Hehehe. I remembered I’m still in my Pagudpod Roadtrip.
With me in the hotel room is Gab, Melvin and Kirby, my companions during my vacation. You read the story of our first day in our northern adventure and it’s now time to continue with the rest of the story.
Eating breakfast beside the pool is definitely the way to go...
Pictures taken after we all grged ourselves with food...
So after breakfast, compliments from the hotel, we continued with our trip up north. We just passed by St. Augustine Parish Church and we did not linger anymore because there was a wedding going on. If you like, you can have your pictures taken at Bantay Church Bell Tower just beside it. We heard that that’s one of the places where the famous Panday movie of the late actor FPJ was shot. It’s a very old structure so you might find it interesting.
CURRIMAO!!!
Yazzmin Yang, one of our co-workers mentioned that the sea of the municipality of Currimao would interest us so we were keeping an eye for it. We had a hard time finding it actually but when we saw a sign that said Port of Currimao, which we found just on the left side of the National Highway, we just took that turn. It’s actually a port for commercial and industrial sea vessels but since no one was manning the guard house, we took a chance and drove into the facility. And LO! and BEHOLD!. What a sight…
Seawater surrounding us all around. It’s very surreal because we had our car with us and we are literally driving on top of the water with a concrete slab and 15 inches of space separating our car tires and the surface of the sea. We got very excited that even though we have not applied our sunblock yet, we just got out of the open, at 10AM sunlight and devoured the scene before us.
@Currimao Port: Nice and breezy.
Randy to me: "Mainit dito. Alis na tayo."
Me to Randy: "You're not the boss of me!! Tumahimik ka."
Randy to itself: "ITITIRIK kita mamaya. LINTIK lang ang walang ganti. BWAHAHA."
Me to Randy: "You're not the boss of me!! Tumahimik ka."
Randy to itself: "ITITIRIK kita mamaya. LINTIK lang ang walang ganti. BWAHAHA."
Hmmm.. ano kaya ang nangyari kay Anne Frank?? (Nyeee.. geeky naman ng iniisip...)
THE CHURCH!!!
So after that brief encounter with Poseidon’s lair, we proceeded to yet another church. To road trippers, be aware of the left turn that you have to make just after Currimao because if you continue on, you will end up at Laoag. The left turn will lead you to Paoay while the right will get you to Batac, Ilocos Norte.
The majestic facade of Paoay Church is clearly visible from this angle.
Paoay Church, some have said, is one of the oldest and grandest churches of the north. It boasts of a magnificent landscape with aged foundation and columns that could compare with Persian architecture.
Some of the most extreme local stories say that when rainwater was scarce, the slaves who built the church were made to use human blood combined with dirt to form clays that are now part of the structue of the church. Of course, it’s unbelievable yet others claim that when it rains, the rainwater that touches the church ends up red in color. Believe it or not, only you can decide.
Afterwards, we debated on either going back to where we came from and see Marcos Museum or continue on to Laoag City. It’s nearly lunchtime and I have boasted of a really good restaurant in Laoag City that my companions trusted where their tummies led them to. So on to Laoag City…
Between the Municipality of Paoay and Laoag City, we were supposed to pass by Fort Ilocandia but we must have missed a turn and failed to get to the place. Instead, our group decided that we can always pass by it on our way back, including Marcos’ museum.
LAOAG CITY (Ice Cream + Calamansi… weirdly delicious)
It was already lunch time when we arrived at Laoag City. One of the best places to eat would be at Saramsam Café. Virgie and I, on my first trip to Pagupod last 2009, already saw great reviews about the place.
The restaurant is on JP Rizal Street cor Gen Hizon St just in front of Texicano Hotel. You should be able to see it at your left side when you’re driving. Again, we are an advocate of asking the locals whenever we get lost. It’s a very nice experience just to talk to them. A simple smile, an air of someone who’s lost plus a cute face (mine if it’s a girl or gay; Gab’s if it’s a straight guy), will get you all the answers the you need. Nyahaha.
Each serving of their pasta is already enough for 1 person. The best thing to do is for everyone to order different kinds of pasta and then you do a switching-plate game so everybody get’s to taste the restaurant’s menu.
Malunggay Sherbet with Calamansi
LET THERE BE LIGHT!!!
After lunch, we decided to push through with our journey. We wanted to reach Pagudpod before twilight because we still have to find a place to stay. But before we reached Pagudpod, we came upon one of the tallest lighthouse in the Philippines.
As we are about to reach Cape Bojeador, I was thinking on “Ang Lalake sa Parola” (hehehe). To those who know the allusion to the movie, well, I leave the rest of the thinking to you.
Ang Lalake Sa Parola... hehehe
The view from the top was breathtaking. I worked at the 50th floor of PBCom Tower so I know the feeling of looking at things in the top perspective but, boy!!! nothing can compare to this.
PAGUDPOD!!!
At last... our Holy Grail!!!
We finally reached Pagudpod and we actually had a difficulty finding a place or rather a “cheap” place. If you have enough money I guess it won’t be a problem for you. But we got a place for only P1,200 and after asking around other accommodations, we were willing to settle for it.
There are two places where you can stay in Pagudpod. The preferred place is at Saud Beach because this is where the nightlife is. The second one is at Blue Lagoon. There are about two hotels there that you can stay but the locals have their version of you paying to stay-in their own house. Blue Lagoon is more serene and not much of a night life so again, I suggest staying at Saud Beach instead. Anyway, Blue Lagoon is very accessible from Saud, if you have a car.
Now, since we have not had the chance to dip in salty water, we immediately enjoyed Saud Beach. The sand is not white and the water is kinda cold but for four people who went out of their way to travel, it did not matter at all. Plus, having been here, I still have a few surprises for my three friends (wink. wink)
We had our dinner at Emohrou Beach Restobar. For me, this part is the best part of our Day 2. With the moonlight gazing down on us complimented by the soft lights of the restaurant, it was amazing to drink in the relaxing feeling of sitting at a table beside the beach. The sound of the sea softly lapping at its shore and the gentle breeze in the ambiance, so fresh you’ll feel healthier just by breathing it in, creates a surreal experience for someone who lives in a place polluted by noise and air.
The food was a feast and since all of us are hungry, we did not speak for the next hour and just gobbled our food while being serenaded by the live performer that the place hired to entertain its customers.
PAGUDPOD SLING… anyone???
Wonder of wonders, when it was time for us to gorge ourselves with alcohol, we looked at their drinks menu and voila!!! we saw an entry called “Pagudpod Sling – Pitcher”. Well, Kirby and I just had our team building at Puerto Galera and our curiosity were immediately aroused by a drink that imitates the fame that Mindoro Sling has in the southern part of Luzon.
The drink was great. It’s not as strong as Mindoro Sling because the rum was somehow diluted by an added ingredient that makes it taste amazing. If Mindoro Sling uses apple slices as an added ingredient, Pagudpod Sling uses young coconut juice and its shredded meat. Just try it and I am sure that you’ll also love it.
What a great end to our Day 2 Trip. Stay tuned to the last and final day of our northern escapade tomorrow. Ciao!!!
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