Ilocos Trip in Pictures pt. 2

we had a great time so far and we're all hungry since it was already 2pm. when you're in Ilocos, the easiest way to visit one place to another is by a van (l300's and the like). mostly, families here turn this into family business. some owns a van or two or maybe more and organizing their own itinerary since they are familiar of the place and post 'em online. when we arrived, we're all in awe adoring St. Augustine church (or Paoay church) since it is hard to miss.

this beauty was completed in 1710 and still stood centuries after.

Ilocos Trip in Pictures.

i had the chance to travel up North last November 13-16, 2012 along with few friends in tow. i am very ecstatic about this trip as we have planned it way ahead since the first quarter of the year. each one has his/her task to research our personalized itinerary as we chose to not purchase package tours we've seen online or in any travel agencies we know in the area - we want FREEDOM! haha. it also helped that some of my peers were able to visit Ilocos few weeks earlier thus i didn't let it pass to ask them for tips good places to visit in Ilocandia, gastronomic finds, necessary stuff to pack, etc.

it is around 11pm when we arrived in Cubao bus station where we bought our tickets which roughly cost us p550/pax, one-way. our bus left at about 12mn and we have set our minds that we will embark on a very long road trip. coats and blankets on, played music on my iPhone and tried to close my eyes and sleep... and tried again and nothing happened. I.AM.WIDE.AWAKE. darnit!

we're glad we had a very smooth trip and we arrived around 8am,Wednesday. i managed to get some decent naps from time to time but the scenery outside the window won over that shuteye is impossible. we were invited as house guests to my colleague's abode(he happens to live there,yay!), and we are tad grateful. free lodging means less expenses for us. winner di ba?

their family van waited for us and his(colleague's) older sister served as our driver/guide. she's the sweetest and she took us to their place which is literally beside a vast rice field which probably belong to them and to their neighbors. i love the simplicity of the place and even compared it to an amorsolo painting.

we were served with native chicken tinola and a veggie dish for breakfast that we all loved until no trace of it left. patay-gutom lang talaga! and were set to start our day.

these are taken in Fort Ilocandia. this is where we first went.

American Idol 12

How can we forget this performance?

Bad Hair Movie?

Why is Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina fond of using terrible WIGS in her movies? She should know better.

Director Cathy Garcia-Molina

Tagaytay, Volcano and Bulalo

Last Saturday, my friends and I decided to take a short trip to Tagaytay. We almost had it cancelled few hours prior due to heavy rain which lasted all night - at least. So, off we go and we braved the gloomy morning and took the bus with piping hot bulalo in our minds.

Taal volcano, the volcano inside a bigger volcano.

The trip took almost 2 hours and I only had nothing but prayers in my mind that we'll be given clear blue skies at least. We hailed a jeepney from Olivarez terminal, asked the driver to take us to Leslie's where people rave about their famous bulalo to satisfy our hungry selves.  When we got there the place was already packed and couple of guests were already waiting by the entrance. We're #9! :(