Hello everyone, We’ve returned from the north most point in the main Island of Luzon, Philippines. Searching for that perfect spot to take guests and send tourists. We found a few, Vigan was our first stop with cobble stone streets, empanadas, bagnet and old buildings. They also have a Zoo , holding many exotic animals . a white Tiger was a favorite, with picture taking tourists willing to sit in a pose. The beaches were further up north in Ilocos Norte.
From there we traveled north to Pagudpod, past the windmills. A small community, Saud, was our next stop, on the beach. It is a growing barangay along beautiful beaches, just right for swimming and sun. plenty of good food and friendly people. Many fishing boats adorn the coast but not much boat tourism yet. The fish and coral along the beaches were sparse, possibly due to open current and lack of protection in the north China Sea. I was told just north takes you to Taiwan, but it’s a small Island and easy to miss. Don’t try swimming , you’d likely be cast away. From there we turned south again and spent time in Ilocos Sur at Candon. They grow a lot of Tobacco there, among other crops of corn and peanuts. Just developing tourism, it’s a larger city compared to Saud and has much to offer. While there we learned to roll cigars from an 85 year old woman who told stories of the Japanese invasion of WW2. It was a most delightful part of our journey. You can buy pre-rolled cigars in the public market if you prefer, probably better than any I rolled.
The beach was nice as usual. Sand and light surf , warm water made for good swimming but again not much coral so not many fish species. I found a few shells , found a crab or two, some sea weed and what looked like peas growing on sea vines. I was told the pea type weed was medicinal, good for the prostate I believe.
Again we loaded the van and traveled to Bauang. After securing a room we took a day trip up into the mountains to Baguio City. Not what I expected. Traveling through the mountains I though we would find a small mountain town nestled among ridges in possibly a valley or along a river. What I found to be there was a city as large as any along the coast or inland, with houses and commercial buildings built up into the mountainside, some quasi flat areas but usually up or down with every step. musicians playing along the streets, two parks and a zoo. There just didn’t seem to be an end to the curiosities that cropped up right around every turn. The entire drive from one park to the next was manicured and I asked at one point if we were still in the park. It was beautiful. Being only a day trip wasn’t enough for the visit. I recommend spending a couple days there to ingest the full flavor and view of Baguio.
We returned to Bauang, La Union, enjoyed the beach and ocean there , resting for our return to Lobo Batangas the next day. I hadn’t found and tour guides yet and even though Bauang was a large city it seemed to be growing for tourism. Plenty of open beach and privacy. We had passed through San Fernando heading both directions and that was a hot spot for younger surfers as the waves were larger and surfable. It’s a known destination for the action crowd and did seem like a fun pace to be. In La Union and not far from where we stayed, I recommend touring there if your holidaying along the north coast.
The trip was wonderful, colorful and informative for sure. Upon returning to the reef in Lobo I celebrated with a snorkel dive among the ever enhancing forest in our back yard. Being thankful for what we have right here at home. Isla Verde stands out like a beacon of good hope to the world as the reef forest lies below unnoticed by the world passing by above. What a trade off of 02 to oxygen we have and nurseries of fish species propagating here is unparalleled anywhere we’ve been. Thank the creator for sending us to this home .
