various temples and shrines such as Bulguksa, Seokguram, Anapji pond and more. I also got to see different beaches around the coast line of South Korea from Pohang to Tongyeong but Busan. And also I experienced climbing up the different mountains around Gyeongsan province like Apsan, Guamsan and Palgongsan, and have explored the daily life of locals in my second home city, Daegu.

It has not just let me visit different places, but also to experience the authentic Korean culture from the Chuseok celebration of my host family where I felt so welcomed and accommodated to the jjimjilbang in Seoul where I first got naked in public. Not only that, I have also experienced singing with a group of Koreans in a norebang, took a long train rides with KTX, tried the bizarre street food, Beondegi, in Gyeongju, and countless night of drinking with friends and classmates all around the university campus.

Being in South Korea is not complete without trying their food. I have been thankful that I grew up not a picky eater. I eat vegetables, meat or anything edible that has been served to me, so eating out is not a problem for me. I have the opportunity to try almost all of their cuisines from their famous Bibimbap and Bulgogi to their not so famous Jjimdak and Samgyetang. I also have tried their famous street foods such as Tteokbokki, Odeng, and more. I also have tasted some of their alcoholic beverages such as Soju, Makkgeolli, and Maekju. 

Even though it seems that being an exchange student in South Korea is full of fun, I must say it comes with a bigger responsibility behind all of that. I have been granted a scholarship grant from the South Korean government so I have to maintain a good academic standing in spite of all the parties and the outside trips that I have. I took five regular business courses from International Manners and Protocol to Economic Development and Global Marketing. I have also taken a special Korean language course to ease my learning of the Korean language. All has been a good courses for me, and as a normal student I also do skipped classes and sometimes slept on class. Luckily, when everything ends, I do received a GPA of 4.30 out 4.50. I almost got a straight 4.50 except one. Having said that, even though I have to maintain a good grade or not, I have never lockup myself abroad just to study and maintain the scholarship. Hence I go out and explore! And that's what exchange is all about.

Even though, I have only stayed in South Korea for only one semester, yet i have learned a lot of things and met a lot of people. Being an exchange student in South Korea, I must say, is fun and exciting since you will really experience life away from your parents and away from your home. It is a challenging and an interesting experience.  You will literally get lost in translation and you would experience how it is to be alone and be an alien in a foreign land. And eventually, you will realize how great you are as before.