After routing down south for sometime last year, i just headed back to north this time. Also, another notable thing in this trip is i am flying back again via Cebu Pacific Air (CebPac). Way back college days, its CebPac who is my christening airline during my very first travel. A big thanks to Ate Sally and Ate Dhey, for tagging me with my first adventure - Cebu, and the rest is what you are now reading on this blog. (I am smiling while typing this first part of entries, those were the days and laughs...haha!)
<first ever trip pic insert here>
Okay back to this trip, its been years, as far as i can remember its more or less ten years since i first fly with CebPac and what surprises me now is their boarding pass-
I am not sure if this is because of their cost cutting measure but, its like you just bought some round trip routes from a grocery or department store. Okay enough with the tape receipt boarding pass.
Ilocos was one of the stops i'm looking forward to experience and the chance came in. I am thinking at first if i'll push with the trip due to budget shortage. Thank God a good friend - Jay lend me some help just to be able to join this trip with his family and they are very good at me and in return they have photographer for family pics. Hahaha! It just came into my mind that my first trip (same with CebPac) my then boss - Ate Dhey paid my ticket first (promo applied) since i am still working student way back then. I am not tagging CebPac with all of my 'out-of-budget trips.
Our flight was one of the last night trip and it turned out fine. An old heritage type designed airport greeted us upon landing. Not a fancy and modern airport but just enough for the basic faicilities a passenger needs. What i am surprised was this--
They have a free tourist shuttle!!! This is my very first free tourist shuttle in my travel history as of this writing. It is courtesy of the government, obviously with a polictician's name on it but on the lighter note this is a clear sign that they have a good tourism drive for their province aside from the 'Paoay Kumakaway' campaign with TV commercials and ads all over the metro.
Though i always manage and plan my own trip we decided to get a package tour since we are with elderlies and i believe this is also advisable and more comfortable for bigger groups than commuting all over Ilocandia. We just hunted for the best recommended package in the net with good feedback from other travellers and its kuya - <insert kuya's name and number here> as early as now, i can say he's indeed highly recommended.
From airport we went straight to La Elliana Hotel courtesy of the tourist shuttle bus, i can say its a good one for a typical traveller not after for high-end accommodations. I cannot give you the rates since its included in the package. Recommended for its location just few steps from the restos and five to ten minute walk to the plaza.
I did a little google for the best resto near our place and we decided to conclude the night in Saramsam---
Our flight was one of the last night trip and it turned out fine. An old heritage type designed airport greeted us upon landing. Not a fancy and modern airport but just enough for the basic faicilities a passenger needs. What i am surprised was this--
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| Free tourist shuttle bus to hotels for night flights. |
They have a free tourist shuttle!!! This is my very first free tourist shuttle in my travel history as of this writing. It is courtesy of the government, obviously with a polictician's name on it but on the lighter note this is a clear sign that they have a good tourism drive for their province aside from the 'Paoay Kumakaway' campaign with TV commercials and ads all over the metro.
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| Photo courtesy from flickr of www.tourismilocosnorte.com |
Though i always manage and plan my own trip we decided to get a package tour since we are with elderlies and i believe this is also advisable and more comfortable for bigger groups than commuting all over Ilocandia. We just hunted for the best recommended package in the net with good feedback from other travellers and its kuya - <insert kuya's name and number here> as early as now, i can say he's indeed highly recommended.
From airport we went straight to La Elliana Hotel courtesy of the tourist shuttle bus, i can say its a good one for a typical traveller not after for high-end accommodations. I cannot give you the rates since its included in the package. Recommended for its location just few steps from the restos and five to ten minute walk to the plaza.
I did a little google for the best resto near our place and we decided to conclude the night in Saramsam---
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| Saramsam interior. |
Saramsam is just few steps away La Elliana Hotel facing the way to the plaza. Though another resto is infront of the our hotel we chose Saramsam because of its good feeback. Ambiance is ideal for a late night dinner and talk with many of its vintage displays which is Ilocos is also known for.
We ordered below sumptous meal. I planned to have a separate entry for the Ilocandia gastronomy but i might not give you a detailed taste since its already more than a month now from this trip and my taste buds barely remember the these food so I will give you a brief personal review and what my taste buds remember.
This is the best tinolang manok i've ever tasted. Good thing we ordered this since it sets the mood in trasition of your ordinary tastes of food from Manila to Ilocandia gastronomy. The nativeness of the chicken sets it apart from all the tinolang manok i tasted.
We ordered below sumptous meal. I planned to have a separate entry for the Ilocandia gastronomy but i might not give you a detailed taste since its already more than a month now from this trip and my taste buds barely remember the these food so I will give you a brief personal review and what my taste buds remember.
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| Tinolang Manok (Native Chicken) |
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| Dinardaraan |
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| Insarabsab |
This is Ilocano's version of Bopis. I can say i love this Insarabsab compared to the latter. Iloco vinegar and some spices makes this better with Bopis.
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| Poquepoque |
Off all the menu above this is my favorite, though it has a strange name (you'll get me if you speak Tagalog - Haha!) it is their version os Ensalada (Salad). It is mainly composed of skinless steamed eggplant with tomatoes, onion buds and other spices. It is very refreshing so make sure this is included on the list of orders. Highly recommended.
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| The Famous Saramsam Pasta |
I reserved the best for last. Yes this is the best and i am craving for this paste right now! This is the best seller pasta Saramsam could offer. Its your no ordinary pasta since its sauce Ilocano Bagoong (liquified shrimp paste in fish version). Yeah you read it right, the sauce will balance everything on it mainly mango, tomato and young onion cubes with shrimp, cheddar cheese and slices of Pita bread on the side. Super highly recommended that i my words upon tasting it - masarap!, heaven!, the best!, grabe sa sarap!
So i hope you know what to look forward eating when in Laoag.
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