I already heard about the #7SUPERSHOTS trending a few months ago. So this made me want to join right after seeing the compilations from some of the blogs that I followed. But in order to participate in this super fun activity, one must actually be tagged first. Well, as for me.. no one was tagging me! *LOL* But when a fellow travel blogger (Francis of PALA-LAGAW) finally asked if I wanted to join, of course, I immediately said "YES"! Oh, and if I may add.. fellow blogger Edmar of Edmaration.com also tagged me sometime ago! So thank you Edmar! :P
Anyhow, to continue on with my excitement to finally be a part of this game, let's start with...
Makes Me Think...
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| Window of the World, Shenzhen, China (April 2010) |
A few months ago, I wrote something about 'turning my rejections into a positive'.
It was about getting rejected for the third time. If you must know, I
applied countless times for a US Visa, yet I got denied over and over. I actually thought about visiting Canada instead, since friends advised that it was easier to get a visa from that country.
Just maybe, it can be my first time to fly via Air Canada when given the chance to travel in North America. Anyway, this specific photo made me think if I'll ever get the opportunity to
see this part of the world. I was already excited when I saw this
miniature structure of the Statue of Liberty in Shenzhen's Window of the World park. But of course, I wanted to see the actual one in New York City!
Takes My Breath Away...
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| Kayangan Bay, Coron, Palawan (January 2012) |
My father has instilled in me his passion for traveling, as he loved exploring on his own. He has been to different places, and has always felt contentment from every travel.
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| Beach Bum! :) |
Most of the buses in Pagudpud usually leave town in 15-minute intervals. So you won't have a hard time getting a ride to Laoag, if ever you're heading there. Anyway, Kuya Raphie picked us up at Cathy's Homestay and dropped us off at the terminal. He waited until our bus left, which was at 9:50 in the morning.
It’s a must to take both the North and South tours when visiting Ilocos Norte. So with that in mind, book early on the services of a tricycle driver/tour guide. They should be able to offer you one tour for only PHP600 (this is already a fixed rate for 2-3 people). And for a great recommendation, stay at Cathy’s Homestay by Saud Beach, and hire Raphie Respicio for his day tours. You can read my recommendation of Kuya Raphie here.
Day 1
Due to unfortunate events, Rubel and I arrived late in the area of Saud. So for our first afternoon there, we just decided to eat our late lunch/dinner at Evangeline’s Beach Resort. It was still drizzling when we finished eating our meals. But we’ve managed to squeeze in some down time by swimming by the beach. We initially thought that the water was going to be cold since it was raining. Surprisingly, it was warm at that time so we stayed for a few more hours before heading back to our lodging.
It's been three weeks since our 5-day trip around Ilocos, and still I miss the places that we visited and the people that we've met a long the way. Truly, Ilocos is an enchanting place -- one filled with lots of surprises! So in memory of our trip, let me share to you what transpired on our first few days there by starting out with Vigan City.
WHAT TO DO IN VIGAN
If you’re strapped on time like we were, try to put aside at least 2-3 hours for a city tour around Vigan. With us, we were able to arrange a tour with a nice tricycle driver named Roy, right after getting off the bus. We asked him to take us around town, wherein we arranged a 3PM pick-up at our lodging that same afternoon.
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| With Kuya Roy -- our nice tour guide/tricycle driver. :) |
I've truly grasped the meaning of 'Thoughtful Tourism' after meeting a humble tricycle driver/tour guide from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte...
The Journey
Rubel and I just came home from our Ilocos trip (June 5-9), where we spent 2 full days in Pagudpud during this travel. When we checked-in at Cathy's Homestay by Saud Beach (co-owned by Mrs. Cathy Respicio), we were introduced to the tour services of Kuya Raphie Respicio. Kuya Raphie is Ate Cathy's brother-in-law.
A Customized Ride
Kuya Raphie, a father of four, was an exceptional tour guide. Compared to other tricycles, his was customized so that his guests would not feel constricted inside the vehicle. It had a lot of headroom even for Rubel who was 5'9 in height, and was also fixed with cushioned seats. And unlike other small and tight-spaced tricycles, his was very spacious and comfortable to ride in (take that from us since we toured for over 8 hours!). And when it rained during our tours, he made sure to protect us with appropriate plastic covers, which were easily attached on the vehicle.
