THAT THING CALLED LAKWATSERA

Traveling is one of my escape from stress and problem.

Visiting places that you can't imagine to step on it.

Experiencing adventures that you can only think of.

Capturing sceneries and collecting memories

Every year I make it sure that I could travel twice or thrice a year.

I'm sure that I really deserve this. Do I? 

Last December 2014, My aunt invited me to come with them on their December getaway at Ilocos.

It would be a whole week escape from the city.

ROADTRIP= Manila to Ilocos Sur to Ilocos Norte To Baguio

How exciting!

Sharing my experience and some travel tips

Van for Rent with driver, thats more convenient that ridding a plane then rent a van at Ilocos.

Here are some of the advantages:

1. Comfortable during trip: Yes, plane is more convenient and time saver but when travelling with family I suggest to rent a van. In our case we are five in the group and we rent a Grandia van, Thanks kuya rolly and kuya marlon for making this possible. We can rest anytime we want, no more stop over and layover to think of. But if you dont want to waste time for traveling to North, leave Manila around 3AM or 4AM and you'll arrive at Ilocos after lunch. But if you will take a plane and you will still rent a van to cover all the tourist spot around Ilocos. Calculations with all the gastos, renting a van is cheaper and I swear you can go around Ilocos, no time limit to think rather getting a van at Ilocos.(this is my own point of view)

2. You can buy anything you want without considering your baggage allowance, If you'll take a plane back to Manila, say Goodbye to lots of pasalubong for your family and friends. Unlike, having a van rented you can buy what you want for your family, like me I bought a gallon of Sukang Ilocos! haha! literally, 3 year supply of Suka! haha! if I took a plane I can't get a gallon but a bottle of suka only which is good for a week for me wahaha!

3. Time for bonding, with a long hour of trip, you can have a time to bond with your family and friends, enjoying the sceneries during the trip, especially if that is your hometown like in our case, Ilocos is my grandfather's hometown so during the trip, my aunt is reminiscing their childhood with each town that we passed through. Priceless stories and memories!

so that's my little tip for traveling with family. 

Last May, 2012, My friends and I visited Pagudpud for a short vacation. We met our fantastic driver/tour guide, Kuya Jason. He is a good tour guide at the same time we had a photographer during our trip, I promised him to make a blog during our trip so we could promote his tour guide services in Pagudpud. After a week, he message me and thanked me, he received client bookings because of my blog.Yey! so as a reward, He gave us a free tour for Ilocos Sur and Norte! yey!

Anyways, I'll be having a seperate blog post for Kuya, He deserves it! To make the long story short, without Kuya Jason helped we cannot discover the beautiful sceneries of Ilocos! 

Super thank you kuya! 

TRAVEL TIME!

Visited Calle Crisologo

History time, Crisologo Museum,

Thanks Kuya Jason sa tour!

Visited Ninong Chavit's place, Baluarte haha!

Time to stop and smell the flowers.

Channeling my Inner creativity! 

It's time for Captured By Mauii Perry

The famous Bell Tower, sad to say I can't come up on that tower, hay hehehe!

VIGAN at Night!

Jampacked Calle Crisologo!

We booked our hotel in Vigan through Agoda.com, we find it more convenient and a little cheaper if we walk in at hotel. But we thought of having an early booking to avoid hassle coz as we all know December is one of the peak season of the year.

Travel tip: If you can book a head of time, do it, aside from the fact that it is more convenient but i must say a bit cheaper plus with freebies!

We had booked a hotel room at West Loch Park Hotel, around 10-15 away from Vigan.

We checked in and rest for a while at the hotel.

We are welcomed with fruit juices and hot towels.

There's a complementary fruits for the guest, plus a can of macademia nuts fresh from Hawaii.

The hotel room is spacious, perfect for the five of us.

The bathroom is neat and dainty.

I think we picked the perfect hotel room to stay.

photo from: http://www.westlochparkhotel.com/

photo from: http://www.westlochparkhotel.com/

photo from: http://www.westlochparkhotel.com/

ADVENTURE CONTINUES, DAY TWO...

Visited Marcos House and Museum 

The famous Paoay church

of course, mandatory selfie shot

Pimp our kicks! Adidas for the win

 Instax LOVE! 

Most awaited Sand Dunes experience!

Extreme ride indeed!

Buwis buhay hahaha!

walang seatbelt only "KAPIT PO MAM" hahaha!

Lightghouse and sceneries

Thank you to my second family!

Keep calm and do your OOTD pose hahaha!

of course hindi papatalo ang mga boys haha!

Quick stop at Fort Ilocandia

The breath taking electric fan este windmills of  Ilocos Norte

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Indeed a paradise for me, especially the wind that blown my crowning glory, pati ako natatangay haha!

The wind beneath my heart :)

One of my favorite spot in Pagudpud, Patapat Via Duct

Till my next visit

I'll definitely be back here!

Ilocos will be forever have a place in my traveler's heart 

Oops wait up, there's more...

ADVENTURE CONTINUES, 

DAY THREE AND FOUR...

Korean Food trip night! Super enjoy!

Bulgogi Extreme

My favorite Japchae!

Mines View Park!

Baguio trip is not complete with Strawberry Taho! 

Our simple abode at Baguio, Bahay San Jose Condo

Where are you Mace and Anthony?

is this the place of  broken hearted people?

haha!

The famous museum that took us different route just to be here!

Thanks to WAZE App haha!!

Beautiful!

Scrumptious lunch at Cafe Sabel

Pines. Pines. Pines

Coffee Break to complete the whole trip 

and finally we are coming home!

It was a great trip indeed.

Definitely another funfilled "Lakwatsa" for me

Thank you Tita Zet and Guillermo kids for having me!

Super thank youuuuuu!

Till our next escape!

#MauriciaLakwatsera Signing Off

Where Do Lakwatsera Go?