Weekend Getaway | Ilocos Norte

I had the perfect excuse for an out-of-town trip in the middle of a work week: 

to attend a midyear convention! 

Ilocos Norte is less than an hour's plane ride from Manila, and it's the northernmost part of the Philippines. This years Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology Midyear Convention was held in Laoag, Ilocos Norte and because there was to be a small part about Retinopathy of Prematurity in the programme, I was tasked to help out other Retina consultants for the symposium. 

I've been to Ilocos before, but this trip was way more exciting because I was with friends and we got to go around new places. 

Here's what we did and here are my tips for all of you out there planning to have a trip in this Sunshine City:

1. We landed in Laoag and drove up to Pagudpod taking the local (translated: Non-airconditioned) bus. For creatures of comfort like me, that was I feat I never expected I'd enjoy. And it gets even better. Once we were in Pagudpod, we went on a tour in a tricycle. Now who has heard something like that before?! It was an adventure all right! 

(Tip: Tricycle tours usually range from Php600-1,000.) 

2. Just like everybody else who went to Ilocos, we HAD to taste their Ilocos Empanada. It's like the regular empanada but with longganisa and egg as patty. Deadly, yes, but seriously yummy! 

(Tip: Drive to Riverside Empanadahan for a taste of this Ilocos Empanada and other deep-fried seafood delicacies.) 

3. We ate in this hole-in-the-wall made famous by their incredible Crispy Dinuguan: Dawang's D Original Eatery. Manileños and Ilocanos flock this eatery because of this! 

(Tip: Reserve a table ahead of time! Better before 9am, because their Crispy Dinuguan usually runs out around that time) 

4. We went trekking to this hidden Kabigan Falls. It's not a famous Ilocos landmark as the Lighthouse or the Bangui Windmills, but after a kilometer hike you'd definitely enjoy a dip in the cool water by the falls. (Tip: better to walk in a pair of sturdy rubber slippers. You'll be doing a lot of walking on huge rocks and marsh.)

5. Of course, when in Ilocos never miss the famous scenic places, namely: the Bangui Windmills, the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, and the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation,
just to name the memorable few.

Thank you guys for reading! 

Photos by Me using my husband's Go Pro Hero 2😊

❀✿❀

I was wearing:

Forever 21 tank top

Rayban aviator

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