My sister and I are already excited about our upcoming trip. As always, it would be a budget trip for us, but we will try to visit as much places as our pocket money would allow. She is very excited about attending her first Panagbenga Festival, so we would be traveling to Baguio City first before we head to La Union, where we will stay until the 5th of March, then we would travel to the province of Abra before heading home. Traditionally, I would travel to Vigan City, but I also have a Bucket List to work on, so I decided to visit a new place for this vacation.

I am also excited about this trip, because aside from the chance of setting foot in a new province, my cousin Mhai also told me we would check out the sights in the town of San Gabriel in La Union... another first for me. I am already claiming victory. :)

Like what I always do whenever I embark on a trip, I list down places I plan to visit, to give myself a sense of direction. Doing so also allows me to search about the places online, giving me some knowledge what sights to take pictures of. Here is what I have written in my little notebook:

Baguio / Benguet:

• Panagbenga 2011 Grand Street Parade
  
• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
• Bell Tower
• Food Trip: Oh Mai Khan or PNKY Cafe
• Strawberry Fields - La Trinidad, Benguet
• Baguio City Public Market

Sister and I hoped to eat at Cafe by the Ruins, but seeing their menu online we found out it was a bit expensive, so checking the others, we found out the foods at Oh Mai Khan and PNKY Cafe are a bit right on the pocket, so we will go there. I so hope to visit Camp John Hay, too, but given the time frame, I don't think we can anymore.

La Union

• Burgos Church (Burgos)
  
• Lon-Oy Falls (San Gabriel)
• Tangadan Falls (San Gabriel)
• Luna Church (Luna)
• Pebble Beach / Baluarte (Luna)
• La Union Electric Parade (San Fernando)
• Trade Fair (San Fernando)
• Thunderbird Resorts (San Fernando)
• Food Trip - Midway Grill (San Fernando), Happy Tummy (San Fernando)
• Paratong Beach (Bacnotan)
• Bee Farm (Bacnotan)
  

I still have to update this as my sister and I are still trying to find more places to see.

Abra:

• St. James the Elder Cathedral
• San Lorenzo Ruiz Shrine
• Agtangao Church
• Abra Capitol or the Capitolio
• Ancestral Houses
• Partuat ti Abra
• Calaba River Beach/Calaba Riverside
• Sinalang River
• Beaches along Palao

All of these were located in Bangued. Since we will travel here from La Union and will stay the whole day and taking the night trip back to Manila, we plan to leave our luggage in the Viron Transit terminal, like what I always do when I am in Vigan City. Their terminal is in Bangued, so might as well just stay within the city limits.

Of course, I know there is a risk that sister and I might not even see one or two of these places, but at least we have a guide. It's much better for us to know where to go to than be lost in the big world.

A little problem I have, though... while eating last Sunday, mom talked to sis and I about her recent day out with friends. She mentioned about walking around the Quezon Memorial Circle and she told us there is now a weekend market there, too. She encouraged us to go there this coming weekend, but I told her we will be in Baguio City this weekend. Mom knew daddy's death anniversary is on the March 5th, so she suggested we travel to her hometown in Bolinao, Pangasinan right after the Panagbenga Festival and stay with our Aunt Jo even for two days because they have been asking us to come there and do a vacation, too.

Personally, I think it would be just fine... I am always up for traveling (it's something I don't get tired doing), but I do find it difficult to do. Traveling from Baguio to Tarlac then Tarlac to Pangasinan seemed something my sister is not up to do... then traveling from Pangasinan to La Union seemed to be wallet straining. I told my sister it would be okay for me to go to Pangasinan - this seemed to be a good chance for her to see the Lighthouse and the Patar Beach (and a good chance for me to see the Rock Formations and a re-visit to Enchanted Cave), but somehow I still don't know if we could fit it in the schedule.

I told mom I would think about it, but if we can't fit it into our schedule, we might travel there after dad's death anniversary, we will just then go back to La Union from Abra then travel to Pangasinan the next day.

*** Jenn ***