A Guide to > Pagudpud

Owing to its palm-fringed sands and crystal clear emerald-blue waters, Pagudpud, the last municipality of Ilocos Norte, classed with the world-famous Boracay, is said to be the latter's explicit variant of the north. Not only the beach and the waters would stop someone in their tracks, the entire municipality is blessed to contain a magnificent spectacle of nature that embodies the typical imagination of a paradise. With the Cordillera Mountain Ranges on one side, and the windmills of Bangui by the coast, Pagudpud lies yet to be a small, humble town, with a lot of charm to show off to its sightseers. So serious and pretty my introduction right? Let's have fun. I'll guide you through. Read on!

Sights and Scenes | Pagudpud (2)

SAUD BEACH
Fast forward to Day 2. We stayed overnight at the newly opened Casa Victoria Inn. The rooms were really cheap (1,000 room for 3 + 100/extra person) as of February 2012. The owner was so kind and attentive to our needs. Our room was larger than the one we checked at pricey Hannah's Beach Resort along Maira-ira Beach. Plus, it's just one cartwheel away from the beach. :)

Sights and Scenes | Pagudpud (1)

I was born and raised in Mindanao. Actually, still being raised in Mindanao. And I'm trapped in this city (?) called Ozamiz. Being so far away from Ilocos, I didn't know anything about the town called Pagudpud until some blogs thought about promoting it to the world. So I wanted to see the place for myself. Traveling a long way from the south to the farther north, I got to see the paradise that is in Pagudpud.

The Odd One To Ilocos

The bus ride from Pampanga to Ilocos went on for 11 long hours. We were aware about wasting a day of the itinerary sitting and exchanging blank stares for the whole trip. There was nothing much interesting along the way except for good-tasting treats from vendors coming in at bus stops, weird-looking people, and those cute twins seated behind me that day.

Experience | Pinatubo

I'm kind of pushing this blog a little further. Stretching it a little wider. I simply want to share and inform and educatewhat a place is about, where it is, and how to go there. Chaks! I'm an aspiring travel guide here! :P And I think I missed to mention something about my Pinatubo post before this: Lord of the Rings. So read on :P

Trekking Mt. Pinatubo

It was 4.00am. Jenty and I had to wake up early again. We needed to get into a couple of rides up to the registration area at Capas, Tarlac. After a bus and a tricycle ride, we reached Barangay Sta. Juliana. At 6.30am, we met our driver and our trek guide, registered, then hopped into a 4x4 and drove past the other trekkers on standby. Good thing we made a reservation for the day trek weeks ahead. The place was swarmed by both foreigners and locals alike: everyone thrilled to see the volcano that almost swallowed up Philippines a decade back. We were headed to Mt. Pinatubo.

Guns and Aircrafts

Despite what seemed to be just a shut-eye the night before, we managed to stay up for the hot air balloon set-up and release 'til the sun broke off full blast. An hour after, lahat ng nasa lupa were almost close to hellfire. Ang init lang! We ate, leaned on a table and dozed off for some minutes that seemed like hours then found out that there's more to balloons and skydivers about the event.