The Great Ilocos Escapade: Pagudpud

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I'm pretty sure I had a little heart attack when I saw the summer rates of hotel accommodations in Ilocos Norte while I was doing a research. So bless the people who thought of presenting this much cheaper alternative, called homestays, where local homeowners offer tourists less sophisticated but nevertheless decent and affordable accommodations. In our case, we stayed in probably one of the most popular homestays in Saud...

Cathy's Homestay

We stayed in a four-bed, air conditioned room at Cathy's Homestay. Each bed can take two people. We took an extra mattress for Patti who slept on the floor. Oh by the way we were down to seven people since Pao's friend, Joyce was sick so she had to take a bus back to Manila just before we set off to Laoag.

Cathy's Homestay

We got this room for Php 1800 per day. Months prior to the trip, we sent Ate Cathy a down payment of Php 1,000 through M. Lhuillier.

Our room... err... never mind the mess

April 28, 2012 (Saturday)

The gods seemed to have heard my prayers because that morning, it rained. This somehow lowered the temperature and it stopped before our tour began. Kuya Vincent picked us up at around 7 in the morning. Kuya Arnel was nowhere in sight, we soon learned that he had another tour to lead.

Anyway, our first stop...

Pagudpud Arc

What did we do? What we know best.... jump shot!

Jump shot Pagudpud style

Kapurparawan Rock Formation

After all those silly jumping in the middle of the street, we went to what I consider as the best place we've been in Pagudpud, the Kapurparawan Rock Formation in Burgos. To get there we had to move down the hill and go horse back riding (Php 100 per person, back and forth). The name of my guide is James, a thin old man, with dark brown skin and toothy grin. He calls me "Ading," which according to Kuya Vincent is an Ilocano word for "young sister." James horse is named John Paul, a brown-colored, scrawny horse that was a little restless.

James and his horse John Paul

So why did I love the place? 'Cause it's an effing masterpiece. Imagine seeing these huge white rock formations, in shapes that made them look like they'd been sculpted, the sea and the raging waves, crashing to the shore, the uneven grounds made of rocks and dead corral reefs, and craters of different shapes and sizes, some even look like bath tubs. What I'm trying to say is, Kapurparawan is every photographer's utopia.

Kapurparawan Rock Formation

So if you ever get to Ilocos Norte, make sure you get your ass to Kapurparawan Rock Formation or I swear you will miss half of your life.

See, I told you, looks like a bath tub

Cape Bojeador

We were all frustrated that we didn't get to eat at Cafe Uno when we were in Vigan. So I told them we should find a coffee shop somewhere. Gerald said that there is one listed in our itinerary, the "Kape Bojeador." Upon realizing that he mistook the "Cape Bojeador" for a coffee shop, laughter erupted inside the van.

Cape Bojeador ladies and gentlemen is not a cafe, it's a lighthouse, about 62 foot tall, built on Vigia de Nagparitan Hill in 1890s.

Going up to Cape Bojeador

Bangui Windmills

Along the Bangui Bay, facing the South China Sea are these 15 wind turbines that provide  40% of electricity in Ilocos Norte. To see these giants up close is an experience like no other. One blogger even suggests to put it in every one's bucket list; I totally agree.

Patti takes a picture of the wind turbines

Kabigan Falls

I still remember with fondness the risks we had to overcome to get to Ditumabo Falls during our Baler trip. Thankfully, the trek to Kabigan Falls was not that difficult, though it still took us almost one hour to see the prize and here it is:

Kabigan Falls

Taking a quick dip

We were led to the place by a tour guide, this short woman whose name escaped me. We each paid Php 30 for her effort.

Patapat Viaduct

I admit, I didn't see the point in seeing Patapat Viaduct. It is a coastal bridge that connects Ilocos Norte and Cagayan Valley. We almost skipped the opportunity to put off in the area and take pictures but when Kuya Vincent took us there, we were off the van in a heart beat.

Patapat Viaduct

The place offers spectacular views of the Pasaleng Bay and the Cordillera mountain.

Photo taken by Kuya Vincent

Kalbario Patapat Natural Park

Kuya Vincent took us to this place that was not in our itinerary, which he viewed as something that is worth visiting, the Kalbaryo Patapat Natural Park. We went there for one thing and that is to drink water from this natural spring. Kuya Vincent assured us that the water there has been tested and declared clean and safe to drink.

Of course I had to try it 

Bantay Abot Cave

Just before we went to our ultimate destination, Blue Lagoon, we had a quick stopover at Bantay Abot Cave. It was a little tricky going to the cave due to the sudden crashing of waves and the rocks but we managed.

Blue Lagoon

Finally, the moment we'd all been waiting for, to see the Blue Lagoon. I was expecting a crowd since it's the summer season but to my delight, the place didn't have a lot of visitors. See, Kean was even able to take this picture of the beach with no single soul blocking the view.

Blue Lagoon. Photo by Kean Verzosa

The crystal blue water, the white sand, and the blue clouds that blurred the sun... ah... this is the life! So we went swimming for almost two hours. I loved everything about the place except the see weeds, god there were so many of them, I get the chills whenever they cling to my body. Nevertheless I still consider it as one of the best beaches I've ever been in my life. It is not too commercial, the water is not too salty, and I repeat, it is not crowded compared with Laiya, Batangas. Blue Lagoon by the way has an entrance fee of Php 20/pax.

See the picture of that fish below? I saw it swimming with the sea weed, barely moving. As if it was trying its best to camouflage itself as a sea weed. I called everyone's attention to it and asked Apo to catch it so that we could take a picture. Don't worry guys, it didn't die in our hands. We threw it back to the water after its photo shoot.

Apo holds up the fish

April 29, 2012 (Sunday)

Saud Beach

It was officially our last day in Ilocos Norte. After our hearty breakfast we spent half of the day beach bumming in Saud. I didn't go swimming this time and decided to just enjoy the view. Saud beach has more people than Blue Lagoon, the seashore is lined by resorts, and other establishments. We were supposed to go surfing but the water is calm at this time of the year (much to Pao's disappointment).

Saud Beach

Now here is the breakdown of our expenses (per pax):

Day 2:

Horse back riding - P 100
Lunch - P 70
Kabigan Falls entrance - P 20
Karioka - P 10
Blue Lagoon - P 20
Dinner - P 79.50
Alcohol - P 15
Kuya Arnel's Tour - 1,071.50
Total = P 1,396.00


Day 3:

Cathy's Homestay - P 500
Florida Bus - P 770
Total = P 1,270