This is the highlight of our summer northern trip. When we were kids, our parents would take us to Ilocos Sur (my dad’s home town) to commemorate Holy Week. Since the schedule doesn’t fit ours, we made it there the week after Holy Week. April 7, we prepared our things for our early drive the next day. Yes, as early as 3AM of April 8, we left Antipolo. (Just notice our eyebags in this picture before we left because we didn’t sleep, even for a minute. =D)
We just arrived. Me and Kat at the Recaido's Home in Vigan
I felt tired and heavy-eyed [because I didn’t sleep]. After 8 long hours inside the car, minus the stopover for breakfast, we got there before lunch time. So by late afternoon, we prepped up again to look around Vigan. We ate the famous delicacy of Ilocos, Empanada. Almost all local/foreign tourists find the delicacy scrumptious to eat. We ate as much as we can because that’s what we usually crave for in Manila. MOA has Empanada but it doesn’t tastes better than the Vigan Empanada. :)
Kat, Me, Dad, Mom eating Empanada at Vigan Plaza
This is the Calle Crisologo where you can find old ancestral houses built since Spanish period. Some of it are already modernized while some are still preserved by caretakers. Here you can take pictures of the Vigan Heritage and buy at souvenir shops.
Kalesa – ride like the old times. Oh, I miss riding in this. :> For 150 pesos, this will tour you around Vigan Plaza, like the Bell Tower (the FPJ “Panday” setting), the Burgos Museum, Quirino House, including the Singson home, etc.
We were arguing the other night if we will still pursue Pagudpud trip. Dad promised that we will see the beauty of Ilocos Norte, only if we will wake up early. Because of my eagerness, I alarmed my phone around 3AM of April 9. :p And after more than 2 hours of non-stop driving, we saw the beauty of a white sand beach in a place called Pagudpud. It’s almost the end of the Luzon Island when you look at the northern part of Ilocos Norte in a map. It’s really beautiful to see as the blue water sparkles from the sun and as it reaches the white sand, the sound lingers on my ear. Astonishing sun, sea, and sand like the Island of Boracay. =)))
White sand Saud Beach in Pagudpud
cupKAYE in Pagudpud
Saud Beach (Pagudpud)
Beads, shells and other stuffs as souvenirs in Pagudpud
Me, Kat, Ate Kitin on the road
We also went to Bangui where you will see the Windmills. We were thrilled when we saw it so high like a 23-storey building. Before, only 15 Windmills were built to provide electricity in some percentage part of Ilocos Norte, but now, they have 20 Windmills. How cool is that? ;)
20 23-storey high Windmills in Bangui
Me posing with the Windmills
Ate, Kat, Dad, Mom, Me at the beach beside the Windmills
Aside from Pagudpud and Windmills, we also went to Cape Bojeador. A lighthouse that guides seafarers. But according to them, now that it’s too old, it’s a lighthouse without a light, only red light above it. HAHA. Ok, so I wasn’t able to go up because I was wearing a dress and people below might see my back part. LOL. Wrong timing, I know, :| who cares, and its summer, so I wore a dress.
Behind us is the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
When we were young, we already visited the Marcos Home and Fort Ilocandia. I forgot about it already since I was just a little child. But we visited the Maros Home again, and as I saw late President Ferdinand Marcos lying, I said, he’s a mannequin. I don’t know why they have to make a replica of him to make people believe that he’s not buried underground, I mean, c’mon, he’s dead more than 20 years ago. The Marcos clan closed their home to the viewers *boo* but I kinda remembered the hundreds of shoes found in Imelda's closet...
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
Marcos' ancestral home in Ilocos Norte
I was really amused by the sceneries in Ilocos Norte and I can no longer wait to be back, I just don’t know when!
April 10, we went to Baluarte. It is known as “Baluarte ni Singson”. It’s a mini zoo where you can find camels and miniature horses (in which you can ride for free), ostrich, rabbit, deers, white/blue peacock, snakes and other reptiles, butterflies in the butterfly garden, and the tigers, as in tigersss – the only cats who love water. Cute! The site is still a “park in the making” by making it bigger; hence, it’s still under construction.
Ostrich (Least Concerned)
Miniature Horses
Me and Kat riding for FREE! :)
White Peacock
White Rabbit
Tiger
Baluarte, Ilocos Sur
Our summer trip ended after 4 days. We went back to Antipolo at around 11AM of April 11. Our 4-day vacation ruled but it could have been better if my brother was there too. =(( (He has a work to do, so he wasn’t able to come with us.) Anyway, here's 2 more pictures with my adventurous family.
Me, Kat, Dad, Lola Puring, Mom, Ate
Wacckkkyyy pic!
More pictures HERE. (contacts only)
