August 31, 2017 5:00 am in the morning, we load our bags on the trunk and hit the road. It took us 12 hours to reach Vigan City from Caloocan. We pass thru all expressways going north, from NLEX to SCTEX to TPLEX and exit to Urduneta Pangasinan and take Mcarthur highway passing the province of La Union until we reach our first destination. It was a fun and enjoyable ride with my two special passenger, keeping me company the whole time. We enjoy the trip, every minute of it, we talk a lot of things and every time we took the pit stop, Buwie will seat on my lap to play the puzzle board he brought with him.
Vigan City: our first destination. It is a home to Vigan Unesco World Heritage site, Calle Crisologo; a street of ancestral houses which dated back as far as the Spanish colonial era, that is well preserve and still in its pristine condition. Aside from old houses, there's also lot to see in Vigan and it is also a home to many local delicacies that is truly mouth watering.
Crisologo Museum is the ancestral home of the Crisologo's of Ilocor Sur. They are families of public servants which previously held the highest local position in the Province. The museum is a home to the families personal belongings, achievements, antiquities, old furnitures, Karujuaje and vintage cars. Visitors is required to sign in the log book but no fees needed.
Padre Burgos Museum ancestral home of Padre Jose Burgos, one of the three Martyrs GOMBURZA, who defy Spanish colonialism. They die through public execution, and this historic event leads to the uprising of the Filipinos against Spain. The museum houses antiques, old furniture, kitchenware's and machinery which was use during that time. Visitors is required to sign in the log book but no fees needed
Former President Elpedio Quirino Museum is a home of the late Elpedio Quirino nth President of the Philippines. It contains old furniture, antiquities, memorabilia and personal belongings of the late former President.Visitors is required to sign in the log book but no fees needed.
Pagburnayan Handmade pottery is one of the known destination among tourist visiting Vigan. It is a local pottery location where visitors can try pottery making.
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| pottery making 101 |
Bantay Bell Tower - located just outside the Unesco Cultural heritage site. This is part of St Augustine Parish church or commonly known as Bantay church. The bell tower is one of the scenic spot in Vigan.
Pagudpud is a town located in the northern tip of Luzon. This is a home of the famous Bangui windmill, having a windy climate makes it suitable to harvest power generated from wind. This part of the province is also well known to be the home of Boracay of the north due to its white sand shoreline.
Saud Beach Resort - is a part of a long stretch of white sand beach, with a big waves breaking on its shoreline. Aside from its white sand and gatorade like water, this is also a surf sport for visitor who would like to ride a northern swell.
Bangui windmill - this is a farm of wind turbine in Bungui Ilocos Norte, it beautifully stands in row over a nine kilometer shoreline off Bangui Bay.
Cape Bojeador lighthouse or Burgos Lighthouse was built during the Spanish colonial era on top Vigia de Nagpartian Hill overlooking cape Bojeador, it was first lit in 1892 and up until today, it still functions to serve the ships that enter Philippine waters.
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| This photo was taken from my previous trip to Burgos lighthouse |
Kapurpurawan Rock formation - one of the natural wonders of Pagudpud, it is a buy product of nature which sculpted this rock majestically.
Patapat Viaduct is a bridge elevated 31 meters above sea level, it was build along the coast of Pagugpud to connects Maharlika Highway in Ilocos Norte to Cagayan Valley.
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| This photo was taken from my previous trip to Pagudpud |
Hidden Garden is one of must place to visit when you're in Vigan, whether you are a first timer or a returning tourist, your visit will not be complete is you miss to drop by at Hidden Garden. This is a one stop shop if you love plants and taste all the local cuisine of the North. It has a restaurant inside the garden which serves all of Ilocos mouth watering and truelly gastronomic dishes.
Must Try: Food Trip (Your Ilocos trip will never be complete if you haven't tried it)
Bagnet Ilocos - a deep fried pork butt more like crispy pata, however this dish has more to it than just frying. The skin is very crispy and the fats and loin is very tender, this is served in Hidden Garden
Sinanglaw - is more like a papaitan recipe, which uses beef organs (liver, innards etc.). This is also being served at Hidden Garden
Dinakdakan - is similar to the Kapampangan Sisig. It uses the same ingredients however with dinakdakan, the meat is being cut in bigger pieces. This is also being served at Hidden Garden
Vigan Longganisa - a sausage version native inVigan Ilocos. Unlike the longanisa in in Manila which is a bit sweet, this longganisa version is the opposite and a lot of garlic into it. It is best when paired with sukang Ilocos (sugarcane vinegar), garlic fried rice, sunny side up egg and finish it off with a cup of coffee.
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| Vigan Longsilog Breakfast with a cup of coffee at Saud Beach Resort |
Balikutia - is a melted sugar cane candy which you can also use as sweetener for copy or tea.
Vigan Empanada - a deep fried thin bread with vegetable and meat filling. You can find it all over Vigan being sold in market stalls. Fried to perfectness, with a crispy crust and moist filling, and best when paired with sukang Ilocos. This is also being served at Hidden Garden
Saging con Yelo - a gastronomic dessert from ripe saging ng saba, steamed and soaked into a melted sugar syrup or arnibal, with crushed ice and fresh coconut milk as well as evaporated milk, serve in a coconut shell bowl at Hidden Garden
Ginger Tea - made from dried and powderized locally grown ginger. This is also served and sold in bottle at Hidden Garden
Places to stay:
Gordion Hotel in Vigan City
Majica Residence Hotel
Saud Beach Resort in Pagudpud
Place to Eat and hang Out:
Hidden Garden in Vigan
8.88 Bar and Resto (you can order and have it deliver to your hotel)
Coffee Break Vigan
In most cases, we will encounter two types of people;
The first were those who prefer to stay within there comfort zone and spend most of there time reading articles like this and be entertained.
And the second type were those people who pack there bags, explore the world and tell there stories to those people who prefer to stay within there comfort zone.
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