DIY: Puerto Princesa

062013

This was the Php 3000 all in (Puerto Princesa city tour for 2) trip. Haha.

We got a piso fare ticket from Tiger airways, our ticket costs Php 400 rt/person. I wasnt able to save money for this trip and I booked the wrong dates. We only have Php3000 pesos in our pockets and yet we managed to survive! Awwwyeah!

The morning before our trip, i was struggling to find a cheap accomodation, then I came across OMG House, a newly built space for dormers and backpackers which is strategically located on the airport road near food establishments. We were supposed to stay in a shared bathroom accomodation but the owner gave us the room with own bathroom for 450php for 2 nights. Lucky us! 

For our first day, we decided to walk towards the Immaculate Concepcion Church and the Plaza Cuartel - it was just 3 blocks away from our inn.

After taking pictures, tricycle drivers approached us for a city tour worth Php600 (this is the real price of the tryk city tour for 4 persons based on the the province's tourism dept) - we managed to haggle it for Php400 and off we go.

We went to Crocodile Farm, Baker's Hill and Mitra's Ranch.

You can also opt to go to Irawan Ecopark.

We weren't able to go to the Butterfly farm as it was under construction then. I highly suggest that you take the tryk tour since it is cheap and you do not need wait and change puvs from every tourist spot.

The tryk driver also brought us to the Souvenir Shop were we bought souvenir shirts for just Php100-180.

In the afternoon, we went to their baywalk to rest and eat mirienda, and people watch. 

It was a 3nights2days trip so we did not

 take the underwater cave and honda bay tour. But we'll definitely be back. :)

TTFN.

DIY: Laoag, Ilocos Norte

Our Lampitao (from Calayan, Cagayan) docked at Claveria, Cagayan

From here, we went to the national highway to catch a bus ride to Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Fare is roughly around Php200.

Travel time is around 2 hours and we passed by Pagudpud. I was so awesome-struck with the wind mills that I almost forgot to take a picture. Haha

We arrived a little late after lunch and the bus terminal is just a block away from Museo Ilocos Norte and from the provincial capitol.

Of course, we ate bagnet and the infamous Ilocos Empanada in dap - ayan, the food stalls complex infront of the capitol.

After getting high blood pressure with the  bagnet and everything, we checked in at our hotel for an overnight stay.

We rested a bit before going out to explore the old churches within the area.

We went back to the plaza and took pictures before heading back to the hotel.

We also went to the public market to buy ilocos longganisa. :)

A quick dinner and we called it a night.

I was supposed to go alone to Paoay Church the next day because my friend already went back to Manila but laziness took over and just packed my things and went straight to the airport for my flight back to Manila.

I shall return to Ilocos for their 4x4 and sand dunes, and have a side trip in Vigan as well.

TTFN.