February 26, 2014 Laoag City for the nth time
Two weeks prior to this trip, I got a text message from Rheza saying we explore Philippines. I was lazy to make an itinerary somewhere so I just suggested Ilocos instead. She tagged Kimoy for this trip. They both had a connecting flight from Butuan-Manila-Laoag on February 26th. They arrived in the morning in Manila but the flight to Laoag was at 7PM still. I made a land trip from La Union to Laoag that day to meet them. While at the road I was taking photos of scenic views in Ilocos Sur.
I arrived in Laoag City by 430PM. I went directly to Hotel Laoag Renzo to check in. After checking in at the hotel, I went to have a late lunch. I wanted to rest for a bit while waiting for the arrival of Kim and Rheza. I passed by an empanada stall and I bought one to eat at the hotel room. At 730PM, I took a tricycle to the airport to fetch the two. Their ETA was 8PM. Tricycle fare from the city to the airport is P150. I met them at the waiting area. I welcomed them to Ilocos as soon as they saw me and asked them what do they want to do first whether to drop their bags first at the hotel or to have dinner. They said they wanted dinner. We took a tricycle back to the city and I said to the driver to take us to La Preciosa. There is a free shuttle service from the airport to the city for airport passengers. Kim and Rheza could have taken that ride to the city but they said that I fetch them instead.
For dinner, I told them that they should be the one to take the orders from the menu. Bagnet was their first choice. From the menu it is bagnet with KBL and they asked me what is KBL. I told them kanya kanyang bayad later. Kidding aside it is actually kamatis, bagoong and lazona ( Ilocano term for small onions). They ordered poqui-poqui (Ilocano eggplant dish similar to tortang talong except that the eggs are half cooked) and pinakbet. They were really craving for bagnet so I just let them had their fill. We had a stroll by the city plaza after dinner and checked-in at the hotel before 10PM.
For dinner, I told them that they should be the one to take the orders from the menu. Bagnet was their first choice. From the menu it is bagnet with KBL and they asked me what is KBL. I told them kanya kanyang bayad later. Kidding aside it is actually kamatis, bagoong and lazona ( Ilocano term for small onions). They ordered poqui-poqui (Ilocano eggplant dish similar to tortang talong except that the eggs are half cooked) and pinakbet. They were really craving for bagnet so I just let them had their fill. We had a stroll by the city plaza after dinner and checked-in at the hotel before 10PM.
February 27, 2014 Laoag to Bangui
After breakfast, I took them to the sinking bell tower and St. William cathedral for some photos. We passed by the Aurora park fronting the Ilocos Norte provincial capitol for another picture taking. From the park, we made our way to the bus terminal going to Pagudpud, just behind the capitol building. By the time we passed by the Bangui viewdeck, I pointed the area of the wind farm. Kim and Rheza gasped and was amazed by what they saw. That was just a preview. We took a tricycle to the site for a closer look of the wind mills.
Going back was a nice idea because I able to capture better photos this time. I had another vantage point for my photos. Weather is fine with the sun shining in all its glory.
Going back was a nice idea because I able to capture better photos this time. I had another vantage point for my photos. Weather is fine with the sun shining in all its glory.
It was almost lunch so we decided to dine at a nearby restaurant. We had lunch at Amian cafe with a scenic view of the wind mills. I asked the tricycle driver to join us for lunch. We had conversations and I learned that he was doing tricycle tours. His name is Kuya Jesus. He showed us a laminated pamphlet of what they call northern and southern tour. For the northern tour, it comprises the tourist spots in Pagudpud that include the sorts of Patapat viaduct, Bantay Abut Cave, Agua Paraiso, Timmangtang Rock, Kabigan Falls, Blue Lagoon and Maira-ira Beach all for PhP600. For the southern tour which is also worth PhP600, it includes the Bangui wind farm, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. Kuya Jesus contact number is 09176941801 should anyone wants inquire or hire him.
We no longer went to the first wind mill but instead our next destination is the Kapurpurawan rock formation. I asked Kuya Jesus to drop by at the Bangui view deck for a few minutes of picture taking. From the elevated area, we were looking at a distance the wind farm.
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
Kuya Jesus dropped us at the visitors registration hut where we paid an entrance fee of PhP15 each. From there we hired a tricycle that took us to the rock formation and the lighthouse. We made a hike from the parking lot to the rock formation. I believe in the saying that pictures are worth a thousand words so I will let the photos speak of themselves of how majestic the rock formations are. The area was also used for the 2012 movie of Erich Gonzales and Mario Maurer, Suddenly It's Magic.
We made our way to the other end of the rock where more of the karst area can be found. It was nice visiting the area during weekdays since there were a few tourist whom we have to wait to clear some perfect locations to capture nice photos.
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
From the rock formation, the tricycle took us to the Cape Bojeador lighthouse. It is also known as the Burgos lighthouse and also referred to as the northwestern light. It is one of the two northern lights on the island of Luzon. Cape Engaño lighthouse in Palaui Island, Sta. Ana, Cagayan is the northeastern light. The Cape Bojeador lighthouse may be centuries old but it is still functioning. It is now solar powered.
The lighthouse was the end of Kim and Rheza's tour in Ilocos Norte. Time check: 3PM. We waited for a bus bound to Laoag at the waiting shed along the highway. Arriving in Laoag, we transferred to the Partas bus terminal to continue their Ilocos adventure in Vigan City.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu