Ilocos 2013!

Upon learning that we would have a one week term break, my friends and I decided that we should definitely go out and enjoy that rare break. We went on an adventure to Ilocos early this week! It's my third time in Ilocos (third time to travel by land, too) but it was still fun!

We met at McDo GH early Sunday morning, traveled, and reached Laoag in around 9 hours. Karlo drove the car and I had to adjust myself to his driving. We ran at the range of 80 to 180 kph! I was at the edge of my seat a few times but I have to give it to him for always being able to overtake on time. I don't know if he was also equally aware about the left and right sides like he was about the front and back but good thing no one passed across us along the way. We only had one stopover which was at Max's La Union for lunch. From there, we met our other friend who traveled by plane at Fort Ilocandia. She treated us with merienda and her family friends who came with her gave us some pieces of advice regarding our trip. At around 5 or 6, it went dark and we left for Pagudpud.

At Caltex GH, filling up the gas tank!

What happened when we opened the windows while we running at 100+ kph!

Waiting for our merienda at Red 8 in Fort Ilocandia

My friend's really huge special empanda dinner at our hotel's restaurant.

My fish sisig. I didn't finish it on the first night so they suggested that they would just keep it for when I want it again. I had them again on our second night along with my grilled lobsters (no picture). 

We woke up early the next morning for our Ilocos Norte tour! We had breakfast and left off. We went to the Cape Bojuador's Lighthouse, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, and Bangui Windmills. The car's battery started acting up at the lighthouse but we were able to make it back to Manila. The rock formation trek was definitely one hot trek! The sun was directly above us and we were almost fried! The windmill area was very relaxing though.

Morning view of the beach!

Breakfast! I had Vigan longanissa and hot Milo.

Lighthouse!

At the foot of the lighthouse

My friend who went in the creepy room!

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation! Isn't this the most beautiful thing?  

My friend's emo shot by the rocks.

The 3 of us "trekked" to get here! It wasn't really scary. There were just sharp rocks and deep falls. No biggie, though!

The rocks look like sand don't they? SO BEAUTIFUL!

Me going back up!

My friends and I by the Bangui windmills! It was so peaceful. We even heard the sound of the humongous windmills!

We ate at Kang Kang Cafe (I think?) after this. It was just a stone's throw away from the windmills. Their food was okay. Their location was perfect. The sun wasn't so hot and the cool wind brushed off our faces. It was so relaxing. We went back to our hotel after lunch. We changed to our beach outfit and hit the beach! It was just a short walk from our place. We rented a mini bahay kubo and made a beeline for the water. The sand was a bit rocky at first and the waves weren't that big. It was still fun though. My guy friend kept on dancing in the water and it was the funniest thing ever. No one captured it on video though. My phone got soaked a few minutes in the water! Too much for buying waterproof case! We shared stories during dinner then we went to bed. We had a long day in the morning.

We left the hotel early and went back to Laoag. We had a quick breakfast in McDo then followed the guide to La Paz. The sand dunes experience was one for the books! I never imagined how it would be and was in awe with what I experienced. The 4x4 ride was crazy! The drops were really steep (roller coaster-like) but there was not  I-left-my-heart-on-top feeling. You have to hold tightly on the bar for your lives though. My grip left my hands red and some of the drops gave me bruises. It was really fun, nonetheless! My other friend got wounded and the other got bruised at the back as well though.

Before it all!

View on top!

My friend with her little wound from the metal frame.

Me contemplating the heat and the drop for sand boarding!

My turn in sand boarding. I just sat down once. I'm not really great in balancing.

Emo shot while waiting for my friend sand boarding?! 

Group shot by the dunes!

The sand boarding experience was fun as well. I only went once though. Balance isn't my strongest suit. Some of my friends really got the value for their money though as they went down the dunes a number of times. We traveled down to Paoay after. We visited the church (where I got my crazy wound years ago) and ate at Herencia's. Their pinakbet pizza was really good but spicy! I don't like pinakbet but I would eat the pinakbet pizza anytime! We got to Vigan at around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. We rested for a while and rode the calesa around town.

En route to Grandpa's Inn! Better than expected but no parking!

Calle Crisologo at night ;)

We visited the (not in order) bell tower, pot making place, hidden garden, and Burgos' house. We were supposed to travel somewhere else too but the places were either too far or closed. We ate at Cafe Leona's for dinner and they had yummy Vigan longanissa! We walked around Calle Crisologo then we stayed for a while in Cafe Uno.

Early Wednesday morning, we prepared for our trip back to Manila. We left my other friend who took the plane. We had a stopover in La Union. We watched some surfers and wished that we stayed one more night in La Union to learn how to surf! I wanted to get tan! Anyway, we ate at Halo Halo de Iloko after for lunch. Food was okay. Serving was small but filling nonetheless. Their iced tea was yummy! The one that took my heart though was the buko halo halo! HOLY SMOKES OF AMAZING CULINARY CREATIONS! Their halo halo was the best I had ever tasted! And I don't even like halo halo! It had ube, ube ice cream, yema pandan, cornflakes, polvoron, sweetened buko strings, nata de coco, banana, etc! It was really yummy! I wasn't able to finish it though because I was too full. If I had to travel miles to taste it again, I definitely would!

Halo Halo de Iloko's heavenly Buko Halo Halo

My friend spoofed around while we were on our way back to prevent us from getting sleepy. He gave random flying kisses to random guys (mainly students but policemen were included). A lot were passive but a few had funny reactions! One caught the kiss, the others laughed.

When we got to Manila, traffic started! It was quite a wait before we got to GH. We said good byes and I met my parents for dinner at Casa Reyes. We left for home after.

I got to know more about my new friends in this trip! Though I was pretty skeptical about joining because of schedule, etc., I'm glad I joined. 'Til the next adventure!