02 August 2011, my third vacation day in Ilocos and first day without Raymond’s company. But I had my dear Tita, Tito, nephew (Gosh! I have a nephew), and the youth president of their church, Amor, to show me around the place.

[Disclaimer: Bored with work. Excited for new adventures. Thus, reminiscing the past craze. First stop: Vigan, Ilocos Sur.]

I had my first independent trip last July/August 2011, and my then newbie excited feet first landed on some places in Ilocos. It was originally a group trip with a couple of friends from work, but things do not always turn out great, so it ended as a duo/solo adventure. I was fortunate enough to have a good friend in college, whose hometown is in Ilocos Norte, to accompany me in my first two days of unplanned, non-strategical land hopping.