Ilocos Sand Boarding

On April 6, I was finally able to experience the 4x4 sand dunes ride and do the sand boarding at Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

When I first heard of this, this bored me as I thought that I will just ride the big jeep in a very hot desert. Together with my friends from Manila, we just planned to take pictures of the sand dunes after our visit to Paoay Church and Currimao Coral Formation.

When we were there, you can see real wasteland- a vast ocean of sand and the south china sea in the west. On one of the sides, you can see a number of people queuing for the sand boarding.

aboard the 4x4 all terrain vehicle

We took pictures at the truck to feed our adventure hungriness but we were more enthralled with other guests screaming who rode on one of the jeeps coming down from a mountain of sand. That's when we decided to give it a try.

middle of the paoay sand dunes

With a P2500 fee for an hour of sand dunes tour and sand boarding, it’s a bit pricey. However, this is already good for 4 persons so that makes 750/head. After the transaction, we took the one of the vehicles and went on to an awesome experience. It was unexpected, the adventure is worth it!

my first awesome experience of sand boarding

mish on the sand board

Paoay Sand Dunes 4x4 Experience is located about a half-kilometer past of Malacanang of the North in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

P.S.:

If you plan to visit Ilocos Norte, we are now offering Bed and Breakfast in the comfort of home for only Php500/head. That’s inclusive of an air conditioned room (well, that’s our rooms but it’s not being used because my brother and I are now based in Manila), airport/bus transfers, and a hearty and genuine Ilocano breakfast! Mom cooks so it will really delight your appetite. Ask my friends for testimonials.

We also arrange van tour in the province at half the price of prevailing rental rates.

If you may ask why we are putting this up, we love traveling and it’s already our passion. So we thought of giving something for travelers who want to see the beauty of Ilocos Norte without spending much.

For now, we initially offer this to a maximum of 6 persons because we don’t want our home to be crowded and for you to be relaxed. There’s even a hammock in the garden that you can use for stargazing during the night.

Send me an email at andydugay@gmail.com or tweet me @andydugay if interested. Guys, you can share this info to your friends since this is already a very good deal. J

MOTORCYCLE DIARIES

It’s almost a decade when I left the province and ventured my future in Manila.

But from time to time, I visit Ilocos to take a break from the busy life of the city. Maybe a couple of weeks would do to check out what’s the latest buzz on the family including the all our relatives.

Actually, I am already spending my second week of my month-long vacation. This vacation in my hometown would rather be the laid back one after a spin-off in Coron and a planned trip to the mountain regions of the north in the next few weeks.

Nevertheless, I am enjoying the slow-pace of life here. If it would be possible not to time-track everything I am doing, it would be great. I wanted to imitate Nate’s adventure in Pantanal on Grisham’s The Testament where he didn’t need a clock to keep on-track of the time.

Like a new adventure, I took my old bike from the garage and visited the places I’ve never been for the past years. The road was still familiar but the surrounding’s already new. New houses were built and unfamiliar faces welcomed me.

On my joyride, I was able to see my kindergarten school. It’s quite funny to remember how we squeezed in 20 children in an old wooden room. The school is now well maintained and cemented, a bigger room perhaps for the children.

Well, I think I am going to do this more often. Every time I’ll be visiting my province, I would make time to get my bike of the garage and go to the places waiting for my return.

EXTENDED VACATION

dahil ni-extend ko ang holiday break ko ng tatlong araw (nabitin kasi ako halos tatlong linggo naming company shutdown) ay sinuper sulit ko na! kahapon, kasama ko ang aking mga fwends ay kinaladkad nila ako sa kanilang tour. heto ang ilan sa mga kuha ko. :)

 

breakfast @ rosewell

pristine view of the pagudpud shoreline

into the blue

the long and winding patapat viaduct

paraiso ni anton

the windmill farm replica

the cape bojeador

staircase to heaven

pagtanaw sa dapithapon (emo shot)

the pornstar (kayo na ang payat!)

There is one picture here taken from a camera phone. Kung sino ang unang makakahula, bibigyan ko ng windmill keychain at kung suswertehin ay yung mas malaking replica na nasa taas at kiss from the pornstar (ehem!).

"mini me" keychain

Kthanksbye!