Three Days Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte Chronicles

I’ve been up north several times already but it’s not often I get to tag the family along. The Ilocos Region is probably one of the easiest place to travel by road and add to that, it has a number of sights from beautiful old churches, heritage houses, delicious food, mega structures and wonderful beaches. Even from the several times I’ve visited the place there’s always something new to try and discover. This trip was last September 14-16, 2010. It’s a bit cramped and covers the ‘usual’ sights first timers in the region and more manageable sights.

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Ilocos Norte: Revisiting Cape Bojeador Lighthouse and Bangui Windmills

Bangui Windmills

We only have a few hours left in the afternoon. And bringing in people along for the first time in Ilocos Norte, it’s hard not to show them the mega structures which has defined the place. Particularly, these are Cape Bojeador and the somewhat new Bangui Windmills. From Bacarra Church we drove the scenic coastal road up to Burgos for our first top, the lighthouse. It’s comforting we have a Van now, first time I went around Ilocos Norte, we did it by public transpo, meaning, from Burgos Highway, we had to make our way up there by foot.

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Ilocos Norte: From Batac to Bacarra Chruch and Domeless Belfry

Bacarra Church Crumbling Tower

It’s a good thing my sister have a wealth of friends. In Canada, she also has a friend whose family hails from Laoag. She requested my sister to check out the house she has been funding to build for at least a year now and take pictures. So from Loaog, the family of my sister’s friend drove to Vigan to fetch us and also took us on a road trip to some of the popular places up Ilocos Norte.

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Batanes: A Road Trip to Raele Itbayat

I felt the wind from the fan blowing through the mosquito net that morning. It was like an alarm clock waking me up. It’s 6 o’clock I guess, since electricity on the island resumes at this time. It was already bright when I looked through the window. We’ll be leaving the Island today but not before we do little exploration down south. I asked Nanay Gordo downstairs if the municipal truck was available and we were lucky it was. We got our things ready and headed for a quick breakfast.

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Guam: Southern Drive from Talofofo Bay to Cetti Bay

Getting sick is such a hassle when traveling. I was on sickbay for at least 3 days while I was in Guam so I never got to go around as much as I wanted. It’s a good thing I was at a relative’s home and I was taken care of well but it really was a bummer. When I got a little better, a couple of days before we head back to the Philippines. My cousin Gerhard was kind enough to drive us around South of Guam just to see some of the island’s popular tourist spots.

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Transit: Going to Sagada

Sagada Bus Window at Halsema Highway

Once in a while, I miss long road trips. Riding at the bus for hours on the road. Come night you rest comfortably at your seat and let the rocking motion of the bus cradle you to sleep. That may also be one reason what drew me back in Sagada last I went there. It’s the road journey itself. And the highlands is the perfect destination for it. Even if the bus doesn’t have air conditioning, most times packed on their crammed little seats, the cool mountain air blowing from the window, the bucolic back country panoramas sliding in front of your vision is enough to satiate my crave to hit the road and travel.

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