The fact that I still can't get over what I did last weekend is a proof that it was such a refreshing weekend I just had with a good friend. I just finished sorting out photos I have to upload and so I found time to blog about this recent trip I just had now.
Vigan is a province located in the northern part of the Philippines. It's ten hours away from Manila by bus so we departed Friday night and got there the next day. It was such a long trip that made my butt numb. I've been there once but that was years ago and I was too young to appreciate the beauty the province has to offer. Another good thing I was looking forward to was the interaction I'd built between myself and the people of Ilocos Sur. Traveling without my relatives was a first and I can't help but to embrace that freedom.
The morning we got to Vigan, we immediately walked around the plaza then to the famous Cultural Village. It was early in the morning and Calle Crisologo was totally free from shopping travelers. We took the chance to take pictures of the antique masterpieces that are fully exposed to the public to look at and be amazed about.
After an hour and so, we finally heard voices coming from our stomach begging us to feed them. All food chains were still closed then and so we waited. After the hearty breakfast we decided to drop by the church right across Plaza Salcedo. St. Peter's Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside were huge relics of Christ, Mary and other saints.
Next stop was Baluarte, a mini zoo created by the provincial governor, Chavit Singson. Admission is free. Even the horse and camel rides are free. The zoo is also famous for Chavit's Bengal tigers. Luckily, my friend and I got the chance to have our photos taken with the tiger. The animal trainer asked us to press on the tiger's nape and body. It was nerve-wracking at first, but after the first shot all I can think of was to have more. It was one of the highlights of the trip. Another thing I won't forget was when one of the caretakers of the zoo gave me a butterfly pupa from their butterfly garden. He assured us that we would have to wait for another two weeks before the butterfly makes it grand exit.
Morning passed and we decided to go back to the plaza and check into the hotel. For lunch, we had the world famous bagnet and sinigang. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, we finally got into our room, took a bath and took a nap. My friend woke me up at 4 o'clock telling me that she can't walk because of an accident she had that morning. I asked the hotel staff if they have medicines available but they had none so I went to the nearest drug store to buy her pain killers. Good thing the medicine worked out pretty quick. I told her the pain was all in the mind. So we went back to Calle Crisologo to go shopping for pasalubong. We were amazed by how the street transformed from an empty antique stores-filled street to a shopping travelers' haven. It was not too crowded though and we still thought of it as another beautiful sight to behold. We both thought that whenever we drop by that particular street, something new emerges and continue to keep us in awe.
The last thing that made this trip a memorable one was that we were able to join the world in celebrating the Earth Hour. We switched off the lights in our hotel room, opened the window and watch the people pass by the hotel. After a few minutes, we came up with the idea of checking out the 13th anniversary celebration of Cafe Leona, a restaurant located in the Cultural Village as well. A band was invited to serenade the guests and to fill the night with such a romantic mood with their own rendition of some classic love songs.
For dinner we tried the province's specialty, empanada and longganisa. Even before the trip, we would make our mouths water whenever we talk about what we'd be eating during the trip. It was such a heavy and so we ended the night with a cup of hot tea.
It was such a short yet adventure-filled trip. It was definitely one of the best trips of my life. The Ilocano hospitality was just priceless. The smiles that greeted us the moment we got there were like blankets that kept us warm all throughout the trip.
