Patar Beach is simply the best swimming beach I've been to in years. Uncrowded, clear blue waters with fine white sand, and its just a total of 5 hours away from Manila if you drive in directly. It's advisable to come by car, as the row of resorts is about 20 minutes drive away from the really good beach area--- yep its tough to trike or jeep in to Patar Beach. We stayed at Bing's Resort (for reservations call +63928-2477501, +63921-2807142 and look for Aida), which apart from being a comfy place to sleep, has really a warm and welcoming staff who always asks if you're ok, will offer to manage the videoke machine for you, and can cook a mean liempo and Pinakbet and bring it atop a 2-level hut perched for a view of the sea. One side of Bing's is also fronted by a good beach, but if you're too lazy to move from there to Patar Beach, one good incentive to get driving is being able to pass by the Bolinao Lighthouse, which has a balcony with an extremely romantic view of the Bolinao coastline.
I always find that roadtrips with Marj and Gigi always send us visiting nearby churches in every town we pass, and this one was no exception. Although I'm not very religious, I don't mind at all because I've always believed you can see the best artwork in churches. This holds true and is even more evident in more rural towns where you'll suddenly be surprised by a structure of Spanish or Gothic architecture. Above photos from L-R, clockwise: St Joseph the Patriarch, Aguilar, Pangasinan; San Isidro Labrador, Pangasinan (the outside looks like a birthday cake for Marj but the interior has gorgeous back wall mural), St. Raymund of Penafort, Mangataren, Pangasinan and St. James Parish, Bolinao (complete with bats in the belfry).
The last, unavoidable and most sinful component of a road trip is food, food, food! From the adobo and barbeque cooked by Mai, one of the best cooks I know (who claims to be able to cook any dish she tastes!), the chips, and cookies forced (!) on me by Gigi, the requisite Starbucks stop at Luisita, Tarlac, and Marj's recommendations, tainga and bulalo at Countryside Restaurant which was our last stop at Katipunan Extension, Quezon City.
Credits for the trip have to go to the great company I was with but most of all, to the birthday girl--- may she have a great year which kicks off with learning from her past and moves into a bright and brilliant future!
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