Site Newness Contributes To A Better Blog

Hi guys! Humbly, newness is the new black and so I've decided to give my humble blog site a non-invasive "botox" shot (laughs).

I personally dig the absence of clutter and I love the minimalism which is one factor that made me decide for this neat/clean aesthetic blog change make-over. At the end of the day, there is no substitute to quality content and structure follows strategy. 'Nuff said and moving forward.

HEADERS

The MENU section (horizontal) is straightforward as follows: 

HOME

DESTINATIONS- blog listing by location based in  North Luzon, Philippines; 

BLOG CONTESTS - lists all my blog post starting from the latest blog post and the last blog post that I've made since I started blogging;

PHOTOGRAPHY- lists featured photography topics;

TECHNOLOGY- blog listing dealing with "rocket science";

ABOUT - that's about the blog and myself;

PRIVACY POLICY;

TERMS & CONDITIONS; and

CONTACT US. 

Underneathe the Menu section is my social media links

and lastly the SEARCH (the blog contents).

With this "new look", you can now immediately get a "heads-up" of the featured blogs based on the label/category I chose for the day/week to display. 

The automated slider automatically plays only once for you and once it's done and you still haven't selected a blog to view, you can use the manual sliders (left/right) to navigate.

Before I have a dynamic featured section but it was very small and I've tried to make the thumbnail images bigger but to no avail. This time around you guys get a featured section which is visually bigger and won't require magnifying glasses (laughs).  

Furthermore, there's a navigation for you to READ MORE for each blog post and social media icons if you want to share the blog to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Google Plus.

And don't be shy, just leave some comments in the comments link (once activated/clicked- a pop-up will be activated for you to add what's on your mind.)

You can also navigate/cycle through OLDER POSTS button.

SIDEBAR

"Sidebar" - Well, it's definitely a 100% non-alcoholic beverage section (laughs).

About Me-  with a shameless mugshot;

Social Media links- Buttons to follow AvianQuest (same as what's up in the Headers section);

RSS Feed (Subscribe via Email) - It's 100% SPAM FREE. Why not give it a try;

Popular Posts- are determined by reader's choice of blogs; 

Pinterest - acts as a "sandwich spread" between my Popular Posts and Recent Posts; 

Recent Posts- my fresh blog posts; and lastly

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE - or related posts now appears to blog posts which are similarly tagged/classified.   

FOOTER

Blog Archive - blogs per month since I started February this year;

Labels - specific categories of my blog posts;  

Pages - is an equivalent to Menu section but this one is presented vertically. Although, this does not include sub-menu listing; and

Instagram feed (NEW) - Whilst I share my images via Instagram, I've decided to join the bandwagon and also share it via this blog page.

DISCONTINUED

The following are blog features which were removed/discontinued:

Floating Back To Top Button - I removed my third party plug-in since my blog template has a built-in code.

Pace - a third party plug-in which automatically show a progress bar when the page is loading.

Google Translate 

BAD BACKLINKS - I applied Google disavow and now they're all gone.

Till next blog. 

Support the Blog 😊

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Copyright Notice: The visual content, images, videos and articles featured on this site is copyright to www.avianquests.com (unless otherwise stated or if it is a public domain/reference ) and may not be reproduced in any blog or elsewhere in any way without explicit written permission. If you own rights to any of the featured photos or content contained herein and you do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact us via email and it will be promptly taken down/removed.

La Union Coastal Travel Destinations

This is a humble attempt to get you a quick guide to San Fernando City, La Union's premier coastal travel destinations.

GETTING THERE 

Travelling by land from Manila to San Fernando City, La Union would be around 4 hours and 17 minutes (278 km) via R-8, North Luzon West Expressway/R-8, and MacArthur Highway/Manila North Road and another 14 minutes (350 m) from Partas Bus Terminal to Urbiztondo Road, a total of 4 hours and 31 minutes. Partas Bus ply direct trips with bus fare costing $USD 10.22 or PHPesos 524.00 from Metro Manila (NCR- Pasay City to San Juan, San Fernando, La Union) at 12 a.m. (first trip) and 5 a.m. (2nd trip). If your ingress is from Metro Manila (NCR- Cubao to San Juan, San Fernando, La Union) at 1 a.m. (first trip) and 6 a.m. (2nd trip).

At Partas Bus Terminal San Fernando City, La Union, Region I, Philippines.

If you're so pressed for time and catching the sunset is a major priority, once you're at  Partas Bus Terminal (San Fernando City, La Union), just add 4 minutes (350 m), immediately head via MacArthur Highway/Manila North Road toward Andres Bonifacio Street and you will reach this coastal spot to take beautiful sundown images at Sea and Sky Hotel and Restaurant. The image above is an urban coastal scene during a glorious dusk afterglow. 

SAN JUAN 

Urbiztondo Beach

San Juan is considered to be the Surfing Capital North Luzon, Philippines.

From a travel reference point using Partas Bus Terminal, onwards take a short ride of around 10 mins (5.2 kilometers) via the MacArthur Highway/Manila North Road which will bring you to Urbiztondo Road, San Fernando, La Union, Region I, Philippines.

One summer coastal dawn at barangay Urbiztondo, San Juan, San Fernando, La Union, Region I, Philippines as I find myself taking this early golden hour morning scenery.

Coral reefs and coastal surf without surfers around. Definitely laid back Urbiztondo sea shore view conducive to a meditative vibe.

SURFING

The surfing lifestyle is the breath of life in San Juan, La Union. Foreigners and locals alike have marked Urbiztondo Beach as a cool choice surfing spot to learn surfing and surf your heart's desire. Urbiztondo beach is where the confluence of locals/foreign surfing enthusiasts/professionals converge with the South Sea Swell which usually begins its peak season in the months covering July to October and the North Sea Swell which starts from November until March. 

By far one of the coolest straightforward surfing video of coastal San Juan, San Fernando, La Union, Region I, Philippines. I'll give this a thumbs-up! 

Surfing is not determined much by age but by skill and determination to learn. In this image,  a young local just successfully escaped the white waters.

Surfing is a livelihood in the Philippines. Urbiztondo beach in San Juan, La Union is a haven for learning surfing and practicing surfing sport.

The tide is high!

Check it the San Juan La Union swell

STAY IN LA UNION

La Union presents the following popular surfing beach travel destinations/resorts /hotels as follows:

 High-End
 

Thunderbird Hotels & Resorts

Check Room Availability

(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

Awesome Hotel

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

  Middling

 

Oasis Country Resort

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

Urbiz Garden Bed & Breakfast

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

Marand Resort & Spa

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

Costa Villa 

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

 Budget

Sebay Surf Central

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

The Circle Hostel

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

Isla Bonita Resort Hotel

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

 

The Fatwave Surf Hotel

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(© Hotel Images by Travel Book)

What rule in photography says that you can't shoot birds with just a 50mm lens? There is none and you can wing it! 

There are times that composition is claustrophobic and finds its origins "within the box" and still delivers unexpected good results.

SAN JUAN 

San Juan Beach

The fastest route to Awesome Hotel is about 20 minutes (8.2 km) via San Fernando By-Pass Rd and MacArthur Highway/Manila North Road.

PORO POINT

15 min (6.1 km) via Pennsylvania Ave/San Fernando Port Rd Barangay Canaoay.

Here's a link to a blog post about Poro Point Hidden Coastal Gem 

To get to Thunderbird Resort & Casino, the fastest time is 15 minutes (5.2 km) via Pennsylvania Avenue/San Fernando Port Road and Mabini Street from Partas Bus Station. 

The fastest route to Aureo is a 12 minutes ride (3.6 km) via Mabini Street from Partas Bus Station.

LUNA

The last town of La Union, Philippines is Luna which is named after Juan Luna y Novicio (October better known as Juan Luna who was a Filipino painter, sculptor and a political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century. He became one of the first recognized Philippine artists. Luna is composed of 40 barangays (districts). 

DARIGAYOS BEACH

The town of Luna hosts Darigayos beach which another surfing destination and would have to be the most consistent break around. 

The fastest route to get to Darigayos Beach is around 43 minutes (25.2 km) starting from the Partas Bus Terminal in San Fernando City, La Union via Bacnotan - Luna - Balaoan Road and MacArthur Highway/Manila North Road.

At the end of the day, La Union is one travel destination which is highly sought after by surfers, tourists and locals. 

Find more hotels/resorts in the Philippines

Till next blog. 

Support the Blog 😊

Copyright Notice: The visual content, images, videos and articles featured on this site is copyright to www.avianquests.com (unless otherwise stated or if it is a public domain/reference ) and may not be reproduced in any blog or elsewhere in any way without explicit written permission. If you own rights to any of the featured photos or content contained herein and you do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact us via email and it will be promptly taken down/removed.