Friday, April 25, 2014

Ilocos Trip Part 4: Day 2 - Back to Laoag and Paoay

Early in the morning of day 2, we headed back to Laoag and Paoay. This arrangement, listing Vigan last in the itinerary, was made so that the travel back to Manila would be shorter.

Ilocos Norte is the land of the Marcoses. It would be a shame if we missed the Malacañang of the North (Malacañang ti Amianan), one of the rest houses of the former president and is now a museum.

Malacañang ti Amianan
my friends having their pictures taken
Malacañang ti Amianan

Malacañang ti Amianan

Malacañang ti Amianan
Malacañang ti Amianan
Paoay Lake
Malacañang ti Amianan
Malacañang ti Amianan
Sen. Bongbong Marcos' room
Malacañang ti Amianan
the office
Malacañang ti Amianan
I had to take pictures of the books. Above this shelf are copies of the Hardy Boys series.
Malacañang ti Amianan

Malacañang ti Amianan
Malacañang ti Amianan
I love the windows! Hayahay kaayo diri. (It's very breezy here.)
Malacañang ti Amianan
The master's bedroom
Malacañang ti Amianan
Several of the rooms have exhibits like this.
Malacañang ti Amianan

Malacañang ti Amianan

Malacañang ti Amianan
Malacañang ti Amianan
room of the sisters
After Malacañang ti Amianan, we headed to the famous Paoay Church.

Paoay Church

Paoay Church
Paoay Church
if you notice the ceiling is already made of metal sheets
Paoay Church
bricks made of corals
Last stop before going to Ilocos Sur is the Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Center in Batac City. We were lucky enough to arrive before the mausoleum closed. I was one of the last ones to enter because I thought people carrying cameras were not allowed inside. So I tried to go back to the van, but was stopped because of the time. You can have your camera with you as long as you don't take any pictures inside the mausoleum.

Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Center Ancestral house
Ancestral house inside the center.
This is beside the Museum and Mausoleum.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Ilocos Trip Part 3: Day 1 - To Pagudpud

After Fort Ilocandia was the long ride to Pagudpud, the northernmost tip of the Luzon island. We wanted to reach the beach before sunset. On the way, we had several stops to neighboring municipalities and their landmarks.

Pasuquin Salt-making Ilocos Norte
Pasuquin salt-making factory
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse view
View from the Burgos Lighthouse
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Kapurpurawan rock formation, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
Kapurpurawan rock formation, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
Bangui Wind Farm, Ilocos Norte
Bangui Wind Farm
Bangui Wind Farm, Ilocos Norte

Bangui Wind Farm, Ilocos Norte

Bangui Wind Farm, Ilocos Norte

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
There are a lot of landscapes like this in Ilocos.
Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
 Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud
 Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud
Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Top and below: the beaches of Pagudpud
Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Friday, April 11, 2014

Ilocos Trip Part 2: Day 1 - Sand Dunes and Fort Ilocandia

Paoay Sand Dunes, a favorite movie shooting location (see Panday, Born on the Fourth of July), was just 5 minutes away from where we were staying. We started at 7AM because of the sun: golden and not too warm.

We rode a 4x4 jeep for the thrill ride, while I took mostly blurry photos. Then in the middle of nowhere we stopped for a little sandboarding.

Paoay Sand Dunes

Paoay Sand Dunes

Paoay Sand Dunes

Paoay Sand Dunes

Paoay Sand Dunes

Paoay Sand Dunes

Paoay Sand Dunes

Paoay Sand Dunes

After the dunes, we went back to the house for breakfast. Then, before the long ride to Pagudpud, we visited Fort Ilocandia, which was also quite near the house.

Fort Ilocandia

Fort Ilocandia

Fort Ilocandia

Fort Ilocandia

Fort Ilocandia

Fort Ilocandia