Paradise Found

After being obedient and dutiful children, we were now off to enjoy some downtime in the Boracay of the North. On our way there, we stopped by a few important Ilocos landmarks for some kodak moments. First stop was the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, a very popular tourist spot that sits majestically on a hill overlooking the South China Sea. It was built in 1892 and is still impressively functioning. It is the highest lighthouse in the Philippines on top of a hill named Vigia de Nagparitan and it is located in the town of Burgos.



The lighthouse is said to be seen as far as 37 nautical miles. Does anyone know how far this is? So as not to appear ignorant, we pretended to be in awe as the caretaker seemed to think that it was indeed a feat. Heehee. The one thing I noticed about the place was that Filipinos just love to put their names all over the place. JUAN WAS HERE could be seen on the walls, the stairs, the doors, etc. and it of course contributed to the denegration of the said landmark. Sayang. How I wish people could exercise some discipline and restraint!

Our next stop was the Bangui Windmills found in the town with the same name. This extraordinary structure consists of 15 wind turbines found just off the shores of a secluded beach and it is arranged in a single row. These oversized wind fans were HUGE! Maybe as tall as a skyscraper! And you can actually hear the blades swooshing and howling as they turn. Incredible!







At the northernmost tip of Ilocos Norte, you will find the Patapat Viaduct. It is an elevated concrete highway constructed along winding and rocky paths which leads to the Cagayan North. Driver for hire Jaime tells us that the highway was constructed to solve the problem of landslides in the area which have caused many vehicular accidents in the past. The viaduct also provided a spectacular view of the Pasaleng Bay. Reymond loved the area--and to think, he was going to pass on it na kasi ang layo na daw! Heehee. Pero after Patapat, pagod at gutom na daw siya. Enough sightseeing! It was time to relax! We made a u-turn and headed back for Pagudpud, our home for the evening.



I think my smile is a dead giveaway. Pagudpud is dreamy. I think people who had the opportunity to see Boracay in the 80s would agree with me. The place is not crowded with commercial establishments, there are no tricycles by the side of the road, no vendors approaching you every 5 minutes and people go around minding their own business--hindi uso dito ang people watching! For people who want a peaceful and quiet vacation, I would highly recommend Pagudpud! Dont get me wrong though. I love Boracay and we have had wonderful memories in that place. But it has just gotten too crowded and 'busy' for us. This was a different experience.

We checked in at the Villa del Mar Resort at around 2:00pm. VDM is nothing compared to Discovery Shores or Seawind or Waling Waling -- those are 5 star accommodations! VDM is a very simple establishment pero ito na yung 5-star dito. Heehee. We stayed in one of their huts lined up along the shore. As you open the door, you are greeted by nothing else but the sun and the sand. Reymond and I stayed on the shore from 3:00 until sunset. We'd go for a swim then lay on the sand -- no towels or beach mats! When it got too hot, we'd go back into the water to cool down then lay on the sand again. The water was a clear blue color and the sand was (almost) fine and (almost) powder white. Reymond and I loved the beach! And this is coming from someone who hardly ever swims in beaches because I hate it when sand gets stuck in my suit! But this time, I enjoyed myself immensely.





There are no parties or clubs here so as soon as the sun sets, activities on this beach end as well. It was a tiring and exhausting day so we were happy to retire in our little hut by the beach. What a wonderful little paradise we discovered today. We are looking forward to sharing this experience with the girls soon.