On architecture and God's creation

Ilocos tour - Day 2

Macy's Counter

Before anything else, we went to the market to buy bagoong - a fermented fish condiment. After this, we had our breakfast. By the way, we stayed at Hotel Tiffany. It had the basics - bed, blanket, pillow, towel, soap, hot/cold shower, unclogged toilet, tv, aircon, mirror and sink. They have a restaurant named Macy's where we ate our breakfast. The restaurant had that 60's design and they even have a working jukebox. I loved their beef tapa--it was just like my mom's. Their hot chocolate drink was a little on the sweet side, I don't know why they even bothered adding a sachet of sugar on the side.

This jukebox was actually working

First stop: Cape Bojeador and Burgos Lighthouse

Burgos Lighthouse

Cape Bojeador

Too bad the tower of lighthouse was off limits. You could only take pictures of the perimeter. Again, there are too many tourists and it was scorching hot even if it's still early. But the view was priceless. Too bad they don't sell lighthouse keychains.

Second stop: Kapurpurawan Rock Formation (Puraw = white)

This was the closest that we could get to the actual rock formation

I've been hearing good things about this and I was really excited that it's included in our tour. There's an entrance fee but kept to a minimum(30php). I thought that you could climb the actual rock, but it was a restricted area--probably to maintain the form of the rock. Too bad we weren't able to try and climb one of the white rocks with grooves that looked like steps. Make sure to bring your shades(or umbrella) and apply sunscreen. 

Third stop: Bangui Windmills

First five windmills

I don't know why, but I'm one of those people who were totally amazed of these gigantic windmills. Maybe because its a great backdrop for photos :) The windmill photo on the left was under maintenance at that time. It was almost noon so we stayed on where the shadow of this windmill was cast to shade us from the heat of the sun. There were stores near the windmills where you could buy souvenirs (keychains, t-shirts, photo frame, etc.). I bought a t-shirt printed with facts by national geographic even if it was a size bigger.

Lunch @ Kangkang Cafe by the windmills

One variant was good for 3-4 persons so we ordered 4 cups of rice, tinola, and grilled squid. Since we were a large group(3 vans with more or less 12 people inside) the orders came 1 hr later. It was really slow--or so we thought--surprisingly, all orders came in after waiting for an hour and everybody finished eating at almost  the same time. Our tinola(250php-i think) was a bit bland and the chicken pieces were small and it contained more skin and bones than meat. The grilled squid was not overcooked, it also went well with soy sauce.

Since we still had time, we agreed to finish all our destinations for the third day. That way, we could relax on our last day.

Kabigan Falls

Fourth stop: Kabigan Falls

I've been to several water falls, and so far, my favorite was the one in Puerto Galera - the Aninuan Falls. The height was not that high but you could have the place to yourself. Going back, the trek on the way to the falls was not that difficult. There was also an entrance fee (30php comes with a guide for a minimum group of 10). If you're really a fast walker, you could reach the falls in 15 minutes. The pool was a bit small in diameter , shallow, and most tourists were in it. We didn't bother swimming, we just took photos instead.

Doesn't look that clean compared to other waterfall pools

On the way back, you could buy tupig - an delicacy made with ground sticky rice, molasses and coconut wrapped in banana leaf  or karioka - a fried ball shaped snack made with sticky rice and coconut  rolled in brown sugar  or refresh yourself with a cup of fresh coconut juice sans the milk and sugar.

Patapat viaduct

Fifth stop: Patapat Viaduct

This is a road connecting Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Norte. 

Sixth stop: Paraiso ni Anton

Paraiso ni Anton

If you drive to the end of the Patapat viaduct, you would drive by the Paraiso ni Anton. I don't know who 'Anton' is, but this is a small waterfall where locals consider its water "miraculous". We did try drinking water from this. It was cool and refreshing and it didn't taste like soil. We refilled our water bottles from this mini falls and the bottles became sweaty. You could also see that the water is really clean.

Seventh stop: Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon

The driver swears that this is a really beautiful place-even comparable to Boracay. Yeah the sand was offwhite and fine but the water wasn't blue. Probably because it was late in the afternoon. Our consolation: we saw Mark Gil (a celebrity) and he was kind enough to accommodate our request to take a picture with him. Here, the most popular resort-Hana Resort-according to our driver a.k.a tour guide, offers the longest zipline above water. We considered trying it but when we saw a person hanging from the line and moving ever so slowly, we decided to skip it. Imagine a zipline where the line is just like a conveyor belt--very boring. We also didn't bother taking a swim since there were a lot of people at the beach and there was no place to wash up. So my sister and I decided to eat dinner. Just in time, we were done eating and our tourmates were done swimming.

Our dinner: grilled maya-maya and eggplant ensalada

Last stop: Polaris Beach Resort

This was where we stayed for the night. It had the basics: beds, pillows, soap, water heater, unclogged toilet, tv, aircon. But--the blankets were too thin; it can't keep you warm, there were insects(though not the bloodsucking types), and you still have to ask for towels at the lobby. 

Road trip to the north!

May 2013 (last weekend)

I won't go into the details of how much hassle the agency caused us. But I would like to give my honest opinion on SMB(Sarap Mag Byahe) travel agency -- they still lacked experience in organizing group tours. If the tourist spots were not worth it, I would say, their name 'SMB' is very inappropriate.

Night before Day 1:

Our plan: Get to the meeting place early so we get the most comfortable seats.

Outcome: Unfortunately, we had a biased driver. He picked up his "acquaintances" before going to the meeting place.

My opinion: Very unprofessional. It also casts a gray area on whether the van fee is really divided by the number of passengers OR by the number of passengers not related to the driver.

My suggestion: The agency should purchase a mini bus for conducting group tours to give equal space to all passengers. Vans are only good for max 8 persons(for comfort) not 13. Convoys are a waste of time--most especially during tours like ours---without prepared meals.

Day 1:

View from Quirino Bridge

Adventure zone

Quirino Bridge

Old Bridge

New Bridge

Honestly, I didn't know why we ever bothered stopping there for more than 10 minutes. It's not like they gave an educational talk on the bridge. Don't get me wrong, the view was great. I think it would've been better if the first van arrived there and took pictures for 5 minutes, then left to give way to the next van. You couldn't get a decent picture of the bridge when a large group of people spread around and take pictures.

Marsha's Delicacy

We arrived at Marsha's at 7:30am. I ordered a Vigan longganisa meal (PHP 120) for breakfast. This is inclusive of rice, sunny side up, atchara and a choice of iced tea or coffee. The meal had 3 cutie little pieces of longganisa(just like the size of your thumb). Their version of Vigan longganisa had a balanced taste--unlike others that have the vinegar dominate the flavor of the longganisa. My sister ordered a Corned beef meal. At 130PHP, this meal is affordable considering that the corned beef brand used is Palm corned beef. We left the place at approximately 8:40am. 

You'd say that 8:40 is still early right? But the original time indicated in the itinerary was--we should already be at the Baluarte ni Chavit(zoo) by 8am.

First stop: Bell Tower and Vigan Church

The location of these two is approximately 10-15 minutes away from Marsha's Delicacy. There's a registration table and a donation box before you proceed to the Bell Tower. You may want to take your picture all the way up where the bells are --but watch your step!

Second stop: Syquia Mansion

If you're not interested in the story behind the mansion, then you could just go ahead and take pictures of the whole place. But listening to the caretaker would give a whole lot of meaning to the furnitures, paintings and other objects in the house.

Third stop: Baluarte ni Chavit

Contraption for extracting sugarcane juice

There are a limited number of animals here. One thing worth doing--which we didn't know at that time--was to fall in line and have your picture taken with a tiger. You could also have a taste of the freshly--I'm not sure if this is the proper term--"pressed" sugarcane to cool you down from the summer heat. You could also take a ride on a mini cart pulled by a pony.

The drivers suggested that we go to Badoc Museum on our last day. I'm so tired and sleepy that I forgot to oppose because our last day would be Monday-and museums are closed on Mondays! >.<

This was where we ate our lunch. The food was good though. But honestly, by this time, you would just like to sleep and wait for the next destination.

Fourth stop: Marcos Mausoleum


Taking pictures was forbidden to pay respect to the late President. You only need to spend less than 5 minutes in this place.

Fifth stop: Paoay Church

Paoay Church garden

I'm always at a loss for words when it comes to old churches. The Paoay Church's facade is picture-perfect. To my surprise, the church stretched out longer than I thought.

Sixth stop: Malacanang of the North (near Paoay lake)

Outside Malacanang of the North

We weren't able to enter this house. A group of foreigners who were, I guess, doing some sort of documentary about the place had requested the cooperation of the local government to close it to public for the day.








Seventh stop: Paoay Sand Dunes

View from Paoay Sand Dunes

Paoay Sand Dunes

At 2500php/hour for 5pax, you could ride a 4x4 truck and go sandboarding. But for us who were feeling icky since we've been on the road for the whole day, we decided to skip the sandboarding, thus reducing the fee  to 1500php/30minutes on a 4x4. I was expecting the 4x4 that closely resembles an owner type jeep. But our ride was more of a 4x4 pick up truck. Later on, we found out that the one driving was the founder of the whole activity and he was the one who taught the other drivers how to go about the dunes.


Last stop: Laoag City

Rainbow

Doing all these activities will leave you exhausted and feeling sticky from the heat. A warm bath will guarantee a good night's sleep. But this was not our last stop. Since my grandma is living near Laoag, even if it's late, we decided to drop by and give her a visit. All in all, it was an activity-filled day.

Remnants of all work-related issues

April 16, 2013

>Just when I thought I could go on a vacation this week, issues suddenly piled up at work.

>I am also scheduled to take an exam next week. Talk about p-r-e-s-s-u-r-e! Honestly, this exam does not guarantee the capability of a person. The person is either underestimated or overestimated. I know some people, they flunked exams but they do great at work. While others pass exams but are really incompetent. What irony!

>One officemate irritates me |<-----------------------------------------------------------------this-----------------------------and---------------------------------------------------------------this--------------------------------------------------------------and--------------------------------------------------------------this------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------>| much. I don't think I would want to work with that person ever. He/She is the kind of person you'd just love to hate. Someone who instantly gets on your nerves even if he/she does nothing. You just feel irritated. Period.

>You just have to accept the fact that some people are not committed in doing their jobs. They're just in it for the salary.

>Some people are just plain egotist yet empty-headed.
>And some people are boringly silent---but don't you let them open their thoughts to you without being ready or you'll be really sorry.

Just like recess

April 8, 2013

Usually, I don't eat snacks. I stick to my routine --- breakfast, lunch, dinner --- no snacks. But for some reason, I really felt hungry, so I bought Quake bars vanilla  and Chiz Crispers. You might be wondering what they are, so I'm going to post pictures.

Chiz Crispers

If you are familiar with Clover Chips, this is JnJ's version. I like it's texture when you bite into it. But there's an after-taste that sets me off. It's a good thing that it's just in a small package.

Actual Chip zoomed in. 

Quake bars (vanilla)

The cream filling didn't exactly taste like vanilla but I really appreciate that there's a generous amount of it inside the bar. It's also yummy (just like what they claim). I'm a child at heart so I really appreciate these types of snacks.

Worst trip ever

March 29-31,2013

Baler, Aurora

I was excited for this trip but I didn't expect events to have happened like that. I wished for a lot of things, even the thought of going home the moment I arrived. This is what happens when you're not included in the planning team. Note to self: always have Plan B and C. Don't worry I'll spare you from my rants and give you the good parts.

Museo de Baler @ Baler Town Proper

I went to Baler with my college classmates. Since we were 9 in the group, renting a van is more affordable and hassle-free than riding a bus. The van rental was worth 7000php excluding gas and toll fees. So for the transportation, inn and food, we shelled out approximately 2500php/pax(maybe less). Since one of our classmate's relatives live here, we were spared with most of the food expenses.

Presidential car of  former President Manuel L. Quezon

March 29, 2013

From Quezon City Circle to Baler, it would take you approximately 6-7 hours. Make sure that you bring lots of food and water. Book early because hotels near the renowned beaches will usually be fully booked, especially during summer. If you're prone to motion sickness, make sure to take your meds. There are a lot of sharp curves going to Baler and if you're driver is not that skilled when it comes to abrupt turns, you're sure to have a headache and an upset stomach.

View of the Pacific Ocean @ Ermita Hill

On our first day, we went to Baler town proper, Ermita Hill, Diguisit Beach and Sabang Beach.

Diguisit Beach

Ermita Hill is where you can see the Pacific Ocean. There are several view decks where you can take pictures.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Diguisit Beach is approximately 15-20 minutes away from Ermita Hill. There are a lot of huge rocks here where you could strike a pose and feel like a model from a magazine. Our group stayed here until sunset. You will also see several mini-falls along the highway going to this beach. 

Sabang Beach

Our last stop is the famous Sabang Beach. This is where you can catch the waves. Too bad we went here late in the afternoon. We only spent approximately 20-30 minutes at this beach. Too bad we didn't have surf boards. I would've loved to try surfing. If you don't have a surf board, just do what we did. Ride the waves by floating OR you could also rent a board. If you're not a skilled swimmer, do be careful since you might be taken by the waves. 

March 30, 2013

We woke up early so that we would have ample time to enjoy at Dinadiawan Beach before noon--when the sun is at its hottest.

Dinadiawan Beach is approximately an hour away from where we stayed. Again, take your anti-emetics because you would traverse mountains and this would automatically involve zigzag roads. Ready your cameras since the ride will offer you majestic views of the ocean.

View along the highway

Cottages at Dinadiawan Beach

The original plan was, we stay 1 night at LeDan Inn and Resort, then we stay at Dinadiawan Beach for the second night. I don't understand why this plan changed. But we ended up staying at the same inn for the whole duration of our trip. And so, I thought that we're going to sleep at a cute little house or at a cute little cottage. We stayed at the cottage for the day(left part of the picture).

Dinadiawan Beach is a strip of white sand beach but may not be as white as that of Boracay. Nonetheless, it offered a nice backdrop for photographs. The part of the beach where we stayed were filled with corals so we walked a bit more to reach the sandy part.

Dinadiawan Beach

Our stay at this beach was the major highlight of our trip -- or so I thought.

March 31, 2013

Our inn is also near the beach. So I woke up in time for the beautiful sunrise. As a bonus, you could also see the foggy Sierra Madre Mountain Range from afar. It's also Easter Sunday!

The last part of our trip is the Caunayan Falls. It is also approximately an hour away from the Baler town proper. No need for meds here since there would only be rough roads. Before going there, we ate lunch and bought souvenirs at the pasalubong center.  The entrance fee to the falls is approximately 100-200php/pax. We only had 3 hours to stay at the place before heading home. I really wished we spent more time at this place. There are other places we didn't get to see, so maybe I'll come back here next year.

Caunayan Falls

You may be wondering why this blog entry is entitled as such since Baler is a beautiful place. But I wouldn't get into the details, so enjoy the entry :)