Travelling Alone in Ilocos Norte Philippines

I work on my entire life after I graduated in college. I’d become a machine on my own .Then one day during my month long vacation in the Philippines, I suddenly think of usually conversation with my co-worker back in Oman, who happened to be one of my close friend regarding what we want to do and what we want to experience in life since both of us considered ourselves a breadwinner of our family, until it went to a serious matter with reference to “that you have to reward and think of yourself even once”. So giving an attempt in its place of doing nothing and squander the rest of the day thinking what and where life should be, I started to look for a trip that will have room for “on my own law”, and then I came across a blog with a title “Adventure in Ilocos Norte”, that really catches my attention , maybe because I knew that this will be best well-matched on what I want to do ; to dodging my predestined everyday routine activity and of course to makes me happy. Moreover, Ilocos Norte is one of the Philippines crest, remarkable and noteworthy destinations. So, after I completed reading the activities and how the blogger consummate the trip to be an exhilarating plus the minimal budget he spent for the rest, I planned a three days trip, on my own.
Started with Manila to Laoag

Following the outline from the blog, my trip started from Manila to Laoag via Partas Bus Liner at Partas Cubao Bus Station. I took 10 pm bus schedule for me able to get there early morning and for the reason to sleep well during the trip, and I think that it worked and helped a lot.

I arrived at around 8 am in Laoag after a 10 hours long trip; I first set off to find the nearest food shop where I can take my breakfast. Then after my breakfast, I went straight to Provincial Capitol and got a selfie which is a must, just to let anyone knows you’re in a trip... haha. just kidding, I just have to check out Museo Ilocos Norte to know the place I am up into, to be able have the knowledge and let their culture goes into your soul, a fundamental or standard things that you have to do-and the easiest way at least is to visit one museum.Laoag Tour : After a brief introduction about Ilocos, I decided to do some more sightseeing rather than food tripping, and first on the list, the famous Ilocos Sinking Tower Bell.

Sinking Tower
Once after arriving at the park where the famous landmark located, I wandered for quite a while and let my eyes amazed how this continuously preserved by the people of Ilocos, it tells so many stories. All I can think of was just wow.

After the sightseeing, I decided to try and look for one of the province oldest church, the Paoay Church, their century old Church
I left the church and headed on to Malacanang of the North, a place where President Marcos and his family spent time together then followed by Marcos Museum and Marcos Mausoleum in Batac, I don’t have as much knowledge about late President Marcos, but with my visit to their ancestral house and museleoum, I started to like his ideas and his character. I see him as a person with so much dignity and pride, considering all about the negative issues thrown to him during Martial Law, which written all over history book. I’m very impressed the way he handled the position of being a President and a father for his family. Reading all his works and accomplishments and also what he has in his mind enlightened me and I became very interested to know what is life during Martial Law, why and what happened. I also feel the pained of his last time in his life.

Next Adventure, Laoag to Pagudpod :After I visited all important places in Laoag, I decided to continue my trip to Pagupod, to take rest and to spend my night as well. My trip to Laoag to Pagudpod took approximately two hours by a local bus. The sun already set when I arrived in area and dimness falls speedily, a mixed of fear and excitement due to my first time to travel alone in such place 572 km away from home. I looked around and fortunately a few steps from the bus stop, there is tricycle station, so I talked to them to take me and find a place where I can spend my night. People in Ilocos are very accommodating and they will try to feel you the spirits of welcoming one person wholeheartedly.

I finished up staying at Saud White beach resort which I’m very pleased because I can have a beach and accommodation at one. However, due to overtiredness cause by long travel hours, I got sleepy and decided to a break.

Saud White Beach Resort : The next morning, I got up about 6 am and took a slow long walk around the beautiful white sand beach, there is no hurry, no pressing urgency to be anywhere so I sit and by then, I decided to take my swimming, I am determined to spent my whole morning only for swimming, it’s the best time to do the activity because only very few visitors swim that very early, the place is so quiet and very peaceful, I’ve spent a lot observing around with total meditation. In that time, I’ve learned what works for me in a place to live; that this is the life and way I wanted, feeling somewhat liberated. My new found sense of comfort that I felt good all over, that there are so many things life can offer. Thank you to my friend who reminded me to go and see yourself. That, it is okay to be treat yourself the way you want to be. It was refreshing; it was one of a kind adventure.Five entire hours passed, almost 11 am and I am still like a child playing with water, still very overwhelmed with the way life should be, but I need to get out of the beach and need to maximize my time, at this point, I decided to continue my escapade by visiting other areas of Pagudpod. I talked to one of the caretaker of the resort and asked for help if he could find me a service or a tour guide .Luckily he has one friend who is willing to do the job for a minimal fee.

View of Saud Beach Resort from my room

Last Activity: Pagupod Tour

Kabigan Waterfalls: First stop, I was taken by my tour guide to 1 km trekking towards to a small waterfalls, very tiring but still manages to reach our destination, I was still in the mid of water around my whole body feeling brought by 5 hours swimming by the beach when my tour guide made told me that I can go for a swim in the waterfall ,so feeling excited to swim to incredibly beautiful lord’s creation, id let cold water rushed around me, almost as cold as 10 degrees C, but I don’t mind as long as I am enjoying, it is once in a lifetime, the experience to live life to the fullest. But after a while, I realized that I need to get up and for my next destination, so many places to go.

Patapat Viaduct: Patapat viaductIt is a concrete coastal bridge 1.3 km long and connects the Maharlika Highway from Laoag, Ilocos Norte to the Cagayan Valley Region. It was completed and opened to traffic in October 1986. It rises along the town's coastal mountains, which is the starting point of the Cordillera Mountain Range that snakes through Northern Luzon and the 4th longest bridge in the Philippines

Paraiso ni Anton
My next destination adventure was Paraiso-ni-Anton or Anton's Paradise, sounds like a movie title way back bomba era of Philippine television, but believe me it’s not,, haha.

It has cool waters coming from mountain stream believe to have miraculous healing properties and in the side of the place , there are several stalls selling souvenirs like tshirt and other small stones painted with different colors.

Timmangtang Rock and Bantay Abot cave

Blue Lagoon

Bangui Windmills

The whole tour completed around 5 pm which means the end of my day’s adventure, or so I would have liked it to be, I prepared myself and looked for the bus to take me back to Laoag as there are no buses directly going to Manila.
All in all, Ilocos norte was very interesting and a package place must see.And I can say based on my experience that it definitely serve the room of on my own law.