Stories of town explorations.
I considered this an off-beat journey (per my 2010 perspective) using a scooter; and together with my brother, we explored the untold and less known places (again, 2010 perspective).
• The perspectives in this travel story were written based on my scooter long-ride with my brother in 2010. The points-of-view I've shared here were influenced by variables applicable in 2010 like: being a new travel blogger, having limited travel experiences, being cliché (as a newbie blogger), and others. Suyo is the first town I explored in my #TownExplorer blog project.
• This is not the first river I've seen, but it's the first river I blogged with a dedicated article.
🇵🇭 SUYO, ILOCOS SUR
The mountainview kept my eyes wide open. I just couldn't miss anything. Surprises came plenty. I was very new to traveling and riding. There were endless first-times. In addition to these surprises, I saw a river that seemed like a survivor—trying to produce more water in the middle of a rainless season. The river is called Chico River (not the one in Kalinga, this is different). The river unleashed an eternal spring of beauty, but seemingly struggling to water its exposed and thirsty riverbeds.
However, that happened to be my observation as a first-time visitor of this river. I learned that this river never ran dry. It has plenty of water all year round. I just thought that the exposed riverbeds could have meant something ecologically serious. I was wrong.
In the original blog post I wrote for this river, I said: "Well, it did not negatively bother me. Being my first time to see this, my brain's memory vault has no images stored to compare with. Meaning, I saw it as it is without any reservations; and the exposed whitish riverbed just happened to be a fascinating feature, including the clear and the emerald green water."
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🇵🇭 SUYO • I POSED AT THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, WHICH I SUBJECTIVELY THOUGHT TO BE THE BEST GROUND-LEVEL VANTAGE POINT. |
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🇵🇭 SUYO • THEY REDIRECTED SOME WATER FOR ECONOMIC PURPOSES LIKE AGRICULTURE. |
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🇵🇭 SUYO • I NOTICED THESE WILD FLOWERS GROWING AT THE ROADSIDE NEAR THE RIVER. |
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🇵🇭 SUYO • THIS IS MY FAVORITE PHOTO FOR THIS INITIAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE RIVER. |
I noticed some small houses situated near the river, which I think were made as a shelter for farmers who manage the fertile farmlands and some aqua industries near the river.
I also learned that even though I didn't see this river with a huge volume flow in my first encounter, there is a low occurrence of extreme drought; and river swelling chances are high.
Suyo is in fact a very big town (based on Ilocos Sur perspective) with a scarce population. I'd say that the natural wonders here are less altered yet.
Also noted in my original article: "The color of the riverbed blends in harmony with the green lush mountains that flex healthy vegetation.
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🇵🇭 SUYO • I LOST THE ORIGINAL FILE OF THS PHOTO, AND I HAVE REUPLOADED IT MANY TIMES. THE LAST VERSION OF THIS PHOTO WAS UPLOADED AS OF THIS REWRITING (2024-04-11). THAT EXPLAINS WHY IT'S PIXELATED. |
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🇵🇭 SUYO • WITH MY BROTHER: MY PARTNER IN THIS TANDEM RIDE. |
• LATEST STORIES COVERING 'SUYO' •
SEE ALL IN A SEPARATE WINDOW
▼ ILOCOS SUR
▼ RIVERS
▼ NATURAL WONDERS
MORE TOWNS OR LOCATIONS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO EXPLORE:
V
S
D
A
B
P
B
B
SF
C
UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
• 2024-April-11: This post was rewritten, and I added additional insights based on my perspective after 14 years. Lay-out version 2023.12 applied. Photo lay-out version 2024.1 applied.
• 2011-November-04: Original version of this post published.
NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.
The air is cool. Bring a jacket, a long-sleeved shirt, or a sweatshirt because you will need them. This was the first time I had seen a highway with this kind of scenery, so don't think I'm over-hyping the place—this is really what I felt the first time I traversed this road. A motorbike stroll along this serene mountain trail made me realize what a blessing it was to be able to experience the wonders made by God! Bessang Pass in Cervantes is the highest elevation of any highway system in Ilocos Sur.
