Time check: 09:55 PM. I timidly approached a slim guy holding a Photoholic banner at the assembly venue in Mc Donald’s Quezon Avenue. It was the night of the Peninsula Siege and the government declared a 12MN curfew. I’ve never experienced a curfew imposed by the government before and I was terribly afraid of breaking any law. Leia who said that we have all the necessary papers and identification to validate our trip to Ilocos calmed my fears.

I first stumbled across Travel Factor through their post in the PH Photo yahoo groups. I was deeply intrigued since the trip was dubbed as Photoholic. I am not a professional photographer nor am I a photo hobbyist since I can’t find the time to actually go out and shoot. I’ve only taken my Canon DSLR for a ride on 11 occasions since I first bought it 2 years ago. I love taking pictures though of scenery, people, food, captured moments… does that consider me as photoholic? Nevertheless, I booked Bubba and me for the Ilocos trip, again unbeknown to him. It was my pre-Christmas trip for him. I deposited the payment before the cut-off date and availed 2 slots.

Let me take you to a photo essay cum time blog of the tour.

DAY 1 (11/30/2007)

6:00 AM

ETA Vigan

St. Augustine Parish Church of Bantay and Bell Tower

7:00 – 8:00

Breakfast at Villa Angela Heritage House

First taste of authentic Vigan longganisa. I still prefer the crunchy Lucban or Alaminos longganisa but Vigan’s was yummy.

8:00 – 11:00

Walking Tour of Vigan Crisologo Street

St. Paul’s Cathedral @ St. Paul’s Bell Tower and Plaza Salcedo

Paburnayan Pottery Making

11:00 – 12:00

Buffet Lunch at Villa Angela Heritage House

12:30

Batac and Paoay

Marcos Museum

Paoay Church

Malacañang of the North

Laoag

Fort Ilocandia - X Sand Dunes - X Sinking Bell Tower

 

07:00 PM

Check-in at Polaris Beach House, Saud Beach

Buffet Dinner at Polaris Beach House

08:00 PM

Karaoke Time

DAY 2 (12/01/2007)

5:30 AM

Sunrise at Bangui Windmill

Brrr… It was freezing cold when I stepped out of the pink bus. The cold morning did not let up. I didn’t realize what was in front of me. Amazingly gigantic windmills!!! I’ve never seen anything as large and as many. It was a sight to behold, an experience to see. It’s weird but I can just stare at them the whole day and remian fascinated.

8:00 AM

Trekking at Kabigan Falls

It was my first time to trek and it wasn’t so bad. It was one of the activities I enjoyed during the trip. It only took 20 minutes to trek to Kabigan Falls. We had to walk in the woods and cross mini-streams.

It was also my first time to see a bee hive –and a massive one at that.

 

 

12:00 NN

Picnic Lunch at Maira-ira Blue Lagoon

The picnic lunch here was my favorite meal of the trip. They served Filipino Style Curry Chicken, Barbeque Chicken, Rice and Eggplant Salad and everything was delicious.

After lunch, we all took a stroll along Maira-ira beach.

Bantay Abot

Patapat Viaduct

5:00 PM

Sunset at Agua Grande

06:00 PM

Sunset at Pagudpud

 

 

07:00 PM

Buffet dinner at Polaris Beach House

DAY 3 (12/02/2007)

Lounge day at the beach! Our free day for beach bumming @ Saud beach.

08:00 AM

Breakfast at Polaris Beach House

09:00 AM

Lounge by the beach

 

 

12:00 NN

Buffet Lunch at Polaris Beach House

04:00 PM

Buffet Merienda/Early Dinner at Polaris Beach House

Pagudpud

Sunset at Cape Bojeador’s Lighthouse

6:00 PM

Pagudpud to Manila

9:00 PM

Pasalubong Pit Stop

4:00 AM

ETA Manila

The investment to the trip was worth every cent. I’ve reached the top most part of Luzon and was able to lounge by the golden beach of Pagudpud.

Vigan Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/287/07_1130-_Sunrise_Vigan

Bangui Windmill Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/290/07_1201-_Sunrise_Bangui_Windmill

Laoag Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/288/07_1130-_Laoag

Kabigan Falls Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/294/07_1201-_Kabigan_Falls

Other Cams Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/295/07_1201_Other_Cams

Picnic Maira-ira Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/296/07_1201-_Picnic_Lunch_Blue_Lagoon

Aqua Grande Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/297/07_1201-_Afternoon_Aqua_Grande

Patapat Viaduct Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/298/07_1201-_Patapat_Viaduct

Sunset Pagudpud Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/299/07_1201-_Sunset_Pagudpud_Beach

Sunrise Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/300/07_1202-_Sunrise_Pagupud

Lounging Pagudpud Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/301/07_1202-_Lounging_Day_Pagudpud Sunset Cape Bojeador Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/302/07_1202-_Sunset_Cape_Bojeador

Tags: Ilocos Norte, Manila, Pagudpud, Paoay, Patac, Philippines, Travel Factor, vigan

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 at 5:21 pm and is filed under The Scene, Walk the World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.