Paoay Sand Dunes: 4x4 ride & Sand boarding

Because I'm kinda bias, I made a separate post for this. =) Obviously, this was my favorite part of our entire Ilocos adventure. Others may not consider this as their favorite but I doubt if they didn't even enjoy a bit of the experience. It was an entirely different experience. It's not everyday that you'd get a chance to ride this type of 4x4 vehicle with those sand and in uneven surface where the vehicle would climb an extremely high dune and in a second goes down again, all in high speed. I cannot describe enough what we exactly felt with the 4x4 experience but it is closely like WOOOOAAAAAHHHH and WAAAAAAAHHHHH. =))

Good thing I didn't come few years back because this 4x4 experience and sand boarding is not popular enough for everyone to consider this as a must try activity. It is not actually included in the tour package we had but ahead of time, we asked if we can go sand boarding and we'll just pay for how much it requires. Thank God for awesome "tour mates" who all are always game for everything.

Rates: Php2500 per 4x4 vehicle ; maximum of 6 persons. ; includes 30 minutes 4x4 ride with 3 stops to enjoy the view, the last is for sand boarding.

 Looks a lot like toy cars

 The enjoy na enjoy face :)

 Our group right next to the sea

After shouting our lungs out the entire 4x4 experience, sand boards are up! Scary dahil sobrang matarik pa yung pinili ng guide namin but eventually, you'll get to enjoy the experience! It was as fun as surfing and wakeboarding. No need to worry if you'll get knocked down, the sands are fine and soft =)

Here am I, getting ready

Happiness! =))

Here are some videos para sa ikaliligaya ng lahat =))))

Eto ang masarap balik-balikan!! 

If you'll travel to Ilocos, don't ever miss this experience! It was really really great!! =)
Just to mention what he had after our energies were drained....

LAOAG PARKLANE HOTEL
http://laoagparklanehotel.blogspot.com/

Check in after giving out all our energy for the 4x4 ride and sand boarding. Sabi ni Kuya Rey (our driver), kalahating hotel, kalahating churva-han daw to. If you know what he means... But infairness naman, malinis at maayos, di halata =))

CHICKEN ATI-ATIHAN
Gen. Segundo Ave., Laoag City

 Had their signature Chicken At-atihan and this Fried Chicken which I forgot the name

Inuman after dinner. Happy Birthday JC! (guy in blue)

Thanks JC Natividad for most of the photos! 

Related post: From Photographs to Reality: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur

Next post: Pagudpud and the rest of Ilocos Norte

Chinx♥

From Photographs to Reality: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur

Hello! And I am back! No post for the month of October :( Bawi na lang this month and hopefully next month. :)

Uunahan ko na, magagalit sakin ang friends ko pagtapos ng post na to! Huhuhu :((

One of the plans I mentioned on my last post did push through! It was this Ilocos tour! We had a 3 days 2 nights tour package from Explore Island Philippines which costs only Php3500 per head which includes Manila-Vigan-Laoag-Pagudpud-Manila van transfers and accommodation for 2 nights. Good deal?

Meeting time was 9pm of October 25 (not counted as first day). And expected time of arrival at Vigan is 5am for the night view of Heritage Village.

CALLE CRISOLOGO

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Vigan City is called the Heritage Village and was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage for having well preserved Spanish structures.

(c) Ace Santos

 (c) JC Natividad

"Tour mates"

Since we had a tour package and we can't occupy the entire van, we were included to other groups.

 (c) Ace Santos

BANTAY CHURCH AND BELL TOWER

Bantay, Ilocos Sur

It is just a few minutes away from Vigan City, became popular because of its belfry which sits few meters away from the church. I think it's a must to climb the top most part of the belfry, you'd enjoy the view of Vigan and other cities.

 (c) Elka Prudente

 (c) Elka Prudente

The belfry

 (c) Elka Prudente

CAFE UNO
1 Bonifacio St. Corner Quirino Blvd., Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

Had our breakfast at Cafe Uno which is located in Granpa's Inn. Our driver told us that it would take too much time if we will be ordering the time we got there and since they have someone to contact there, we had our meals pre-ordered.

(c) Ace Santos

Tapsilog for Php110

 (c) Ace Santos

Longsilog for Php 95

Vigan Longanisa!!!!

CHAVIT SINGSON'S BALUARTE ZOO

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

http://chavitsingson.net/baluarte/

A total of 80 hectares of land as a home to different animal species owned by Governor Chavit Singson. The good thing about Baluarte is that they do not have an entrance fee and asks only donations for animal interactions.

(c) Elka Prudente

 (c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

 (c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

Maliit pa to! Scary sa laki yung mga nasa kulungan :)

 (c) JC Natividad

Ang cute dahil nakatingin siya. Parang hahampas pa yung buntot. Haha.

 (c) JC Natividad

One of the scariest moments of my life. Haha.

OA pero ang scary talaga. Tapos nung isang beses pa biglang gumalaw nung ako yung pipicturan. Scaryyyy pero nakakaaliw :)

 (c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

Bahay ba to ni Gov? Bongga sa pagkaGold! :D

After Baluarte, next stop is the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. We did enter the Mausoleum but not the Museum. Later would be the explanation why I don't have any photos. :( :)

PAOAY CHURCH

Paoay, Ilocos Norte

A Roman Catholic Church in Paoay completed in 1710. It is famous of its huge buttresses on the side and back of the church making it as an Earthquake Baroque Structure mainly for earthquake protection. One of the best examples of Baroque Churches in the Philippines as it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. 

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

MALACAÑANG TI AMIANAN

Suba, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

“Malacañang ti Amianan” is an Ilokano term for a two-storey mansion. A 2-storey mansion in a 5 hectare property in Suba which sits right next to Paoay Lake. It is also known as the Malacañang of the North. It is one of the rest houses of Former President Marcos. It was also considered to be their official residence in Ilocos Norte during the Marcos Regime.

(c) JC Natividad

greeted by a refreshing ambiance.

(c) JC Natividad

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

There's Paoay Lake

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

Second Floor

Ang presko lang. Madaming bintana at may terrace (right side) na overlooking ang Paoay Lake.

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Elka Prudente

(c) Ace Santos

This was our Day 1 in Ilocos. May kulang pa pero next post na lang.

On getting mad at me, alam niyo na kung bakit? Lahat sa post na to photo credit lang tapos halos lahat may mga tao pa. May face-less version sana ako ng lahat ng picture kaso ayun nga. WALANG NATIRA SA PHOTOS ng Day 1! Huhuhuhuhuhuhu. :((((((( Ang sakit lang pero wala na akong magawa, burado na e. :(

Thanks to Elka, Ace and JC for all the other photos. :)

Explore Island Philippines by EIP Travel & Tours

Mobile: 09359072592 (John) TM

Email: natividadjohnchristopher@y.c.

Or visit www.exploreislandph.multiply.com

Next Post: PAOAY SAND DUNES!!

Chinx♥ 

Such a school girl :))

It's the last day of the month and sadly, I didn't have time to travel AGAIN. My last travel was the Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras tour last June. After 4 months, no travel plans are sure. There were A LOT of plans but those are just bare plans and no confirmations yet. :( I was looking forward for a travel-filled semestral break but we'll still see then.

No travel means that I am busy at school. My very close friends might not believe me (haha. di halata?) but hell yeah! I was busy! There are days/weeks wherein me and my classmates would say "eto na pinaka pahinga ko e.(pertaining to having some kwentuhan moments with friends)" And if before, updating my Facebook or Twitter or just going online relieves my stress, it's not that way now. Yung pagpasok mo sa umaga sa school, problema ang sasalubong at dala mo na yung buong araw tapos paguwi mo sa gabi, pagonline mo problema pa din. Tapos school works tapos puyat. And it becomes a cycle.

Daming reklamo? Haha. Karekla-reklamo na din kasi minsan. :) PERO KONTING TIIS NA LANG! KONTING-KONTI NA LANG! Kayang-kaya pa!!! :DD

Syempre walang kwenta ang post kung wala namang picture. Haha. Eto na oh!! This is just for the month of September. :)

(c) Ace Santos

Started the month on chill mode. 

Reunion with swimming friends and coaches.

(c)Haelene Piller

Savings and Investment seminar at Adamson University.

Thanks to JFINEX-AdU for inviting us!

 (c) Kelvin Roxas

O, si Mayor Lim ang keynote speaker. Dinidiscuss niya yung financial center o!

O, ganito ah. O, ganyan yan! O, kayo ba.... O, ano masasabi niyo? Hahaha!

Limsanity!! :)) I Love Mayor Lim! :)))

I also love that he's active on twitter kahit secretary naman niya talaga ang naguupdate. Haha. Follow him @TheMayorLim :)

 Portfolio Management seminar at Adamson University in preparation for the Stock x Challenge

JFINEX-AdU, thanks again! See you next week!! :)

 With Mr. Xandy Gilles, CFA. Market educator of FirstMetroSec

 A successful tour at  the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Kuddos to my co-officers for patiently arranging everything!

September 24-28 is our school's foundation week. The most stressful foundation week ever! Dati kasi irregular ang classes at petiks ang lahat. Grabe lang talaga ngayon!

Monday - seminar (not just a participant but an organizer)

Tuesday - rest  day

Wednesday - Quizzes + blood donation

Thursday - Thesis defense

Friday - Feasibility Study defense

Huge huge thanks to Prof. Arman!!

Every year, they allot a day or two for the blood letting activity by the Red Cross. I always wanted to donate but didn't have the chance to. But this time, I won't let it pass without me participating. :)

 There are screenings before the actual donation of blood. And good thing, I passed!

 Here are other students, volunteering :)

Success!! :))

1 bag is 450 ml :) Mainit-init pa. hahaha.

*hello din sa namamaga kong mata! 4 days now :(*

(c) Rutchel Peregrino

Baller from Red Cross :)

(c) Rutchel Peregrino

Thesis defense!!

(c) Rutchel Peregrino

After defense, revisions naman oh! :))

(c) Rutchel Peregrino

Feasib defense!!

Defense includes the stressful search for a matching outfit. Haha.

Sabi ko pa naman after ng mga defense ko lalakwatcha ako ng bongga kaso exams naman para next week naman kaya di pa din pwede. :( OA ba pagkakakwento ko sa simula? Haha. Di lang halata sa pictures! Syempre wala naman kaming picture habang pinagpupuyatan ang bawat detalye. Haha.

I may not have traveled for months now but learning experience na din sakin ang lahat. Alam naman ng everyone how I love trying new things like the blood letting and meeting new people from the seminars and tour. Sadyang kastress lang Thesis and Feasib pero kaya naman!! Friends, see you soon! :)

Ang maganda lang sa school life kong to, more time para makapagipon para sa next travel! Woohoo! Tapos may extra panshopping na din! :)) Travel soon!! :)

Chinx♥