Where It All Began In Pangasinan (Part 2: Patar Beach)

The next day, we decided to visit Patar beach in Bolinao.  It was about an hour’s drive away from Tobuan.  We brought everything we would need with us so we would not need to buy anything there.  Coming from Labrador, we decided to take the inner town roads from Barangay Tiep instead of the wide, paved highway.  It looked like a shorter route from the map (and indeed it was) but the road got rougher and rougher as we went further especially as we got closer to Bolinao Lighthouse.  Anyway, it seems that rough roads had become the trademark of our group that all our adventures almost always involved difficult paths.

Morning view at Tobuan Beach, Labrador, Pangasinan

The rough road begins...

...and it got worse... but we're almost there!

Bolinao lighthouse... from a distance...

There were many tourists around the lighthouse so we didn’t bother take a group photo there.  The first beach we surveyed was the public beach and to be honest, the sight did not give us the awe we were looking for.  We could see further beyond the public beach but for us, it didn’t feel right for us so we went to the other side, going beyond “Treasures…” resort.

We finally found a nice, serene place to spend the day at Carandang resort just beside the “Traditional Filipino Resthouse.”  There were a few people there at that time.  We already cooked all our food before we left Tobuan so everything was ready to eat when we got there.

The beach we chose had few visitors

View from our cottage

Resort grounds

Calm and shallow waters

Unfortunately for us, some of us, got struck with stomach flu that day for reasons that we still didn’t know so they just stayed in our cottage to rest.  On the brighter side, we were thankful that none of the kids got ill for the whole duration of our vacation.  We were also thankful that the place we went to was again generally safe for the children.  Beyond the white sandy beach was a big, flat rocky formation under the water, similar to the one at Umbrella Rocks Beach in Agno, Pangasinan.  The rock had occasional holes that’s sandy at the bottom and like the one at Agno, the holes served as “pools” where the kids could play.  So it was still safe even when some of the adults could not join the kids to swim because of their stomach flu.

Kids enjoying one of the "pools"

The mandatory underwater selfie!

Our special one was also very pleased because we could just leave him be to swim around inside one of the pools.  Beyond the rocky floor was the deep open sea and the waves were also more violent there.  But it would be a challenge to get to the edge of the rocky floor because some parts had sharp rocks while some parts was covered with lots of seaweeds that could entangle the feet and make walking to the edge all the more difficult.  These features served as protection so the kids would have no choice but to stay in one of the pools.

A split-shot attempt with our regular point-and-shoot

We braved going near the edge of the rocks (with lots of extra precautions)

The beach with shallow calm waters

Another split-shot attempt!

Since there were very few people there, it was a breeze taking a shower and getting ready to get home.  The shower rooms were all vacant that late afternoon so we had all the time we had getting the kids cleaned up.  In fact, we even got the kids to get ready for bed and put on their sleeping clothes.

Mandatory family shot

...and group shot!

...and of course at the boundary of bolinao

...don't forget the group shot again!

Going home, we used the longer route because it was getting dark and we didn’t want to be caught in the isolated, rough roads.  Along the highway, we passed by the boundary signage of Bolinao where we had our group photo.  It was already dark when we got back to Tobuan beach and good thing that the kids were already dressed for sleeping time.

Tips:

Travel means:

Private Vehicle:  Going to Patar Beach is pretty straightforward as this has become a popular destination already and the road to Bolinao is already a major thoroughfare.  From Tobuan, Labrador, we headed to Sual town proper via Labrador-Sual Road then through Alaminos-Bani Road, turning right at the Regional Highway then left to Patar Road.  This route is longer but as mentioned, this is the main thoroughfare so the whole stretch, up to Bolinao Lighthouse, is paved.  There other shorter routes through inner town roads (which we took) but as you go deeper into the barangays, the roads turn to rough roads.  Then as you get closer to the lighthouse, the rough road begin to be tougher to navigate.  There are a lot of resorts at Patar Beach so parking will not be a problem.

Public Transport:  Five Star Bus Company has daily trips from Metro Manila going to Bolinao, Pangasinan.  Upon reaching the town proper of Bolinao, you can take a tricycle there that will take you to your resort of choice at Patar Beach.

Kidsentials and advise for autism families:

• Although the shores of Patar Beach is sandy, there are portions that are rocky and the sand can get quite hot so aqua shoes are really recommended.
• At the resort we went to, life vests are not necessary because the waters are shallow and it will be difficult for the kids to get to the deeper areas because of the big rocky formation at the sea floor.  Just always keep an eye on your kids at all times because the beach area is quite long and there is a possibility that your special one might run towards the deeper area.  Even if it will be difficult for them to walk on the rocky sea floor, it would definitely be difficult for adults too to chase after them.
• Something that we found useful, especially on our trips to the beach is a child wrist strap.  The use of child harness/wrist straps has been a center of controversy among some parents as some view them as degrading.  However, we believe that every parent and every child are unique and we can’t really generalize the needs of each family, most especially those of special needs families.  We’ll be writing a special article on this particular device on a separate post.  But in the meantime, we recommend the non-metallic type of harness for trips to the beach because the ones with metallic cable inside a PVC sheath can easily rust in sea water.
• First aid kit.
• Again, the sea at the resort we went to was very much alive with lots of marine life.  We even saw a small, colorful eel there.  Kids will definitely enjoy viewing them.  Also, the waters in the “pool” are generally calm so these are good places to introduce the kids to snorkeling.  You can bring cheap but good quality snorkeling sets at the beach and teach your kids how to use them.  The ones we got from Decathlon costs PHP 280 for the set (PHP 100 for the snorkel & PHP 180 for the mask).  For your child in the autism spectrum, it may be difficult to teach the use of snorkel because breathing will have to be done through the mouth.  A good alternative will be the new snorkeling masks that cover the face because this way, they will be able to breathe through the nose as normal.  Just be sure that the mask fits snuggly to avoid water coming in and keep the snorkel opening above the water.

We found this beautiful starry (snowflake) moray eel

Starry (snowflake) moray eel close encounter

Let your kids enjoy these pretty creatures in their natural habitat

Getting a snorkel gear for kids can let them appreciate nature more

Something's hiding in the rocks

Sea mantis in color

Got this quality set from Decathlon at a cheap price

Other general tips:

• Patar Beach is lined with numerous resorts so looking for a place to stay (day trip or overnight) will not be an issue.
• There are also lots of stores in the area to buy your supplies but it would be better to buy from the town proper if you’re on a budget.
• Always remember to clean as you go, even when you paid to use resort facilities such as cottages and tables.  It may take some time before the caretakers could clean up your rubbish especially during peak seasons.  Some of the plastic wrappers might be blown by the wind to the sea or animals such as dogs could snatch some trash away and scatter them.   Remember also that the property of private resorts do not extend to the beach area, so keeping the beach area and the sea clean is everybody’s responsibility.  Always make it a habit to be conscious and care for our environment.

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