Ilocandia Revisited ~ The South

At ngayon, ikukuwento naman ni Teh ang second part ng Ilocandia adventures with ADHICs. This time, samahan kaming mag-explore sa Vigan and its nearby town, Bantay. :)

On the second evening of our Ilocandia trip we stayed in Vigan, sa mga pinsan ni Teh, para makatipid ng accommodation. At siyempre para mabisita na rin ang mga pinsan, tita at lolo ko. Isang barangay kasi kamag-anak ko sa Vigan, father's side ni Mudra.

~ Plaza Burgos, Vigan Cathedral and Rizal Park ~

Location: Vigan

Recommended Time of Visit: Evenings, especially after Church Mass para lively

Anyway, we started the night with Vigan Empanada, Isaw and Okoy in front of Plaza Maestro. Then after that, we strolled around Plaza Burgos para masulit ang oras. Tambay konti tapos lakad-lakad para ma-burn ang fats galing sa mga finood-trip namin. :)

Burgos Park at night. Tambay after isaw and empanada food trip. :D

Medyo late na kaming nagpunta ng centro kasi naligo pa kami. Paano kasi, hindi kami nakaligo bago umalis ng Pagudpud sa lamig ng tubig. (Eh medyo kadiring mga turista hahaha. Malay ba nila?) Ooops, too much info. :))

The bottomline is, sarado na ang Vigan Cathedral pagdating namin. Sayang hindi nakapag-wish 'yung dalawang kasama ni Teh. Unang punta eh.

Top pics: Vigan Cathedral facade
Bottom: The bell tower and old McDonalds. (Old style eh.)

Isa pang hindi namin naabutan ay ang dancing fountain ng Rizal Park. Around 7~8PM daw kasi meron. Eh kumusta naman kasi 9PM na kami nakarating. 'Di bale, next time... -_-

Rizal Park (missed the dancing fountain though...) :(

Mabuti na lang at may ilaw pa ang mga Christmas tree sa paligid ng Kapitolyo. Eh 'di do'n na lang kami nag-picture-picture. :3

Vigan Capitol sights: the Christmas trees (December) and former President Elpidio Quirino.

FYI, kung curious kayo about former Pres. Quirino's statue, kung bakit meron sa Vigan niyan, it is because he was born in Vigan. One of the Ilocano prides.

~ Calle Crisologo ~

Location: Vigan

Recommended Length of Visit: 1~2 hours

Sa daming beses nang nakapunta ni Teh rito, this was the only time na nabisita ko ang kalyeng ito ng gabi. This old road, impassable by motor vehicles, only by kalesas and walking pedestrian, was named after a famous political clan in Ilocos Sur. Travel back in time as you traverse this road. (Meh gano'n?)

Lost in time ang peg. Drama pa more mga Teh at Koya.

~ Sidestory: The Cornfields ~

Location: Vigan

Recommended Time of Visit: Actually, napahinto lang...

Yes napahinto lang talaga kami rito at kung hindi nga naman kami tinamaan nang malas flat ang isang gulong ng sasakyan namin. At ang nakakatawa pa, flat din ang reserba. Kakaloka lang pero nanghiram lang kasi si Teh ng sasakyan. Mga lolo ko kasi gumagamit so hindi na gaanong na-maintain. Sa pagtitipid namin. So habang nag-aantay ng ipapalit na gulong (salamat sa hubby ng pinsan ko), eh tambay ganda at pogi muna kami sa pinangyarihan ng pagkaflat ng gulong. Inabot na rin kami ng umaga. Sadly, we had to cancel yung visit sa grotto in Sulvec, Narvacan dahil sa tire condition ng gamit naming sasakyan. (Next time na lang din...)

Top: Parang opening ng The Lion King ang feels. Do you hear the Circle of Life in the background? :D
Bottom Left: Anong pinagkakaabalahan ni Kuma?
Bottom Right: Conductor Beks??? Kumpas pa more.
Bottom Mid: Ang kinukumpasan ni Beks - mga damo at corn. @_@

~ Banaoang Bridge ~

Location: Bantay-Santa boundary

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes (mainit kaya)

After a typhoon destroyed this bridge, sinara na ito sa mga motorista. But then, hindi nila totally sinara ito para sa mga mahilig magpicture tulad namin. (Yey!)

Left: Mga ilang beses naming kinunan 'to. :))
Upper right: Nag-aabang ng pipigil. :))
Lower right: Teh, for the nth time. #FrustratedModel :))

Mag-jumpshot, mag-meditate o humiga sa kalye. Only in Banaoang bridge, where it is possible to make it alive after doing such poses. :))

Dahil inaccessible to vehicles na 'to, YOLO! :))

How can I possibly miss this view? Noong high school pa lang ako, gusto ko nang makunan 'to. Nakunan ko naman kaso medyo buwis-buhay noon. This time, Teh was so free to do so. ^_^

The view from Bannaoang Bridge. Nostalgic...

Few drive away from the bridge, within Santa's territory, merong viewdeck doon kung saan puwede mong ma-view ang buong bridge. Notice the third part of the bridge? Before siya nasira nang tuluyan, inayos pa nila 'yan by removing the trusses of the third portion kasi doon may sira dati. Kaso lang natuluyan na talaga nung 2010 so fully impassable na siya as of today. Display na lang siya, gano'n. Mabuti at pin reserve pa siya ng gobyerno for tourist attraction. :)

World class view sana kung hindi sinali si Teh. :))

~ Bantay Church and Bell Tower ~

Location: Bantay

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes~1 hr or longer if you attend the mass

Another old church in Ilocandia that you must visit mga teh! At siyempre pa, don't forget to wish kung first time mong bumisita rito. :)

Dahil naiinitan ang mga friendships ko, dalawa na lang kami ng pinsan kong umakyat sa bell tower. Medyo sad 'no? :)) Sayang, ang ganda pa naman ng view sa taas (if you exclude Teh sa photo sa baba hehe).

Top left: Bantay Church interior
Bottom left: Bantay Bell Tower
Right: Nevermind Teh. The landscape should be the photo's highlight. :))

~ Pagburnayan ~

Location: Vigan

Recommended Length of Visit: 30 minutes

No entrance fee and pottery making demo is free. Kaya nood na mga Teh! :)

Free demo ng pottery making part 1. :D

Donations after the show are very much welcome. Support our local potters. ^_^

Free demo ng pottery making part 2. :D
(But it's polite to give donation after the show...) ^_^

Or if you can't donate, please patronise the souvenir shop beside it. :)

Souvenir shop beside the Pagburnayan.

~ Hidden Garden ~

Location: Vigan

Recommended Length of Visit: 1 hour to sawa (malamig eh)

Pinapili ni Teh kung saan tutungo ang ADHICs and cousins - kung dito ba o sa Baluarte. Dahil naiinitan kaming lahat, jaran! Dito kami tumungo.

Welcome to Hidden Garden!
Can you spot kung sinong pagod at dumiretso nang higa? :))

Para bumenta ang isang garden, dapat maganda ang pagkaka-landscape. 2nd time na ni Teh rito pero I'll still be glad to visit this again. Very rejuvenating, relaxing, ano pa ba? Hehe... :D

Top: #Abangers :))
Bottom: Plants for sale and for eyes only. Buy 1 plant and get 1 zombie free. 
(Chos lang walang zombie!)

At siyempre pa, hindi lang basta garden ito. Plant store din ito mga teh. Pero dahil walang green thumb si Teh, I dropped the idea of taking one plant home with me. Sad, bakit ba wala akong green thumb? T_T

Plants pa more. :D

Kung may favorite spot si Teh sa Hidden Garden, ito siguro 'yung portion na 'yon. May collection kasi dito ng Theravada Buddhist art. ^_^

Buddhist art - adding up to the rejuvenating environment of the garden. ^_^ 

~ Food trip: Uno Grille ~

Location: Vigan

Last meal before going back home. Kaya we ordered Ilocano dishes for lunch as much as possible. Kahit alam kong sawa na mga pinsan ko diyan. Saying goodbye to bagnet and dinengdeng... ~_~

Last Ilokano meal before heading back home. :) :(

~ Pasalubong Hunting at Vigan Market ~

Location: Vigan

Maski saan tayo magpunta, it is very common na 'pag nalamang turista tayo eh pahirapan ang pagtawad sa bilihin. Salamat sa pinsan ni Teh, kasi siya nakipag-usap sa tindera to make tawad for us. Thanks cousin! ^_^

Teh's older cousin making tawad to the tindera. :))

This ends the adventures of Teh and ADHICs in Ilocandia. Stay tuned for the next adventures of Teh! Thank you very much for visiting! ^_^

Special thanks to the following who made the adventures of Teh and friends in Ilocos Sur successful:

• Friendship ni Mother from Partas Bus Company (sana malibre minsan si Teh hehe). :D
• Tita Mila for our breakfast and accommodation. :D
• Lolo Tony✞ and Lolo Doro✞ for our vehicle. (Sumalangit nawa sila...)
• Cousins Sheena at Blinky for guiding us around. :D
• Cousin Sheila and her husband for helping us with the flat tire incident. :D