Achievements Unlocked in 2011

The year 2011 has been a great year for me in terms of travel and work. I have a lot to be thankful for this year and can say that I have successfully “leveled up” a few ranks. Instead of listing all the different trips I’ve taken as a year-end post, I’ve listed below a few of the worthwhile “trophies” and Achievements Unlocked:

  • First Step: Start a Travel Blog
  • Gain 300+ Fan Page Likes
  • Exceed 40,000 page views in less than a year
  • Acquire and learn to ride a motorcycle
  • Travel more than 1,000 km via motorcycle

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10 Tried-and-Tested Ilocos Norte Favorites

I promised myself that before the year ends, I would wrap up my Lakbay Norte 2 series, our 6-day whirlwind media tour in Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. Here are 10 of the most popular historic, religious, and culinary delights in Ilocos Norte which we got to visit and sample around the province.

MARCOS MUSEUMS

1) Marcos Birthplace

The province of Ilocos Norte is popularly described as “Marcos Country” since it is the birthplace of former Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The Marcos family remains very popular in the province, which is evident in the number of museums and tourist sites devoted to the former president and his family. The ancestral house in his hometown Sarrat has been converted into a mini-museum that contains some memorabilia of Marcos’ early life.

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What a Journey it has Been…

“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” — Don Williams, Jr. (American Novelist and Poet, b.1968)

In a couple of weeks, the year 2011 will come to an end and another one will begin. This December, the 14th edition of the Blog Carnival takes a look back at the memorable journeys taken by 34 Pinoy Travel Bloggers. From journeys on land, sea, and air on the way to a specific destination, to trying out various modes of transport, overcoming fears, and learning life lessons while on the road, this compilation pays tribute to the spirit of adventure that courses through the veins of true-blue travelers.

Join us as we focus on the often overlooked journey it takes to get to wherever we’re going.

BUSES AND TRAINS

For most tourists, long haul rides aboard buses and trains are just stretches of time one has to endure or sleep through to get to the next destination. But for travelers, the long rides are a chance  to slow down and reflect on the journey, or are the key parts of the adventure itself.

Estan Cabigas of Langyaw recounts several long trips he’s taken – including being on a bus for two days while en route to Ormoc via Bicol. He recounts doing a masochist’s loop through Luzon and Visayas (a journey of 2,600 km and 63 hours total travel time), and taking a trip to the remote islands of Cuyo in Palawan through Negros and Iloilo. In his post “When the journey becomes the destination,” Estan describes how addicting it is to travel the “long and hard way.”

“Never mind if I am having difficulty at times, lugging a backpack, camera and laptop. Of experiencing disappointments, meeting people, enjoying the scenery and food. But most important of all, these long trips afford me to think deeper, to plan or just staring out into the distance as the world just passes by.” Read more.
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Long Way Round to Laguna

We often like to spend Saturday or Sunday mornings riding through Marilaque – that scenic stretch of road which starts in Marikina, passes through Laguna and ends in Quezon. On my birthday weekend in October, we again found ourselves riding the route to see just how far we could go. It ended up being the longest motorcycle ride I’ve done – 5 hours straight, with a few stops for gas and to stretch our legs. Final destination: San Pablo, Laguna.

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