Ilocos Sur: Vigan Trip in December

Basic Expenses:

500.00 Php - bus from Dau terminal to Vigan via Nidas Trans
30.00 Php - tricycle fare from Vigan to Partas Terminal
553.00 Php - bus from Partas terminal to Dau Pampanga via Partas Trans
150.00 Php/hour - calesa ride
500.00 Php - room at Arcillana Lodging Inn with 3 beds

We left Dau terminal at 9:30 pm and arrived in Vigan at around 5:30 am. The bus dropped us at Plaza Salcedo.

Plaza Salcedo

We went to Plaza Vigan Hotel however it was already fully-booked and since we don't want to walk around anymore we just asked where we can stay at low cost and we were referred to Arcillana Lodging Inn. At Arcillana's we were able to get a room with 3 beds at 500.00 Php. It has a ceiling fan and 3 common bathrooms outside. The water in the bathroom was a bit murky, you need it to settle a bit to clear. Nonetheless, we didn't die (^-^).

Room #3

Arcillana Inn is located at San Julian del Sur. Along that road you can also find El Juliana Hotel and other lodgings. Arcillana is a walkable distance to Calle Crisologo but since we're all weak when it comes to direction walking seems longer than normal because we would end up going to the wrong place and would eventually ask where San Julian Sur is for us to work out where to go.

Going to ALI we rode a tricycle and we were charged 70.00 Php for the ride although the normal fare is 10.00 Php per person. We just let it go since it was still the wee hour of the day. We paid our room, settled and took a bath then walked our way to Calle Crisologo.

Calle Crisologo in the morning

the ubiquitous carriage-like benches 

We had the Calesa tour as our first activity of the day.

Our first stop was the Bantay Bell Tower.

a crowded day at the Bantay Bell Tower

They said the Bantay Bell Tower is one of the setting of the movie "Panday". We were only able to climb the first floor of the tower as it was too crowded that time.

Next we went to the Pagburnayan Pottery to view pot making.

It made me want to pot lol. Anybody there who knows kow to make pots？ Maybe you can teach me for free hehe

Last stop is Hidden Garden where we had our lunch.

drop some coins and make a wish :)

chill and take some pictures

 

I love plants！

             where the bonsais are

After some picture-taking we ordered some food for lunch.

We had a plate of longganisa (6 pieces) for 130.00  Php (it's a bit salty) and pinakbet for 150.00 Php (served in an earthenware as on th above photo). The way the pinakbet was cooked is similar to what we have at home except that theirs has a hint of ginger on it. We also had a serving of poqui poqui which is eggplant with egg and again it was salty.

After eating, we asked to be brought back to Plaza Salcedo. Be cautious on your calesa rides though. Take note of the time you started the tour. Ours lasted for 3 hours but the "cuchero" is charging us for 4 hours. Good thing I took note of the time when we started.

We went back to our lodging and took a nap then went back to Plaza Salcedo.

the site of the dancing fountain with St. Paul's Cathedral at the background

Ice Cream

We got a tricycle to bring us to Baluarte. The fare is 60.00 Php.

with the horses

overlooking the field and mountain

Baluarte and the decapitated dinosour

a dead tree？

Baluarte closes at 6.00 pm good thing we got there at 5.00 pm.

We took our early dinner at Inasal which ws a wrong move as it made us miss the Dancing Fountain presentation at Plaza Salcedo. The presentation was already on its climax when we got to the plaza. We heard that the presentation starts at around 7:00 pm.or 7:30 so prepare to be there in advance. The music gave me goosebumps. 

We just ambulated the rest of the night, savoring the cool air, watching the crowd, the glittering lights, the large Christmas Tree near the Capitol and taking pictures.

the streets at night

chairs had to be brought outside to accomodate diners

The next day we were planning to wake up at 5:00 am but the coldness of the morning tempted us to linger longer in bed. We walked to Plaza Salcedo and had our breakfast on a carinderia in front of Mc Donalds. Their goto is delicious and their longganisa are also good. You can also find ATMs within a few meters. We left Vigan at around 9:00 am and we're already onboard a Partas bus to Dau at around 9:30am. I'm happy to have been able breathe fresh air, it may not be too fresh but at least a far cry fresher than the air in Clark.

Surfing at San Juan, La Union (August 10-11 2013)

Basic Expenses:

317.00 Php - bus fare from Dau Terminal to San Juan, La Union (via Partas Trans. Co. Inc, Laoag route)
less than 11.00 Php - jeepney fare from San Juan, La Union to Partas Bus Terminal)
306.00 Php - bus fare from Partas Bus Terminal to Dau Terminal (via Partas Trans. Co. Inc, Cubao route)
400.00 Php/pax - One Circle hostel bunk bed space
200.00 Php - surfing instructor fee per hour
200.00 Php - surfboard rental fee

It will be Jean's birthday so she and my sister had a last-minute decision to go to La Union. Unprepared but excited to try our hand on surfing, me and my other sister also tagged along. They left first and after an hour we followed. We left Dau terminal at around 8:00 am. The trip that we thought would only last for 4 hours actually took us 6 hours. I'm not sure if it's because of traffic. As we have read on one blog that our hostel is near San Juan Surf Resort, we requested the conductor to please drop us to San Juan Surf Resort but then they seem to have forgotten because the bus missed dropping us (although we have followed up numerous times). We were dropped at Urbiztondo Elementary School instead which is quite far (fortunately not too far) so we had to ride a tricycle and pay another 25.00 Php (for the whole tricycle) which dropped us to Urbiztondo Grill. It was already about 2:00 pm so we took our late lunch at Urbiztondo Grill then went on to look for our hostel.

The surfing resorts in San Juan are in just one not-too-long line so when you already see Surf Maid, Sebay, Kahuna and the likes you'll know that you're already there.

we missed the sign board of San Juan Surf Resort which is not as prominent as those of Surf Maid, Sebay and Kahuna

                    right beside Urbiztondo Grill is this road that leads to One Circle Hostel, just walk straight ahead

                                                  the entrance of One Circle Hostel

We logged our names and paid the overnight fee. We also paid a 100.00 Php deposit for each bedsheet. After checking in we had to go to San Fernando City (about 5 minutes or so away from San Juan) to buy a memory card which we forgot due to lack of preparation, it costed me a shocking 400.00 Php. We then went back to San Juan and went to the beach to surf.

                                                               San Juan, La Union Beach

                                         left side of the beach

does anyone know the name of this mountain range?

We got ourselves surfing instructors who taught us the basics of surfing. They will tell you where and how to put your feet on the board and how to stand up. In a nutshell, the process is for you to walk away from the shore, lie on your surfboard belly down and wait for the waves. Once you see a wave coming you have to start paddling and when you already feel the wave pushing you on your back you quickly stand up, find your balance and surf towards the shore :) 

                                                    surfing training

                                                    acting it out

                                                                On Board

                                                                   wiping out

                                            the surfboard pose that everybody does - joining the bandwagon

                                        the beach at dusk: photobombed

Since the whole 1 hour of surfing I am with my instructor, I don't know if I would be able to surf all by myself but it's really enjoyable although I'm not sure if I should feel accomplished because we surfed in shallow water and the waves are pretty tame.

When the sun went down we went back to our hostel. Actually, we were forced to go back because it also drizzled. 

                                                                      back to the hostel

After washing off, we looked around to look for food

                                                                 dinner

Sadly, I can't remember what our dinner tasted like or how much it cost.

It was the morning swim the next day that I particularly enjoyed. It was low tide, the water looked really clean and the water was only mildly salty

Bohol Trip Day 2: Bohol Bee Farm, Island Hopping at Balicasag and Virgin Island, and Hinagdanan Cave (July 6, 2013)

* Bohol Bee Farm

We left our hotel at about 6:00 am and went to Bohol Bee Farm where my uncle and his friend were staying to have our breakfast there. Their buffet-breakfast valued at 350.00 Php is a must-try. The ham is not too salty and the pancake is not too sweet or greasy. The food is devoid of the usual preservatives you taste in food. The vegetable salad, fresh fruits and juice are very refreshing. Their pesto was not overpowered with olive oil, it's just right to the taste and is not cloying. It was also my first time to eat brown rice which is not hard to acquire a taste for. Their buffet-breakfast is something i look forward to trying again. The breakfast area's location which is overlooking the sea is sure to whet your appetite as well. 

                                       Breakfast at Bohol Bee Farm overlooking the beach

                                                                        delicious :)

After breakfast, we went to our uncle's room to see what their room looks like. 

                                          One of Bohol Bee Farm's nicely-decorated rooms

serene view from the room's balcony

At around 8:00 am, we boarded the multicab we rented which brought us to Alona Beach which is about 20 minutes or so away from Bohol Bee Farm. From there, we rented a big boat that brought us to Balicasag and Virgin Island. 

                                         I love Alona Beach's fine sand

                                 Picture-taking before the boat leaves the shore

                                 this part of the boat is not as steady as I thought

*Island Hopping at Balicasag and Virgin Island

The trip from Alona Beach to Balicasag Island took about 30 minutes. We were in the verge of sleeping. Unlike Hundred Islands, the snorkeling area in Balicasag Island doesn't have a rope marker that marks the area where the corals are. Also, it seems like in Hundred Islands there are more corals while in Balicasag there are more colorful fishes.

                                            

                                                       Balicasag Island's shore is made of coarsely-powdered shells

                          the small boat that we transferred to that brought as to the snorkeling area

                                                                         posing underwater

One problem that we encountered is because we are wearing a life jacket we can't submerge underwater to see the fishes and the corals. I don't know but in Hundred Islands it's easier to see the corals but in Balicasag I can't seem to see them well. I'm not sure if it's because of the water, if it's the quality of the corals or if it's my state of mind that time. But one thing's for sure, we should learn how to swim so we can take better underwater pictures on our next snorkeling trip.

                                           Don't forget bringing bread to attract the fishes

                                                

                                                      exhausted and sunburned

Virgin Island was next. 

                                                        Virgin Island

                                they sell sea shells by the seashore

                                     quenching our thirst with coconut juice

Virgin Island is open-spaced, there are no trees aside from that spot behind us which do have clumps of trees but is restricted because it's private property (which explains the fence around it. How ironic.) Since the sun is scorching hot that day we also left quickly after an hour of walking and looking around. 

Our boat took us back to the shore of Alona Beach then we went to eat at a carinderia and then went to see Hinagdanan Cave.