This is what has been going through my mind over the weekend: There are certain things that money can’t really buy: sanity, inner peace, inspiration, hope and LOTS OF SLEEP! Hehehe. Well, what about happiness? I don’t know. I didn’t want to include happiness yet because I still tend to associate it with that fleeting moment when you have an adrenaline rush. I don’t find it sustainable. It’s like a sugar rush that has a crash as an ending. I mean, we can’t be smiling 24/7 can we? We might actually lose our friends and scare strangers in the process!
However, I must say that I find that having inner peace, inspiration and hope in the midst of chaos and frustration is a thought I could probably hold on to. Anyway, here’s a glimpse of where we stayed for the weekend that made me realize things like these.
Last weekend, we stayed at The Flotsam and Jetsam Artist Hostel. I’ve been taking advantage of the newly constructed TP-LEX (Tarlac-Pampanga-La Union Expressway) that’s why I’m on this roadtrip spree.
I always wondered where I first encountered the words “Flotsam & Jetsam”. I know I must’ve heard this somewhere in my early life. I suddenly sang the lyrics of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from Little Mermaid inside my head & realized that Flotsam & Jetsam were the names of Ursula’s eels! Hahahaha.
Anyway, the atmosphere at Flotsam and Jetsam is far from that Disney song. Well, yes, we’re by the sea but we were greeted with a bunch of happy staff, colorful fixtures and furnitures and even their friendly dogs. (You know I’m so biased about these things).
Above: Taking my usual tour of the venue while absorbing the place’s quirkiness! Clockwise: The Flotsam & Jetsam Wooden Logo, one of owner Mia Sebastian’s dogs, Oriental lighting at the dining area, interesting lighting at the reception / dining area.
Above: My fascination for chalkboards *I swear, I’m this close to buying colorful chalkboard markers for nothing.* & the obligatory couple shot since Ponggo & I rarely have photos together. Yes, I had to work on a few things during the weekend. I just can’t be caught going on a vacation & not sending out e-mail responses and revisions for pending projects. *Yes, that’s my life…work & life are totally inseparable!*
Above: When I’m sad, I just try to remember how good their pizza was! They have a brick oven! This was just one of the pizzas we ordered and I need to apologize to you guys that I wasn’t able to take photos of all my food because we were always so excited to eat. See? I’ll never be food blogger because I always tend to consume my subject first.
Above: Dance like no one’s watching or wait for everyone to leave and do a random pose. Actually, some girl off-frame in a pretty dress was beside me while I was doing this. I’m pretty sure she was thinking, “What the heck is this lady doing repeating this pose a gazillion times!?!?!?!” I was originally asked by Ponggo to walk by the shore so that he can get a proper shot but I don’t walk like your typical girl. I walk with my feet turned out. He was coaching me how to walk but I just can’t seem to get it. I swear, before my wedding, my family and friends were requesting that I take some serious walking classes! I didn’t anyway. Ehehehehe.
Above: It’s in the details! Now I seriously want to give our home a makeover!
All in all, I’m just happy that we were able to wind down during the weekend with a bunch or friends, let our senses rest and let the waves hit us like crazy. No, we didn’t surf but we just sat in the beach facing the shore and screamed each time there was an incoming wave. Hahahaha.
Things to Watch Out For / Notes to Self in the Future:
1. Before depositing, confirm that the room you’ve reserved is still available.
2. The hostel operates efficiently and check-out extensions will not be tolerated.
3. Not everything Instagrammable can be Instagrammed: Surf Instructors’ boards neatly planted on the sand are considered private property. Ask for permission first before raising your camera (or prepare for a commotion).
4. Have pizza & pineapple shake again (no sugar added because it’s that gewwwd) when you get the chance to visit Flotsam & Jetsam again.
5. Spend more time in La Union so that you can drop by El Union Coffee. *Smores! We’ll see each other again someday!*
Flotsam and Jetsam Artist Hostel
La Union
Website: FlotsamAndJetsamHostel.com
Instagram: @FlotsamAndJetsamHostel
did you remove disqus? whyyy
anyway, i thought flotsam and jetsam are pokemons! hahaha. i googled it for a while and found nothing. went back reading your post and two sentences later there’s the answer! eels pala sila.
The fine dust from the chalk (while writing) can cause damage in the long run.
Congrats on being in the first 25 🙂