Sand Boarding at La Paz

Day 2
Feb 10, 2013
Laoag and Pagudpod

We woke up very early the next day for the sand boarding activity so we could avoid the scorching heat of the sun at La Paz sand dunes. Our contact Glenn (contact number 09088853669) picked us up at 6 AM from the hotel and brought us to the dunes which was about 20 minutes away. Glenn's package (2500 PHP for a group of four) covered both not-as-easy-at-it-looks sand boarding and the 4x4 ragged drive around the dunes which included some hold-on-for-dear-life slopes.

4x4 ride at the La Paz sand dunes

Paddle boarding at La Paz sand dunes

On the way back to the hotel, on our sand-drenched condition, we stopped over at Malacañang Ti Amianan (Malacanang of the North), the official residence of the late President Marcos. No one would think we would be visiting a palace with the way we looked - messy hair, shorts, slippers.

Malacañang Ti Amianan

View from the mansion - Paoay lake

We went back to the hotel afterwards for a much needed bath. For lunch, we ate at Saramsam Ilocano restaurant, another highly recommended place in Laoag - and for a very good reason. The oil-based Saramsam pasta - with shrimps, tomatoes, mango slices - and Poque-Poque pizza - with eggplant, tomatoes, onions, and eggs - were to die for, not to mention healthy.

Saramsam Ilocano Restaurant

Poque-Poque pizza

Saramsam Pasta

Maja Blanca - Ilocano version

After lunch, it was time to leave Laoag and head to Pagudpod. Along the way, we made 2 stopovers at Burgos. The first one was at Cape Bojeador, which unfortunately already forbids visitors from going up the actual tower.

Cape Bojeador

Next and last stop was at Kapurpurawan rock formation. The name translates to whiteness, which is exactly what one would find here - creamy white limestone formation, in the middle of nowhere.

Kapurpurawan rock formation

It was almost night time when we decided to leave Burgos and head to  Cathi's Homestay (contact number 09195716680 ) in Saud beach in Pagudpud, where we would stay for the night. The place was really cheap - 1000 PHP for a room good for 5 - but only because there were no basic amenities (no tv set, no hot water) at all. The owner though was really friendly and allowed us to check-out very late in the afternoon the next day.

Cathi's Homestay

We had dinner in the resort next door - Api Idon resort - where I discovered another new favorite dish - Mountain Chicken. It was a great way to cap off the night.

Mountain Chicken