Saturday, February 18, 2012

Bookworm Log #3: The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

I should say this is the worst of the trilogy.

I was so excited to read this and find out how Lisbeth gets out of that fatal bind she found herself in at the end of the second book, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and of course figure out how it all ends.

So I was so disappointed that it didn't live up to my expectations. It didn't have the explosive ending that I hoped for, and worse, the story progression wasn't even that exciting. The problem was that there were too many new characters and too many new subplots that I can hardly keep up. I often find myself pausing and asking, 'What the hell is going on?!'. It felt like Larsson suddenly realized that he ran out of time so he decided to put everything he thought of in one book.

It's really a pity that it turned out into a sorry mish mash of everything because I was hoping that this would be an amazing conclusion to the trilogy. I enjoyed the two other books while I was reading them, but man, he really does have a penchant for anti-climactic endings.

I haven't seen the Hollywood movie version of Dragon Tattoo, and I hear they're filming all three books, but I do hope they make a better job bringing it to the big screen.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Thank You For The Music!

Last Saturday, I went to see the musical Mamma Mia! in CCP together with my mom and sister, and we had a blast! First of all, I love the theater and especially musicals. I also love lighthearted and feel-good stories. And then you add the songs of ABBA to the equation, yun na!

Like in the movie version, the story is about Sophie who tries to find out who her father is so she invited 3 guys from her mother's past to Greece on the eve of her wedding, and it's one big riot when everyone meets. It's been a while since I've seen the movie so I had a vague idea of what it's about, but it didn't matter because the story's simple enough to follow. The set's really cool and simple, just two wall-like structures (where the actors hide when it's not their scene) which they just turn and rearrange every scene change. The whole cast is awesome- great voices and dancing abilities, but the crowd favorite that night was the lady who played Rosie. Bentang-benta lahat ng jokes nya, haha!

But of course, the whole musical would be nothing without the music of ABBA. I love, love, love their songs and I know the lyrics to most of them by heart! Thanks to the invention of videoke and the real Dancing Queen, my mom. I couldn't help but sing along to Honey, Honey, Chiquitita, Thank You For The Music and Take A Chance On Me. It was so cool when they sang Dancing Queen for the finale and everyone was clapping and singing along, some even stood up and danced to their hearts' content. My mom and I almost did, nagpipigil lang na sumayaw hehe.

Overall, Mamma Mia is definitely the ultimate feel-good show and I'm glad they were able to bring the musical to Manila for all of us pinoy ABBA fans to enjoy.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

The Complete Ilocos Itinerary

For those who want to follow our ala Amazing Race tour of Ilocos, here's a complete rundown of all our activities and equivalent cost (if any) in those 3 days.

But just to warn you, this type of traveling isn't for everybody. I've never heard of anyone else who has visited the area in such a short time! Although I think one of the main reasons why it worked for us is that it was just the 2 of us and we get along really well. So no drama, no queue-ing for the bathroom, and no dillydallying - that's  why we were able to visit all these places in just a short time.

DAY ZERO:
  • 930pm - left Manila for Vigan via GV Bus Line (Php550)

DAY ONE:
  • 530am - arrived in Bantay, Vigan and took a tricycle to Calle Crisologo (Php15)
  • Photo-ops for a couple of hours in Calle Crisologo (with a Php10 drink of taho on the side)
  • Went around the plaza and visited the Vigan Cathedral
  • Headed to Bantay Church via tricycle (Php15)
  • Picture taking inside and by the Bantay Bell Tower (Php10 donation)
  • Went to Cafe Uno for brunch (Php10 for tricycle)
  • Vigan longganisa and native tsokolate lunch in Cafe Uno (Php155 with tip)
  • Walked to Crisologo Museum and Simbaan a Bassit
  • 130pm - we decided to head on to Laoag via Partas Bus Line (Php125)
  • 330pm - arrived in Laoag, quick check-in at Isabel Suites and started the tricycle tour (Php800 for the whole trip, so Php400 each)
  • First stop of the tour: Malacanang of the North (Php30 entrance fee)
  • Tour of the Marcos Mausoleum, Marcos museum and photo gallery (Php50 entrance fee to the museum)
  • Walked over to Batac Church for a couple of pictures
  • Went to Paoay Church
  • Then proceeded to the Paoay Sand Dunes (we didn't do any sand surfing, though)
  • Sunset visit to Fort Ilocandia
  • 630pm - Dinner and coffee at Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant (Php305)
  • Headed to Isabel Suites and called it a night (Php15 tricycle)

DAY TWO:
  • 500am - started the day with Jollibee breakfast (Php68 meal)
  • 630am - left for Pagudpud via GMW Bus (Php70 non-aircon bus fare)
  • 830am - arrived in Baduang, Pagudpud and hired our 'tourcycle' (Php1200 for both North and South tours max 3 people; so we paid Php600 each)
  • First destination for the tour: Patapat Viaduct
  • Quick stop at Agua Grande River Park
  • Went to Blue Lagoon, Bantay Abot Cave and Timmangtang Rock (Php20 entrance fee for all 3)
  • Visited Saud Beach
  • Had sumptous lunch of bulalo and nilagang baka at Mika's carinderia (Php220 good for 3)
  • Detoured to the giant shell monument
  • Proceeded to Kabigan Falls (Php10 entrance fee, plus Php100 for the tour guide)
  • Quick buko juice refreshment on the way back from the falls (Php15)
  • Went to see the Bangui Windmills
  • Adventure at the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
  • Sunset photo session at Cape Boreador Lighthouse
  • 530pm - waited along the National Highway for a bus ride back to Laoag
  • 700pm - caught GV Bus (Php50 fare)
  • 800pm - arrived in Laoag Bus Station and ate Ilocos empanada for dinner (Php30 for the special kind)
  • Coffee at Saramsam (Php50 including tip)
  • Late night tour of the town plaza, then headed back to hotel

DAY THREE:
  • 530am - headed off to the Sinking Bell Tower and Church of Laoag for early morning photography
  • Morning shots of the plaza
  • Quick breakfast at McDonald's (Php89)
  • 830am - checked out from Isabel Suites (Php1400 per day for a Standard Twin room)
  • Took a tricycle to GV Bus Station (Php11 fare)
  • Ate miki at Christine Marie's Miki Hauz while waiting for our bus (Php35 for special miki)
  • 930am - bus left for Manila (Php650 fare)
  • Ate arroz caldo for dinner at one of the stops (Php45)
  • 1030pm - arrived in Manila after 13 hours (!) of travel time
Total cost for the trip: Php5,000 (or Php4,993 to be exact)

Although this was one of the most action-packed trips I've been in, it energized me more than it had worn me out. I guess it's the adrenaline and excitement of being in a new place again and feeling like we need to make the most out of our short time there.

You can read more about this trip by visiting these links:

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part One
The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Two
The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Three
The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Four

Monday, February 06, 2012

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Four

Something must be said about our hotel in Laoag.

We stayed at the Isabel Suites, which was just walking distance from the plaza and most of the establishments. (Actually, everything's just walking distance from anywhere but whenever we ask for directions to a certain place, people kept insisting we just ride a tricycle. I guess they're not very fond of walking here.) The place is clean, they have friendly staff, our room is cozy and I even like their sheets. But the bathroom is really tiny! The shower area specifically. As in! I am not picky at all when it comes to hotel rooms but this one's bathroom is laughably small. I think the area was about half a meter in diameter, so shampooing my hair is always an acrobatic event. Good thing we weren't on the huge side or else it would really be a problem.

Anyway, for our last day in Laoag, we still decided to wake up before sunrise to try and get some good pictures of the Sinking Bell Tower and the plaza. Here are some of the pictures I was able to take:

Church of Laoag

Sinking Bell Tower

 Around the Plaza

After a couple of hours, we decided to head on out and catch the 930am bus back to Manila. We figured it was better to leave a bit early so that we'll be in Manila by around 730pm, given that estimated travel time is 10 hours. Boy, were we so wrong! The 10-hour trip turned out to be a 13-hour one. Yes we wished that the trip would never end, but we didn't mean it to happen literally! By the time we arrived in the Manila terminal, we were both tired from the trip so we quickly went our separate ways and head on home as we had work tomorrow morning.

But despite the long rides and jam-packed itinerary, this is one of the out of trips I really enjoyed. I still feel relaxed and rested despite the numerous activities. After the mad rush around Ilocos, I'm now confident that I can hack the Amazing Race! Naks, hehe.


You can read more about this trip by visiting these links:

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part One
The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Two
The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Three

Sunday, February 05, 2012

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Three

We woke up early morning on Sunday so we could start our trip to Pagudpud. We caught the 630am trip of GMW Bus Line, and even if it wasn't an air-conditioned bus, the early morning breeze was enough to leave us freezing.

At around 8:30am, the bus driver dropped us off at the town of Baduang, Pagudpud and we already found several 'tourcycle' drivers gathered in the area. Apparently their group's organized in such a way that tourists can choose which tour they want to take and a tricycle driver will show them around. The Pagudpud North tour will go to the following destinations:

Kabigan Falls
Patapat Viaduct
Paraiso ni Anton
Agua Grande
Bantay Abot Cave
Timmangtang Rock
Blue Lagoon Beach

While the South Pagudpud tour will cover the following:

Burgos Lighthouse
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
Bangui Windmills
Saud Beach

Since we traveled a long way, we decided to do both tours. Each tour costs Php600 (good for up to 3 people), so that's Php1200 for the whole thing but we were able to negotiate the price down to Php1000 (but we still paid Php1200 in the end).

Our first destination was the Patapat Viaduct. I don't really know what a viaduct is, but the place is basically a winding road which is overlooking the South China Sea. Correction, it's called West Philippine Sea, pala. So we just stopped in the middle of the road, and took pictures.



Next was a quick trip to Agua Grande River Park. I'm not really sure why it's called grande, when it doesn't look that great to me. It has a river that leads to the sea, I guess that's it.



After a couple of pictures at Agua Grande, we headed next to Blue Lagoon. I was a bit underwhelmed when I saw the beach. I was expecting, well, the Blue Lagoon that I saw in the movie. It wasn't ugly or anything, I was just expecting more based on the blogs I read. Although I saw that it's a more popular spot for the surfers.


Then, we left Blue Lagoon and headed back to where we came from. Actually, the small road leading to Blue Lagoon passes by Bantay Abot Cave and Timmangtang Rock so we were surprised when we already reached the main road and our driver didn't stop at the places. So we told him to go back because we want to see both and they were part of the tour.

We stopped first to Bantay Abot cave, and we discovered that it really didn't look like a cave but more of a donut because of the whole in the middle. It was very relaxing staying there and just looking out into the sea. It was also a great location for taking pictures.

Afterwards, we headed to Timmangtang Rock and the driver almost missed it again. At that point we were already a bit irritated with him because he doesn't seem to know where to go. Anyway, the Timmangtang Rock isn't much of an eye-catcher because it's just that, a big rock. From here, though, you could also see the Bantay Abot cave.


We headed next to Saud Beach. This one I really liked! The beach had white sands, the weather was perfect and the water was really inviting. It's just too bad we didn't bring our bathing suits with us or else we would've taken a swim.


We decided right there and then that we wanted to go back to Pagudpud, if only for Saud beach. But I heard that the waves could get really crazy there and that the sea floor is really uneven, that sometimes one step can immediately bring you to the deep end.

Before heading to our next destination, we stopped for lunch at Mika's carenderia through the recommendation of our driver, where we had inexpensive but very delicious meal of bulalo and nilagang baka. That's where our driver told us that we're his buena mano and it's first tour ever since he just got his registration recently. So that's when we jokingly advised him to memorize his tour destinations for his succeeding batch of tourists.

After lunch, we made a quick detour to the giant kabibe or shell. I think this is the monument which lets you know that you've entered the town of Pagudpud.


Then we were off to Kabigan Falls. I must say that I am really not fond of this body of water so I wasn't that excited to see it. It was quite a long trek from the main road to the falls, around 30 minutes, but you get a scenic view of trees, a brook, and fields.


So far, the waterfall is the highest I've seen ever. Not that I've seen a lot, in fact this is only the 3rd I've ever visited in my life hehe. Although it's the highest, it has the smallest base that I've seen, so there's just a small area where visitors can swim.


Our next destination was the Bangui Windmills. As we get nearer the area, we couldn't help but get excited as we see the structures get bigger and bigger. This is really one of our must-sees for this trip and it's exhilarating to see the windmills up close.


We spent quite some time here because the afternoon breeze was very relaxing and it was just lovely looking out at sea and watching the windmills turn.

Our next destination was the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. At first our driver was hesitant in going there because it was a bit far and his tricycle might have a hard time going there, because of the dirt road, blah, blah, blah. But of course we protested and 'requested' him to drive us there anyway and we'll just see
when we get there. Hello! It was part of the tour we paid for, diba? The place really was a bit far but the road wasn't as bad as he thought it to be. Feeling ko he hasn't really been there and just didn't want to make that effort.

When we got to Kapurpurawan, I didn't expect that we would have to make a bit of trekking over boulders and a rocky shore to get to the famous white rock. But it was all worth it!


Funny story. For the entire trip, we kept whining and bitching about the crowds and the fact that we can't take decent pictures without people in them. So it's the same thing when we got to Kapurpurawan. But after a few minutes of reaching the rock, the last group (aside from us) started leaving which made us the only two people there. Being the only people there was pretty scary even if it was for just 20 minutes, as in the 127 Hours calibre, seriously! It was approaching sunset and the tide was also rising, which would make our way back more wet and slippery, so we had to rush taking pictures and head back. But we were already laughing at ourselves when we found out that there were more people on their way to the rock.

Our last stop was the Cape Boreador lighthouse. The structure was interesting, too bad they've already restricted the entrance to the lighthouse. The view up there would have been breathtaking.


We really intended to reach the lighthouse by sunset for the view. And we were not disappointed.


Our driver asked us to hurry up so we can catch a bus back to Laoag. Apparently, the highway gets really dark (no street lights) and not too many buses pass by that way until much later. Anyway, Shalu and I just relaxed and took more photos in the dark, and after about an hour we finally found our ride.


When we got to Laoag, after a quick dinner of empanada and coffee, we thought it was still too early to sleep so we went to the plaza and take more pictures given that it's our last night there.


We went back to the hotel and slept at around 10pm, for another early day.


You can read more about this trip by visiting these links:

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part One
The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Two
The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Four