Trip to Cabongaoan Beach in Burgos Pangasinan

 Basic Expenses:

 192.00 php - airconditioned bus fare from Tarlac City to the Alaminos Victory Liner Terminal (regular fare)

 154.00 php - airconditioned bus fare from Tarlac City to Alaminos Victory Liner terminal (senior citizen fare)

 1500 php - 1 kubo for a family of 5. There is a common CR outside.

 600.00 php - two tricycle (300.00 php each tricycle) from Burgos to Cabongaoan Beach.

 30.00 php - regular bus fare from Alaminos VL terminal to Burgos (Sta Cruz route)

 24.00 php - senior citizen bus fare from Alaminos VL terminal to Burgos

 25.00 php - regular jeepney fare from Burgos to Alaminos VL terminal

 21.00 php - senior citizen jeepney from Burgos to Alaminos VL terminal

We left Tarlac City at around 11:00 PM and arrived to Alaminos VL terminal minutes before 1:00 AM. The terminal has it's own comfort room and there's a bakery nearby.
 

Metrobank ATM across the Alaminos VL terminal

 Buses bound to Burgos leaves the terminal at around 3:30 AM. Unfortunately, the conductor of the Burgos bus was absent that time so we rode a Sta. Cruz-bound bus instead. We left at past 3:30 AM and arrived at Burgos at around 4:30 AM. We got two tricycles since there are 5 of us and a tricycle has a capacity of 3 people. It was mostly a rough and bumpy ride to Cabongaoan Beach because the roads were still under construction so if you're commuting it's a must that you go there early because the roads will be dustier if the sun is already up. We arrived at Cabongaoan Beach at around 5:30 AM. Lessons learned on this trip, it was already March 25 which is almost peak season and we we're not expecting the crowd on the beach so we did not make a room reservation and it turned out most of the rooms were already occupied. Since we don't want to go around looking for a room anymore because we're bringing a lot of things,

we just settled for a kubo at The Cabo Beach
 which we can occupy only at 11:00 AM since the occupants would only check-out at 11:00 AM. For this reason we had to idle around for more than 5 hours which caused a lot of stress and disagreements. If you want to be nearer where the Death Pool is it's better to check-in at D'cousins Beach Resort.

          Our kubo at The Cabo Beach Resort

 we would have wanted to check-in here instead

We ate our lunch before 11:00 AM. When we we're finally able to check-in we slept then went out at about 12:00 PM to see what the Death Pool looks like.

below the cliff

On the cliff

                                       

                         

they call it Death Pool but my sister would rather call it Nature's Pool

After wading at the Nature's Pool, (we don't like calling it Death Pool as it sounds morbid) we went back to our kubo, ate and rested for a while then went back to the shore for a sunset swim.

 The next day we woke up at 4:00 AM as we heard that there will be a jeepney that would be passing along the main road to Burgos for only 30.00 php per person. The jeepney arrived at around past 5:00 AM. There were some stopovers along the way so when we arrived to Alaminos VL terminal it's already about 8:30 am. My father went to the Alaminos market to buy food. He bought halaan and some dried fish. Buses bound to Dau or Cubao depart from the terminal at about 9:00 AM.

Laoag City Trip

Expenses:

500 php - tricycle tour to some places in Laoag City, Fort Ilocandia, Sand Dunes and Paoay Lake and Church

600 php - fare from Batac to Dau via a Partas Cubao bus

1500 php - 30 mins roving the sand dunes on a 4wd (without sandboarding)

 On our 2nd day in Pagudpud we went to Saud Beach at 5:30 am. We bought palitao from a boy walking around selling palitao at 10.00 each. We then took a morning swim.

    little boy selling palitao at the background

At 9:40 am we're already onboard a Laoag bus and we arrived to Laoag at quarter to 12:00 pm. We took our lunch at Papa Pau's which is a few steps away fom the bus terminal in Laoag where we were dropped off. At Papa Pau's we ordered sisig and singang sa miso na bangus. Their sisig (price is 165.00 php) is good. As for the sinigang na miso we requested the head part but when our order arrived it was the tail part so we told the waiter it should have been the head part. The waiter asked us if we have not been informed that there's no head part anymore and I said we have not been informed because if we were we would not order it anymore. We requested the waiter to just replace it with sisig. I also ordered mango and carrot juice and asked them not to make it sweet which they did and I liked it. Kuya Eddie, a tricycle driver in Laoag offered his services for the Laoag City, Sand Dunes and Paoay Lake and Church tour.

We first went to the  Capitol of Ilocos Norte, the Laoag City Church and Bell Tower and the Laoag signage near the water fountain.

Capitol of Ilocos Norte

We also went to see Fort Ilocandia

And then proceeded to the Suba Sand Dunes.  With the hotness of the day you'll surely thirst for water so don't ever forget your water.1 liter of water at the Suba Sand Dunes is 50.00 php. Roving the sand dunes on a 4wd would be a great bonding-activity with friends and family. The 4wd sliding from a high place is super fun, it's like riding a roller coaster and is a heart-stopper. Sand boarding is also something you should not miss for a heart-jerking experience. Ready your poses and composure as the guys at the sand boarding site will be taking your photos and videos while sliding down.

After the sand dunes we went to the Paoay Lake. I was told by the crew at the store there that the 95.00 php double empanada is their specialty so I bought one along with a regular halo halo but sadly again the empanada did not taste like a specialty and is not worth its 95.00 php price. As a consolation, the view of the Paoay Lake takes away your exhaustion, soothes and calms you. We were told that a white building that we can see at the lake is the Malacanang of the North.

We then visited Paoay Church.

After Paoay Church Kuya Eddie brought us to Batac where we waited for a Bus back to Dau, Pampanga.

Trip to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Expenses:

600 php - Laoag bus from Dau terminal to Laoag via Crised Trans

120 php - Florida bus (junction Luna Claveria) from Laoag to Mawani

70 php - Tricycle from Mawani to Lilia's Homestay which is 5-10 mins walk from Saud Beach

70 php - Tricycle from Lilia's Homestay to the Laoag buses (beside Pamilihang Bayan ng Pagudpud)

250 php - per person room rate at Lilia's Homestay.

800 php - Southbound tricycle tour with breakdown of 500 php for bangui windmill  tour (which also included fetching us from our homestay and back and 300 php for Cape Bojeador and Kapurpurawan tour (two separate tricycles)

70 php - ordinary bus from Pagudpud to Laoag  City

500 php - tricycle tour to some places in Laoag City, Fort Ilocandia, Sand Dunes, Paoay Lake and Church

600 php - fare from Batac to Dau via a Partas Cubao bus

Our Laoag bus left Dau Terminal at 4:20 pm. There was only one bus stop which happened at 7:45 pm so the passengers can have their dinner. We arrived in Laoag City at 2:00 am. The bus stopped in front of a white hotel-looking building which I later on found out is actually the Capitol of Ilocos Norte. We asked the tricycle drivers where the terminal of the Pagudpud buses are and we walked our way there however upon arriving we were informed that the Pagudpud bus would only be arriving at 4:30 am. While waiting, we learned from a tricycle driver that we can ride a Florida bus to Mawani so we can leave earlier than 4:30 am. He brought us to the Florida bus terminal. The tricycle fare is 11.00 php per person but you can also walk to it. When we got to the terminal there's already a bus that passes through Mawani. The signboard on the bus is 'junction Luna Claveria'. We asked the conductor to please drop us at Mawani (where there are tricycles that can bring us to Pagudpud). The trip from Laoag to Mawani is about 1 hour and 20 minutes (without traffic). The tricycle fare from the tricycle post in Mawani to Saud Beach is 70.00 php. We reached Lilia's Homestay  before 5:00 am. The room that we got has 2 beds, 2 toilets and 2 wall fans.

 

We slept for 1 hour then texted Kuya Vanni (the tricycle driver who brought us to Lilia's Homestay) to fetch us at the homestay at 7:00 am for the Southbound tricycle tour. We took our breakfast at Tita's Eatery which is just a few steps from our lodging. They have combo meals for 60.00 php. After eating, we hurriedly went back to our homestay to wait for Kuya Vanni who came earlier than 7:00 am. Our first destination were the Bangui Windmills. Don't forget to bring your water because a small bottle of water there would cost you 25.00 php. If you go there in summer it can get very hot so don't forget to bring an umbrella as well or a scarf to shield yourself with from the scorching heat of the sun.

                                                                                    

Overlooking the sea and the windmills

 

I never thought that the windmills are gigantic. I can't imagine how they were able to mount these windmills considering how huge and heavy they are. According to wikipedia, NorthWind Power Development Corp. developed (and maintains and operates) this project (power generating windmill farm in Bangui), while Vestas Wind Systems, a Danish firm, supplied the wind turbine-generator units (WTGs) for the site, similar to those already found in Denmark. 

I hope that our country continues to support these kind of projects that focuses on developing sources of energy that are sustainable and renewable such as wind, solar and water instead of coal which is not only unsustainable but also not environment-friendly due to higher carbon emissions which causes climate change which in turn causes further global warming, sea level rise and increase in the frequency and severity of weather-related disasters like typhoon Yolanda. Aside from this is the health risk to the workers exposed to coal dust on coal mining or other coal-related occupations.

After the windmills, Kuya Vanni brought us to the Kapurpurawan tourist center where we got  a tricycle for the Cape Bojeador and Kapurpurawan portion of the tour.

It is the month of May which is a peak season so Cape Bojeador is teeming with tourists and it's almost impossible to take an unphotobombed photo of the lighthouse. Since it's also very hot we didn't have the patience either so we just contented ourselves with some photos showing the lighthouse tower with people behind us.

the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse is part of the Spanish government's master plan of illuminating the
Philippine archipelago (source: Wikipedia)

 

a view of the West Philippine Sea

The Cape Bojeador was declared a National Historical Landmark on August 13, 2004 and a National Cultural Treasure on June 20, 2005 by the Philippine Government. It was built as welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky cost of the town. The light marks the northwestern-most point in Luzon.
(source: Wikipedia)

Afterwards, we went back to our tricycle then we proceeded to Kapurpurawan. We were made to pay 40.00 php as an entrance fee

Apparently, they no longer let people take photos infront of the rock formation or sit or step on them because some people are vandalizing them. They said you can only take photos from the back which is very disappointing. Good thing I still see the windmills in the background which brings happy feelings and also the intermittent blows of humid air that brings comfort amidst the heat-stroke inducing weather.

Before exploring the very hot place we bought coconut juice which costs 25 php however it doesn't taste coconut it only tastes sugar. The coconut juice that they sell in our town is way better for only 10 php. It really disheartens me that people nowadays tend to sacrifice the quality of what they're selling for the sake of profit.

My youngest sister rented a horse for 100.00 php so she doesn't have to walk to where the Kapurpurawan rock formation is.

 

 

 I wonder if this is also sea water and if it's shallow?

I've been telling my sister not to cut my feet however...

saving the best for last hehehe, peace!

After Kapupuruwan, our tricycle brought us back to the tourist center where Kuya Vanni is waiting. We rode Kuya Vanni's tricycle back to our homestay. We arrived at around 12:00 pm. We got headache because of the heat so we decided to sleep for about an hour. Upon waking up we walked to Saud Beach to look for something to eat.

Ice Cream on a brown cone for 20.00 php

We took our late lunch at Apo Idon. While looking at the menu the person at the counter suggested that we try their specialty which is tocino something with grilled fish (I already forgot the exact name). Since we also don't know what to order we just went with that. Unfortunately, we think that the food was too expensive for its 315.00 php price if you're going compare it to the food at Ikabud in SM Clark. Their rice is 30.00 php. I also ordered mango shake for I think 90.00 php. I told them not to make it sweet and  i was satisfied with how they made it. The nice interiors of the restaurant and the polite service crew made up for the not-so-delicious food we ate.

Apo ldon restaurant

Apo Idon restaurant provides a beautiful view of Saud Beach


We waited for the sun to mellow down a bit before we continued walking around.

 

 

Myssisters took a dip and we went back after dusk. We were already too lazy to look for a place to eat so we just took our dinner at Tita's eatery.