Romy Roams Ilocos Day 3

We started our last day in Ilocos with a trip to the Juan and Antonio Luna Museum. This stop is highly-recommended. They show a short clip about the Luna brothers, and that's how I learned that the award-winning Juan Luna killed his wife and mother-in-law in a fit of raging jealousy. However, he was acquitted of the murder charges on grounds of temporary insanity.

The museum used to be the Luna's house in Ilocos Sur, before the family moved to Manila. Most of the house's foundation still exists, but some renovations were done throughout the years.

After the museum we had lunch at Cafe Leona on Calle Crisologo. We rode the Kalesa which included a tour to the Bantay Bell Tower and the Quirino Museum. 

An intricate wooden chest given to President Quirino from Chiang Kai Shek. 

A quick stroll along Calle Crisologo, where we saw Lovi Poe and Tom Rodriguez taping for Someone To Watch Over Me hehe, and we went on our way. 

We also stopped at the Lihim na Hardin, but then it rained so we left immediately. Our itinerary also included visiting Baluarte, owned by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson. Only J, Y, and I went because of the rain, and honestly, I wish we didn't. Even if some of the animals were freely roaming around, they still looked sad and out of place. 

I was also dismayed at the Safari Museum, which displayed Singson's kills. Taxidermied heads of various deers, bears (there was a polar bear!), and even an elephant were proudly displayed, along with photos of when Chavit shot them to death. I know hunting is legal in the places where he does it, I just can't imagine how people do this and be happy about it. 

After Baluarte, our driver brought us to the places where we bought souvenirs and pasalubong (different stops for T-shirts and trinkets, Bagnet, and bibingka). 

We left for Manila around 6pm and arrived at 1am. All in all a tiring but fun trip!

Our tour package was priced at 3,699 per person for a 3-day, 2-night stay including transportation, accommodations, breakfasts, day tours, and entrance fees (except the sand dunes adventure). You may contact Luiza Casimiro of NorthBound Gems Travel & Events at 0917-591-65-00. 

And that's it for my first edition of #RomyRoams. Thanks for reading!

Read about Romy Roams Ilocos Day 1 and Day 2. 

Romy Roams Ilocos Day 2: Laoag Sand Dunes, Cape Bojeador, and Bangui Windmills

The highlight of our trip would have to be the 4x4 ride in the Laoag Sand Dunes. We had to be ready by 6am and take a short ride to the sand dunes. 

Before we began, we were given a few reminders. J, Y, and I were standing at the back of the 4x4, and we were told to bend our knees and hold tight. 

It was a blast!!! We were screaming and laughing throughout the ride. It was like being on a roller coaster, but the feeling was more intense, and there were bumps along with the rise and dips. We stopped at certain places to take photos. It felt like we were out of the country. Toto, we're not in Pinas anymore!

The Laoag Sand Dunes adventure also came with unlimited sand boarding. You either sit or stand on the board and slide down the sands. I had sand all over me on my first try. Inside my t-shirt, on my face, at the back of my neck, everywhere. But I still gave it a second try. Fun!

One 4x4 ride costs Php2,500 and it can accommodate up to 5 passengers. But even if there are only two passengers, the price is still the same. So better to avail of this in groups.

For your own sand dunes adventure, contact Marlon Castro at 09758885687/09465859455. You may contact them thru their Facebook page, Laoag Sand Dunes Ilocos Escapade. 

We returned to the hotel to have breakfast, then proceeded with the tour. We visited the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

We tried authentic Ilocos Empanada after a tiring climb to the lighthouse.

We visited the Bangui Windmills next. This was a special place for me because when I visited in 2009, I wished that J was with me (hence my sign). Fast forward to 2016, and there we were!  

We proceeded to Pagudpud Beach. It was too hot to swim, and we didn't have enough time anyway so we only ate a very mediocre lunch at Hannah's Resort and some of us (not including me) tried the zip line over the ocean. 

The Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud Beach.

Then we stopped to take photos at the Patapat Viaduct and the Bantay Abot Cave.

A literal long and winding road, the Patapat Viaduct is the fourth longest bridge in the country.

The Bantay Abot Cave is not really a cave, but a hill with a hole in it because it got destroyed by an earthquake.

Our last stop for the day was the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. We could only take photos and admire it from afar, because it's now forbidden to go to the exact rock formation. I wonder when this started, because I saw many tourists and even prenup photos shot there.

Because we were going home the next day (Saturday), we didn't have a chance to attend worship service at any locale in Ilocos. I did see a lot of chapels big and small scattered throughout the province. I snapped one on our way back from Kapurpurawan and back to the hotel after our day's tour. 

Click here to read about our last day in Ilocos! 

Romy Roams Ilocos!

I was still working for an entertainment magazine when I first went to Ilocos in 2009. Our staff had our team planning at Sitio Remedios, a beautiful heritage resort owned by St. Luke's cardiologist Dr. Cuanang, located in Sitio Kurrimao, Ilocos Norte. 

Last month, I went back to Ilocos with J and his family, but this time, we also spent a day touring Vigan, Ilocos Sur. 

If on my first trip we took a plane that landed in Laoag International Airport, this time we rented a van and traveled for roughly nine hours. 

While Vigan was in our itinerary for the last day, it was actually our first stop as we had our breakfast there. We chose Kusina Felicitas, and we had their silog meals. I chose Tapa Ilokano, the restaurant specialty that leans toward the sour-salty side. My kind of flavor profile!

A few more hours of driving and we reached Paoay Church. By then it was noon, too hot to take photos, and time for lunch. 

We ate at Herencia Restaurant, which claims to be the birthplace of Pinakbet Pizza. We didn't order that though. We had Bagnet and the classic Pinakbet. We brought our dog Chowie along for this trip, and because there was no pets allowed in the resto, J and I waited outside for a bit until someone else finished eating. While waiting, I bought a cone of dirty ice cream with 2 flavors: avocado and dragon fruit, which is grown in the area. Perfect for the heat!

After lunch, we had our photos taken, and also bought some pasalubong: the requisite chichacorn, some T-shirts, and fans. I also bought a small pack of rice coffee for Tita L who loves drinking strong coffee (it wasn't until I gave it to her that I found out it was decaf! Haha).

We then visited former Pres. Marcos's remains in the Marcos Mausoleum (No photos allowed. Incidentally, a couple of days after our trip, the debate on his burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani ensued). After that, we went to Malacañang of the North, where former President Marcos and his family resided when he was in Ilocos Norte. The mansion, which has a view of the Paoay Lake, is now a museum. They charge a Php50 entrance fee, but we didn't have to pay since it was already included in our tour package. 

After a long day, we arrived at our hotel in Laoag and turned in for the night. We had an early start the next morning for our tour. Click here to read about Romy Roams Ilocos Day 2!

*Romy Roams is where I document my travels, with tips on itineraries and contacts. Watch for my other entries for this category!