Our Diversified Travel to Ilocos Norte and Sur

I thought that this travel will never come true since I was conscious with my budget, though reservation was done eight months prior to our flight (…availing the promo :D means not really painful if incase we will not push through). And so summer of 2013 came, and yes my things are packed, so ready for our nine-day Luzon trip. From Davao International Airport we’re all set to take off bound to Clark - Pampanga. 

Day 1 (May 17, 2013) Friday – Angeles City, Pampanga

Directly we look for a cheap place to stay and landed at V hotel along Angeles City, we unload and rest a while. It was late 7pm then hungry stomach awakes us and leads us to nearby restaurants. Bewildered where to eat, so we then landed at McDonalds (for a change :D) Anyway, we enjoyed the view (gorgeous Filipinas with foreigners) while eating.   After dinner we started walking along “The Walk Street”…amazed by their long aisle entertainment *bars* with mostly foreigners are there and Filipinas were dressed differently. After getting tired with our walking trip we ended up hanging out at Mang Cha-a then listened and shared the party fun outside. It was past 2am then and so we headed back to V Hotel for rest.

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport

V Hotel Room

Angeles Pampanga

Day 2 (May 18, 2013) Saturday – Ocean Adventure, Subic

Early 7am the five of us were mostly awake…bathed and packed things. Together we had our breakfast then checked-out but our things were left in the hotel because we’re still off to Ocean Adventure – Subic (approximately two-hour travel from Angeles via V-hire). We were dropped at Harbor Point Mall where we had our lunch and also waited for the Ocean Adventure shuttle (FYI: free). For 550Php we enjoyed the Ocean Adventure activities, like (1) Acrobatic Africans (2) Animals Show (3) Dolphin Show (4) Sea lion Show (5) Aquarium and (6) Souvenir shop. Around 4:30pm we left Ocean Adventure via Ocean Ad shuttle. We then invaded Subic as we stroll along factory outlets of some branded stuffs and chocolate delights at Puregold. Past 7pm then via shuttle bus we left Subic bound to Angeles City. It was a long travel though compared to V-hire. Anyway, we reached Angeles City around 11pm, very quick we changed attire and does some other personal necessities. Thus, we’re then ready for another travel going to Manila via shuttle bus.  We dropped at Cubao terminal and were fetched by Donna’s cousin. Strolled along Edsa, Makati and so on…then hang-out at 22^nd Street where we also had our dinner while enjoying the show of Mocha Girls. Past 2am the show ended and so we headed to Marikina where we stayed overnight.

Acrobatic Africans

Animals Show

Dolphin Show

Sea Lion Show

Ocean Adventure Aquarium

Day 3 (May 19, 2013) Sunday - Manila

Good Morning Manila! We’re so ready for another day battle. This day’s itinerary includes the following….

1^st Stop: Quiapo Church where we attended the Mass 

2^nd Stop: a little walk along Divisoria

3^rd Stop: Baclaran Church

4^th Stop: Baclaran sidewalk trip

5^th Stop: Mall of Asia (MOA)

 6^th Stop: Back to Marikina to get our things

7^th Stop: The Library Comedy bar

 8^th Stop: Bacoor Cavite (Lam’s sister)

 ….we survived the hustle and bustle riding MRT, LRT, jeepneys and tricycles, thus, this also include WALKING or running shall I say after the crossing and climbing of the overpass :D thanks to Princess (sister in-law) for accompanying us amidst the heat of the sun and smog.

Day 4 (May 20, 2013) Monday – Laoag City

Hello Bacoor! So ready for another invasion, so ready for our 10am flight bound to Laoag City from NAIA Terminal 4 packed with our “no checked-in” bags via Tiger Airways. Thumbs up for Laoag City tourism -  free shuttle going to downtown Laoag.

1^st Stop: We dropped at seemingly vintage architectural SM building to deposit our things. We roam around the mall and its neighboring place like Laoag City Hall, park and so on…almost 12nn had our lunch at AJ’s food house where we ate majority of Ilocano’s best. Full as it was…we toured around Laoag Museum. 4pm we headed to Laoag Terminal (walking distance) bound to Pagudpud (two-tree hour travel form Laoag proper).

 

 

Ilocos Museum

Downtown Laoag

2^nd Stop: 8pm we reached Pagudpud. We were then fetched by Allan our contact person and brought us to one of the nearest resort for an overnight stay. We had our dinner…chitchats…bullying time….then rest mode :D 

 Day 5 (May 21, 2013) Tuesday – Ilocos Norte Tour      

Early 7am Allan was in the resort already for the tour. The four of us were busy for henna and souvenir t-shirts. We hurried with our breakfast, anyway finally made it around 8am. For 3, 500Php we’re ready for Ilocos  Norte tour.

1^st Stop: Patapat Bridge

 2^nd Stop: Bantay Abot Cave

 3^rd Stop: Blue Lagoon

Hannah's Resort

4^th Stop: Kabigan Falls

 5^th Stop: Bangui Wind Mills

 6^th Stop: Kaporporawan Rock Formation

Kaporporawan Rock Formation

 7^th Stop: Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

 8^th Stop: Batac where we visited our late President’s wake Ferdinand Marcos and tasted the Ilocandias famous giant empanada. 

 

Ferdinand Marcos' wake inside

Marcos Residence

 9^th Stop: Paoay Church

 

 10^th Stop: Malacanang of the North

…we did not include sand dunes in our itinerary because we ran out of time. Alright, little goodbye’s and thank you was told to Allan for we hope to catch up the bus going Vigan (two hour travel).

11^th Stop: past 9pm we reached Vigan. Immediately we look for a place to stay…it took us seven inn’s and pension houses for it was all fully booked, good thing we found one just along Calle Crisologo.  So we unloaded our stuffs then had our dinner. Not really minding our tired body we stroll around downtown proper…creepy! but fascinating :D worth the travel.

 

 

Day 6 (May 22, 2013) Ilocos Sur Tour

Good morning Vigan! Together we took our breakfast then checked the beauty of the place, bought some souvenirs and other stuff, photo shoot and a lot more. Again had our lunch then back to the hotel. So we had our things packed, checked-out and left our things in the hotel. We had our afternoon Ilocos Sur Tour via Kalesa for 150Php per hour.

 

 1^st Stop: National Museum (Padre Burgos House)

2^nd Stop: Pottery

 3^rd Stop: Hidden Garden

 4^th Stop: Baluarte

  5^th Stop: Bantay Church

 6^th Stop: Magsingal Church

7^th Stop: Dinner….then back to the hotel, fixed our things then left again.

8^th Stop: Plaza for the dancing fountain show around 7pm 

 ….finally after the show we ready ourselves for a an eight hour travel going back to Manila…ZZZZzzzzzz

Day 7 (May 23, 2013) Manila

Fresh from Vigan…we arrived in manila around 3am. We directly headed to Bacoor Cavite to rest and rest and rest. After lunch and after being re-charged we went to the following stops….

1^st Stop: Mall of Asia

2^nd Stop: Ateneo de Manila

3^rd Stop: Eastwood

4^th Stop: Pasay where we stayed overnight :D was tired to travel back to Cavite

Day 8 - 9 (May 24 – 25, 2013) Manila

Early 10am we traveled back to Cavite, packed our things, thus, says thank you to Lam’s sister for the stay. We settled along Pasay for our last day/night for more “gala”. Individually had our last minute “pasalubong” shopping. I went alone to MOA to see my sister in-law, ate dinner and watched movie. Then 11pm I was with an old friend…chitchats with food and drinks along MOA bars enjoying the live band. Past 2am went to the hotel, rest a while, finally arranged all stuffs…gets ready for our 10am flight bound to Davao.

It was a long travel though...yet I had fund and will continue to have fun as I reminisce my Luzon experience.  Truly we are blessed with culture and resources. I thank God for this wonderful and priceless experience. Amen