To Visit Over and Over Again

 

 

 While most travelers would have a bucket list to visit as many places in a lifetime, I am one of those who might me contented with visiting a place over and over again. And I have a few of them, simply because a weekend or 4 days is not enough to really discover the place and get a full picture of what it is like living in a particular place.

If I were to pick destinations that I would like to revisit, it would be Japan and Ilocos Norte. Let’s talk about Ilocos Norte because it seems more feasible.

It has been four years since our visit, the first time my husband and I traveled post-baby and I was three months pregnant with our second son. HIGHLY DISCOURAGED. haha.

My argument was that, “..if I can’t visit Ilocos now, I may not be able to visit at all with two kids“.

Ilocos Norte has everything that can tickle my itchy feet. A historical place and superior architecture. Some painted it as the homeplace of an infamous personality, Ferdinand Marcos, but it is a place for cultural travel.

That time, we still didn’t have our big bulky camera for better photos that I can use to contribute to travel magazines – another reason why I want to go back. In Ilocos, we visited many houses which I love. If I’d be a billionaire, I would build a house like those in Ilocos Norte.

 

The Malacañang of the North

 

Posing jud dai.. my Maria Clara moment.

 

Soothing breeze from Paoay Lake.

 

Paoay Church, the second Baroque church I visited.

 

Was meeting then Senatorial candidate Bong Bong Marcos the icing on the cake? Well, Ilocos Norte is Marcoslandia, what could have been better eh?

 

Speaking of architecture and design, I’m a sucker for anything with red bricks. Would love to enjoy breakfast or afternoon tea at Fort Ilocandia.

 

All provinces in the Philippines should learn from Ilocos Norte’s tourism like this museum. They housed it in a historical place, used to be a factory for tobacco-making ( their main industry) with organized display.

 

I also like Spanish lighthouses, second lighthouse I visited – Cape Bojeador.

 

With this stunning view! I said, ” Wow, looks like Ireland!”…as if naka adto jud ko og Ireland ( as if I’ve been to Ireland)! haha.

 

I planned for our Ilocos trip for more than a month, visiting forums like GirlTalk at FemaleNetwork.com so I have a list of “where to go in Ilocos”. Dan, my husband’s colleague who was assigned in Ilocos Norte served as our guide and brought us to Kapurpurawan. I was surprised, it was not on my list! That time, it was not as popular. Thanks Dan for bringing us here! Didn’t climb because I was pregnant.

Yes, “mahangin sa labas” because we were facing South China Sea. Cool!

And the road trip continues to Bagui Windmill, the legacy of Bong Bong Marcos to combat poor electricity supply and high rates. I’m not advertising the Senator, just saying.

 

They are really gigantic, you’ll be scared to be near them. Ok, just me. I felt they will crash on me.

From the windmills, we went to their famous beach in Pagudpud and went to the Patapat Viaduct that connects the Ilocos to Cagayan. We were already at northernmost part of mainland Luzon. Dan, turned on the FM radio on his car, and we got signal from nearby Taiwan. Amazing!

 

One thing I will prioritize if I can go back to Ilocos is the Blue Lagoon, it was dark when we reached it. The next day ,we had to visit Sarrat and Vigan; Blue Lagoon was sadly off the course of our trip. I also want to visit their local market, try their sizzling dinuguan and basi (local wine) making.

So there, if you are thinking of where to go this summer, just in case you are looking forward as early as now like me, think about Ilocos Norte. Slow travel with one of the historically and culturally rich provinces in the country.

If you want to know more about the places I mentioned here, click and read my post, ” Northbound to Ilocos Norte” where all attractions are individually linked. Just bear with the visual, it was my early stage of blogging. 🙂

Till then and really hope to revisit you Ilocos Norte!

Have you been to Ilocos Norte? Share you stories with me!