It’s always been my travel goal to go somewhere remote where signal is unknown in order to take a break from the pressures of work and Social Media. Little did I know, I will experience it in between my five days getaway to Ilocos Region with my best friend. Since we were both seeking for an adventure, we packed up with absolutely no travel itinerary to make the travel more thrilling. We went straight after work to the bus terminal bound for Laoag. We were both exhausted from work that day that we drifted into sleep as soon as we hit the passenger’s seat and after 12 long hours, the door opened, the cold night pressed down on me, ‘here we are.’ We arrived at around 10:00pm and immediately booked an accommodation online. Luckily we found a great place to stay and we have Facebook to thank for.
The trudging event of the previous night woke us pretty late in the morning. We headed out holding a tourist information leaflet as our best friend but we were clueless of how we get to places. A tricycle driver offered his service to tour us around and with so much confidence that I understand Ilocano, we placed the fate of the day unto his hands.
First Stop: Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte
Paoay church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage among the country’s baroque churches. Its history began in the 17th century, damaged by earthquake later on but it only made it more fascinating, looking like it was pulled out from a postcard.
Second Stop: Malacañang of the North, Paoay, Ilocos Norte
Also known as “Malacañang ti Amamian” is an incredibly two-storey house, mix of Spanish and Ilocano architecture displaying its royal and elegance. It’s a huge mansion with an open balcony overlooking tranquil and calm Paoay Lake, a residence of the former president Ferdinand Marcos.
Third Stop: Paoay Sand dunes, Ilocos Norte
Paoay is also known for its sand dunes. The trilling experience of sand boarding, 4×4 and ATV ride are the activities you just can’t miss. We spent the whole second day here and trying out the famous local foods of Ilocos Norte.
We set off in two hours travel down to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte the next morning for a beach experience which is an absolutely a must-try when you visit the region.
Fourth Stop: Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
This was the view that welcomed us. The sound of the waves was so inviting that I immediately wanted to feel the white sands in between my toes but we had to arrange an accommodation first thing and later on decided to ease off and rest for the rest of the afternoon. But there was no afternoon getaway as we drifted into a heavy sleep till dawn. I have never slept that long in my whole life! We woke up with stomach’s growling; we had no idea that the place has curfew and we waited till 5:00am for breakfast.
The sun was so vibrant. Fresh from 17 hours sleep, I finally got to hit the breezy and beautiful beach. This to me was the highlight of the tour- barely catching a signal means absence of social media for two days gave me a breathing space, to seize the moment and take it all in.
Fifth Stop: Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
This great and towering lighthouse built during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines is just too beautiful for words. Never have I ever believed in love at first sight until I set my eyes on it.
Sixth Stop: Bangui Windmill Farm, Ilocos NorteSeventh Stop: Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte has a lot more to offer but we were not able to visit them all as we lacked time and we had no proper itinerary. Nevertheless, it did not discount the fun. We decided to stop by overnight in Vigan, Ilocos Sur before heading back to metro.
Eight Stop: Calle Crisologo, Vigan city, Ilocos Sur
Walking in the busy, astonishingly perfect street of Calle Crisologo is stepping into a piece of a century old history. The rustic view, classic music, and souvenir shops give you an explicit view of the old times.
As I reminisce the experience to put it in writing, I am hit by the realization of how little the time we spend on the important things like rest, experience, and hobbies. This current situation is not permitting us to move freely but even in hectic cities and restrictions, we can still find haven, inside ourselves. Our work is not all there is. What we will be tomorrow is still unknown and life is not all about chasing wealth for success. Learn to slow down and if you can afford, travel. Learn to find a way out of this fast paced world with unrealistic demands. It’s easy to feel bad about wanting to spend some time alone but do not wait for a perfect time; you make time to invest in experience. I believe that greater abundance comes when life becomes less materialistic.