01 May 2009, looong weekend kaya nagkayayaan magpunta sa Sagada. Unfortunately, due to weather disturbance in Mt. Province, the group decided to proceed to Ilocos instead of going to Sagada. Smile smile lang sa picture pero di nyo lang alam na muntik-muntikan kaming mag back-out. Reason? Dahil sa Partas (bus transportation). 30 April 2009, 8pm meeting time sa Partas Cubao. Dumating naman kami lahat pero inabot na kami ng 12 midnight, wala parin kaming ticket. (FYI hindi uso sa Partas ang reservation or advance booking)....
... matapos ang matagal, mahaba, at magulong proseso ng pagbili/pagkuha ng ticket, finally, nakakuha/nakabili din kami ng ticket. Almost 3am (the following day, as in May 1 na!) ata kami nakasakay ng bus. Dahil sa pagod (imagine, pumasok pa kami sa office, umuwi sa kanya-kanya naming bahay etc...) lahat kami tulog sa loob ng bus.
Between 9-10 am, nagising ang mga tao sa bus. Why? Sobrang init! Hindi na pala nagana ang aircon ng bus. One of our companions approached the driver and bus conductor. Ang sumunod na nangyari? Natuwa (siguro naman) ang lahat ng pasahero.......
...tuloy ang biyahe. From Sta. Fe, Ilocos Sur going to Baluarte, Vigan.
Baluarte- a zoo located in Salindeg where visitors can see a variety of animals (including tigers and ostriches). The owner of Baluarte is former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.
After Baluarte, our next destination is Vigan Cathedral/St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral.
Of course, our Ilocos trip will not be completed without going to Vigan Empanadaan - a reserved location where visitors can sample Vigan's famous empanada. yum yum yum...
Another point of interest in Vigan is Calle Crisologo - It is what Vigan City is known for—streets lined with Spanish Era ancestral houses with ancient tile roofs, massive hardwood floorings, balustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish, Mexican, and Chinese architectural styles and cobble-stoned streets, which led to Vigan's inscription in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Nagkita-kita rin kami sa Calle Crisologo ng isa pa namin officemate/kaibigan, with his family...
Every 1st week of May, Vigan plays host to visitors for their festival called VIVA VIGAN! Binatbatan Festival of Arts.
We're thankful for the hospitality of our friend/officemate's relatives. Sarap ng dinner! Syempre, hinain sa amin ang famous na bagnet.
Ready to go for another adventure...
View at the top... the South China Sea coast near Cape Bojeador...
Next is.......
The Sinking Bell Tower (St. William's Cathedral). Ayon sa aking pananaliksik (naks!), mas luma/matanda pa daw ito sa Paoay Church. Ito ay itinayo noong 1590 ng mga Augustinian friars. The church was originally built using lime mixed with molasses for added strength, huge stones,gravel and sand. Wood was used for trusses to support the roof made of thatch materials (cogon grass). It sinks an inch each year because of its weight and sandy foundation. Dahil mainit ang klima sa Laoag, the soil has suffered desertification (soil degrades and is converted to sand). The tower has sank so deep that its entrance is already half-buried.
Dahil kilala rin ang Ilocos sa paggawa ng asin, syempre hindi namin palalampasin ang pagkakataon na makapagstop-over sa pagawaan nito...
The Bangui Bay Wind Power Project (Bangui Windmills). The 1st commercial wind farm in Southeast Asia.
Ilocos trip will not be completed without seeing the famous Pagudpud...
After Pagudpud, sa Bantay Abot Cave (Mountain with a Hole) naman ang next na pinuntahan namin...
Going to Bantay Abot Cave...
The Rocky Islets across the Blue Lagoon, Ilocos Norte...
The Blue Lagoon (the Boracay of the North)
