Mom's Vacation: Ilocos Trip (April 4 - 8, 2009)

Day 2 & 3: San Fernando-Laoag-Vigan-San Juan, La Union

At around 10 am, we started our long drive to Laoag. We had brunch at San Fernando, banyo stopover at Candon City.

There were lots of road construction activities but we really enjoyed the road trip because of the beautiful scenery. I didn't sleep the whole time since I was on the driver's side. Haha kinulit ko si LeRoy para wag shang makatulog. Samantala, tulog naman lagi sila Vic, Abel at Rizza.

We had our merienda of special empanada at Vigan. Sarap talaga! Walked on the cobbled streets of Vigan and stretched our tired pwets and legs. Picture ng konti. We didn't stay long in Vigan since we will be back the next day for another stop over there on our way back home.

Ito ang magandang Ilocos countryside:








Ilocos Bridge




Welcome to Ilocos!




Churches

Candon Church

Sta. Maria Church

Magsingal Church

Magsingal Belfry

Vigan Cathedral

Vigan

Vigan, a UNESCO heritage site

Vic and Rio

Tito Frannie

Si Mommy at ang Ilokanong Machete

Mommy at Calle Crisologo

Mommy & Tita Rosanna at Leona Florentino Shrine

Si LeRoy

Si LeRoy at si Abel

sa CR

eating Vigan empanada

Leaving Vigan

Fort Ilocandia

kinulit ni mommy ung monkey sa mini zoo

mom and her happiness

Bilyar sa Jax's Bar

Mom's Vacation: Bohol Trip 2 (April 17-20. 2009)

Day 2: Bohol Water adventure

Dolphin Watching
woke up early (5 am!) our boatman, Etienne (taray ng name no?) was already in our hotel at 5:30 am. We had to be early to see the dolphins. went to Pamilacan island and waited for dolphins. ang dami naming nakita! sobrang nakakatuwang experience. we were not able to get good pictures. we were more excited to look at them.





Snorkling at Balicasag Marine Sanctuary
The best snorkling experience ever! Thousands of fishes of different sizes, colors and shapes! Ang ganda ganda sobra! Sayang we didnt bring underwater camera. underwater case lang yung dala namin kaya blurred yung pictures :(



Pagdating nio sa Balicasag, there are small boats (2 to 3 pax only) that will bring you to the marine sanctuary. bring rice or bread para lapitan kayo ng fishes. sobrang ganda ng experience ko dito! will definitely come back sa balicasag!




after snorkling, gutom na naman shempre. etienne brought us to the other side of balicasag na may mga tables. This is the real seaside restaurant! we bought 1 big lapu lapu from Manang who also cooked the fish for us. sarap sarap! Manang cooked the tail part sweet and sour at yung head part naman sinigang sa miso. mejo pricey pero worth naman. we ate sa bamboo table under the shade of trees. ung nasa katabi naming table, sus ayaw pa magkamay.. spoon and fork pa kahit hipon at isda pa yung ulam (e baket ba nangingialam ako???).

after eating, swimming again sandali. white fine sand and crystal clear water. we saw some starfish and we played with them for a while (pinaglaruan? hindi naman. we just appreciated them!) we even saw a starfish with 6 tentacles. abnormal parang ikaw! hehe...

after swimming, balik na naman sa boat. Etienne took us to Virgin Island. very clear water, tapos white fine sand na parang polvoron. super ganda. Sayang talaga, we had no pictures of this paradise. naglowbatt na (naubos sa dolphins). ang dami daming starfish! upo ka lang sandali sa sand, makakadampot ka na ng sangkatutak na starfish. smaller and gray in color unlike the big, orange and blue ones from balicasag.

after naming nasunog sa Virgin Island, Etienne brought us back to Alona beach. Meryenda in one of the restaurants, then went back to Billabong. we just relaxed in the cool pool water.

waaahh! sunburn!!!

Mom's Vacation: Arrival at NAIA 1 (April 11, 2009)

My mom left for the US last Saturday, May 9. Hinatid namin sha dun and as expected, bumaha sa NAIA! I didnt have the time to update my blog while she's here. I wanted to be with her as much as possible since this was her first time to come home after 7 years.

Mommy's Arrival: April 11, 2009 at NAIA Terminal 1





teary-eyed! mga iyakin kong kapatid!