Taal Volcano Trip

      Since Amadeo was only 8 kilometers away from Tagaytay to where Taal Volcano is clearly to be seen, we become very familiar to this place and no longer astonished of its beauty. I grew up seeing it and exposed to the local tourists which is pulling over from the highway just take pictures of it. I said ''yung mga taga-Maynila talaga sabik na sabik lagi sa Tagaytay e sawang sawa na nga kami dyan e.''

My clan owns a vast land in Tagaytay who is an original inhabitants of Tagaytay and Amadeo and my classmate said ''parang taga rito na kami'' 

Vulcan Point Island, Image courtesy of Alena Machalkova

         When I was young my dad and I used to pull over the highway in San Jose, Tagaytay and stand by each other and pray. He told me that when he was just 5 years old my grandpa and him went to Tagaytay just to watch the eruption of the Volcano in 1966. There were lavas,rocks and smoke coming off the Volcano and the rumble of  it can be experienced throughout the province.  

        In November 18,2012 we had a chance to hike and meet the volcano up close. My hiking partner was Alena Machalkova a Couchsurfer from Czech Republic which travels the world with a little amount of money and courage. She was a very adventurous person you won't run out of stories with her because she had been a lot of places in the world

Getting There:

From Manila you could take a bus bound for Tagaytay in the South West Interim Terminal in Paranaque City 

Image from Philstar.net

        The only place where you could go first is in Tagaytay which will cost you around 60 pesos. From Tagaytay you could ask some barkers beside the streets that offers Boat Ride but it will cost more especially when you're a foreign tourist it ranges from 2,500-3,000 a back and forth ride from the Talisay proper to the Volcano island the boat is good for 10 persons so it would be fun if you're in a group. You have to take a jeep from the Tagaytay proper down to Talisay I don't have any idea on how much the jeepney ride is but for sure it won't exceed 80 pesos.

       But in our case we had a car and drove it to Buco, Talisay proper and went to a resort that offers boat ride. Since Alena is very good in bargaining stuff she got the boat ride for only 1,000 Pesos. It still depends on the negotiation between you and the bankeros.

We parked the car in the resort and we just hopped in to the boat and sailed our way to the island.  It took us less than 30 minutes to get there.

After docking at the island we went to a tourism office and paid 20 pesos for its environmental fee. The front desk tourism officer advised us to get a Tour guide with us since we don't know where the trails are. Getting a tour guide is a must. If you can't hike through the top you could just rent a horse, that will cost you around 300-500 pesos still depends on the negotiation. Alena and I decided to hike and had a little chit chat with the tour guide here's a bits of info's that I had about the island. 

What is the Population of the Island? he said around 1,000. Is there a electricity here?, No only the tourism office has a generator. Do we have schools here?, we only have an elementary school here you just have to go to Talisay just to study High School and College. Do you have a church here? Yes we do its a Catholic church near the tourism office......the Island's fiesta is celebrated on December 29....That's my birthday. And the whole island is under the administration of Talisay, Batangas.

You should bring your own food and drinks because the goods here is ''extremely'' expensive. A bottle of Sprite costs about 12 Pesos in the proper when it is transported to the Island and sneak its way to the peak observation point of the volcano then it costs about 60 pesos. You'll absolutely know why. 

                                                                                             Halfway There!

And yes we reached the top! it was a very tiring day hiking through the rugged terrains and steep slopes of the island. I thought it was easy but IT'S NOT. 

An excellent view from the highest point of the Island. Tagaytay City can be seen in a very clear day. 

Time to go home, this was my first ever horse ride in my life that's why I'm posing with this horse and smiling with joy!. I won't take it anymore if  I would just walk again down to the plains of the island.

Upcoming Trips

Image from gopalawan.travel

Image from www.achividaryan.wordpress.com

Ilocos Sur ("Ilocos Getaway Part II")

After a fun filled day tour with the whole Ilocos Norte province It's time to visit the Famous Vigan Heritage Site.

We woke up early and took a Tricycle to Partas Laoag from Texicano Hotel which will cost you 50 pesos.
and we said "Kuya Partas Laoag nga po" and we got there!

Partas Laoag

From Laoag it would take atleast 2 hours for you to reach Vigan. We hop on to a Partas Bus bound for Baguio but it has a stop over in Vigan. It cost us 150 pesos each the thing that I regret when we reached the Bus Terminal in Laoag is we weren't given a chance to meet and take a picture with Fulgoso (Marimar's dog which was shown in GMA 7 in late 2007). We passed by to his place and we saw him doing his tricks since we have a very short period of time then we just went straight to the terminal.

It was already 10 AM when we reached Vigan and took a Tricycle which brought us to Calle Crisologo. The tricycle fare cost us 50 pesos.

Vigan Heritage Village

Kalye Crisologo

Since we arrived near 12NN some museums are not yet open. But we planned to visit Crisologo Museum, Vigan Cathedral and others. What can I do? sarado pa saka pagod na kami. Calle Crisologo is a street which has old houses that was built in the Spanish Era. This is a perfect place to take some pictures and to buy a lot of Pasalubong's. There were Shirts,Key Chains,Fridge Magnets,Local delicacies and other sorts of souvenir's which you could buy for your loved one's. 

Baluarte Zoo

After a breathtaking sightseeing picture taking and some chit chats we hopped onto a Tricycle and run our way to Baluarte Zoo, Chavit Singson's Zoo (the most influential person in the Province). It cost us 100 pesos a round trip Tricycle ride from Vigan to Baluarte and vice versa. 

Baluarte Zoo

 The zoo does not charge entrance fee's I don't know why. There were 6 fiberglass Dinosaur replicas, 4 Tigers, a free range Ostrich, Birds, and Deers. In the nearby food stands we bought Empanadas (P.25 each) it was crunchy and tasty. After several hours we came back to Vigan and bought some Vigan Longganisa.

Longganissang Vigan (Vigan Longganisa)

Longganisang Vigan tastes so good It was like a short bologna with a kick of strong garlic. Every bite releases a garlic aroma which tickles your tongue. You could buy one of these in Vigan Market which is infont of Partas Vigan. It costs (P.120)/dozen just go to the second floor of the market and you would see the Longganisa's hanging to every each meat stalls. 

Going Home :( 

After we bought 4 dozens of Longganisa we walked the nearby Partas Bus Terminal. And board a bus bound for Cubao (Manila Terminal) that costs about (P.670). It was a bum burning 10 hour bus ride which has 5 stop overs. And passes to several provinces like Ilocos Sur,La Union,Pangasinan,Tarlac,Pampanga and Bulacan.

  

Ilocos Getaway ("Marcos Country")

"Biyaheng Ilocos Norte"

Me, posing at the famous Paoay Church

Ilocos ba kamo? Well let's see if how much all of these things would cost.

This was my first ever out of town trip all by my self......ALL BY MY SELF. hindi pala meron pala akong kasama.

Before I left my hometown I had this 17 pages of information which helped me a lot during my trip. This is a must for all the young and first timer traveller like me.

You must have:

• Lists of Hotels
• Cost of Transportation
• Cost of Food
• How to get around info's
• Must Sees
• Sample Itinerary
• Addresses of your destination, in case you lost
• Maps of the whole Province
• Emergency Hotlines- the most important thing like the Police and your Relatives in case you don't remember their numbers.

Let's start with Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte has the most tourist spots in the Ilocos Region so you should get to Laoag first since most of the tourist spots are in Pagudpud,Bangui,Burgos,Laoag and Paoay

By the way Laoag is 2 hours away from Pagudpud

MUST SEES IN ILOCOS NORTE:

1. Pagudpud: 

• White Sand Beach 
• Hannah's Resort which has the longest zip line off coast (P.600) nga lang.With P.20 entrance fee. 

Hannah's Beach Resort

• Patapat Viaduct- A zigzag bridge beside the cliff, our driver told us that it was made by the Koreans since the old road was built on the mountains it was a killer and prawn accident road. He said (madami ng naaaksidente dyan nahuhulog pa nga yung iba e.) and you could see the nearby Babuyan Island in a very clear day. 

Patapat Viaduct

Bangui:

• Bangui Windmills- You would see the massive turbine structures rotating slowly while the winds are pushing you in a hot day. These mammoth fans generates 33,000 watts of electricity that's electrifying!

Bangui Windmills

3. Burgos:

• Cape Bojeador "Asia's oldest lighthouse" this light house is still in operation up to now. I tried to enter the top but only the navy personnel can get there. 

Cape Bojeador Light House

• Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

4. Baccarra:

• Baccara Church

5. Laoag- you could rent a Tricycle for 700 pesos for you to travel the tourists spots. But in our case we just walked the nearby places like Sinking Bell Tower and Ilocos Norte Capitol since we stayed in a distant hotel. Nilakad pa nga namin ang Gilbert Bridge.

Laoag City Arc

Since Ilocos is known for its crispy and mouth watering Bagnet you could buy it in Laoag Market on the second floor where all meat stalls display their Bagnets for 420pesos/kg.

• Ilocos Norte Capitol- Seat of Government

Ilocos Norte Capitol

• Sinking Bell Tower- Our driver told us that this tower really sinks at several meters each year. As shown in the picture there were concrete supports that prevents it from sinking. 

Sinking Bell Tower

• Museums- just ask them or research it in the net since we haven't to a single museum there. Due to lack of time (1 day lang kaya kami sa Laoag at Ilocos Norte)

6. Paoay: 

• Paoay Church- This church was made in the Spanish Era and it became one of the Ilocos Norte's icon. (As shown in their Billboard Ads "Paoay Kumakaway")
• Paoay Lake- where the bird watchers flock.

Paoay Lake

• Malacanang of the North- President Marcos's Residence

• Paoay Sand Dunes- My adrenalin bursted out when we had the 4X4 sand adventures, I've been confident for a while that I could just not ride the 4X4 since it's expensive. That's Impossible! I said (grabe ang lawak pala kung lalakarin ko pala to mamamatay ako para akong nasa Dubai or Saudi) Don't forget to bring your P. 1,500 because if you don't ride the 4X4's then you'll miss the climax of your Ilocos Getaway. This is a must you won't regret it promise!

GETTING AROUND THE PROVINCE:

I advise you to bring at least one company or more to share with the Van rentals. Getting to these places would be difficult. They are very far from each other some spots are far from the National Highways or might cost you a lot if you take Tricycles. Just take the Pagudpud package it will cost you about P.3,500/day. Your Ilocos Norte tour will take you about half a day or more. You could just walk the tourist spots in Laoag, halos magkakalapit lang sila. 

INNOVA- 7-8 seaters

STAREX- 9-10 seaters

City Tour: Php 2,500/ day including diesel

Pagudpud Tour: P3, 800.00/day including diesel

Vigan City Tour: P3, 800.00/day including diesel

Driver/Guide: P700.00/day

Cheap City Tour: 2-3 passengers only for P700 using tricycle

For reservation and other inquiries, call/text us at 09176453087 or 09297719036 or e-mail us at sand_dunespaoay@yahoo.com

Please contact Kuya Benjie, he's a good guy and he'll serve as your Tour Guide,Driver at pati Body Guard. He's the only one that you could trust during your trip.

Note: If you want to get the cheapest airline ticket then wait for the nerve breaking and heart pumping Piso fare that's 400 including the surcharges. If you got the regular promo fare then it would cost something like P.1,400-P.3,500

GETTING THERE BY AIR:

  

It's just a 45 minute airplane ride from Manila-Laoag

CEBU PACIFIC AIR- flies 1x daily Manila-Laoag 

www.cebupacificair.com 

PAL EXPRESS

www.flypalexpress.com

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES

www.philippineairlines.com

Plane ticket costs from P.400-P. 3,000 (depending on the promo)

but I got mine for P. 1,400

GETTING THERE BY LAND:

If you are ready to burn your bums with an exhausting 12 hour bus ride then let's get it started.

FLORDIDA BUS TERMINAL CONTACT NUMBERS - PUBLISHED

FLORIDA BUS
(G.V. FLORIDA TRANSPORT, INCORPORATED)
Barangay West Kamias, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)3525393

FLORIDA BUS
(G.V. FLORIDA TRANSPORT, INCORPORATED)
Lacson Avenue Corner Earnshaw Street, Manila, Metro Manila
Florida Bus Co., Manila
– (02) 743-3809; 912-5354
Telephone No: (632) 781-5894

P. 1,000 for the Sleeper Bus which leaves late at night from its Manila Terminal. Masarap dyan tulog ka lang sa Manila pag gising mo Laoag na.

If you want to hop on to a Deluxe bus or you can't afford to ride that 1k moving bed this is for you bro.

PARTAS BUS INC.

Cubao Terminal: 725-1740, 725-1756, 410-1307, 727-8278 

Pasay Terminal: (02)851-4025, 852-8194

DESTINATION	BUS TYPE	FARES	-
VIGAN	STANDARD AIRCON	585-685	-
VIGAN	DELUXE W/ CR	700-800	-
LAOAG	STANDARD/FIRSTCLASS/SUPER DELUXE	797-900-965

The reason why I chose Partas is they're in the business for a long time saka safe naman hindi kaskasero ang driver. And they're known for these bum burning routes.