DAY ONE: Let's Explore Ilocos Sur!

It was worth the 8-9 hour long travel!! Indeed, a place you wouldn't mind exploring repeatedly. 

Calle Crisologo, Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Exploring Ilocos Sur and Norte is one of my bucket list, so it was not really doubtful that I started to explore outside Mindanao and the travel to the North.

Our experienced in Ilocos where provided by the travel agency based in Manila. Since we arrived at most 12 midnight in Manila, we opted the other tour agency packages that will be leaving 10pm to 11 pm, we take the offer of the iTravel Philippines and departed at 2am. Late travel departure means lesser destinations. Yes, there are destinations that we were not able to visit however, we manage to explore most of the Ilocos vibes wonderfully.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Originally, we are from Cotabato City but our flight departed from Davao City. There are quite some flights that will get us to the Metro via Cotabato City (with Cebu Pac and PAL), however, most of the destinations promos would depart from Davao City, we manage to get our ticket worth 1332.00 back and forth via Ceb Pac to Metro Manila. Promo flights would usually depart on the midnight and early morning. Cotabato to Davao fare would cost 300-350 php, ask the driver to dropped you in Matina to take a cab/taxi direct to the airport (300php).

via Davao: take the flight directly to Manila with transfer flights to Ilocos via PAL.

via Manila: take the 10 PM bus bound for Laoag at Partas Cubao and arrived around 8 AM. Deluxe ticket is Php 965 and First Class is Php 797, and you can opt this and try the 45 minute flight or private vehicle to Laoag via PAL.

Tip: In Manila there are a lot of tour agency that would offer best packages at a cheapest cost, you can choose to go in to a private tour or joiners tour, for us we settled in a joiner tour.

With the whole travel, me and my friend just feel the comfort and sleep to gain enough strength with the long journey to Ilocos. We started our tour with the oldest bridge of Ilocos and one of the tourist spot because of its location between two big mountains.

LET'S START!!

With the whole travel, me and my friend just feel the comfort and sleep to gain enough strength with the long journey to Ilocos. We started our tour with the oldest bridge of Ilocos and one of the tourist spot because of its location between two big mountains.

Panoramic View. Bantayan Bridge.

"The scenic Quirino Bridge is named after the late former President, Elpidio Qurino, 6th President of the Philippines, and it spreads across the Abra river connecting the rocky mountain slopes of the town of Santa and the tail end of Bantay. Otherwise referred to as ‘Banaoang bridge’, it majestically connects and separates two transcending mountains and widely praised because of its marvelous engineering and grand architectural design as glorified by its splendid panoramic beauty, strength and durability when it survived the bombings of World War II."

Second stop is where we were able to take a good lunch at the Hidden Garden located at the Katipunan Street Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. It was a good lunch btw! Yuuuum! After then, we explored the garden and take few shots for remembrance. 

At the entrance of the garden, you will be able to notice clay formed products that they are selling. Aside from that, we were lucky enough to check-out a "kalesa" and we really wanted to ride on it however, too limited time bes, but still fortunate that the owner is nice enough to allow us to take some pictures with the kalesa.

Sample clay product. Hidden Garden, Vigan, Ilocos Sur

We proceeded to the production of pots in Pagburnayan, Vigan. I believe it was just a minute ride from the Hidden Garden. We explored the place and experienced a hands-on pot making. It was fun, I though it was easy to make. However, when we tried it, it was hard especially creating and forming a pot. 

One of the worker is showing us on how to make a pot.

The trip to the pottery is just a 10-15 minute stay. Again we take some photos and check some products. Coolest thing about the place is the workers are actually doing the old-school pot making.  You can actually buy directly to them, there are a lot of beautiful displays in there. 

"Pagburnayan is a place where they used the old and authentic methods in pottery. The root word “burnay” is an earthenware jar crafted by potter’s hands with the aid of a potter’s wheel. It uses fine sand (anay) as a tempering material and fired at a high temperature in a huge brick-and-clay ground kiln that make it is harder and more durable than other terra cotta. The local bagoong (fish sauce), sugarcane vinegar, and basi wine would not taste as good as if not fermented in burnay jars."

We also explored the Calle Crisologo. The major attraction of Vigan is its mestizo district which is filled with Spanish-style houses that evoke a bygone era when its people lived prosperously because of the Manila-Acapulco maritime trade. For visitors who want to experience being transported back to this period in Philippine Spanish colonial time, a walk or a calesa ride through Vigan’s Calle Crisologo or Mena Crisologo Street is a must.

The tour will take visitors more than a couple of hours and will cost around half a thousand pesos. You will be guided through four blocks of cobblestone streets lined with heritage houses of the families of the Filipino-Chinese traders who rose to prominence during that time of vigorous trading in abel cloth, indigo, gold, tobacco and other goods that were transported to Vigan from all over the North. But for us, we just visited some place and check-out some old stuffs and headed to the next destination.

Calle Crisologo, Vigan.

After which, we went directly to the Baluarte Zoo. It is a 10-15 minute drive away from Vigan City. If I'm not mistaken, it is owned by Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit Singson". Baluarte Zoo is an interactive wildlife sanctuary and facility, with the breathtaking view of its dominating scenic boulders amidst trees and greens. The Zoo is dedicated to facilitating education, conservation and protection of endangered species and wildlife.

Can't imagine I will be holding this. Wheeeewwww. Good Job People! Baluarte.

It was really hot and humid during our travel. My friend got to have a hands-on experience with a python snake, and I am not fan of them btw. So I didn't take any chances. hehehehe. We also enjoyed the Animal show and wanted to have a picture to the tiger, however, it was really crowded and there are a lot of travelers lining up to have a shot too. So, we failed but still we enjoyed the tour. It is best to children.

Then, we went to our accommodation to check in and leave our belongings. We changed clothes and get ready to explore again the Calle Crisologo at night and witness the fountain show at Vigan City.

The Fountain Show!! 

There are a lot of food chains in the place, we dined in Mcdo since we really need fries to take out all our stresses in life. lol. We even found a watson store. To be honest, I was really amazed with the structure of the merchandises there, they remain it to be classic and old-spanish style/theme. I do not know what to call it. But I love it. It was really refreshing to the eye.

We actually enjoy an hour fountain show, it was so colorful. There are a lot of tourist. My tip is to be in Vigan during the weekdays, there are many people so it was hard for us to look for a good spot during the show.

The whole day trip was really tiring. Some destinations in Ilocos Sur where not included in our trip. However, our eyes were satisfied because of the beautiful places in Ilocos.

Check out my 3D2N trip in Ilocos.

Love,

Cotabateña Wanderer