Last year was Cebu in the visayas and this year I chose to head up north, the northern most tip; Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte. The beaches are as equally beautiful, but the weather is not as intense as that Visayan sun and humidity; in other words the weather was just right for a birthday!!!!
My journey began with me getting an over night bus to Manila then taking a one hour flight from Manila to Laoag. Here's a link to my travels. Very long but I broke up the travel over several days. I stayed there one night then took a two hour bus ride to Pagudpud. From there it was a 30 minute trike ride to my oceanfront resort.!!!
Here are a few of the pictures. During the trip I was busy writing for several grants and grad school writing assignments. I chilled and enjoyed my time during the day and wrote at night. It was a great writing retreat and wonderful peaceful last birthday in the Philippines.
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| I stayed at Renzo hotel in Laoag city, Ilocos Norte, http://laoagrenzohotel.tripod.com/. This was a standard room with bathroom, tv, aircon for only p1000 pesos! |
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| Who doesn't like a good selfie? |
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| More views of the room |
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| Pretty Nice bathroom with flushing toilet. |
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| Separate shower area |
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| Some contact information for the hotel. |
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| My transportaion from Pagudpud proper to the coastal area where the hotels are. |
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| A view of the area from a high point. |
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| Finally we are here!!!! I love beaches!!!! |
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| My home for the next few days; Casa Consuelo Island Reef. |
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| The accomodations, little houses. |
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| My sweet room!!! This is awesome!!!! |
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| The main road from my homestay to the Blue Lagoon, and Hannahs Beach Resort. |
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| IDOL Pagudpud 2014; International Day of Laurenia 2014. What a great day! :) |
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| The road leading up to the homestay. |
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| Add caption |
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| My driver for the day, Johnny. |
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| Patapat Bridge. Patapat Bridge is a 1.2 km long that connects two barangay in Pagudpud. This zigzag bridge is often referred by some as the “French Riviera of the North”. Visitors and motorists will enjoy the amazing view of the sea and the luxuriant mountains as they cross this bridge that is 200 meters above sea level. It is also the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines. |
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| Tricycles of Ilocos Norte, much smaller and better looking than trikes in Bicol. |
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| Shameless selfie! |
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| The Windmills at Bangui Bay. Beautiful Beach! |
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Bangui Windmill is the first of its kind in southeast Asia. It has 20 tri-blades 70 meters high windmills arranged in an arc formation along the Bangui Bay. It is situated north of Laoag City and about 45 minutes ride. Ilocos Norte is one of the province of the Philippines that generates renewable energy.
The Bangui wind farm’s supply 40% of the needs of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative. All in all, it generate 25 MW of electricity to power up an estimated 108,000 households.
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| Johnny was a great photographer that day!!! I'm glad he captured these moments for me! |
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| It actually was not sand but small pebbles and rocks that made up the shore. Cool huh. |
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| Our next destination; the Kapurpurawan rock formation. |
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| I'm on top of the world!!!! Man was it hot out there!!!!! |
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| Due to its white color characteristic, its name was derived. In Ilocano word, "Puraw" means white. The rock looked like a large dragon, watching over the entire coast. |
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| In order to get to the rock formation I had this little horse down a road for about 15 minutes. Can you imagine riding a horse with a dress on? Yikes. First time for everything. |
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| The Cape Bojeador Lighthouse This lighthouse is one of the highest elevated spanish colonial lighthouses in the Philippines. Its wall are made of bricks just like the other lighthouses of the country. Up to this time, it still functions as a welcoming flare to ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north. |
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| Taking the time to chat with a group of students visiting the lighthouse. |
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| Gosh I love the water. |
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| No goal is unattainable with the right attitude, be the change you wish to see in the world!!!! Its something about putting my leg up and standing in the power stance that gives me a rush! |
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| Back at the Homestay. Such beautiful scenery. I just sat outside completing my work in the evenings. |
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| My companion while strolling on the beach. |
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| Last day being 27 sunset! |
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| Birthday girl! Yay! |
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