Balesin Kiteboarding

Can't Wait to go back to Balesin Island Club 

at the same time last year i did a trip to Balesin to visit fellow Roxy girl

Mika Santos who told me about the nice condition (wind, waves and flat lagoon) 

at her island. I was so keen to go and was watching the forecast for a week.

Then the wind dropped down as soon as i got into the island.

i was only gonna be there for 3 days and the first  2days there was no wind 

so i was able to explore the island

and went surfing instead.

Surfing here is amazing and also a very advanced spot, my worst crash on a surfboard happened in this spot, but also one of my best surf sessions ever.

So definitely going back there.

Luckily on the 3rd day...

My flight out of the island was around 3pm if i remember it correctly and 2 hours before my fight the wind picked up so i rushed down first at Costa Del Sol Village but there was a wind shadow caused by the islands in the front,

so we went up on the north tip of the island where Mykonos Village is located and it proved to be amazing and friendly to beginner kiteboarders.

The wind was not so strong but luckily i have my big Kite (12m) 

so i was able to go for a good hour and even went for 2 sessions!

It was also fun to have a group of girls drinking margaritas hanging out at the Beach Villa and they were cheering me on.

five star amenities FTW!

And this time, so lucky to announced that we (me, Jay Ortiz; President of the Philippine Kiteboarding Association and Spencer of JandS surf shop) are opening a kiteboarding community here at this wonderful place.

so excited for this!!! such a great way to end a great year!

Love and Sunshine

GoPro Sessions: Balesin Kiteboarding

Balesin kiteboarding from paula rosales on Vimeo.

What's in my travel bag

yes, i decided to join the bandwagon of bloggers doing a post about what is in their bag.

so am doing my own version.

i have non of those LV bags, expensive organizers and gigantic make up kits that i travel with...but

if you have traveled with me, you know it's not easy at it always involves a lot of trouble with my luggage.

So here is what's in my travel bag 

From Left to Right (Back Row) Kites TS15m, TS12m, TS9m, TS7m

Best Kiteboarding Bar and Harness

Best Kiteboarding Hand Pump for SUP(yellow) & for Kite (Red)

(Front Row) Wetsuits: Roxy Syncro 4/3mm, Roxy Syncro 3/2mm, Roxy 2mm Shorty, Rainbow Tutu 

(Staple)

On me: Roxy Pop Surf Neoprene 2pc Bikini, Leech Eyewear in London (casual), sitting on a JadeYoga Cork Mat

(Front Row) Boards: Kiteboarding 4 Girls 130 TwinTip, Kitesurf 5.6 Shifty Pro, Stand Up Paddle Board +Paddle 10.3

Check out these awesome products available at

http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/

http://www.leecheyewear.com/

http://www.roxy.com/

LENS: Pierre Vogel

Googlers and Kiters

i love meeting kiters from around the world. Especially this batch of riders working at Google here in California. 

Thank you Alexei for inviting me and the other riders.

I must say, this campus errr office is one of the best i've experienced 

so far.

With a lot of positive values and fun activities you can do,

who would not want to work at Google?

Check out this Half pipe in one of the buildings.

 

and it's always nice to meet girls that rip amidst all the men. :)

it's like being on mushrooms... giant cupcakes....

 colorful bikes you can take around


and i even checked out Boracay on the huge Google Earth Screen

Hi guys!
as you can see, information on Boracay island is a bit static.

thank you guys! looking forward to kite sessions with the googlers. 

:)

How To Get To Boracay

due to public demand, and me being lazy to reply to all of you wonderful people asking how.do.we.get.to.boracay?
when.is.the.best.time.for.wind?
parties?
place to stay?
 So am here are some answers to some FAQs about getting to Boracay.
This post is dedicated to FLYING in and out of BORACAY.


1. Which airport to fly?

 It's always best to travel to Manila first from your country. Point of Origin - MLA (Manila, Philippines) and then take a connection from Manila to Kalibo (Boracay) via LLCC or Local Low Cost Carriers.

 **The Philippines main hub is Manila. We have 4 terminals that are on the same area but for some strange reason they are not connected to each other via internal tarmac or even a walkway. So, make sure you check your terminal and transfer time. transferring from Terminal 1 (International terminal) to LLCC (terminal 4 or terminal 3) is a shuttle ride away but MOST of the time the traffic is BAD, so allow at Least more than 6 hours between your international flight and your domestic connection flight to Boracay. If you are arriving in the evening, it's best to book a room nearby or better yet book the earliest flight to boracay the next day and just wait in the terminal.

 NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IN MANILA, it goes from bad to very bad and worst when it's raining. i have had friends who missed their international flights because of this reason. and i even had my own bad experience with typhoons/flights and terminals

http://skurbanista.blogspot.fr/2010/07/what-dfa-and-lola-basyang-did-to-me.html


 ---- Kalibo is the nearest airport from Boracay THAT ACCEPTS boardbags, from Kalibo you have to take a 1.5 hr VAN or BUS to Caticlan Jetty Port.
 Van Fee = Php (150.00 per person or 3 euros)
*BUSES can cost up to 250.00 or 5euros some companies include boat transfers/terminal fees/environmental fees

 otherwise if you are traveling light and do not mind the extra mind blowing 200usd for a 1 hour flight you can take a flight from MANILA to CATICLAN, which takes you directly to Caticlan Jetty Port.


 Here are some LLCC - Low Cost Carriers you can choose from



 Cebu Pacific Air - relatively the cheapest - most of the time i take this myself, i try to get the earliest flight in the morning because after lunch MOST flights are already Delayed caused by tarmac traffic and late arrival of turn around aircraft.  and make sure you book your sports equipment with your ticket or else they will charge you an arm and a leg in the counter.

 PAL Express/Air Philippines - a bit more pricey. they say it's safer. i don't know really.
 Seair - BEST airline for me and FASTEST. and MOST EXPENSIVE, Flies to both Caticlan and Kalibo.
 Air Asia/ Zest Air - relatively cheap like cebu pacific, i take these planes too from time to time.

 When you arrive at Caticlan Jetty Port you will have to buy / pay for the ff:
 1. Boat transfer = 25php or.50euro or 30php on evenings
2. Terminal Fee = 50php or (not sure)
3. Environmental Fee = 100php or 2 euros

 **OPTIONAL - Porters - porters are people who carry your luggage for you. you can tip them from 20php to 50php per bag. give them more if it makes you feel better. I personally love porters. make sure you hire somebody who wears an ID and Uniform - they usually get to you at the baggage carousel. Porters can take you all the way to the jetty and come with you to the boat or you might have to change to another porter when you get to the other side. The Boat transfer will take 15minutes tops and viola, you are in Boracay. Take a trike(tuktuk) to your hotel/room. **stayed tuned for my next post about places to stay and spots to check out.

For more questions about traveling to the Philippines. like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bestkiteboarding

Everybody Knows BEST

stoked to be part of this amazing team and amazing video. catch me and my teammates from around the world, share to love for riding.

Everybody Knows from Best Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

Paradise Found

some typo errors though,

brand AMBASSADOR not architect

but that's ok. 

still stoked. thanks for the feature.

thanks UNO Magazine

GoPro Sessions: Jammin at the Triple S Invitational 2014

GoPro Sessions: Jammin to the Triple S from paula rosales on Vimeo.

It's been a very busy month of fun in the Triple S invitational. Check out this short GoPro edit from my sessions! Peace X Love, Paula

The trip begins.

yes its been more than a month since i last posted 

something on my blog.

am really pissed about it.

No Post in Blog means no life, well not exactly but 

you know what i mean.

The past few weeks were focused on "re-arrange" life

so i can live more, and technically post more stuff here to share with all

you.

So today am flying out of the Philippines for the Triple S invitational

and also to my onward summer vacation in Europe.

PS: it took me almost 2 hours to check in, i had to RE-Pack in the airport TWICE!

---

i had a serious case of island fever in the end with all those tourist that flocked in over the past month,

This year i am very very happy to say that

am stoked to be living in Boracay, no matter how much the media

or the tourists make it sound so Lame to be there especially during LaBoracay.

it was a great season back home, 

and i really wish that people and establishments in Boracay

become more responsible with trash disposal.

this island is so pretty so please 

take care of it.

here is a short video on Boracay Island from Gino and Tin

check out my little kite cameo.

enjoy and you'll definitely hear from me soon.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=286862108154430&set=vb.137776526396323&type=2&theater

Cause am happy and you know it

i've always hated traveling with a big group of filipinos internationally.

because they always go on herds, 

are frequently noisy and nosy.

and it always seems like there is a big fiesta going on.

screaming with laughter and whatever.

i'd much rather be left alone with my book, my ipod and my computer.

today i have a 6hr lay over at Abu Dhabi airport in the middle of the night. 

i had no choice but sit around here with the rest of my kababayans.

and you know what i effin love it!

another sign that tells me why the filipino people are the happiest people on earth.

i was enroute to my gate i picked up or should i say "stole" my stash of airport magazines to be left in peace and of course am not surprised that a group of Filipinos are already there laughing their asses out and taking photos with a peace sign out.

uhhh. of course i got pissed but also laughed a little.

haa am like that.

i like taking photos with the peace sign and

if not being the most loud out of the group 

i am certainly the most colorful in terms of choice of clothing.

and it was really funny.

no wonder people call you Ni Hao even if your not chinese.

and musicians put some tunes on you.

after just 10minutes of sitting here at Gate 6 Terminal 1 Abu Dhabi,

i met two OFWs,

got offered chocolate and of course i said yes.

and got given another chocolate by one of the OFWs i met

(cause he saw me eating mine right away like an underfed kid)

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are the "beacon" of our society.

they bring home the bacon, to our tropical paradise 

usually in a day job or a house helper in a very cold place/dessert/wherever.

away from the warmth of their family and our awesome country.

and i tell you that ain't so fun!

it's cool to see that we do come together to help each other through this misery just 

by spending a few laughs, giving chocolate and taking selfies.

and the best thing about it is we do not really care what the group of white folks in suits staring us down from Gate # 8.

jeez. isn't that fun.

and remember that the best people are the ones that are having the most fun.

maybe it in riding or in any situation your in.

Recently i also got together with another Fun Kite Girl Hannah Whiteley 

also riding for BEST Kiteboarding, and oh boy didn't we have so much fun just being ourselves.

haha even during our little gym/pool session before we parted ways.

ok so i did not join that big group photo. 

not yet 

meybe next time.

for now am just stoked to see it from this perspective.

Happy Easter guys.

Konichiwa Bitchezzz *

5 hours and 30 minutes to go.

Peace Out!

Much Respect to the Girl Who Rides

Limp dready sun dried hair 

Flakey spotty dark skin Bruises, 

battle scars and caluses 

 Welcome to my life 

 It never really occurred to me how bad my overall physical condition is, if i use "normal" girl standards. I do understand why a lot of girls don't wanna ride because of the factors stated above which you will face in all eternity.

And of course i also do understand us a few ones who loves to ride and doesn't give a flying f*ck.

Am not gonna deny, i am vain. I love to dress up, paint my nails with glitter and definitely a plus to make an effort and look presentable. But sure aint easy, with the life i've chosen to be in. 

 I probably spend more hours outdoors than most of my guy friends and most definitely spend more time in the salon than most of my girl friends just to get that dreadlock out from constantly being in front of the wind avergaging at 15-20knots most days. It may look good in photos but windblown salty sun dried hair is not really easy to deal with I tell you! 

You better give much deserved respect to the girl who rides. 

 Growing up in a society that considers dark skin to be ugly it wasn't an easy choice for me and definitely not easy to get a guy i like to even look at me, that i really had to capitalize on being smart and funny. hehe

That's why every year i make an effort to take you, like me, a rad.girl who rides, out for a good time with other girls like you. 

 A platform to encourage and empower, that you are not alone and we are all in the same boat. I say this to you, dont give up and keep on shredding, show the world what it's all about. May it be on land, water or snow, on wheels or boards. Be clad in pink, Keep on riding and don't hold back! I give my respect back to you. 

You are a girl on fire! 

Do not let the norms of society take out your flame. My love goes with you! --- 

check out the Girls on Fire on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/girlonfirekitecamp

PS: Thank you to the undying support of ROXY, DC, The Headware, Tribu, Lazy Dog Boracay, Bahari Beach Resort, David Salon for the last four years.

and to Colleen and Dom for helping out the girls this year 

Love you!