Vigan, Ilocos Sur

welcome to Vigan, Ilocos Sur

where history is painted on it's grandeur walls... 

and where people are still part of that moment...

and present is a reflection of humble generation....

i love this town...

and I love my country as I love my history...

 I left Manila around 10:30 pm taking the Dominion Bus along EDSA Cubao

 It's a 9 hours land travel...

you may check the schedule and fare 

through: Dominion Bus Liner Schedule and Fare

 I arrive in Vigan at 8 am... had my simple breakfast...

and walk back in time and season...

 I hire a trike for 300 php to take me around the town and the Baluarte ni Chavit...

I stayed here for about 3 hours..

 I ask one home owner to tour me around his ancestral house... 

it's really enchanting...

not just because of the ancestral village but because of it's warmth people...

i bet this was once a busy street... 

back in the ages when life is as simple as breathing...

and when life is not that complicated...

kalesa for a ride...

it's 150 php to tour around the village...

and even though it's not part of my plan to visit the infamous Baluarte...

 I had a chance to take a tour to the open zoo...

and my simple side trip warms my heart in so many ways...

total cost: to be continued in my Pagudpud travel adventure:

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

companion: none

Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines

welcome to Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines

this is one of the most beautiful crater I've seen in my life so far... 

because this is the only crater that you can enjoy swimming 

either on the hot or cold water depending which side of the lake you want to...

we were given instruction to meet in Quezon Avenue 

around 4 am for our van transportation... 

travel time takes at least 1 hour and a half to Tarlac...

It was a full morning in a bumpy big car that takes almost an hour ride... 

and a three hour walk... in a dense... hot and super hot day... 

the last eruption of this volcano ruined thousands of life and a lot of towns nearby

but it also created wonderful coves in the northern part of the country...

with my castaway friends along the road! way to go...

by the way... don't you ever dare to forget a ton of water on this trek!

and here we are! tired... but happy... 

we had our own packed lunch on this majestic view...

this place is a sure enchantment...

how could something so beautiful destroys everything?!

but I guess everything will be made perfect in time...

some store along the way... coke in can for 70.00 php?!

outrageous!!

total expenses: 2,000.00 php

I'm not a mountaineer... yet

but one of my dear girlfriend invited me 

together with her cousins on this day trek...

They registered online for travel package 

for 1, 500 php per person... 

It includes van transfer from Manila to Tarlac and back,  

big car and a tour guide... 

It was a packed lunch also..