Last January 2010, I was invited by the North Philippines Visitors Bureau to join a media tour of travel writers and bloggers to experience North Luzon for seven days starting in Cagayan province all the way to Pampanga to sample the various local cuisines and experience the attractions offered by the various provinces along the route. I first traveled round the northern provinces of Luzon early in the decade just for the heck of it. It’s there, as the mountaineers would say and being a peripatetic and well traveled person, it was just one of the routes that I need to do.
When I was emailed by Ivan Henares, travel blogger and part of the North Philippines Visitors Bureau team, to join them, I immediately said yes. Its an opportunity to go through the route again, albeit at the opposite direction (I traveled Manila – Ilocos – Cagayan – Manila before) and experience these places through food, culture and the various activities. It’s also a venue to meet new people who are in my niche, especially the travel bloggers Ferdz, Nina, Anton and Melo. All these on an all expense paid trip with no worries of where to eat, where to sleep and how much money to bring. All things were taken cared of!
As what Ivan said:
1798 kilometers, 26 people, 9 CVBs*, 8 provinces in 4 regions, 7 days, one bus, one North Philippines! What a trip indeed!
Although I was there for 5 days only. Click here to check out the various posts in the series.
*Conventions and Visitors Bureau
Sweet! I’ve been to the North before but we skipped the sand dunes. It looks so inviting in the photo pa naman! Next time I head to Ilocos Norte, I’ll definitely visit the dunes.
Its a great opportunity to travel North Luzon and experience these places through foods, culture and attraction offered by various province along the route. Visit the sand dunes, what a marvelous landscape. I have no words to describe how I’ve experience it. Another tourist destination for travelers for local and international people.