Pretty Daze: Ilocos Norte

Showing posts with label Ilocos Norte. Show all posts

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

One of the reasons why I wanted to go back to Ilocos Norte is to see Kapurpurawan Rock Formation! After 30 minutes tricycle ride from Cape Bojeador, we reached the drop off point to Kapurpurawan. We hiked for about 15 minutes down a cemented trail leading to a wide field. Its terra firma looks like hardened lava with little holes. There are numerous small bodies of water, bonsai plants, tree trunks, boulders along the trail.

Will tell you more about Kapurpurawan through pictures and captions. The place rocks!!! --literally and figuratively! ;)

Sneak peek before anything else

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation from afar! We kept on saying "ang ganda, and ganda" (translation: "very pretty, very pretty") during the entire trek... Imagine our (quadrupled) awe when we finally reached it!! <3
The rock formation is just an amazing parcel of a huge 'mountain'/'hill'/'limestone'/whatever (Hmm.. what is it exactly?)

3.1 km dust road from main road to Kapurpurawan drop off site

Along the way

looks like hardened lava with little holes...

Finally!

It's so white, hence the name! Kapurpurawan, an Ilocano term from the root word "puraw", means white... :)

I didn't see graffiti or any form of vandalism on the rocks i.e. "X was here". hihi! Good thing tourists are doing their part since we didn't see anyone looking over the place.

Its famous head! Some refer to it as the sphinx! They say that Kapurpurawan's form, and the color may I add, changes over time due to natural conditions. Kapurpurawan may look different a year from now. But the head seems to remain as is... A few changes, perhaps. But the head remains iconic!

I found it hard to go up there! Was the last to reach it and I needed their hands! I can't even stand; I was crawling the whole time! haha!

Somma shot which I really love!

With Gen! We can touch ze sky!

Looks like craters, no!

Huge waves at the sea stretch! Huge waves splashing against the shore!

I had a mini photoshoot! LOL, not really! A friend did multiple shots that's all! :)

Was mega windy!

I love this roomy bag which I got for so little

We were beyond amazed with this natural wonder!! I won't mind going back! <3

See the other side?

Only in Ilocos, only in the Philippines <3

On our way back

Know more about Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in another light by visiting En Route's blog post! :))

Related Posts on my Great Northern Luzon Adventure:

Cape Bojeador and Tanap Avis

Bangui Windmills

Blue Lagoon and Bantay Abot Cave

Paraiso ni Anton, Agua Grande, Patapat Viaduct, Kabigan Falls, Saud Beach

Friday, June 3, 2011

Up North: Cape Bojeador and Tanap Avis

The following day, we went to all the places in Burgos listed in the itinerary. First stop was Cape Bojeador Lighthouse which is declared a National Treasure by the National Museum and is the highest lighthouse in the Philippines.

As of the moment, the lighthouse (as in the structure itself only) is closed to the public due to some local political matter. The light keeper, on a positive note, was willing to open it for us either early morning or late afternoon since a fellow traveler knew him. We were supposed to go there in the afternoon (not early birds, hihi). We ended up going late morning. Most, if not all, say that the view from the beacon is breathtaking. We had the chance but *we're neither amenable to wake up early nor invigorated to go again after a tiresome day.

We're going up! Sun's up! :S

..Brief history of Cape Bojeador..

Red bricks and rusty decorative grill works

I admire old things but it would really be nice to rectify the place so it'll stand longer

Uncle light keeper <3 (beyond thankful for the hospitality!! very kind of you to assist, pamper, baby us. hihihi) ....and red bricks

Karamay!
A fruit from a small tree that grows in Ilocos. This one is pickled/soaked in Ilocos vinegar. You may eat it fresh too. It tastes like sour turnip (singkamas).

From Cape Bojeador, we rented two tricycles (500php each) that took us to Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and Tanap Avis. We had to choose between Kaangrian falls and Tanap Avis Watershed Forest Reserve. We chose Tanap Avis, as said. Trails to both falls aren't developed unlike the rather paved trail in Kabigan falls.

Prior, we heard rumors that Tanap Avis is currently dried up, but some locals who were in Cape Bojeador said that Tanap Avis is prettier and that the no-water rumors aren't true.

I haven't trekked in a narrow, torturous trail before. An hour trek to Tanap Avis is adventure at its purest! I really had hard time going across narrow bridges. We even traversed through thick roots and hiked boulders! My Havaianas slippers even gave up! I still can't believe that I managed to survive the long shot! Well, thanks to friends who had to walk me through! ;)

Them. :) Didn't take too much photo of the trek... Was too scared to even bother. haha! Felt like everything was unstable! :(

Passed through a number of these, nevertheless... I didn't have a choice! haha!

We were expecting to see it this way (expectation vs. reality):

EXPECTATION: Photo from here and here

Read awe-inspiring blog post here

PRETTY, yea? Who would want to miss this?!

REALITY: The falls is super dry! See, no water streaming from the top.

Yes, there's water in one side but the color is blue green not majestic blue as seen in photos above... Or is it because of lack of water... Hmm..

Disappointed souls. haha!
It was really hot that we we're really looking forward to bathing in a falls! Fail!

Lesson we learned? Next time, look at the date of the post... And be warned by rumors because they're almost always true!! LOLJK.

Related Posts on my Great Northern Luzon Adventure:

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Bangui Windmills

Blue Lagoon and Bantay Abot Cave

Paraiso ni Anton, Agua Grande, Patapat Viaduct, Kabigan Falls, Saud Beach

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Up North: Sunset and Bangui Windmills

Last stop in our first day itinerary was to see Bangui Windmills up close. They are so huge that these were the first attraction we noticed from the highway.

Northwind Bangui Bay Project pursued by Bong Bong Marcos started operating in 2005 which supplies 40-70% of Ilocos' power requirement. The twenty windmills are used to generate power with the use of air, a renewable/alternative power source --huzzah! an effort to nurture mother earth! :) It provides power without the harmful GFCs which cause global warming.

I actually am impressed by the projects of the Marcoses. Here are some that I am aware of: many of the buildings that we still see in Baguio are projects of Imelda; the BLISS Housing Project in Metro Manila was also pursued by her; birth of CCP; construction of LRT; built known specialized medical hospitals such as the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of The Philippines, Kidney Institute of the Philippines; and the list goes on. They, indeed, have done a lot in the arena of tourism and beautification of our country. Well, lay aside the issue of diverting public funds for personal gain surmounting these.

Anyway, I was amazed that these Bangui windmills are really humongous up-close! Imagine, it's 70 meters in height or as high as a 23-story building and each blade measures 41 meters long!