7 days to go and still counting...

The most awaited adventure in my life is nearly coming! 3 months of waiting, a month of failure plans and epic mishaps. FINALLY!!! it is now coming to reality! LOL!


I always day-dream of going to ILOCOS NORTE, my friend once invited me to go with her and celebrate her birthday in their hometown, ILOCOS NORTE. I actually said YES that time but I canceled up to the last minute due to some unexpected things happened, just... something came up that time,and I need to make a decision. anyhow, at least she asked me again and for the second time around, I answered her YES! again but this time, it's for SURE! No backing-up! No second, third thoughts! No Yellow light, JUST GO!

After a month of preparation Finally! We already booked our "De Luxe" tickets dated April 4. Yes!! You read it right! This coming HOLY WEEK! Well, we can be religious and have fun at the same time, right? That's why I love Philippines and I really love to shout it out loud that "IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES! "

I still cannot think of which place to go first, well aside from my friend's family's rest house which is nearby the beach ofcourse hahahaha. I still want to visit other places, (that's what makes me excited!) like, The famous Vigan Heritage Village (street) which is an one hour drive from my friend's place, Paoay which is famous with sand boarding and atv, Paoay Church, Pagudpod Wind Mills which are also half hour drive from their place. I know that there is still a lot of "a must visit place" in Ilocos. So I make used of m free time and do my homework for my adventure, I researched about Ilocos' Tourism and made a list of my own "Must..." list.

taaaaadaaaa.... 

Let's start with my "must experience" list... (which I think I need a tons of sun block lotion for this trip!)

Sand Dunes
The Ilocos Norte sand dunes is an 85 sq km land formation unique in Southeast Asia, and a popular spot for 4×4 and ATV. For thrill seekers, sand boarding is a must. Best time for 4×4 will be early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Pagudpud
A haven for tourists, Pagudpud has also been discovered as the best location for water sports.  The waves at Blue Lagoon in Balaoi has attracted pro-surfers and is great for wind and wave lovers.

Bangui Windmills
International pro-surfers Pete Cabrinha and Susi Mai say that Ilocos Norte is the future of wind sports and the beach at the Bangui Windmills provide a dynamic backdrop for kite boarding.

Paoay Lake National Park
This body of freshwater was declared as a National Park under Republic Act 5631 on June 21, 1969. Known in earlier days as Nangguyudan, legend has it that a village lied beneath Paoay Lake’s still waters.

Paoay Golf Course
The complex is an 18-hole golf course with complete facilities and amenities. It has a land area of 77 hectares and was designed by Gary Player.

Badoc Island
 The actual island is not particularly large and sits roughly a kilometre off the town of Badoc.

Abang Falls, Adams
Abang Falls has two tiers from which water cascades downstream. The surrounding boulders and cliffs are filled with wild ferns and air plants to delight plant enthusiasts.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

One of the golden acres of the town of Burgos is this massive rock formation that juts out into the sea. Seen up close, it is a dazzling bright white rock that sparkles in the sun. Capurpuraoan is a showcase of the wind and water power on rock and coral.

Kaangrian Falls, Burgos
The falls is very famous for its abundant waters, forming semi-circles that cascade down the multiple layers of rock. The beauty of the area is a natural landscape of limestone deposits, with hundreds of small sparkling pools on the base of the falls.

Tanap Rapids, Burgos

It is home to natural blue pools and various falls.

Pangil Rock Formation, Currimao
Pangil beach is bordered by an extensive coral rock formation, fascinating for marine enthusiasts. The shallow and calm beaches of Currimao in general make it perfect for family outing and snorkeling.

Paraiso ni Anton
Located at Matarongtong, Pagudpud, the reverberating, endlessly down pouring water creates a rhapsody which invokes life to sightseers.

BantayAbot Cave, Pagudpud

This rock formation was naturally formed by the strong waves and wind and is said to resemble a woman’s private parts.

Dos Hermanos, Pagudpud

The islands are two identical mountains. Legend says long ago there were two brothers who were very close to each other. They had made a vow to remain together until death.

Kabigan Falls

The Falls are a very popular place to visit when in Pagudpud. The cool waters cascade some 87 feet into a natural concave basin.

Davila Mangroves, Pasuquin

The mangroves in Davila are one of the newest eco-tourism sites in the province. It is home to an array of marine life.

Karingking River

This river resort also boosts of its clear and cool water especially during summer.  It is also a favorite picnic ground for both local and foreign tourists.

Dua – dua Falls
The Dua-dua Falls is found at the eastern mountainous part of Barangay Manalpac.  It is a favorite destination for mountain climbers as trekking is made all the more exciting because of the physical attribute of the pathway traveled to reach the falls.

Vintar Dam

The Vintar River and its tributaries from an intricate lattice of waterways that weave through the valley to keep the land constantly irrigated and fertile.

Anuplig Falls, Adams
The most popular falls in Adams, it is about 20 feet of natural waterfalls with two basins.

Bulu River

The popular Buluriver originated in Adams, much to the delight of avid kayakers and white water rafters.

BannaZipline

ParaisotiCaribquib used to be a forest until April 2010, when they successfully finished the project.  Ecotourism development is paving the way to progress for this agricultural town in the eastern portion of Ilocos Norte.

Mt. Mawakwakar, Banna
The people of Banna take pride in an enchanted mountain called Mount Mawakwakar. The mountain is shrouded in mystery and several local legends have sprung from it. Many people believe in the healing power of the water from Mount Mawakwakar.
 Source: http://tourismilocosnorte.com/42-2/  photo:googleimage