pagudpud / vigan trip

After much planning, my best friends from college (Ian, Inggo, Thea, Tuni, Anne, Chel and Jayson) and I finally headed to ilocos last March 28. What originally was supposed to be 10 or more people was now only 8, but nevertheless we managed to have a fantabulous time. I'd share to you our itenerary, just in case anyone would need help in going to Ilocos (or I have trouble remembering).

1st day, March 28

- We met at the Domestic Airport around 10:45 (actually, they met at 10am, I only managed to get there at 10:45), my phone fell off the Xray machine. Luckily I needed to call Ian so I looked for it in my bag. Had I not decided to call him, we wouldve left the phone there without knowing it was missing. Our flight was delayed from 12:05 to 12:50 pm. Buti na lang, my Mom prepared sandwhiches for us, so we had something to munch on while waiting for our plane. Boarded around 1pm.

See you later Manila!

- We arrived at Laoag International Airport around 2:00 pm. They personally hand out our checked in bags instead of the usual rotating thingy, and the arrival section of the airport has no aircon. Grabe! Nevertheless, still managed to pose for some pics.

- I felt a little panic upong going out the airport as I saw no establishments/buses around. Fortunately a manong asked us where are we off to. The jeepney ride costed 30 pesos easch person, and took us to the bus station going to Claveria, our stop going to Pagudpud as the resort owner I had talked to the previous night has instructed.

- We walked a little bit as we had not have our lunch yet, plus to look for an ATM (Today is payday, and the money only arrives at noon). I felt a little sorry for Thea, lugging her stroller around but all of us had big bags. But Jayson was willing to help her out naman (Yiheeeeee). We had our late lunch at Macy's diner.

- After lunch, a stranger approached us and asked if we're heading to Pagudpud. Recognizing the conio accent, I realized it was Mike, the resort owner I have talked to the night before. How weird is that? We bumped into him in Laoag, without contact whatsoever because his cel is empty, and he just guessed that we may be the 8 people that has reserved for a room the night before (he said it was because we looked lost, but I bet it was probably because we catch attention easily because we're attractive people HEE HEE). Anyway, he offered to get our luggages so we would not have a hard time carrying them around (of course we're not that trusting!), as the luggages would only fit in the van, and not us since it was already so full of groceries. After some thinking (and common sense), and him giving his ID's and the resort's brochure to prove that he really is Mike, we gave them our bags nad carried off to exploring Laoag a little.

- We passed the Sinking Bell Tower (For reasons unknown, the bell tower sinks a few centimeters every year) and St. William's Cathedral.

- After that, we took the Claveria Bus around 5pm. The trip was already FULL, and the next bus is due for another hour. Because we do not want to waste anymore time, we just toughed it out and sat in center aisle baby seats. Take note that the bus is without aircon and the day was definitely NOT breezy!

- 2 hours later, we stopped at Gaoa, bought some snacks and rode tricycles (20/person) to KAPULUAN VISTA RESORT.

- Finally reached the resort around 8pm. I have seen the pictures from the website but men, upon seeing the place we finally felt that our vacation has started! The place was just so gorgeous it was worth all the pain of long travel.

W-O-W

- The room we are staying in costs 5,500 pesos for 6 people. We had to beg Mike and Alma to let 8 of us stay in the same room, since the room is really roomy already (believe me, we have stayed at MUCH MUCH MUCH crampy places before). The couple even offerd us to give another room for FREE. They said they were really just thinking of our comfort. But we insisted on satying together in a room, and they finally agreed. Oh, here's our room:

- After dinner (food was expensive, from 250-300 but when they arrived we knew that they were good enough to share and the presentation was hotel-style, so far from the carinderia's we eat at Puert Galera!), we swam in the pool and had Margaritas (sarrrap tlaga, kakaiba) =D. Went to bed around 2 or 3 am.

2nd day, March 29

- Woke up around 9am, had breakfast (Mike and Alma included 8 instead of just 4 free breakfasts to our room rates), then head off to the beach which was a 10 minute walk away.

- The beach was great. Sand was very very fine, and the water was really clear. It was as if we bought a beach four ourselves coz we were alone in the shoreline for the whole time. I have never been to Boracay but my friend who has been to both said she preferred Pagudpud over Bora for its laid back and relaxing atmosphere as compared to the crowdy Bora. I would've to see that for myself.

- Returned to the resort by lunch time to eat and hang out a bit in the kubo's. :P

- Around 2pm, we asked Mike what we could do for the rest of our day. He suggested hiking a falls nearby and surfing but unfortunately, we do not have time to do both anymore. We chose hiking. After boarding a tricycle (200 pesos each tricycle which would wait for us and bring us back to the resort) for 30 minutes, and acquiring a "guide" (a local who knew the place and when asked how much would it costs replies "bahala na po kayo"), off we went to a 40 minute hike. The path was not easy, often with slopes and waters with slippery rocks to cross, but the sight of the falls was worth it.

- We swam a little in the falls, the water was FRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZING cold.

- We were back at the resort by 5:30pm. It was too late for surfing lessons sayang it shouldve been great as Pagudpud boasts waves such as this:

- Dinner at the resort. Tried to watch a movie but we were all just tired. Had to hit the sheets earlier this time with a promise to wake up earlier tomorrow for the plans we have ahead.

3rd Day, March 30

- woke up around 6am. So much for watching the sunrise. We have to leave Pagudpud this morning but not without more pictures of the place. All of us has just fell in love with the resort.

This is with Mike and Alma, the couple who owns the resort. They were really nice people, and they made our trip really much enjoyable.

- After settling the bill, 19,600++ (13,000 for the room, around 5,000 for the meals and drinks, and 1,500 for the van use going back to Laoag, with tour), Mike personally drove us to some more of Pagudpud's spots. First off are the gigantic windmills (W-O-W).

- Next, we were dropped off at Cape Bodeador Light House. The light house is erected during colonial times, and is still preserved to its original structure. We climbed a hundred or so circular steps (ala SUKOB) to get to the top. Whew!

- We reached Laoag by 12pm, and took a Patras Bus to get to Vigan. The trip costs 110 pesos and took around 2 hours long. When we reached Vigan, we searched for the place we had reservations on in Plaza Burgos. Grandpa's Inn has reasonable accommodations, nothing fancy just enough to fit all 8 of us comfortably. At 3,400 a night, inclusive of breakfast, we found a good place to stay in with its location almost just a turn away from Crisologo street and Plaza Burgos, probably the city's center.

-After settling in the hotel, we headed out again. We had our lunch in Plaza Burgos, spotting the famous Vigan Empanadas. These Empanada has nothing in common with the usual Empanada except the shape. It is more of a Fried lumpia with addition of an egg inside. It may just be me but I liked the Okoy better.

Local Empanada Girls :P

- We walked a little and went inside the Vigan Church. After that we asked the kalesa how much is a tour around the city. Rate is P180 an hour, we reasoned it would probably just take us 2 hours stop to go around the city but boy, were we wrong.

- Our first stop was the Burgos House. Now converted into a museum, the house is the birthplace of Fr. Jose Burgos, one of the priests executed in Cavite during the revolution. The museum houses what were left of the Burgos family belongings which include antique furnitures, clothing and other artifacts donated by some prominent families in Vigan.

- Then, we headed off to another museum whose name I really can not remember. Anyway, it had the "karwahe" used in the film Rizal. :D

- 2 places down, many more to go, we already had consumed an hour of the kalesa fare. So we asked the manong's to skip some places and head off to the pottery place first. Turned out the St. Augustine Church in Bantay is one of he places we skipped and it was one of the best spots in Vigan. Sayang. So we spent another hour in the pottery without even looking at pots. We just went crazy buying pasalubongs: shirts, magnets, kumots, etc. Another mistake because these are all available in our street WITHOUT the kalesas fare meters. Guess we just got excited. Anyway here's a pic of Inggo acting like he has actually shown interest in the pots:

- Our next stop was the Hidden Garden. I dont know but it seems that it was just a bunch of plants for sale.

- Then we headed off to Baluarte, Chavit Singson's "zoo". We did not get to ride the small horses because it was already late but we did get to see all the animals. It's cool because it was free. Anyway we finally came to our sense and told the kalesas not to wait for us anymore and we'd just take the tricycle going home. Turns out fare is only 10/ea!! Our kalesa fare was almost 400 each kalesa.

May ganung acting diba

Dont know why they keep insisting taking pics of Chavit.

- After that we headed off home with a dinner stop first at Chowking.

These are my original boylets. Look how much we have grown..

- We took pictures in Crisologo for the rest of the night. We had amazing shots thanks to the place ambience, our acting and the camera's sepia settings. You wouldnt believe how much of a cam addict we all are, with my camera's 512MB and 64MB thea's camera's memory and Tuni's phone's memory consumed. Oh well. Here are some of the most wonderful shots:

parang mghoholding hands si son at inggo o.

- We managed to squeeze in some coffee at Cafe Uno after that.

4th day, March 31

-Woke up around 8am. Had breakfast in Grandpa's Inn, and looked for a van to drop us off to Laoag for our 1:30 flight. We could not risk taking a bus, with all of us carrying at least 3 bags. After much persuasion, the driver finally concede to lowering our fare from 3,000 to 2,500. It's funny we realized that it was just 60 pesos each we were desparately trying to slash off, willing to commute with all our luggages in tow if that 60 pesos is not granted. That would give you an idea how much money we now all have left. Nevertheless, we still managed to squeeze in a bit of shopping. :D

- By 11:00 we were aboard the van and driving off to Laoag. Manong even drove us off to Paoay Church because it’s along the way. Yey for our last stop!

-Flight was AGAIN delayed (tsk tsk tsk) from 1:35 to 2:30, we reached Manila around 4pm.

So it was the end of our trip. I could say we definitely maximized our four day-journey, being able to experience a little bit of everything: relax a bit, chill in the beach, hike up a hidden falls, experience a bit of history, and of course shopping. Great Memories indeed. I’d say this wouldn’t even be half as enjoyable without the company of great, great friends. Good Times!

A blessed Holy Week to you all!