I've been to Ilocos last year, Holy Week, with my friends Cyrel ad Arnel. It was a road trip I will never ever forget. This year, I went back to Ilocos, with the most important person in my life, Uno. Our destination...CABUGAO, ILOCOS SUR.
day 1: we took a bus trip at 9pm via deluxe seating of PARTAS. The seats were humongous and very comfortable. So even if the trip was really (and i mean REALLY) fast, it was comfortable. 6 hours later and only 1 bus stop, we arrived in Vigan. Since we were supposed to go to Cabugao, we waited for 45 minutes to transfer to another Partas bus with 1st class seating, going to Cabugao. 30 minutes after, we are both standing outside their ancestral house, calling for someone to open the gate.
After the sumptuous breakfast and a 2 hour sleep, we were off to Vigan to buy myself stuff that I would be bringing home. The ordinary-non-aircon buses were the cheapest way to go to our destination. For P30/each person and 30 minutes after, I found myself at the Plaza, eating the super yummy Vigan empanada and a bowl of Sinanglaw. We also watched a wedding at the nearby church. I suddenly felt a rush of excitement that maybe, in the near future, I may be married here too. After going shopping for pasalubong at Calle Crisologo, we went back home and was greeted by a ala-fiesta dinner. And may I say, our dinner just kicked my diet out the window! While my other half spent time drinking with his childhood friends, I went with his sisters to see the talent show being held at the Plaza near by. Wasn't that fun because there were so many people eager to see the female artista making a fool of herself on stage by kissing some of the male audience. However, the Babaeng Ahas ( a female midget surrounded by big snakes) was quite interesting to see for P15.00.
day 2: slept really well and woke up full of energy. Today was the day that we were hitting the beach. I was craving for a tan. I needed a tan. Summer wouldn't be summer without me getting a tan. So there. Ilocano breakfast again that contributed to my weight gain, then we were off to the market to buy stuff that we need for our beach trip. 1 whole chicken, a kilo of liempo, 4 liters of sodas and a 100ml bottle of sunblock, we were ready. Renting a tricycle that brought us to and from the beach, strolled along the farm that their family owns and a close encounter with a cow, P150.00 rent for the hut and a long stroll to the main beach, me, Uno and the rest of his family were swimming in the beautiful waters of Cabugao Beach Resort a.k.a. the Boracay of the North. Its unbelievable how fine the sand is. It's not as white as the sands of Bora, but my gosh, it was fine! I didn't care if it was 11am in the morning and we were under the sun. We went swimming and took pictures and lay on the sand the whole morning, after lunch, before dinner and watched the awesome sunset. it was almost 8pm when we left the resort but it was all worth it. I had a fantastic time. This was the highlight of our vacation.
day 3: all tanned and so full from breakfast, we went to a nearby computer shop to treat the kids for some Internet games. The 1st computer shop we went to sucked! big time! besides the unavailability of good customer service, the place was hot, dirty and not all computers were working. Thank goodness for the other computer shop that offered good service (wala nga lang aircon) and fast Internet access. I checked my face book, sent emails and watched videos until my hour was over. Everyone had a good computer day. Conclusion: if we build a computer shop business here, we will be rich in no time.
This was the day that we just stayed at home. Bonding with the kids inside their air conditioned room, singing songs from the Karaoke, making ham and cheese roll, playing patintero with the adults too and just taking time to be with each other. It was nice to be around people who love each other very much.
day 4: Uno was brought to the hospital because of an allergy caused by a bee sting. Because the town is really small, their hospital is small too, but they did what they can do to ease Uno's itchiness.
At 9am, after the teary goodbyes and the overly generosity of his family, we were off to Vigan to catch an early bus trip to Manila. Riding that dreaded bus again, we arrived in Vigan just in time to buy the Longanisa and eat lunch. At 12nn, we were seated comfortably in a Partas bus bound for Cubao. After more than 50 towns, 25 stop overs and 12 hours later (estimated numbers only), we arrived home.
I was exhausted, wasted, tired and aching because of the past 4 days...but it was all worth it...and I will always go back to Ilocos and do everything all over again.
To Uno, thank you for bringing me where you grew up. Thank you for introducing me to your friends and other family members. Thank you for making me go with you to visit your parents. Thank you very much for a wonderful vacation.
To the Ramirez family, thank you for accepting me to be part of your lives. I will never ever forget this trip.
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