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khaikomiya · 9 years ago

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Ilocos Escapade

Our trip in Ilocos Norte and Ilocus Sur together with Travelista and LPU.

The trip have been resched because of the typhoon. Originally October 18 changed to October 27.

We have 4 buses because the Batch 2 and 3 scheduled together. Each batch have two buses. We are lucky enough, we are only 30 persons in the bus. I just don’t know if the faculty and tour operator representative is counted. But unfortunately, our bus is more than an hour late. The call time is 7pm, our departure will be on 8pm and I believe the bus for our batch came past 9:30pm but the other buses are already gone. Naipit daw sa traffic sa Roxas Blvd.

We got the seat fifth line from the back and the seat in our front and back is empty. So luwag! Weee~ Issa is my seat buddy. (Imbento! Whatever. Haha) So, we left Manila past 9pm almost 10pm, I guess.

Tulog pa mga tehhh! Panda ft. Spongebob She’s wearing pandaaaa!

WARNING!!! EXCUSE MY GRAMMAR PLEASE. DEF.... TRYING HARD ENGLISHERA HERE.

Day 1

After 8-9hrs travel, our first stop is Sta. Maria Church in Ilocos Sur. One of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We arrived at Sta. Maria Church, 5:30 in the morning so, its still dark and the moon is still visible, wow!

It’s already a tradition for Catholic to make wish, once it’s your first time to visit a certain church. So I did, during my prayers. We don’t have too much time to tour around. We just took photos in the aisle and outside the church. Mr. Sunny already showing up when we got our from the church.

I really do have a nice shot but.... thanks to the photobomber -_- haha

After visiting Sta. Maria Church, another 2hrs ride because our next destination is in Ilocos Norte for breakfast. Another sleep, for us!! Yipeee. But I forgot if I slept or just texting or surfing. Lol because I already sleep all night in our trip. They served snacks, btw.

We had our breakast in Playa Tropical Resort Hotel. Not satisfied with the food (not the taste, but the few choices and servings) but the place is a bomb! So pretty! The view, the pool, the surroundings, the cottages, the cabins, the beach and everything!!

And oh, during our breakfast someone made a talk from DOT. Ok, I know. I didn’t listen. My bad! I don’t know if he is the secretary or head of DOT in Ilocos. I dunno.

So, Playa Tropical Resort Hotel is the last destination for the batch 2 & 3. We already parted ways here. Our batch will follow the itinerary (Laoag, Pagudpud then Vigan) while the other batch will start from Vigan, Laoag then Pagudpud)

We first visited the Malacañang of the North, the home of the Marcos family before but now a museum. It is huge and has the nicest view of the Paoay Lake. After that, we roamed around the Museo of Ilocos Norte. We had our lunch at Mariano Marcos State University at Batac. After we ate, we check in at Plaza del Norte Grand Hotel. We have less than 30 minutes to fix ourselves and change in our Travelista t-shirt.

I was like “What are you doing!” Lol

We are supposed to visit the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum but the place is already closed. The Marcos Museum and Mausoleum is closed by 4:00 pm. That’s why our tour guide keeps on whining about us being late. How could you finish taking a bath in less than 30 minutes if you are four in a room with one bathroom? Maybe, they might just say that we should change our clothes because we will be late for the next tour. Our tour guide has the knowledge for that tour but she’s not approachable and really not that nice. Annoying. She’s even arguing with the driver. Forget about that. Since the place is already closed, across the street is the Batac Riverside Empanadaan, where we had our snack and get a chance to taste the Ilocos Empanada. It taste good, I just don’t like vegetable. It will be nice if we had a chance to choose the flavor we liked but maybe it lacked of time if it will be cooked once we ordered.

Ilocos Empanadaaaaaa.

After the snack, is the Paoay Church, also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, according to our tour guide it was made of corals and she also told us to make at least three wishes when visiting a church. The secret to get the best shot of Paoay Church is in the acacia tree, where to see the whole view of church.

We asked our tour operator to took us a picture and he find this post cute (based on wandergirls signature post) so he asked somebody else to join us hahaha

Our last destination for the Day 1 is the Suba Paoay Sand Dunes. The most exciting part of the tour and I experienced to ride a 4x4. We are six people in one 4x4 and our driver is the great photographer ever. We have the most beautiful jump shot, so far, in a sun set. I also experience the sand boarding; it is my first time in any board rides. Even my body hurts being bumped against the 4x4; the experience is really fun and the best. It makes me forget my disappointment for not visiting the Marcos’s because according to our tour guide, the former president Ferdinand Marcos’ body is covered by wax and the lifespan of the wax is 25 years so if you counted it, by next year Marcos’ will probably buried already.

WHY LEYA WHY!!!

The sunset jump shot is so damn beautiful :)

My experience in sand boarding, why it is blurred kuyaaa? TT.TT

We had our dinner the same place where we had lunch. After dinner, we are back at hotel. I am disappointed with the room. It only has 2 bedrooms and 2 extra beds on the floor. The two among us four need to sleep in the extra bed. We took a dip in the pool for few minutes because the pool will be closed at 10:00 pm. Funny thing is, cotton is not allowed in the pool but my sando is. So, I always hide my body in the pool when a guard or employee roaming around the pool area. Haha I easily fell asleep that night even there is a loud sound coming from the outside. They said it was a party or convention.

Under the pool. Lol

Leya take a picture of this because she find it really cute. Who’s not? HAHAHA Messy!

Panda x Spongebob

GOODNIGHT! HAHAHA :*

Day 2

Breakfast at Plaza del Norte Grand Hotel

We woke up at 6am and had our breakfast in the hotel. It is nice to have a lot of food choices and they have fruits. I ate a lot. I am happy that they inform me that we will go on Marcos Museum and Mausoleum before going to Pagudpud. While roaming around the museum, I actually hope to see Imelda’s shoes. I thought it will be nice if her collection of shoes would be there. Inside the Mausoleum, cameras are strictly prohibited and security is really tight. It was quick glance and I discovered he is really short.

On our way to Pagudpud, we stopped at the Bacarra Domeless Bell Tower. It is a quick visit again because our tour guide keep on saying that we need to be quick. Blah blah blah.We pray, make wishes and take pictures.

Ano teh? Kaya mo pa? Haha

We also visited the Refmad Farms, a dragonfruit plantation, where I got a chance to taste dragonfruit (it taste....nothing lol) for the first time, the dragonfruit ice cream and the spring rolls. Unfortunately, we don’t get a chance to see dragonfruit on its tree/plant because the typhoon washed out the fruits.

Our snack!!!

I look so thiiiiiin here, didn’t I? HAHAHAHA

We sight the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse on our way because will not stop to see the lighthouse. The big vehicles like bus are already prohibited to go up the lighthouse so it will be 1 hour walk for us. But the lighthouse is part of our itinerary, it became the deal. We won’t visit the lighthouse anymore, (because they said it is almost a waste of time. We will walk an hour and stay only for a few minutes) to get a chance to visit the Marco’s. That’s why they let us visit the museum.

Luncha Date. Double Date. Lol

We had our lunch in the Pagudpud Beach. We didn’t get a chance to swim because it is high tide, they also said that the water is really deceiving and I can’t swim. Too bad the water is really blue. The sand is white and white, I took sand as souvenir. We took pictures and for an hour we left. Ok. The sad part about the beach is, no one take a risk to swim. We only change for pictures, we thought we can swim but nah. Another group even make parinig (conyooo!) that we’re so childish! Duh! What are you supposed to do in beach? SWIM OF COURSE! Mga babaeng walang ginawa sa tour kundi pumorma at magpaganda! Hello you are in a tour! It is a chance, that’s why you went there! ISHTUFID~!

Pagudpud is definitely <3

Naks. Lakas maka-emote ni ate. HAHAHA

Huli! Nagseselfieeee. Lol

You ain’t tell me guys!!!!!

#emotepamore

Legs legs legs mo ay nakakasilaw. Wew HAHAHAHA

We went to Kapurpurawan Rock Fomation, the white rocks. Our tour guide said that it is not really white, because the rock is near the sea and because of the strong wind it is the water or the sand from the sea that being attached to the rock. I don’t get a chance to see Windmills really near. The wind is really strong so after we took picture we go back.

The awkward shot of my cap because I need to make it tight in my head. The wind might blew it away. Lol

Definitely me. Lol-ing.

We had our dinner again in Batac. We get a chance to see the batch 3, they came from the Sand Dunes.

After our dinner, we already depart for Vigan. Another 2-hour of trip, I fell asleep during the trip. I woke up that we are already in Vigan, and we already need to go down. The bus can’t enter the location of our hotel so we walked with our luggage to Hotel Luna. We check in at Hotel Luna. We got the room at first floor, near the pool. The pool is small but really attracting with its light. We are about to take a swim when we read that the pool is only at 7pm or less. So we just took a quick shower and sleep. The room has two huge bed, not disappointing it is way better. The only problem is the air-conditioned does not function properly. We need to ask for maintenance to check it, they said it will be fine and wait for a while but minutes passed it still hot. So when our faculty checked on us, they said that they will inform the maintenance. So the maintenance checked it again. After that, it was fine already. We slept and the next morning, it was cold already.

We had enough today. No late night pictures.

I forgot. Leya and I had one. HAHAHA

Day 3

Breakfast at Hotel Luna. Thumbs up for today’s breakfast buffet.

Feeling pretty in the morning. Lol

Even the call time is at 11:30 pm, we decided to wake up early to take time visiting the Vigan and to buy souvenirs. We had breakfast, and I may say that the breakfast in Hotel Luna was the best in our whole tour. They have complete set of breakfast; they had cereals, fruits, coffee, hot choco, juice and pancakes also. Before we go out, we are caught by our faculty for the museum tour because the hotel is like a museum. It is not disappointing after all, because the paintings are great and the vintage pots or vases. They also have the cute painting or replica of Sta. Maria Church. I don’t know what it’s called.

Museum tour will not be done without my crazy selfies. Meow.

After our tour, we go out to see the beauty of Vigan. The famous Calle Crisologo, too bad, they have an under construction site and the place is a little bit crowded. I don’t know if it is usually like that, they have too many tourists. It is nice but it makes me appreciate the Vigan less but I believe it is really beautiful and Vigan is really a must preserved heritage sites. It deserved to be one of the 7 Wonder Cities of the World.

See in your right!

Ain’t you notice me, sir? Lol

At 11:00 am, we are back at hotel, after our quick tour and buying souvenirs. We quickly fixed our things and check out. We had our lunch some kind of resort in front of Baluarte so after we ate lunch. Even in the very hot afternoon, we roamed around the Baluarte. As we reached the top, we saw the gallery of Chavit Singson. It is amazing, yes, but I also have kind heart for animals they are living in jungle, let them be. Don’t kill them but yes, there are countries that let this kind of things.

What a giant tail!!

Kiss me, babe. Lol

After in Baluarte, we went to the pottery making. They demonstrated how to make a pot, and it is really amazing how he did it really quick. We go next to the First Malacañang of the North or the Syquia Mansion of the former president Elpidio Quirino. It is really old and huge; it is in circular when you roamed around from the master bedroom up to the kitchen you will be out in the living room. The vintage vehicle is still there, the caretaker said it is really used by Quirino.

We go to the Bantay Bell Tower, don’t have a chance to get inside the tower because we enjoyed taking pictures from afar. We pray and left, next is the Sto. Domingo, where we can buy the native longganisa and the tinubong.

We also have a chance to see Vigan at night, while we are waiting for the dancing fountain. The Calle Crisologo looks great at night. We just walk around for a few minutes and return to the plaza to get a nice spot for the dancing fountain. The dancing fountain starts at 7:30 pm, I guess. It is really amazing but we also watched 3 songs and returned to our bus. We are tried, and decided just to take a rest while waiting for the others.

Calle Crisologo at night.

Another disappointment because our dinner is only served at the bus in a styrofoam. Since, I feel dizzy, after I ate I slept and I think I woke up at 9pm we are still in the parking lot. We already left passed 9pm in Ilocos Sur. We returned in Manila at 6:00am on October 31.

The experience is really great. If you will ask me, what is my favorite? Sand Dunes! :)

P.S Some part is lame because this is my reaction paper for school credit. It will take out 50hrs for my ojt. Lol.

P.S.S Finally had a chance to post this after asdfghjkl years hahahahaha

P.S.S.S Photo quality is epic. Most of them are from fb.

P.S.S.S.S Somebody stole my pandaaaaa.

#wanderadventure #ilocos escapade #wheninilocos #pandatravels #pandaexplorer #dora and friends

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