ILOCOS SUR AND NORTE TOUR
(April 20- 22, 2012)
It's around 9 in the evening, and I am at McDonalds North Avenue, waiting for my friend and travel buddy, Digs. This will be my first time to join an Open Tour and my first time to go to Ilocos, so I'm both nervous and excited.
I don't expect to see a lot of joiners, but to my amazement, there's a lot of backpackers all around. All with the same destination as mine. Then after few minutes of waiting, here comes our van with NEC TOURS logo. With 10 more strangers, we headed to ILOCOS.
Sir Troy drove us speedy and carefully. In more than 2 hours, we're on our first stopover at Rosario, Pangasinan. Few more hours of sleeping, at around 6 in the morning... at last, we stepped our feet on our destination- ILOCOS NORTE!
For commuters, these are the following bus lines to Pagudpod/ Laoag/ Vigan. I recommend that you travel at late night and catch up the last trip:
| 9:00-11:00 pm |
Florida Bus Line
(Sampaloc, Manila)
Partas
(Cubao, Q.City)
Baliwag
(Cubao, Q. City)
Fariñas
(L. Laan, Samp., Mla)
Maria de Leon
(Espana, Manila)
|
731-4473, 781-5894
725-1740, 725-1256,
725-7303, 724-9820, 7278278
524-7111, 525-1067,
525-3064, 525-6769, 525-2338, 525-2294
743-8582, 743-8580
731-4907
*travel time- 8 hours
*estimated time of
arrival- 6am
|
P820
(sleeper's bus)
P700
|
1. CURRIMAO ROCK FORMATION/ PANGIL BEACH
Found in the coastline of Currimao, is a nearly 2-km beach filled with impressive display of coral rock formations. The rocks are stunningly beautiful. I was so impressed of how these rocks, that is so enormous, as if been cut at the same heights, had arisen from the crystal clear waters.
It was named "Pangil" ( a local term for sharp tooth), as that in low tide, they form a 'fang-y' look.
Though the beach is not a perfect place for swimming, it's a nice place for cam-whoring. Bamboo kiosks are also provided for picnic goers.
If you are commuting to Pagudpod or Laoag, ask the driver to drop you off at Currimao, Ilocos Norte. Then ride a tricycle to the site. You can hire the tricycle to bring you to the following destinations:
BATAC, ILOCOS NORTE
|
Marcos Museum and Mausoleum
Fort Ilocandia
Paoay Church
Paoay Lake
Batac proper
|
F. Marcos remains
Marcos museum
5 Star Hotel
St. Augustine Paoay
Church
UNESCO heritage site,
built 1593
Home of bird species
Must try: Batac’s Empanada and
longganisa
|
Tryke-50/pax
|
2. PAOAY CHURCH
Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architectural design, highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. They say it was an Earthquake- proof chapel. In 1993, the church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one best examples of the Baroque Churches in the Philippines.
Our tour guide and driver, Sir Troy shares, "ang ginamit po sa pagtatayo ng establisimentong ito ay seashells at itlog". Then I wonder how many thousands of eggs has been used to stick-en those stones?.. whew!
The façade and the buttresses
Then we are off for our breakfast... I'm kinda hungry and my stomach is getting excited, yahoo!
We had our Breakfast at Jollibee, Batac, Ilocos Norte
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