Daily Adventures: LRT, the second time around

Just when I thought I've experienced the worst....

Eto na, sumakay ako sa Tayuman. 8 pm, so siksikan, pero walang problema sanay naman na ako. At dahil nga sanay ako, no need kumapit sa handles (pero walang handles sa gitnang part nung train yung nasakyan ko kasi luma), matter of defying gravity lang (ANO DAW??). Dun ako naka-pwesto sa may tapat ulit ng pinto. Edi andar ang LRT. Medyo nainis lang ako kasi yung dalawang istudyanteng katabi ko ang ingay mag-usap. Naka-headset na ako dinig ko parin. Tapos yung tawa ni ate grabe! Alam nyo yung galing sa tiyan na HAHAHA? Ganon eh! Buti sana kung mabango hininga! Nakaharap pa ako sa kanya guys :(((

After ilang stations, medyo madami na nakababa. Ganito ang scene: yung mga nakatayo sa harap ng upuan, kanya-kanyang kapit sa hawakan. Ako nakikisiksik parin sa may tapat ng pinto kasi gusto ko, out of the thousands na bababa sa Monumento, ako yung pinaka mauuna. Ang sarap sa feeling kasi!! Para kang nanalo sa running competition. 

Approaching Monumento na. Medyo maluwag na sa gitna pero hindi parin ako pumunta dun para kumapit sa hawakan. Gusto ko nga mauna lumabas eh bakit ba? Tas biglang huminto yung train. Ako, chill lang. Kinig parin sa music. After ilang seconds, umandar na.... at BIGLANG HUMINTO ULIT. AS IN YUNG BIGLAANG HINTO.

Eto lang naman nangyari sakin:

Simula sa tapat nung pinto, TUMILAPON AKO PAPUNTA SA KABILANG PINTO GUYS. AS IN TUMILAPON AKO!! Una likod! Tignan nyo yung pic sa taas!!! As in from door to door talaga!! (Pero mas mahaba pa yata jan yung linakbay ko! Basta alam nyo na yung distance kung nakasakay na kayo ng LRT!) Tapos puta yung katabi ko, akala yata unan ako!!!! Daganan daw ako?????? As in napa-upo ako!! Kaya hindi ako naka-hawak sa mga tao kasi bale parang tinutulak nya ako! Tas feeling ko nag-slow mo! As in parang pelikula guys :(((

AT HINDI MAN LANG NAG-SORRY. Naka-ngiti pa habang tinatayo sarili nya!!

Ako naman, tuloy tayo rin. Pero yung feeling na lahat ng tao dun naka tingin sayo :((((((( yung isa tumuturo pa sakin parang sabi "ang layo ng narating oh" PAKYU PO.

#TUHOGLEVELS :((

Sana wala akong kasabay na Thomasian. Nakakahiya :( baka ma-post ako sa overheard group :( HAHA

Ano pa kaya ang next adventures ko sa LRT?

Abangan(?) jk sana last na to :(((

PS. Wala naman ako natamong galos. Medyo naubos lang yung kahihiyan ko.

LESSON: Wag na sumakay ng LRT! Mag jeep nalang! Kidding aside, humawak sa handles. Wag pa-badass :p

*photo credit to the owners*

Levitation collection: Ilocos

If others have jumping, tumbling or any other unique shots of the places they visit, then I have levitation. It all started when my family went to Hong Kong last year. From then on, I promised to myself to do this everytime I travel.

Bantay Bell Tower

Calle Crisologo

Paoay Church

St. Andrew Parish

Bangui Windmills

St. Monica Parish

Malacañang of the North

Baluarte

Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation

Haven't seen my days 1 to 3 travel diaries? Click here, here and here.

Travel Diary: Ilocos Day 3

Down to my last Ilocos travel diary!

The first place in our itinerary was Bantay Abot Cave. We all have no idea what awaits us until we reached the area. It turned out that we have to walk on sea rocks (the ones where waves crash!) to get into the cave - in short, liguan ito! There was a problem though: We were not dressed to go for a dip! Our tour guide forgot to inform us so we decided not to push through with it. Besides, it was also high tide. The picture above shows the view from the area.

We then headed to Hannah’s Beach Resort situated right in front of the famous Blue Lagoon! (Photo from Google) This is just one of Philippine’s hidden gems! The captivating crystal clear waters and white sand beach are just too perfect!

It is where the longest zip line in the world over water can be found! Other activities include speed boat, banana boat, jet ski, kayak, surf boards, ATVs, etc! The place is really for adventurers!

And yup, I've conquered the longest zip line, ever! 1.150 km baby!! It’s my first time to try this kind of activity and it was really fun! The view of Blue Lagoon from up above was so fascinating. I wanted to fall into the waters from where I was hanging.. no just kidding. Ahhh can’t put into words the beauty of blue lagoon!! You guys should include it to your bucket list!

Karyoka - cassava cue with young coconut skewered on a stick that's being sold around Hannah's. Tastes so much like butsi for me!

I forgot to include this on my Day 1 post. When in Vigan, eat Kabatiti, Puki-puki, Utong, Bagnet and Empanada! Oh the names they give to their food..

Kabatiti and Puki-puki! NOM :))

First time to try a legit empanada from Ilocos! I haven't tried one during my first visit. Filling includes veggies, longganisa, bagnet and egg. Tastes much better when freshly cooked.

After our short adventure to Hannah’s Beach resort, we visited the red-brick church built in neo-classical style, Sta. Monica Parish – the church with the longest aisle in Southeast Asia! The whole complex took 10 years to build. It is also where Irene Marcos, daughter of the late Ferdinand Marcos, got married to Gregorio Araneta.

The giant tree on the left is said to absorb one’s weaknesses once you hug it.

Speaking of the Marcoses, a trip to Ilocos would not be complete without visiting places in relation with them. Birthplace of Marcos is where Ferdinand was, well, born.

Some paintings hanging on the wall

This room contains plaques, awards, recognitions and other memorabilia of Marcos

One of the 29 houses that the Marcos regime was able to build during its two decades of power is  the Malacañang of the North. This served as the official residence of the first family whenever they are in Ilocos. It was transformed into a museum a few years after Ferdinand's death to showcase his memorabilia.

Incidentally, Imelda Marcos and her two children, Bong-Bong and Irene were all there. Thought we couldn't see the inside of the mansion because tourists are prohibited from entering. They left after a few minutes though.

We all lined and waited outside, hoping to have a glimpse of them, but no. They didn't even open the windows of their cars. Wow ha. Lapit pa naman na ang eleksyon.

Anyhoo, you can see the inside of the house for P30. All I can say is: IT’S HUGE! I wonder if they ever bump into each other.. Or how do they know in which part of the house one is at?

This what greets people upon entering.

Ferdinand's office, I suppose.

Conference area

2nd floor. Lots of chairs and tables to accommodate their visitors!

Set of photos in one of the many rooms. I've been planning to print my photographs and hang them just like this!

Dining area

Beautiful painting of Paoay Church inside the dining area

Overlooking the balcony is Paoay Lake. Imagine waking up in the morning and having breakfast with this as your view!

The very last place we visited was the Marcos Mausoleum where the remains of Ferdinand lies down.

There are two sides of stories regarding his remains being showed to the public (to those who haven't been here before, his body lies on top of a tomb, enclosed inside a glass coffin):

1.) It is not really Ferdinand but a waxed version of him; his real dead body is hidden under where the wax sits and is continuously being injected with formalin. Reason: The Marcoses still want Ferdinand to be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

2.) It is really Ferdinand but coated with wax. Whenever there are no visitors, the body is being dragged below where it is sited to be injected with formalin.

The two stories somehow have something in common but I believe more on the first side of the story. What do you think?

Beside the mausoleum is the Marcos Museum that houses more Ferdinand's memorabilia. Also beside it is another house of the Marcoses. And guess what, Imelda arrived just before we leave. We tried again to have a glimpse of her pero ayaw yata talaga magpakita. Okay, di wag.

If you haven't seen my first two days in Ilocos, click here and here. Hope I succeed in showing you the beauty of  Ilocos! It's more fun in the Philippines!

Travel Diary: Ilocos Day 2

Started the day by visiting a church called St. Andrew Parish in Bacarra also known as The Domeless Belltower of Asia. Such a coincidence that our parish is also of the same name! It used to be a three-storey establishment with a giant bronze bell that could be heard at a radius of 10 kilometers before it suffered a major destruction caused by an earthquake during 1931 that sheared off its topmost (the dome) part that’s why it’s called Domeless Tower of Asia. The fallen parts now artistically surround the tower, as if placed there on purpose.

I just realized I forgot to take a picture of the church itself. I was too amazed by this belltower.

Burgos Light House. It is considered as the highest elevated, still original and active Spanish era lighthouse in the country. You can tell that it’s been there for decades because of the rusty look of the establishment, the materials used, and the feeling when you’re up there. You know that feeling, too, right? When you’re in an old place?

Picturesque view from above. I hope it's more spacious enough to have a picnic up there! Imagine having lunch with this as your view and the cool wind blowing in your face! Perfect.

Few meters away from the light house is Kapurpuran Rock Formation. “Kapurpuran” means “kaputi-putian” or white in Ilokano, and is called as such because of the white limestone formations within the area. It’s a sort of adventure to get up close to the main site for you have to walk your way through it. There’s a horse ride for Php50 down there but I guess it’s more fun if you take the hard way.

Walking towards the sites.

Here's one of the many white rock formations. Mother nature is such an amazing artist, yes?

After our short adventure to Kapurpuran, we then headed to the place I've been wanting to visit since forever - Bangui Windmills! *insert a very happy face here* I don’t really know the reason why this place is on my bucket list..

There are a total of 21 windmills situated on the shoreline of Bangui. Too bad they weren't working on our visit due to a power interruption! They continuously provide clean, cheap, and renewable energy for the province. The electricity in Ilocos is cheaper than in any other places!

Yup, endured the scorching heat just to have a photo with the windmills as the background! 2:00pm sun, you're welcome!!

We segued at Bukal ng Buhay which is believed to cure one's illnesses once you drink the running water coming from the mountain.

And I just had to try it! The water is so cold, as if it directly came from the fridge! And it doesn't taste like a river water or something but rather tastes like a mineral water because it is a mineral water after all.

Just one of the rivers-under-the-bridge that is visited to have a picnic. You can go down and cross the river but we decided not to because we're all tired from all the walking we made that the gushing waves might take us to the salt waters. Lol

Ended the day at Pagudpud, the Boracay of the North. Fell in love with the beach right away! Enjoyed playing with the big waves!

Feel free to comment your thoughts below!