La Union: Our Pugad Adventure

Last Sunday, My sister Karen and her boyfriend Johnry decided to have an adventure in Pugo. Since, I am a travel blogger, I insisted myself to go with them, and I invited my husband too who is a lot older than me to go with us, because this will be a good exercise for him, after all, as they said; "take time to play, because this is the secret of youth", (fact) Lol!

.....and the adventure starts here,

I am not a fan of heights, but I am a nature lover! I was so scared when I walked from the hanging bridge, but I've got a happy feet when I soaked them in the river.

What a day! My companions tried all the exciting adventure here. From wall climbing to rapelling. From run down to zipline, and many more. These are just some of the photos that I took.

Got a lot of fun here...thanks to Mr. Laurence Martin for entertaining us, you really had a super nice place, not only for adventure but also for relaxation.
Location: PUGAD- Sitio Kagaling, Palina, Pugo, La Union

La Union: If It's Hot, You Need A Hat!

Last December, I visited the "Rimat ti Amianan", a trade fair in La Union.I was amazed with these beautiful and unique hats that was displayed in one of the stalls. These stuffs are made abacca fibers, water lilies, a part from banana stalks and even from coconut leaves, etc.

That was Manong, an Ilocano entrepreneur, actually the products are from Laguna, but since he is also  Ilocano, and he is the one making his own products he can join the trade fair. From the photo, he is showing me how he molds that hat which  is made of abacca fibers.

If you like to buy from him, his next trade fair destination will be in Baguio for "Panagbenga" festival. Those hats prices range from P120 to P500. Since Manong will go up to Baguio for Panagbenga festival, buy his famous Philippine Handicrafts and after that go down to Bauang, La Union and visit also their nice and beautiful resorts and wear one of those pretty hats in your head!

San Juan's Best: The Pottery Making

Have you been to North? or should I say, have you been to the Surfing Capital of the North? Did you pass by the national highway of  Taboc, San Juan and see the arrays of colorful and creative  pottery displays of the Ilocanos? If not, I will show you some photos because Aliz took pictures, as her travel "bayong" posses with these products made of clay.

my travel "bayong" with her many dwarf

 The Ilocanos uses clays with their bare hands for making bricks, pots, cooking stuffs and even garden accessories. I bought some decors for my garden and some pots for my seedlings. I got some vase too.

pottery of San Juan

Next time, if you pass here, try to stop, drop and learn as you watch the Ilocanos in their pottery making. I suggest that it  is better if you can try to make one of your own as a remembrance.

Bauang: Panagkakarar-rua 2011 Festival

If others are busy concocting trick-or-treat with their costume parties, well, Aliz, the traveler, also enjoyed herself as she watched the parade of Panagkakarar-rua Festival.

horrible drivers

monsters are every where..

"Halo-Halloween", is the theme for 2011 Panagkakarar-rua Festival in Bauang, La Union In these festival, people are requested to join the parade and party with their Halloween costumes wherein the "Most Scary Group" and "Most Scary Individual" are chosen.

creepy gays

Gays versus Zombies? why not!..they are the one who usually wears the best ghoulish-looking outfits ever.

d' net invaders

Though I waited for an hour before the parade started, still, I am satisfied because I appreciates how the participants made their outfits creepy and ghastly.

La Union Surfing Break 6: Aliz Was There!

3 days, of whole day of fun, 3 nights, of whole night of enjoyment. I  don't surf, but I really love watching surfers a lot. That's why I flock to San, Juan, La Union to watch the Surfing Competition.

Lady surfers just preparing themselves to go and play with the big waves.

Bauang Escapes: Oktoberfest 2011

I just got my ticket for "Oktoberfest 2011", a promotional tourism project of Bauang Tourism Council in cooperation with the Local Government of Bauang and the Provincial Government of La Union. The celebration will be held on October 15 (from 6:00 P.M. onwards) at the Rose Bowl Steakhouse and Restaurant, Pagdalagan Sur, Bauang, La Union. I'm so excited to attend because there will be a whole lot of fun. There will be an array of entertainment, for sure, you will enjoy the alternating bands, and you might also win in their different contests like Dance Contest, Yodel Contest or the Best in Costume. Raffle prizes are stake too, from airline tickets, hotel accommodation, restaurant voucher, home appliances, shopping voucher  and other door prizes. Actually,  from this stub, eating their typical Oktoberfest food on that day can already win my passion for food but still, I'm hoping to win one of their prizes, I got 1 raffle stub, who knows! Happy Oktoberfest everyone!

Havens of Luna, La Union: Beach View

Several times, I used to pass from a bridge with magnificent views, a beach sight that captivates my eyes will surely make me stop to take the opportunity to have a photograph of it.

These photos are just a few of my remembrance among the many beautiful sights of Luna, La Union.

Banca's or small boats can be seen along the seashore, small shades or cottages can be rented for P150 to P500.

 

Luna, is also known as shore of stones and pebbles of various colors. If you have plans of visiting the miraculous Lady of Namacpacan...why not have a picnic and have fun and enjoy the beach stretch of  this place.

San Juan's Best: at Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa

The skies was  darkened and the waves grew choppier, and someone knocked my door. Oh, it was my friend from Belgium with her son Rover. We decided to go out and contact our friends. Hmmm....what other place to go in times of  weather like this? I thought of San Juan, the surfing camp of the North. I don't surf but I love watching surfers chasing the wind.

Aliz in Surfing of the North

We went to Kahuna Resort, the boutique resort and spa with Balinese-inspired cottages, my friends were so excited when we reach the place, they had a lot fun watching the beach views, capturing photos here.. and.. there.... actually we even saw Akihiro, the winner of Survivor Philippines, he stayed also in Kahuna Resort with his companions. My friend, Jecelyn was the one insisting me to take a picture with him but I am shy to take a picture..LOL!

Aliz at Kahuna Bar and Restaurant

Aliz at Kahuna

The best thing that I can't forget in Kahuna is Manong Guard, he is so courteous that he even get his giant umbrella just to protect us from the heavy rain.
What they offer from their resort:
Laundry & Dry Cleaning
Spa Treatments
24-hour Security
Outdoor Swimming Pool
Surf Lessons
Big Kahuna Bar and Restaurant
Spa Luana
Kahuna Function Room
Wi-Fi
Wanna be there? Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa is situated at Brgy. Urbiztondo, 2514 San Juan, La Union
Phone no: +63.72 607.1040
Fax no: +63.72 607.1017

Church Visits: Shrine of Our Lady Of Namacpacan

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish

I attended a  mass at Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish. It is a catholic church located in Luna, La Union. This is also the shrine of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Namacpacan or "Apo Baket of Namacpacan" as the name given to Blessed Virgin Mary by the natives of La Union. According to Wikipilipinas, Our Lady of Namacpacan was canonically crowned on November 24, 1958 by the high ranking-officials led by Papal Nuncio Salvatore Siino.

the altar....the image of "Apo Baket of Namacpacan"

Our Lady Apo Baket of Namacpacan, Ilocanos Patroness of Travelers.

front of the church

Dried Fish in La Union

If you are traveling to North, you can see arrays of dried fish stalls along the national highway. Some in Binalonan,Pangasinan, although their popular product is vinegar. Others are in Urdaneta City and Carmen but you can find the longest dried fish stalls in La Union. Actually, you can easily see them because vendors are waving plastic of fish for you to be distracted along the highway.

Bea Likes Dried Pusit

I used to stop in Carmela's Dried Fish, my favorite stall because I am also one of her forever loyal customers.

Carmela Dried Fish Stall

As you can see in the pictures, they have different kinds of dried fish; dried" bisugo, espada, dilis, tuyo, dried pusit, tinapang bangus ,danggit. These are just among their many products.They will even cook for you to taste their products.

Bagoong and Patis

They also sells " boneless bagoong, patis and vinegar, the ever famous "sawsawan" in the Philippines.

Banig Dried Fish

Wanna be there?
Location: Along National High-Way
               Damortis, Santo Tomas, La Union

Sunset Viewing

Urbiztondo, San Juan

It was a sunny Saturday and my family decided to go to the beach and after swimming, I can't help my self to put my foot in the sand...such a wonderful feeling!, we decided to stay for awhile just to view the sunset.

at 5:55 PM

Finally, the amazing view started to show up and it is indeed a good idea to wait and relax.

We really had a great time watching the beautiful sunset in the beach. It releases stress in our minds and sitting in the sand along the beach is also a pleasure.

Just Like Santorini

Yes, I dreamed of  Santorini!, the most popular destination of Greece, known as one of  the home of spectacular landscapes in the world. But, I'm just a small time traveler, my budget is not really enough.

Since, I am a person who never stop searching what place where I want to go, my dream of seeing Santorini is now a short way for me. In the province of  La Union, from the heart of City of San Fernando, there is indeed a superb architectural designed just like what I am dreaming of. I invited my friends to visit the place and we just took some photos  and taste their  delicious pizza in Olives Restaurant.If you want to try your luck, Fiesta Casino is just a neighbor away from the resort. One cannot only admire the beautifully landscaped garden but they have  also an inviting scenery for golfers.  

Wanna go there?

Thunderbird Poro Point Resort
Poro Point Freeport Zone, San Fernando City, La Union
(6372) 888.7777
Makati Office: (632) 886.5555
www.thunderbird-asia.com

Mark Teresa Apartments

Staying in apartment where there is a wide luscious garden is indeed a great pleasure, especially if it is also just a walking distance by the beach. Mark Teresa Apartments is located along the national highway of Paringao, Bauang, La Union. From a hard day of work, one can just seat back and relax by their terraces and simply watch their beautiful landscapes.

Floating Restaurant @Bacnotan

If you are in La Union , try to visit the River farm Restaurant? It is located before the  town proper of Bacnotan. Experience the different feeling of eating in a floating "Bahay Kubo".Wanna drop and try?

While trying to eat their best Ilocano delicacies like "pinakbet, kilawen na kambing," lots of fresh sea foods found in their area, you will also enjoy sighting the wide river and beautiful mountains in their eastern view while also breathing the fresh air.

What I really enjoy again,  is the throwing of food pellets to their "golden tilapia and bangus" in their fish ponds. They allow their customers to do it. Next time, you are starving and pass here, why not stop.., eat and relax! for the moment before you continue to explore Northern Luzon.