VLOG: Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte Tour 2014

After months being on draft, I am finally done editing our videos of our trip. I just have to post this while enjoying the view right now here at the Island of Sumilon. :)

Here's the much overdue Video Blog or VLOG of our Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte trip summer 2014.  

  VLOG: Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte Tour 2014 from Jewel Delgado on Vimeo.

That awkward moment when your friend caught you doing mirror selfie. :D 

Have an awesome day everyone! :)

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Coffee by the Beach

Gaaaah! Don't you just love drinking black coffee at 5:30 AM at the beach? I think, this is my ritual whenever I am at the beach.  Even if the sunrise is on the other side i'd still love to stay drinking here and feel the sea breeze minutes later your hot coffee will be cold. Tsk. This is my first post having my "Good Morning at the beach."

Don't you just love wearing sweater at the beach? I had this "sweater-weather" moment. I love the print of this sweater I bought for a very cheap price! :) Details soon. x

Sweater: Thrift | Boardshorts: Roxy | Flip-flops: Havaianas

How about the feeling that when you're at home and eating breakfast with your siblings and they will tell you "it's a miracle, you're here at home!" or "where will you go next?" Which made me realized that I've been always away from home aside from leaving to work on weekdays and go on a trip on weekends. 

Good thing, we have this family tradition to go to our hometown in Southern Leyte. I can't wait! This is the most exciting trip I am looking forward to because I will spend it with my family.

Where do you guys go with your family? :) Share it to me! :) 

Who says that summer is ending soon? cmon! it's summer forever! (I wish...) Anyway, I'm in the good vibes mood, leaving you this song Red Lights by Tiesto 

Have a great day everyone! :) 

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We're Gonna Have a Good Day

Hello, how are you doing? Here are the photos from my last month trip to Ilocos province (read here and here). This is what I wore when I was Vigan City.

If you will go on a trip I'm pretty sure that you plan the outfits that you want to wear for each day. I can tell that I was prepared on our last month trip. Wohoo! 

Wore this lace crop top and paired it with my high-waist shorts that I wore in my friend's wedding last March. I finally did a second spin, don't blame me the cloth is so smooth and comfy that I can beat the heat plus I won this on a giveaway!

Top: Vongga | Shorts: Strings Manila | Shoes: Toeberries SM |
Hat: from Bohol | Sunglasses: SM Accessories

Summer is still "on" here and every after six in the morning, I can hear Nelly's song playing "It's getting hot in here.." So whenever you go on a trip don't forget to drink water or any fluid that can replenish yourself. :)

My friend took these photo and these are stolen. I think I can use this on How to drink water if you want to refresh. Charot! HAHAHA! 

Feeling tired?

excuse my tired face watching people

Get your water.

Fix your cap.

and drink!

Hahaha, I love putting caption on these photos, Oh, I love stolen shots. It captured the real you.

Even if it's hot outside I still love the weather, good day it is! Gotta go!

Have a great day everyone! 

Cheers! 

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P.S.S: Hello to new followers on IG! I love following you too! :)

Photo Diary: Ilocos Sur Tour 2014

HEY! HEY! HEY! :) I'm back in the city again from a short trip to an island here in Cebu. Will blog about it very soon, of course! If you are following me on instagram, I'm sure you know where I was this weekend. :) Follow me: @jewelclicks and I will follow you too, why not! :)

The next day of our tour our next destination is Ilocos Sur it was an hour drive from Pagudpud which is located in Ilocos Norte. So we went to Loaog City! :)  Read my previous post: Ilocos Norte Tour 2014.

Ilocos Sur is located along the western coast of Northern Luzon. It is bordered by Ilocos Norte to the north, Abra to the northeast, Mountain Province to the east, Benguet to the southeast, La Union to the south, and the China Sea to the west. Its area of 2,579.58 square kilometers occupies about 20.11% of the total land area of Region 1. (source)

After our breakfast our first stop was:

Malacanang of North and Paoay Lake

Malacañang of the North or Malacanang ti Amianan in Ilocano is always present in everyone’s itinerary when planning or visiting the northern province of Ilocos Norte. (source)

This series called: Do Not Sit Here (kidding!)

Marcos family portraits.

We were a good listener to our tour guide. I will blog about this separately. I love the place and I love the history.

Our view: the Paoay lake

Love the lightning! #NoFilter I was so fresh for our first stop. Richard at the back with our cameras! I asked him to take candid photos of us while listening to our tour guide. Both job is not easy. Cheers for you guys! 

Excuse my chapped lip because of the heat :( 

Sand Dunes 

Where you can do 4x4 ride and Sand Boarding

YAY! The only activity that Maricor looking forward to. She was about to cry when April and Jo said no,no for the ride. It cost roughly PHP2,500 for a 4x4 ride and we were only four. Good thing, they have an ATV where I saved her from crying because I was her driver and only cost PHP800.

She nailed it! I told her that use my smart phone to capture videos and photos of us while me driving. She knows my password na! HAHAHA :D She was so happy! :)

     Paoay  Church

The Church of Saint Augustine, commonly known as the Paoay Church, is the Roman Catholic parish church of the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. In 1993, the church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one best examples of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. (source)

Bantay Church & Bell Tower   

The church was heavily damaged during World War II and rebuilding was started in 1950. The restored façade is of Neo-Gothic design mixed with pseudo-Romanesque materials and elements. It is designed to be grandiose and reminiscent of Spanish architecture. It uses materials such as bricks and mud.(source)

Look how silly we are! :D 

This is not a joke. The weather was extremely hot yet we managed to pose in front of our cameras with Richard. 

We were looking for something COLD.

 Hooray! We found Ilocos Coolers Halo-Halo perfect to beat the heat! Special Halo-Halo for PHP50.

This is how it looks like. :) Grabbed from their FB Page. 

Calle Crisologo, Vigan City

The major attraction of Vigan is its mestizo district which is filled with Spanish-style houses that evoke a bygone era when its people lived prosperously because of the Manila-Acapulco maritime trade. (source here and here)

Souvenirs! :)

Gaah! The old street was so busy and full of strangers, you can't even take an OOTD shot. 

(yes, I attempted)

We had our lunch here, seriously took us almost an hour, we missed to go to a museum! :( 

So, we did our groupie shot and video that will be uploaded soon! :) 

Cafe Leona. :)

 Baluarte ni Singson

Baluarte is 80 hectares of gently rolling terrains, hills and mountain sides, the structures of facilities and amenities, its phases of construction is in its best possible realistic and natural habitat for good and sound animal care. (source)

This was our last stop of our tour. We were not impressed seeing the tigers, white deers, little pony so thin or looked like tired, dehydrated plus the Ostrich were eating garbage. :( 

Told them to smile for me, but they didn't. I understand. 

Goose

Whew! I can't believe it, we have to leave the place before sunset. Another 10 hours long drive again going back to Manila. I realized that long drives are not bad when you are comfy at the back seat of the van and listening to the travel songs you've downloaded and thinking about what you have experienced the entire stay that you had in the province. I'm so blessed, I am aware that not everybody can go out their comfort zone and travel somewhere they want to.

Again, excuse my chapped lip. :( 

 My pillow for the long drive, I bought it a day before I left Cebu! :)

Sunset shot while inside the van on our way to Manila in a 80kph speed, I think. :) Thank God, he blessed our trip. :)

Tour Package by Touristas.com.ph N.E.C. Tours 

Have a great day everyone! :)

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Photo Diary: Ilocos Norte Tour 2014

Wohooo! Enjoy LIFE! :)

I can't hide my excitement offline when I was writing Hello April! here in my blog. As much as I wanted to share where will I go this month, I just had to keep it. Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur are so far from Cebu City.

is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south. Ilocos Norte faces the South China Sea to the west and the Luzon Strait to the north. (source)

As much as we wanted to take a plane ride from Cebu City going to Laoag, there are no direct flights available for that. Our route was Cebu to Manila. I didn't complaint, cmon! I love Manila, this is where the place I grew up and the best part of the trip? I hang out with my Mom who is based there.

From Manila we had 10 hours long drive going to Ilocos Norte / Ilocos Sur including stop overs. When we found out that the trip was that long, I prepared myself for some pain for my butt. Too much expectation, we were just four in the van plus driver and tour guide, so very comfy and we can just lie down! :)

We left Manila at 9pm and we arrived at 5:30 AM at Loaog, first stop is breakfast at Mc Donalds, We screamed: Coffee! Then the tour started after:

Excuse our morning faces, we were excited much! 

First stop: Laoag Sinking Bell Tower

Over the years the 45m high bell tower has shelved few meters downward. This is evident by the tower's entrance that at present day a man of ordinary height must bent over to get inside. (source) 

Geez! I said to the tourist guide that I will be back here after 20 years, we'll see if I can still see the door. :)

Sta. Monica Church Complex

A devastating earthquake hit the province of Ilocos Norte on August 17, 1983, which recorded a magnitude of 5.3 (MI) on the Richter scale and an intensity 7 on the Rossi-Forel scale.[2] The tremor sustained a major structural damage on the church's facade as well as toppling down the bell tower. (source)

This church reminds me of the oldest church that was hit by a strong earthquake in my Bohol tour, last year. :( Good thing, I've seen them as a whole when I went there April last year. (wow! a year ago! :O )

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Also known as Burgos Lighthouse, is a cultural heritage structure in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, that was established during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines. It was first lit on March 30, 1892, and is set high on Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking the scenic Cape Bojeador where early galleons used to sail by. After over 100 years, it still functions as a welcoming beacon to the international ships that enter the Philippine Archipelago from the north and guide them safely away from the rocky coast of the town. (source)

Meet my travel buddies: Jo, April and Maricor. It was supposed only Maricor and I who will explore the province, good thing we brought our close friends and we really had a great time! Wohoo! :)

Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation

Bangui Wind Farm also known as Bangui Windmills

is a wind farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The wind farm uses 20 units of 70-metre (230 ft) high Vestas V82 1.65 MW wind turbines, arranged on a single row stretching along a nine-kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay, facing the South China Sea. (source)

This is my favorite!

The Patapat Viaduct 

is a viaduct at the municipality of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, a coastal resort town on the northernmost tip of Luzon Island in the Philippines. (source)

We didn't go down for Bantay Abot Cave but that's alright, we just had our photo opt outside. :)

Blue Lagoon (Boracay of the North) 

Kabigan Falls in Pagudpud

is surrounded by thick forest and well known for its concaved basin, located at the eastern part of Barangay Balaoi, about 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) away from the national highway.

That was so hot and hiking mode. Whew!

We transferred to other location because the place was so crowded and we didn't like the color of the water. :3 Lookie! so fresh and cold running water to my feet. 

Candid shot while me resting after the long walk. Credit to our tour guide, Lina! :) 

We checked in at Northridge Beach Resort and we finally had a good sleep. I almost missed the sunset, whew! Tadaaah! I still managed to have great shots!

view from the veranda

I went to the seashore so I can have the close up shoot. 

This shot is taken by my Samsung Note 3. So love it. :) hashtag: No Filter :)

Me as Bunny! HAHAHA :D posted this on my instagram: @jewelclicks follow me! :)

We checked other resorts that have restaurants where we can eat our dinner, aww so many tourists at the beach! 

We had our dinner at Casa Victoria Resort and Restaurant finally a good food we had the entire trip. :)

Star gazing. :)

CHEERS! for fun filled tour in the province of Ilocos Norte. 

I can't wait for my next post about Ilocos Sur Tour. :) Will blog about it pretty soon! 

We would like to thanks Touristas.com.ph N.E.C. Tours for arranging our trip. We really had a great time the entire trip. Visit their site or Facebook page N.E.C. Tours if you want a hassle free tour. :)

Shout out to Richard, the assigned driver and tour guide and photographer to us and his partner, cheers! 

Hope you enjoy my post! :)

Have a great day everyone! 

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