Suman Paradise

Freshly-Made Suman

The Pugon. They use dried coconut husks as fuel.

On my way home from Cagayan Valley, I discovered a wonderful suman (rice cake) place, named Rowena’s Bakeshop, in Barangay Nagrangtayan, Sanchez Mira in the province of Cagayan. They also make fine linapet and suman sa lihiya — a yummy fill if you’re on the road, and such great pasalubong for the native delicacy lovers. The prices are not heavy on the traveler’s pocket. I give them 5 stars!

The 3 P’s To Remember In Ilocos

These are two different perspectives of the Pasaleng Bay from the Patapat Viaduct that winds through the northern end of the Gran Cordillera Central in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. If you’re planning an Ilocos getaway, make sure you don’t miss out on this surreal experience — a breathtaking museum of nature awaits you, and birds will welcome you with songs.

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Beach lovers… shake those piña coladas in Ilocos!!

Ilocos Norte takes pride in its verdant surroundings and fine beaches. The southernmost town of Badoc, hometown of great painter, Juan Luna, also boasts of Badoc Island, a surfer’s paradise. Go north and you will find the Coral Rock Formations — Currimao’s treasure — in Brgy. Pangil. The beach, very child-friendly, is a wonderful snorkeling  spot.  The next town, Paoay, is  home to an  idyllic beach in Brgy. Masintoc. If you’re yearning for utmost peace and quiet with just the relaxing sound of ocean waves, this is definitely paradise for you. A little up north in Paoay is Suba Beach and next is the more popular Calayab Beach near the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel in Laoag.

There are many undiscovered beaches in Laoag. La Paz, proximate to the sand dunes, is one. I could go on and on. My pro surfer friends visited once to explore surfing spots; they all agreed that Caaoacan is ideal.

North of Laoag, you can easily find delight in the fishing town of  Pasuquin where there is a long stretch of sandy shores. Barangays Nalvo and Estancia translate to beach bliss. I rediscovered the beauty of Sexy Beach in Estancia just recently (click on to read an earlier post). And here’s a bonus — entirely for nature appreciation — an eco-tour at the Davila Mangroves. Please respect the place once you’re there and marvel at the distinct ecosystem — a sanctuary for juvenile ocean creatures. It was where we took-off for our incredible and unforgettable dolphin exploration adventure, which is possible only within the months of  March to July. Also, a must-see is Kapurpurawan (sometimes spelled as Kapurpuraoan) Rock Formation in Burgos.

Not to be missed is The Windmills of Bangui, built by the Northwind Power Development Corporation, after which you can end your beach hopping in Pagudpud. If you can’t decide where to go, as there are many good choices… oh, I recommend visiting  Saud, Blue Lagoon and Pasaleng, then decide where to chill-out the longest.

You can always leave a message at the comment box if you wish to inquire on accommodations. I’d love to answer you back, as it is what this blog is all about… and, perhaps, what I do best.

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Let’s go off-roading at the La Paz Sand Dunes

There’s nothing more thrilling than a 4×4 adventure when in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.  Contact the Laoag Off-Roaders through the Laoag Eco-Adventure Development (LEAD) Movement Inc, the group that introduced sandboarding in the Philippines. Contact numbers: 077-7720-538; 0919-873-5516

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The Ilocano Way of Life

“If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.” ~Norman Vincent Peale

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Location: Brgy. Calayab, Laoag, Ilocos Norte  Click on photo to view more of Blauearth’s photography on Flickr.

Ilocos: Under the sunset skies

Padsan River, Laoag

Sexy Beach, Pasuquin , Ilocos Norte

Suba Beach, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

Calayab, Laoag

Vintar Road, Laoag

Burgos, Ilocos Norte

Padsan River, Laoag

Currimao, Ilocos Norte

All photos by Bluaearth. Click on any photo to view more of Blauearth’s on Flickr.

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Mother and Daughter Conversation

I just want to share with you this favorite shot of mine.

“Under my wings, you’ll start to ask yourself,
Under my wings, you’ll learn to fly,
Under my wings, you’ll start to look for me,
Under my wings, you’ll want to cry sometimes,
Under my wings, you’ll find someone to hold unto  — if you want to.”

*part of Dance With The Angels lyrics by Lisa Loeb

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The Santa Monica Church

Formerly named San Miguel and built by the Augustinian friars during the Spanish Colonial period in the 17th century, the red brick church in Baroque and Neo-Classical style in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte is the largest in the entire Ilocos. It is a favorite for weddings because of its very long 137-meter aisle, the longest in the Philippines — a bride’s dream, I guess. Its popularity rose in 1983 when Irene Marcos, daughter of former-president F. Marcos, tied the knot with Gregorio Araneta III.

Photography by Blauearth. Texture by JoesSistah on Flickr. Click on photo to view more of Blauearth’s on Flickr.

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