Tales of Tephie: Ilocos Tour (Vigan, Laoag, Pagudpud)

I always told myself that I want to travel and explore the world, so to start the adventure me and my friend went for a three nights two days tour in Ilocos last July of this year 2014.

It is an eight hours or more travel by land from Manila to Ilocos region. It is good to hit the road at night to avoid traffic in the Metro area. So basically, we just spend the whole ride sleeping to save energy and strength for the real fun. We arrived at Ilocos around six or seven in the morning.

Our first stop is at Hidden Garden Lilong & Lilang Restaurant in Vigan for our breakfast. We just have "tapsilog" (tapa{beef}, sinangag{fried rice} and itlog{egg}) for breakfast. We didn't dive in to food that morning cause we were amazed with the garden inside the resto itself. So after filling our tummy we walked around inside and explore the hidden garden.

Lilong & Lilang Restaurant Hidden Garden

If you are traveling with your boyfriend/girlfriend or your other half this corner is for you guys, I guess you wouldn't want to miss the chance to take a photo here. If you ask me if single people or group of friends can take a shot in here of course, feel free to do so, there is no harm sitting alone in that bench or with a friend. You might meet your special someone during your tour, Who knows your "accident" might happen in your tour here. (By accident I mean meeting someone special or possibly your other half, if you have read "Just One day" by Gayle Forman you know what I mean, not what accidents literally mean)

Lover's Corner Hidden Garden

If you like planting and you have a mini garden in your backyard this place is haven for you. Hidden garden offers different types of plants and flowers, including this Bonsai Garden.

Bonsai Garden, Hidden Garden

There is a souvenir shop inside Hidden Garden and here are some items you'll see.

Souvenir items

Baluarte is a must see tourist spot too in Vigan, it offers a mini zoo which lies in hectares of land. It is dedicated to education and protection of endangered species and wildlife.

Baluarte, Vigan

This bird caught my eyes, the moment I saw it I remember the movie "Rio" cause of its color. I am not sure what kind of bird it is is so I just named it RIO.

Rio

There are tigers too, I gave this photo a caption of "Kkuk the Tiger" cause I remember one of the idols from the Korean variety show I'm watching who have they given a title of tiger cause of his strong physical abilities.

Kkuk the Tiger

There are statues of pre-historic animals too and they are really enormous. They kinda scared me cause my wild imagination is working too much that this statue might come to life and step on me or worst eat me alive. But that was just me, were kinda friends and we did some selfies too.

This dino ask for a wacky pose, so I did. say "rawr"

This dino looks hungry.

Calle Crisologo, Old Heritage Village in Vigan

Calle Crisologo is the major attraction in Vigan.

It is famous cause of the historical houses and architectures, calesa during the Spanish era. As we walked along the said street it feels like we've travel back in time. It is indeed the place where "time stood still".

Vigan Empanda

A trip to Vigan is not complete if you miss to taste the famous Vigan empanada.

It is one of their famous delicacies here in Ilocos. It is Vigan longganisa/sausage and vegetable wrapped in rice flour crust.

Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

This is the ancestral home of the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in his hometown at Batac City, Ilocos Norte. The house is now used as a museum (privatedly owned) for the personal mementos and the memorabilia of President Marcos and as well as some members of his family during his whole political life from Ilocos Norte.

Though we didn't go in the museum but we were given the chance to see the mausoleum of President Marcos himself. Returned from exile in Hawaii 1992, his family refused to bury him until the State grants him a state funeral fit for a “military hero” and a former president. The Philippine Government still refuses to give that last wish from Marcos and his “remains” are encased in an air conditioned mausoleum. He died September 28, 1989 in the United States.

Sand Dunes

This place is good for people who wants some adrenaline rush and looking for some heart stopping activities. This place is for sand boarding and a 4x4 ride. When we arrive in Sand dunes weather is not so good. Yeah it is raining, but that rain did not stop us from trying these wild activities.

4x4 ride is the best!!!!

This is what we enjoyed the most. The 4x4 ride trailing high slopes of sand.

And sand boarding, the perks of this rainy weather is that we didn't get any sunburn and we do not have free face sand powder dust from these activity.

The Band of Screams, we the girls really scream the entire ride, except for one and that's Ate Trixie and of course the boys

We just got hype, wet and messy. But that's the fun in it. Just enjoying the moment.

Bojeador LightHouse

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, that was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. At the top of the lighthouse you'll see the clear wide blue ocean and the picturesque view of Ilocos and its nature.

The Kapurpurawan rock formation

is located on the rocky coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte. It is known for its creamy white and streamlined limestone formations, which have been sculpted by different oceanic and weather forces. We were not able to get a closer look at the rock formation cause it is closed for the meantime for the safety of the tourist.

Bangui Wind Farm, commonly known as the Bangui windmills, is considered to be the first and the largest wind farm built in South East Asia.
The winds of Bangui blew us towards this coastal town of Ilocos, these are the giants of Ilocos, can you guess how many wind turbines are there?

Bangui Wind Turbines, there are a total of 20 wind turbines.

The Kabigan Falls is one of the most must visit natural attraction in Pagudpud. It is located deep inside the mountains and the trek going to Kabigan Falls is no joke. It took us half an hour or so just to get there. But all your sweats will be paid off cause of the beauty of the falls, the sound of the falling water and its cold relaxing water when it touches the body.

Welcome to Pagudpud

Let's go trekking

Kabigan Falls

Patapat Viaduct is an elevated concrete highway constructed along winding mountainside in the northernmost section of Ilocos Norte. The bridge is elevated 31 meters over sea level.

A long and winding road.

Bantay abot cave

is not really a cave but a hill that was wrecked by an earthquake in the 80's leaving a hole in the middle.

On our second day we stayed half of the day at the Blue Lagoon. The beach and the sand is really awesome which we really enjoyed the most. We just stayed near the shore and took some photos. It is nice to get a little tan.

On our last night stay in Ilocos, our group decided to go out for a drink. I really thought that I could not get a night life here in Ilocos cause of what I read on the internet that it does not have much night life since it is a province. But good thing that our fellow tourist found a place to have some drinks.

I didn't get the name of the bar but it is just a few blocks away from our hotel. It is not that big and crowded. We had our few bottles of cold beer. Its nice to meet new friends during our trip.

It's the travel that we share and the new friends we make.

On our last tour day we visited the Malacanang of the North, Paoay Lake and Paoay Church then we bought "pasalubong" (homecoming gifts for friends or loved ones, its like a must already for every Filipinos to bring something for friends, or family when we go on a trip.) before going home. I bought bagnet and their special bibingka so that my family can have a taste of Ilocos food too.