Rant! Chai! Rant!

It started with a risky question, and here we are, celebrating our first month of being together.

I must admit that at first, I was reluctant of the possibility of having a relationship with you. You’re the kindest, smartest, sweet person I know, and I’m a plain bully. I was too afraid to make a move. I control my emotions, my actions and tried to stop the joy I can’t help to feel whenever we’re together. It was actually the first time that I felt less confident. I fear rejection, assuming that maybe you’re just being reciprocal. I fear my spontaneity, that I might ran out of reasons for you to love me.

I admire your braveness, love. Thank you for uttering the question I feared to ask. And thank God for making those people who made The Bar, which gave me the booze to finally say that I love you from the very start.

And the fear now turned into excitement. I can’t wait what this journey would unravel us. 

But babe, I can’t promise not to make you cry because that’s a lie. But I promise to work things out when everything seems not alright. I can’t promise to give everything that you liked, but I promise to work hard, be supportive of you, and together, we’ll reach the goals that we’ve set to finally get the things that we both like. I can’t promise to be beside you 24/7, because I want you to have time for yourself. But I promise to be exactly where you are when things are shaky and you want somebody who cares. I can’t promise to be the perfect-partner that you wished same as I don’t expect you to be the exact girl that I want. But I promise to love you just the way you are.

Your laugh is my music, your love is my soul. Happy 1st month, love. And thank you for making my life worth living again. 

PS. You never fail to make my head turn whenever you walk passed me. You’re so pretty and I am so lucky. :)

Another “to do” in my Bucket List has been checked: I’ve finally traveled Ilocos!

My budget was just P3,500 and I thought that I might ran out of money but hey I was wrong! My Pagudpud trip was cheaper than I expected. Unlike other tourist destinations in the Philippines, entrance fees in Ilocos are either FREE or not more than P50! Sulit!

Enough of the introduction, here’s the PART 1 of my Pagudpud-Laoag-Vigan trip! SPOILER: CHAI OVERLOAD!

After almost 11 hours on the bus with this girl (yep, she’s groggy) and the rest of the gang, and 1 1/2 hours on the van…

we finally reached Pagudpud!

If this is the road I’m going to take and the view I’m going to see in EDSA, being on a traffic will be divine!

FIRST STOP: Bantay Abot Cave | Entrance Fee: FREE!

Francis and Zap taking advantage of the stellar silhouette

And me after climbing the rough rock formation.

Second STOP: Blue Lagoon | Entrance Fee: FREE!

Blue Lagoon is a huge FREE swimming area in Pagudpud where the famous Hannah’s Resort is located. Kudos to those people who are responsible in keeping it clean! For a free-swimming area, I give Blue Lagoon an A+! Also, there are cottages for rent for just 100-up (depending on the size) and eateries that offer “paluto” (similar to Dampa). We ordered Steamed Lobsters and Sinigang na Lapu-Lapu for just.. P600! SO CHEAP!

(We don’t have good photos here since our main agenda there is to EAT! Anyway, here’s a picture from Google)

THIRD STOP: The “Walang Hanggan” valley or the Dynamite Valley because of the cow’s jebs all over the grass. HIHI! | Entrance Fee: FREE!

According to our tour guide, this is where Walang Hanggan’s Daniel and Katarina promised their eternal love. As for me, this is where I promised not to poop in public places.

Fourth STOP: Ang Paraiso Ni Anton | Entrance Fee: FREE! - I initially thought it was a strip club or an island where exotic dancers flash their oily abs (eew). But no. It’s a small Grotto where locals and tourists took some time off and pray. Some locals said that the water here is miraculous.

Fifth STOP: Kabigan Falls | Entrance Fee: P50 - We are not INFORMED to prepare SPF lotion, umbrella and gallons of water! It’s a 30-40 minute walk under the raging sun. The good part is, you’ll get to see nature up-close. The falls is similar to Daranak’s. The water is cold as ice. And the view? Jaw dropping. According to ate Dolly, our tour guide, there are wild animals like bayawak in the area. Well, I saw a snake killing a rat (?) when we’re heading back to base. It’s scary but an experience I will never forget.

Sixth Stop: Bangui Windmills | Entrance Fee: FREE!

Bangui Windmills is a source of electric power in Bangui and other parts of Ilocos Norte. The big fans are situated in an open beach area. Aside from the giant fans, tourist can enjoy the cold water, the fresh breeze and just simply unwind.

Who’s the Queen of Jumpshots?

Me.

SEVENTH STOP: Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Burgos | Entrance Fee: FREE!

BREATH-TAKING! From the view, the well preserved rock formation, the beach. Just plain WOW. I don’t have pictures of Kapurpurawan due to my laziness. I just sit there and watch its beauty. Another pictures from Google:

LAST STOP FOR DAY 1: Sand Dunes in La Paz | Entrance Fee: Free! 4x4 Ride + Unlimited Sand Surfing: P600 per person

Poor us. We don’t have enough energy (with energy, I mean money) to try 4x4 extreme sand riding. We just roam around, mag-feeling cast ng Temptation Island, and go sand surfing using our slippers (It’s the same fun!)

What I Wanted to Do:

What I Actually Did: Lumandi

At lumandi pa.

We headed back to UKL Hotel in Laoag after almost 8 hours of exploring. One day of experiencing Ilocos Norte is indeed FUN. It’s a must try!

To be continued…