It seems like every first paragraph of my posts this month have been about how I've slacked on writing and how I didn't make time to chronicle the beautiful moments that have passed. So let me just cut off the chase and tell you that the first month of 2013 has been awesome.
For starters, we went to the Genesis Transport Services Terminal along Cubao. We were reserved on the 2nd JoyBus going to Baler. As expected, the bus was full and it departed on time. (Read: Bawal ang fashionably late. *cough* Jenn *cough* Yes, I just cough-mocked myself.)
The price of a one-way ticket in a JoyBus is Php700. There are two trips: one that leaves at midnight and one that leaves at 1:30 AM. I overheard our *steward tell another passenger that the next JoyBus won't leave until 5 AM in the morning.
Mind you, the seats always get sold out, especially during the peak season (summer months). It's best if you can reserve your seats at least one week before your travel date. It is also important to note that you won't be able to reserve/buy seats for the Baler-Manila Joybus trips as it is only exclusive in their Baler ticketing office. I think Genesis should invest in an online ticketing system to make the booking process hassle-free.
I bought our 9 tickets. Guess whose name got misspelled?
*Yes, steward/stewardess. They have one per trip! The Joybus is basically a bus that seats 28 people, all in lazy boy seats. They boast of a nonstop trip to their destination, and for that they offer a restroom facility, pillows, blankets, snacks and free Wifi.What I love about travelling that early is that we could beat the traffic, allowing us to arrive earlier than expected. Twice I have ridden a JoyBus from Manila, and twice we clocked exactly 5 hours since we left the bus terminal. Via a regular bus, it would take 6-7 hours.
 |
| At the Baler bus terminal |
My only qualm with the trip was the AC. Jam and I already turned off ours but it was still way too cold, making it really hard for us to sleep. What I liked this time, though, was that I actually got to connect to their Wifi. It was fast in most areas but dead at some parts of the trip.
Another improvement is that their ticketing office is now inside terminal premises. See the photo of the bus above? The office is right in front of it, whereas there was a time where the office doubled as the ticket officer's house, far from the terminal. At least now it's more convenient. We booked out return tickets as soon as we got off the bus.
 |
| Contact details for your reference |
Will I take the JoyBus again? Absolutely! I have tried the regular bus and it was not fun. My back hurt from the 7-hr ride. The pain and wifi is worth more than your additional 350 pesos, trust me.
Disclaimer: Title coined by the juanrepublic here. I do not claim to be the best of it as I could think of many people who are a lot better but it's nice to see people actually liking this certain photo collection of me. Also, I get to be the queen for once so yay!
Doing jump shots has been my thing whenever I go swimming. You see, I don't actually "swim", not because I don't like to but because I don't know HOW. Yes, You can always call me the Palawenian Who Can't Swim.
So there I was, on a beach somewhere, wearing a cute two-piece swimsuit. Of course I'll have to produce a picture that would make me remember the place. And since camwhoring in swimsuits is something I couldn't actually just post around and be proud of, I started doing this thing that would catch attention (hello, this is miss attention whore!) and something that not everyone could do, hence my jump shots.
I think this started around summer before my 2nd year in college. Kaso hindi pa uso non ang DSLR kaya camera phone lang gamit ko. Back then, I was still too shy to do it. I would place my phone on a stable platform and set the timer so that no one would have to see me doing silly poses and jumps.
Fast forward to my first summer getaway with my officemates in my first year working, I got this photo.
It was hyped the moment I posted it. I got comments and compliments. But I do realize now that I do better jumps now.
Then beach trip after beach trip, I simply won't return home without one.
This next one, was from Laiya. Seriously, this bikini is getting the most jump shot mileage. Every beach trip, I bring at least two pairs. This orange pair I bought from House of Vanita, I always bring as backup. Can you guess why? Yes, I DO have other pairs. Many pairs in fact. I used to think I had to buy another pair for every beach trip so now I have lots. And of course, the moment I pick my ass to do these shots would be the time I'm coincidentally wearing the backup bikini.
Sometimes, I tame them down when I'm with other people.
I actually tried this next one, without thinking what I'd do. I was a bit pressured. I was being shot by two people and I felt like I had to do something spectacular so they won't get disappointed. I knew I had to do something different, or else it would defeat the purpose of doing the same exact thing, just on a different beach, won't it?
Doing jump shots has been my thing whenever I go swimming. You see, I don't actually "swim", not because I don't like to but because I don't know HOW. Yes, You can always call me the Palawenian Who Can't Swim.
So there I was, on a beach somewhere, wearing a cute two-piece swimsuit. Of course I'll have to produce a picture that would make me remember the place. And since camwhoring in swimsuits is something I couldn't actually just post around and be proud of, I started doing this thing that would catch attention (hello, this is miss attention whore!) and something that not everyone could do, hence my jump shots.
I think this started around summer before my 2nd year in college. Kaso hindi pa uso non ang DSLR kaya camera phone lang gamit ko. Back then, I was still too shy to do it. I would place my phone on a stable platform and set the timer so that no one would have to see me doing silly poses and jumps.
Fast forward to my first summer getaway with my officemates in my first year working, I got this photo.
 |
| La Union Year 1 |
It was hyped the moment I posted it. I got comments and compliments. But I do realize now that I do better jumps now.
Then beach trip after beach trip, I simply won't return home without one.
 |
| Bataan |
Even tried doing this really classy twirls which eventually became one of my favorites too.
 |
| Bataan |
Also, one with props. It did not came out as good as I pictured it to be. But I gave up trying since I was too tired from all the jumping, also I was the one photographing everyone that time. (Read: If you love me and want to see me do better, bring cameras haha)
 |
| Bataan 2 |
There were more photos I could post. Somewhere in my hard drive, there are jump shots from Boracay and Puerto Galera. But I decided to not post them all. Primarily because it's a jump you've already seen. Secondly, I'm too lazy to rummage through all my files so I relied on Facebook for what you see here.
Honestly, I'm already getting bored with my shots. I need to learn more styles and ways to flex and bend my body. You see, I'm not classically trained in ballet. You may see the still shots being graceful-ish but it's really different from reality where I'm rather like a kiti-kiti who can't keep still.
 |
| Laiya, Batangas |
Sometimes, I tame them down when I'm with other people.
 |
| La Union Year 2 |
 |
| Nagsasa Cove, Zambales |
 |
| Baler, Aurora |
Turned out good, I should say. This was basically how I got started in doing these shots. Just jumping, letting everything go and bending everything in my body that I can.
Sometimes, it's seeing the lovely output, like this, that make me crave and do something better. I now know that one of my short term goals is to re-learn doing splits so I can do it mid-air. Also, think of other ways to be creative. I may not be trained to do this but if there's one thing that could help me, it's my passion. I'm sure it would be difficult, but it's something you should watch out for.
P.S. I need to take my other swimsuits to the beach to make more jump shots. Isama nyo ko? :)
P.P.S. In case you're wondering, (or not!) I buy swimsuits from Soak Swimwear and House of Vanita. I bought two from Nudo Swimwear, but I'm only using one since the other does not fit me well.
How to get there:Most Baler patrons (at least those that I know of) suggest that the bus is the best way to go to Baler. Not only does it make the travel hassle-free, it is also a lot safer.
Hassle-free because all you'll need to do is drop yourselves off to the bus station and if you're lucky, get a trip via *Joybus, also the tiring 5-7hr drive will take a toll on the designated driver, making it hard to enjoy the getaway. Also, apparently. it is better to those who will be bringing their own surfboards.
Safer because the road is not for road trippers, especially less experienced drivers. There are zigzag paths, wherein even in a bus, it could be scary. What more if the driver is not used to the path.
*Joybus is Genesis Transport Service Inc.'s special bus that has routes to popular tourist destinations like Baler, Baguio, La Union, etc. The bus station is located at Cubao, beside Baliwag.
What makes the Joybus special is that for an additional Php280, you'll get a bus with wifi, snacks, pillow and blanket, a comfort room, lazy boy seats and a friggin' stewardess! Even local economy flights don't have these! If you have a choice, this is the ONLY way to travel to Baler.
 |
| Joybus ticket to Baler, Aurora. Purchased before the price hike. |
In our case, since our plan was for a 2D1N stay only, we got beaten in the Joybus ticket slots by those who planned for a 3D2N stay, who arrived on a Friday, and purchased their return tickets on the same day. Heck, we couldn't even get return tickets for a regular bus on our preferred time (which brings us on why the the title is as it is; to be written later).
As for the price hike, it conveniently occurred during the day we departed. Here are the bus ticket prices for your reference.
| Previous Price | Current Price | |
| Regular Bus | Php400 | Php429 |
| Joybus | Php650 | Php695 |
