Loving La Union

Hello campers!

I am back to blogging. Finally, I have the enthusiasm to hit the keys and write my travel experience. After the school year, I am yearning to go out of town to relax. But, the earlier weeks of summer became busy. I finished my portfolio, I performed in the educator’s night of our town fiesta, and I served as a poll clerk in the recently held elections. I already accepted that I will just have staycation until the good news came. My sister, who is working in another school, told me that their faculty planned for a trip to La Union. They can bring their families for a one- day tour. She asked me if I would join. I answered a loud yes. “Nothing Gonna Stop Us Now” lyrics played on the background.

A night before our journey, I couldn’t stop my excitement. That feeling was inexplicable maybe because I have the chance to wander somewhere before reality embrace me hard. I smiled as if I am a commercial ad model of a toothpaste brand.

The day came and we hurriedly went to the town proper which was set as our meeting place. It was market day and the traders began displaying their goods. We departed before 5:30 in the morning. Ma’am Athene, the school principal of my sister, asked my sibling to lead the prayer as she is called as a deaconess of their school. There were two vans used for our escapade.  

We had a smooth trip as we reached La Union in two hours. Some did not eat their breakfast, so we stopped at RL Bulaluhan at Kambingan Eatery located along the highway of Santo Tomas. We ate breakfast for the second time because we only ate a little before leaving our house. Their dish, igado, a local dish of the North, was delectable. For 65 pesos, you have a good meal. 

We continued our journey and dropped by at Eagle of the North in Agoo. It was an immense structure that captures every traveller’s eyes. We did not miss the chance to take a picture of it. We stayed for few minutes there. We travelled thirty minutes to Kultura Splash Wave in Pugo. For adults, we only paid 250 pesos per head as we went there weekdays. The price is 30 pesos higher during weekends. On the other hand, the kiddos below four feet were admitted for only 180 pesos. If your family go during weekends, there will be an additional 20 pesos for the entrance fee. Some brought food inside the place, so they paid fifty pesos as corkage fee. 

Swimming is free as it is included in the payment. At first, I decided not to swim because I did not brought any swimming attire. I felt envious seeing my siblings and others wading in the water. Good that they have store that have swimming merchandise.

We swam in the typical pools there. The wave pool was not operative that time as it requires a hundred people to make it available. There were two ordinary slides and two spiral slides in the pool area. I only tried the yellow spiral slide once. My heart thumped fast as I slid. I am afraid of heights. As I splashed in the water, I said not to repeat it. I am alive.

The place is wide. There are cottages in different sizes, colors, and names. I am amazed on how these are named. Some are named after the plants thriving in the country while some are called with the names of the shells.

Before leaving, we had our group photos at the pool area capturing the establishment’s name. I had my picture in the selfie area where you can show your face in the mouth of a dolphin- designed piece. It was forty- five minutes after 12 noon and we went back to Agoo to eat in one of the fast food chains there. We took our lunch at 1:30 in the afternoon as long queues of customers welcomed us. After dining, we immediately went to our next destination.

La Union trip will never be completed without grape picking. We reached Danny Ancheta’s Grape Farm in Bauang, La Union at 2:44 PM. You should not miss the free tasting of cool grape wine at the entrance. Honestly, I went back there three times. It was refreshing. I grabbed the opportunity to smile with the grape plants. I was happily treading the area as if I am under the canopy of grapes. You have to pay 350 pesos per kilo of your harvested fruit. Our family picked more than two kilograms. It was achievement unlocked. I have been to La Union twice, and I missed the chance before as I rested because of my headache during a training.

To accomplish the itinerary, we visited Ma- Cho Temple at San Fernando City. Nestling in the heart of the busy capital city of the province is an enthralling architecture of the Chinese- blooded kababayan. We were fortunate as we had the chance to roam inside the temple as a staff told the temple will be closed in ten minutes. I had a hard time going to the temple at second floor as I need to walk in the spiral stairs. I panted well when I reached the balcony area.

The strong smell of lighted incense welcomed us. Almost everything has shade of red. The cushions where people kneel down to pray were red. The foundations were coated with the dominant color with Chinese words written in gold.

As the temple was closed to public viewing, we went to the other parts of the temple. We repeatedly took pictures of the big arch there. Some posted behind the statues situated at the garden. I went in the bamboo garden, and it was comforting. The solemnity of the area plus the lush, green plants thriving, and the panoramic view of the waters of the province is a total meditation package. 

We were supposed to try halo halo Iloco, but the time was not enough. The heavy traffic of the city became our basis to try it next time. We opted to dine in Dagupan.

We pacified our churning tummies at Kainan ni Mang Peping. It is located along the De Venecia Highway. We had fancy dining. The foods are scrumptious. Papaitan is awesome. Their chopsuey is buttery that you want more. Their sinigang is winner. I love their chicken. What a perfect dinner to cap our travel. We had small conversations about our dining experience before our driver drive us home. 

I hit the sheets at 12:30 in the morning, Saturday. I enjoyed every minute of our trip and family as well. For me, grape picking was the best part of the trip. It awakened my naturalist side. I love plants and nature.

The first time I stayed in La Union, I felt like I belong. My love for the province got more intensified as I explored its cultures and agriculture. It is nice to scan my phone’s gallery while sipping a glass of grape wine.