Long drive Up North: Ilocos

An impromptu travel.

A supposed to be Bicol drive changed to Ilocos due to an uncanny typhoon that hit Bicol badly. We left the house in Antipolo around 7 AM. This wasn't the ideal departure time if you're planning to go to Ilocos but since it was a last minute call, we opted to drive from here to La Union as our first stop. It was a 6H drive, thanks to the traffic everywhere. Lol. Nonetheless, since it was the birthplace of my boyfriend's father, he took us to a native restaurant just along the high way for a late lunch. After having a quick break, 3 more hours of driving and on we go to our 2nd pit stop - Calle Crisologo, Ilocos Sur. Checked in at our online booked hotel in NSCC Hotel Vigan (booked by Tito), had a sumptuous dinner in Cafe Uno (It was supposed to be in Cafe Leona however the waiting line will starve us to death!). Of course, what is Ilocos without the vigan longganisa? And another vigan longganisa for breakfast, then again for lunch, dinner and the next day's breakfast, lunch and dinner as well. Umay!

Touring Calle Crisologo during daytime was a different experience when we roamed around last night. You would appreciate more the historic structures and the street itself. Of course, what is a tour without major pictorial (walling, posing, selfie, twofie, groufie etc.). An hour or two was enough to stroll down this Calle.

It was another 2 hour drive from Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Paoay, Ilocos Norte where it is known as a sand surfing and a 4x4 sand adventure. A 4x4 vehicle can accomodate as much as 6 people however in our case, we were only 3 since the oldies but goodies opted to sit and wait. Other than you'd experience it standing and no safety belts hooked, it was a rough and thrilling ride. Even your hair would agree, when I say it's rough (bad hair afterwards).

At the peak of the almost 45 degree uphill was this view. Sand, Sea and Sky like a masterpiece on your wall.

A few minutes drive after the sand dunes was the historical Paoay Church still magestically standing amidst the bayan.

After this adventure, you may opt to drive to Marcos' ancestral house coverted into a museum in Batac, ilocos Norte. When we wandered around the ancestral house, a wedding was being set-upped at the lobby facing the lake. It must've been a wonderful wedding idea (chos!).

Whenever we travel, there's always a down pour and dark clouds. Oh well. Still having so much fun despite the cold winds and rainfall. Moving on, another hour of driving amidst a rainy afternoon and the usual photos taken in Kapurpurawan rock formation were sunny yet here we are, for better or for worse (weather), we readied our jackets and hiked our way down the rock formations.

That was a really cold shower indeed.

Hey the driving never ends! Off we go to the last pit stop of this travel - Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte. Of course, it's still raining cats and dogs, but I'm Queen Elsa, the cold never bothered me anyway. Brrr!

Moana on cue: "See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me. And no one knows how far it goes. If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me. One day I'll know, if I go there's just no telling how far I'll go."

Ending this 5 days, 4 nights up north trip with another 12 hours of driving back home.

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Travel video made by yours truly, click on the link below:

Up North Video 2017

Music: Sweet escape by Alesso feat. Sirena

Travel Summary:

Transportation: own car/tollgate fees

Accomodation in Vigan: NSCC vigan hotel php 2500/night

Accomodation in Laoag: Vybe Hotel formerly Parklane Hotel php 1275/night

Accomodation in Pagudpod: Jun & Carol beach resort (no online booking) php 1500/night

Activities: Paoay sand dunes php 2000/vehicle

Marcos Museum: php 30 each

Food: approx. php 1500 each for 3 days

Total = approx. php 5000+