Palaui Island, Sta. Ana, Cagayan Valley

Palaui Island, Sta. Ana, Cagayan Valley
September 25-26, 2016

A trip to the extreme North of Luzon Island -

Ilocos Norte: Land of the solid North

2005, 2013 & June 14-16, 2016 

505 kilometers off Manila, approximately 10 hours drive or 45 minutes plane ride, is a home to the best bagnet, chichacorn (of all sorts of flavor), sukang iloco (best with bottle half full native chili), Longanisa (a showcase of native bawang), dinengdeng (a full casts production of vegetables), including the fusion of pinakbet and dinuguan  pizza, batac empanada (this is different from empanada of Vigan), miki noodles (with spicy sukang Iloco), not to mention a delicate and intricate weaving of abel. 

The Ilocos Norte is also noted for being the bailiwick of Marcoses, to date, the embalmed body of Former President Marcos, encased in glass coffin is still on public display at Marcos Museum in Batac.

Despite numerous revolts that the Region has gone through against the Augustinian Friars since 1589,  Ilocos Norte, is currently gaining popularity with its world-famous sights such as an old church of Paoay and Pagudpud.

I cast my first footprints in Ilocos in 2005, then in 2013 and the most recent trip was in May 2016.  

Best things to do in the North:

1. Sandboarding, 4x4 and ATV adventure at La Paz Sand Dunes 
         
         The best time to do the adrenaline rush adventure in the desert is before sunrise or sunset to avoid the sun burn. 
 

Gathering my courage.

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

May 21-22, 2015

Though at around 3:30AM, I moved out of the tent and laid under the perfect moon, the air blows steadily, I can hear the melodious sound of water continually crashing on the shores, watching the couples lounging by the beach, some walking hands together… the dawn is whispering the stillness of the moment, my precious moment, thus, “Unless you love someone, nothing else makes any sense” by E.E. Cummings, actually makes sense.

Banaue Rice Terraces

Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao
December 16-17, 2010

Witnessing the silent, unmovable and splendid work of art and nature, we already knew that our adversity paid off as we finally stood in one of the most beautiful wonder of the world.   We were just standing there, staring deeply in awe.  We submit ourselves to an unexplainable feeling of triumph over what we just had conquered, and so we let ourselves enjoy the perks.

Sagada, Mt. Province: A walk that I will always remember

Sagada, Mt. Province
1st visit: April 2008
2nd visit: December 16-20, 2010
3rd visit: December 2011
4th visit: April 24-27, 2014

Now imagine this, one cold and crisp afternoon, just before dusk, some streaks of bright orange rays of sunset make its way through branches of trees, you are having wine and beer by the fireplace beside the glass and wooden cabin, which lodged up the hill, hidden behind piles of old and young pine trees, the surroundings is slowly getting covered by early evening fog, the only sounds that you hear are the swish and swoosh of pine leaves and the chirps of unknown creatures, the smell of fresh pine leaves dominating your senses.  You wished that the moment would never end and you find your self wished for forever.