Ilocos Trip

          I've been wanting to visit Pagudpud Beach since I've started traveling (traveling talaga?). Last year would have been a dream come true but since it was a very short notice, I decided not to go. Plus I have a trip to Caramoan the week after that so it would not be practical. So when an officemate invited me to their Ilocos trip, I immediately said yes even if I'm not really a part of their group. Sabit lang in short. It doesn't matter. 

          We left the office Friday night more or less 8-ish. As shown in our itinerary, we traveled from Makati to Quezon City to have dinner (and watch the finale of My Binondo Girl, I wouldn't want to miss a thing!) at Ms. Grace's (the group's head) house. We left Quezon City at 11pm. The travel was okay at first but then we started to feel uncomfortable with our seats especially us, six, at the back. We were seated like we were riding a jeepney. Not really a good idea for a 7-hour trip. I can't feel my neck due to sleeping on one side of my head. I can't stretch my legs. Numb. Ugh, the things you have to endure when traveling via land.

              Our first stop over was in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. Three hours away from Quezon City. Then to San Fernando, La Union to pick up a friend, a former officemate. More sleep then we're in Vigan by 6am. We were discussing as where to eat. There are small stalls there where they serve their specialty called sinanglao but then from the descriptions of it we opted to have our breakfast at... ta-dah! Chowking! Haha! What a treat! And speaking of treat, it was the city's fiesta that day so we were very lucky to have witnessed the parade, the float and the band.

 

                The fiesta is just a bonus, the real attraction in Vigan are the church and the famous street where everything is ancient -- Calle Crisologo. After entering the church, making a wish and exiting using another door (yes, I'm very superstitious) we wandered the streets of the famous calle, took some pictures, bought some souvenirs, took more pictures and rode the kalesa to the Crisologo Museum where we took note (well, not really) of some historical things left by the Crisologo family.

Vigan Cathedral

Calle Crisologo

Crisologo Museum

             Next stop, Baluarte ni Singson. Free wi-fi. Now we're talking! Baluarte is basically a zoo where you can find colorful family of birds, flirting peacocks, friendly camels, enormous tigers, butterfly farm, snakes, life-size images of dinosaurs and more. This is a great place to visit for families and kids. They'll love the friendly animals. A show is also done once a day, I think, when visitors can participate and play, touch and take a picture with the wild ones.

Baluarte ni Singson

              We also visited the pottery where luckily, we get to see the actual making of clay pots. The owner told us that two batches of visitors have visited them but saw nothing but the already made pots. Luck is on us! We were amazed by how the pot is done like it's the easiest thing to do. I think it is more of a talent than a job. The man molding the clay is doing it effortlessly. No instrument, no gauge, no nothing. I'm amazed.

The actual molding of a flower vase made of clay.

Molded clay are put under to sun to dry.

              It was almost noon and I was bothered by the thought of us not taking a shower. I was wearing the same shirt I wore the day before at the office. Well, it wasn't just me. All of us actually. I feel so dirty, literally. I really thought our first destination is the house where we are to stay so we can take a shower, change clothes and leave our bags. But it looks like the whole day is set and fully occupied by our itinerary. And sabit lang naman ako, so who am I to complain.


                 Anyway, our next destination from the pottery is the St. Augustine Church which I didn't get to explore and I can't remember why. Maybe because I thought there is only one door, thus, my wish won't come true? Haha! Silly! Or maybe we were just so excited to get inside the Sinking Bell Tower. I enjoyed taking pictures inside and outside of the tower. According to the people there, it was the same place where, I'm not sure if it was Fernando Poe Jr. or Bong Revilla Jr., shoot the movie Panday. But for me, it looked like the church from the movie Sukob. That scene where Kris and Claudine were being chased by a scary little girl in a white dress. They were supposed to destroy everything that was used in their wedding but later found out that the girl has the "aras". Later Kris' character died sacrificing for her sister's (Claudine's character) baby.

St. Augustine Church

Sinking Bell Tower

               I remember being approached by a local tour guide to take our picture. He instructed us to do this, do that, put our hands here, there. We're not really sure how will we look like in that picture, we just give in to Manong's request. It was such an #epicfail I wouldn't even dare to post the pictures here. I understand that he wanted it to look like we're hugging the tower, pushing it towards each other, touching the top as if it was small and holding the base as if it's movable. It was such a letdown.


                   At 1pm, we departed Vigan en route to Laoag. We had a quick lunch at Mang Inasal (very Manila/City-ish) and finally we're off to Pagudpud where we are spending the night. I can finally take a shower! I thought. And if we were lucky enough, we can go swimming and beach-ing. But to my dismay, it was really dark when we reached the house. Impossible, frightening and too cold to enjoy the sea. I have no choice but to take a quick shower and just listen to the sound of the waves. Errr, that was too emo haha!

The house where we stayed.

                    Since we didn't get to enjoy the beach that night, we planned for a quick run in the morning like 5:30am, swim a little then prepare to take off for another long ride. By 5am, we were all up in the room. There were five of us. We were chatting about our sleep. Laughing at each other. Who dreamt of what, who slept like what. And from time to time we were gawking outside to see if it's possible to run like what we planned. By 6:30, the sun is almost up so we decided to go outside. The supposed to be run ended up as a walk by the beach. It was chilling outside. The swim-a-little part ended up as picture-taking part. When the camera-whore moment passed, we realized we were starving. Thank God we're done with fast food. Longganisa, fried egg and danggit for breakfast! We then took a shower and prepared for another day full of traveling. But first, nobody's leaving until their camera's memory is full of memories. 

I don't have any idea who this kid is.

I just made him the subject of my photo :)

               Our first stop for Day 2 is Paraiso ni Anton then Kabigan falls which is 1.5 kilometers away from the main road so we have to do some walking. Walking lang naman. No sweat! I've done more. Yabang! Upon reaching the falls, I was hesitant to dive into the water. It looks cold. But as everybody knows, water, as a Pisces, is my weakness. Take the plunge. And indeed, the water is cold. But you'll get used to it. And then we bid goodbye to Pagudpud. 

Paraiso ni Anton

Kabigan Falls

A closer look at Kabigan Falls.

Leaving Pagudpud.

               Next, Bangui where the Giant Windmills are. Uhm, how am I supposed to describe it? The windmills are white and giant and the wind blows harder than the usual? Hahaha! I'm getting rusty. Just take a look at the picture. I didn't know that these windmills are located by the sea. I thought they were somewhere far from the water.

The famous Giant Windmills.

                From windmills to lighthouse - Cape Bojeador. I was expecting to do some trekking before we reach the lighthouse. I was so wrong. It was less exciting than what I thought. The van merely drove and parked just below the stairs and there it is! Lame. Anyway, the lighthouse looks really old. Some areas are not even accessible due to its condition. They say some lost souls still linger inside the area and sometimes they show themselves in the pictures you take. But as far as the pictures are concerned, I think the lost souls are not interested in us.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

           Since we enjoyed one too many pictures back in Pagudpud. We're a couple of hours behind our schedule. Thus, we have to cut out one or two destinations from our itinerary. They decided not to go to Kapurpurawan rock formation and La Paz Sand Dunes. I have no idea why. If I were to choose, I'd opt not to visit Fort Ilocandia. But it's not my call so next destination please! 


             Laoag. It was past 2pm and everyone's starving. But first we have to visit Marcos Museum. Everything about the Marcoses -- what happened during Ferdinand Marcos' term, comparison between him and the succeeding presidents, how was Marcos during his college days, how well did he perform during the bar exam, everything. Even his dead and preserved body was there. 

Marcos Museum

              Merienda time! Even if we haven't had our lunch yet. They tried empanada. I did not. I had mami. Orange mami. A friend observed that Ilocano's favorite color is orange. Orange empanada, orange mami, orange lomi. Funny.


                 We then took off to Paoay. By the time we reached Paoay Church, the sun has set. Good thing it was surrounded by bright lights. It's hard to take a photo using a digital camera though. But I managed to capture some before my battery died. We wanted to explore the church but it looks hair-rising during the night so we contented ourselves by taking pictures of the facade. After that, we tried the pakbet pizza at Herencia Cafe which is just accross the church. I don't eat any food with bitter melon (amapalaya) in it but I must say their pizza is good. Of course I removed the bitter melon. We loitered a little then drove off to Fort Ilocandia. I decided to stay in the van. Some opted to go inside. Most of us are too exhausted and chose to stay.

Paoay Church

Paoay Church at night

Pakbet Pizza

                  That was the last of our itinerary. On our way back to Manila, everybody was trying to scare themselves by the thought of somebody appearing from the outside trying to get a lift just like the girl from the famous Balete Drive. Bunch of crazies we are.


                     "Last supper" is at Jollibee Urdaneta, Pangasinan. What's new? Hehe. It was supposed to be fish-ful in Palaisdaan somewhere in Tarlac but since it was the wee hour of the day. It must still be closed. And since we have to eat, we have no other choice. It was the closest one. So there.

                     We were home by Monday morning and I feel so puyat. I feel like it was the longest ride I've ever traveled. I slept the whole day. Good thing it was a holiday. Thanks to Chinese New Year. -C