Ilocandia Tour: Day 1 Laoag City

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

Ilocos can be reached by either bus or plane. Air travel takes about an hour and 25 minutes and 10-14 hours land travel but since air fare would only eat a big chunk of our budget, I have opted for a 10 hours land travel. I think it was very affordable at 600 PHP/head one way and due to the Christmas holiday most of the plane seats are already taken anyway.

We rode a Farinas Trans bus in Sampaloc Manila at exactly 10 am and have waited for an hour for other passengers to occupy the other seats. Certainly traveling by bus was very inexpensive but I think it was one of the longest land travels I have ever experienced. It was very exhausting and uncomfortable ride; good for me I just came off from work the previous night that I almost slept all the way from EDSA to Laoag and was really disappointed with myself from not being able to enjoy the scenery from the bus window. After riding a bus for 12 hours and 30 minutes we arrived in Laoag City at 11:30pm.

UKL Ever Hotel website

We rode a tricycle to UKL Ever Hotel in less than 3 minutes and my husband was surprised when Manong Driver asked for 80 PHP. I agree that it was an overpriced fare and we should have asked for the price before taking the ride but we don’t have a choice then but to shell out the money.  

The hotel was clean and well maintained. The standard room we took was good for 2 pax and has a queen size bed with soft pillows, A/C,

cable Plasma TV and toilet and bath with hot shower. It should have been 900 PHP for 24 hours stay but since we will be checking out the next morning then we got it for only 500 PHP.

I have set my alarm clock at 5:30 in the morning but I woke up 25 minutes before it went off and at exactly 6am we checked out from the hotel.  

After getting some directions from the hotel receptionist we got to the main street and found the sinking bell tower at the heart of the city. 

Built by the Augustinians in 1612, the tower is presently standing at a height of 45 meters and believed to be sinking for about 1 inch annually.

Since we have to be in Pagudpud at 9am for our scheduled tour with Kuya Arnel we didn’t have enough time to see the other tourist’s spots in Laoag City. 

I have no choice but to leave the city with a promise that we will be back some other time to learn more about its wonders and we went to the Laoag Bus terminal grabbed a quick breakfast at a nearby karinderia and hopped on a minibus bound to Pagudpud.

Related Links:
Ilocandia Tour 2011 ITINERARY
Ilocandia Tour: Day 2 Pagudpud