LakByahe: Ilocos Sur - Day 0 (Preparations and Expectations)

Last weekend of March was one of the happiest weekend for me and for my siblings. I think. Haha. Why? Because we get to have our FIRST family vacation! Yay! (I said first because i know there'll be second, 3rd, 4th, etc.) Oh, it's also my first vacation too! :) (Those out-of-town-trips are not counted kasi i get to travel lang to do field work. Haha!)

I have so manyyy pictures to share kaya i'm gonna break them up into parts. For this post, it's all about the preparations, expectations, and the day 0 = departure from MLA.

Disclaimer muna: I and my sibs wanted to travel ever since the world began. Chos. There were times when our own friends invites us to go with 'em to travel and see the world. Pero bilang super close kaming apat, (tas apat na lang kaming Coprado-Ricafrente) we always declined their invitations. Ang secret pact namin is: APAT DAPAT, DAPAT APAT. Pumo-Pokwang/Ruffa Mae/Candy/Uge lang kami. Haha. And because of that, kung sakaling lilibutin namin ang mundo, gusto namin kaming apat lang, pwede ding with a plus. PERO DAPAT SABAY-SABAY NAMING MAKIKITA ANG GANDA NG MUNDO. (Yes. I put emphasis on that phrase. Hihi.) Ngunit, uunahin muna namin ang Pilipinas. (In God's will and timing. Hopefully.) Okay, medyo sentimental na yata ang peg ko dito.☺

Since t'was our first vacay, me and my siblings are so excited. Isipin nyo January pa lang medyo atat na kami. Haha. Where to get funds, who will take care of our Quinn (oo, kasama 'to sa iniisip namin. Haha.), the leave of absences sa work, exam ni Jam. But thanks to God! We get to execute this matagalan-na-urong sulong-pang-bakasyon. Lahat ng wino-worry ay naiayos, in God's will.

And because I am the most excited, i am the self-appointed navigator of this vacation.

So here's of what-to-dos that I listed in my journal (na napulot ko online. Hahaha!):



THE EXPECTATIONS

1. Ilocos Sur
•  Explore Calle Crisologo
• Visit Syquia Mansion
• Go on heritage river cruise in Meztiso River
• See Abel weavers in action at Rowilda's Loom Weaving
• Visit Father Burgos' House
• Climb up Bantay Bell Tower
• Visit St. Agustine Church
• Go mass at the Ruins (beside St. Agustine Church)
• Hunt for Antiques and furniture at Lucy Chan's Antique House
• Visit the Magsingal Branch of National Museum
• See the Dancing Fountain at Plaza Salcedo on 7:30pm
• Try pottery making at Burnayan
• Visit some wild animals in Baluarte
• Try Cafe Leona's home cooked Vigan and other Pinoy cuisines
• Take a bite of empanada
• Visit the Hidden Garden
• See the history at Crisologo Museum
2. Ilocos Norte
• Visit Pres. Marcos' body at Marcos' Museum
• Tour the Malacañang of the North
• Appreciate a heritage site at Paoay Church
• Witness the sinking Bell Tower
• The Bangui Windmills!
• Go trekking at Kabigan Falls
• Check out the long and winding road at Patapat Viaduct
• Try the miraculous waters at Paraiso ni Anton
• See the mountain with a hole at Bantay Abot Cave
• Swim at Blue Lagoon and Saud Beach
• Go up at the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
• Appreciate the beauty of Kapurpuran Rock Formation
• Try sand boarding at La Paz Sand Dunes
• The Paoay Lake!
• Munch in Pinakbet Pizza

And here's THE REALITY...

March 28. Day 0. Departure Day.

I went to office in the morning, Kuya went to his also and Jarie attended the graduation of her students pa. O di ba, di masyadong feel ang vibes ng pag-alis. Haha. Ngunit gayunpaman, we still prep our things. Wait for Jarie to get home. Linis bahay si Ate. Jarie went home at 6pm. Hinatid namin si Quinn sa kanyang boarding house for 3days. Umalis ng bahay ng 8pm because the travel time of Partas bus is 10pm. Magic ang ginawa ni Manong taxi driver! Haha! 1hour and 30 minutes lang kinuha ang Antips to Cubao. To think na friday night pa yun! Ang galing! Hihi.

Kuya's waiting for us na with Justin and Joyce. Pagdating namin sa Partas Terminal in Cubao, ayyy! Ang bongga ng dami ng taong magtutungo ng Norte! We have to wait for first 2000 na makaalis and pang-75th pa ang stub namin (take note: after 2000 people.) Haha. Kaloka. But still. We get to enjoy the 5-hours waiting to board namin. Haha. Umalis kami ng 2:00am sa Cubao. Okay lang. Sakto kasi tulugan time na din naman and para morning na kami makarating ng Santa. :)

Groupie muna while waiting for our turn in Partas, Cubao Terminal

Our first and last stop over going to Ilocos Sur. Ate, Jam, Jarie and Joyce are sleeping kaya ayaw nila bumaba. :)

Oh, i won't sorry for the next photos kahit selfie pa. Haha. E kasi namannnn. Ang tagal ng byahe para sa babaeng atat sa bakasyon! E kasi naman ulettt. Ano na lang gagawin ko kung lahat sila sinusulit sa pagtulog ang ang 9-hours na byahe? ☺

And that ends my Day 0 of our Ilocos Sur diary! Please check back for Day 1! (And that's, after a month, maybe? ☺)