With the Philippines’ 7,107 islands, you can surely get away from it all — and have fun while getting lost.
CALICOAN
Guiuan, Eastern Samar
If you prefer tranquility and soul-searching over all-night partying, consider this your paradise. Life here is quiet, but it has its surprises. They come in the form of huge crustacean packages. The lobsters are plentiful and cheap; you can have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And if you love to surf, you’ll find that the call of Calicoan lies in its waves. www.calicoansurfcamp.com
REAL, Quezon – Most people would think that the best thing about
surfing is riding on top of the wave. But for me, it’s also being inside
it.
I had seen the nth wave approach and instinctively, felt myself dive under. It is quiet under a wave. You forget you have deadlines, forget you have a phone, and remember to go out of town more.
I was on a “surfari” organized by the Philippine Surfing Academy (PSA). Our group was a curious mix of experienced surfers, poi dancers, Frisbee players, and Korean exchange students.
We were in Real (reh-YAHL), Quezon, a 2.5-hour drive away from Manila. Among 25 known surf spots in the Philippines, what makes Real distinct is that it’s beginner-friendly. Here, the waves don’t break into scratchy coral reefs but instead, soft sandy bottoms.
Before hitting the ocean, we were all briefed on the basics — how to paddle out to the waves, get on the board, stand on it, and of course, recover from a wipe out.
They say if you want to know someone’s character, travel with them. I say, take a shortcut and surf with them.
Within an hour, some people took to surfing right away. Some liked the security of being with an instructor. But there was this one girl who was just enjoying it. She was wearing pants, her stance was wobbly, but the grin on her face made her look like she had just won the lotto.
Later on, I found out the girl didn’t even know how to swim! The PSA guys say they can teach you how to surf even if you can’t swim. You just have to like the waves.
Getting There
You can take a car or bus or join PSA’s organized trips to Real, Quezon, 2.5 hours away from Manila.
For more information, visit www.philippinesurfingacademy.com.
CALICOAN
Guiuan, Eastern Samar
If you prefer tranquility and soul-searching over all-night partying, consider this your paradise. Life here is quiet, but it has its surprises. They come in the form of huge crustacean packages. The lobsters are plentiful and cheap; you can have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And if you love to surf, you’ll find that the call of Calicoan lies in its waves. www.calicoansurfcamp.com
I had seen the nth wave approach and instinctively, felt myself dive under. It is quiet under a wave. You forget you have deadlines, forget you have a phone, and remember to go out of town more.
I was on a “surfari” organized by the Philippine Surfing Academy (PSA). Our group was a curious mix of experienced surfers, poi dancers, Frisbee players, and Korean exchange students.
We were in Real (reh-YAHL), Quezon, a 2.5-hour drive away from Manila. Among 25 known surf spots in the Philippines, what makes Real distinct is that it’s beginner-friendly. Here, the waves don’t break into scratchy coral reefs but instead, soft sandy bottoms.
Before hitting the ocean, we were all briefed on the basics — how to paddle out to the waves, get on the board, stand on it, and of course, recover from a wipe out.
They say if you want to know someone’s character, travel with them. I say, take a shortcut and surf with them.
Within an hour, some people took to surfing right away. Some liked the security of being with an instructor. But there was this one girl who was just enjoying it. She was wearing pants, her stance was wobbly, but the grin on her face made her look like she had just won the lotto.
Later on, I found out the girl didn’t even know how to swim! The PSA guys say they can teach you how to surf even if you can’t swim. You just have to like the waves.
Getting There
You can take a car or bus or join PSA’s organized trips to Real, Quezon, 2.5 hours away from Manila.
For more information, visit www.philippinesurfingacademy.com.
