Philippines
Province of Ilocos Sur

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    • Day 7

      Angekommen in Vigan

      April 14, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

      Wir hatten lange überlegt, ob der weite und teure Umweg nach Vigan lohnen würde. Die Antwort ist eindeutig "ja". Wir kamen in einem wunderschönen alten Hotel mitten in der Altstadt unter und eroberten sofort die umliegenden Straßen.Read more

    • Day 146

      Manila, Philippines

      June 8, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

      We visited Manila in 2017 and had a whole day private tour. Since we visited majority of the sites before, today we decided to do it by ourself.
      The weather forecast promised to be another hot day with some rain. The plan for today was to visit the ancient Spanish walled city of Intramuros, which is only a little over one mile from the port.
      We took a GRAB (Uber) car to reach Fort Santiago.
      The fort was completed in 1593 and is located in the ancient walled city of Intramuros.
      We arrive to see port before 8:00am. Too early, it opens at 9:00am.
      The next stop was only couple blocks away: Manila Cathedral.

      The Manila Cathedral has survived earthquakes and conquests for more than 400 years now! The Basilica was originally built in 1571 but has evolved, and the current structure is the eighth building!

      We tried to walk thru the old town and see Spanish architecture, but it was incredibly difficult for Boris on a wheelchair. We persisted and walked a mile passing Rizal Park to air conditioned Aquarium.
      Rizal Park is the city’s biggest public park and is very dear to the Filipinos due to its historical significance. The Park is the location where their national hero, Jose Rizal, was executed.
      Again, the problem was the heat, humidity and extremely difficult conditions of the roads for Boris.
      We arrived at the Aquarium before 10:00am. The highlight is the Oceanarium which has more than 14,000 animals across 270 marine species, making it one of the biggest aquariums in the world.
      After we cooled down for over an hour, we took another car to the Robinson Mall.
      It’s a huge mall with a food court that can satisfy ant taste.
      In an hour we were done with this mall and took a taxi back to the ship.
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    • Day 13

      Tag 13/14: Vigan

      January 21, 2017 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      Vigan ist eine sehr hübsche Kreuzung aus spanischer Kolonialzeit, der Amerikanisierung und des sympathischen Chaos', das die Philippinen irgendwie zu dem macht, was sie sind.
      Von San Juan aus sind wir am Samstag dorthin gefahren und haben die Stadt in vollen Zügen genossen. Neben einem Festival, das gerade angefangen hatte (inklusive Kinderschönheitswettbewerb und Auftritten des Seniorenverbands) gab es eine Licht- / Wassershow, die Las Vegas fast schon Konkurrenz machen könnte, Asiaten, die ein Foto mit uns Exoten wollten und Livemusik in verschiedenen Bars.Read more

    • Day 146

      Ilocos (Salomague), Philippines - 1 of 4

      June 9, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

      Overnight, we went about 300 miles to the Port of Salomague, the more northern part of the Ilocos region of the Philippines, still in the Northwest coast of Luzon Island. Some people went from this port to Vigan, a 16th Century Spanish town but we decided it was time for a little adventure. This area is known for its beaches but we went further North to Paoay known as a Jumping-off Point for their Sand Dunes.

      We drove for an hour through some very interesting areas, some with beautiful homes and places we could live (if we were going to live in the Philippines). We got to Suba Paoay Sand Dune Adventures and after visiting their “comfort area”, picked out our 4x4 (that took a while to find one we all wanted with the right seat configuration, color and was in one piece).

      This was an exciting place to enjoy 4x4 riding and sand boarding while getting a beautiful view of China Sea. It was quite “exhilarating” with some incredible dunes that not only went up and down but where we drove on the sides and on the edges, quite close to where we could have stumbled down the dune. It was a great adventure with a breathtaking view of pine trees, sand formations along with a thrilling roller coaster ride down the bumpy trails.

      Sand Dunes are hills made up of loose sands often occurring due to the wind and water flow. Strategically located near the Suba Beach, the sand dunes of Paoay have different heights, shapes, and sizes and are not static forms as they change depending on the strength and direction of the prevailing wind coming from the West Philippine Sea.

      Karen would tell you it was quite scream-worthy at times, in particular when we were standing up and riding in the back of the jeep down some of these steep dunes.

      As for the sandboarding, this was a “new” activity and sport for me. From someone who never snow skied or snow boarded, this was pretty thrilling (although it did remind me a bit of sledding down Connecticut hills in the winter, in and out of a car). By the way, this is the site of Himala sa Buhanginan Annual Festival where there is an avant-garde art installation and interactive sculptures each year (see photos for some of the sculptures still there).

      After that adventure it was time for a little Church time … although some of us felt we should have gone to pray BEFORE the dunes ride. We visited the Saint Augustine Church (known as the Paoay Church) which is a Catholic Church in Paoay built out of stones, shells and egg whites. It was completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building (see photos). It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.

      After we relaxed here for an hour we had a calm bus ride back South to the ship.
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    • Day 8

      Die Altstadt von Vigan

      April 15, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

      Wir blieben nur eine Nacht in Vigan und nutzen den Tag, um so viel wie möglich von der schönen Altstadt zu sehen. Sie war zwar sehr touristisch, aber gerade für mich war es sehr schön, mal wieder europäische Archtitektur zu sehen. Es gab auch genügend Cafés und Restaurants, in den wir ingesamt sehr gut gegessen haben.Read more

    • Day 180

      Ilocos Sur: Exploring Vigan

      June 9, 2023 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

      Another very hot day saw us arriving in the port of Salomague in the province of Ilocos Sur on Luzon Island in the Philippines.

      My brief research into this port when it was added to the itinerary pretty much indicated that there was little to do in Salomague. So, when Oceania added the “Vigan on Your Own” tour to its offerings, we decided to use some of our play money to book it.

      Vigan is the provincial capital of Ilocos Sur. It is billed as being the most intact example in Asia of a planned Spanish colonial town … dating back to the 16th century. The architecture is said to reflect cultural elements from around the Philippines, China, Mexico, and Europe. As such, Vigan is inscribed on the UNESCO WHS list. The bad news is that a strong earthquake shook the area in 2022 and many of those structures were damaged.

      At first, I was concerned that the three hours allotted for DIY exploration in Vigan was going to be too short. In hindsight, it was plenty … mostly because the heat and humidity were draining and we were quickly tired out.

      The bus dropped us off at St Paul’s Cathedral, which was built by the Augustinians. Dating back to 1799, it is undergoing post-earthquake restoration work. Nothing to do but take a quick exterior shot or two of the church and the separate bell tower before moving on.

      Our bus hostess, Clara escorted us past Plaza Burgos to the head of Calle Crisologo, the main street on which many of the original 18th and 19th century ancestral homes, which have been repurposed, are located. Seeking shade where we could find it, we enjoyed a lovely stroll on this beautiful street … the earthquake damage notwithstanding.

      Next, we headed to the National Museum… only to find that it was closed until 1:30p. So, we continued our meandering walk through the colonial era streets and eventually cut through Plaza Salcedo to stand in front of a building that was identified as the Capitol. We went inside and wandered around freely.

      By this time, it was getting on towards noon. The heat was becoming unbearable. Checking my weather app, I saw that it was 88F … with a feels like of 99F … thanks to 73% humidity. And not even the slightest breeze stirring to give us some relief.

      We figured we’d look for a restaurant — preferably with A/C — and while away our remaining time in Vigan with food. Stopping at a tourist info stall along the way, however, re-directed us to the Regional Museum, which is housed in the white-washed house billed as the birthplace of Father Burgos … a revered priest and martyr who was executed in 1872 after being implicated in the military revolt of Cavite.

      We wandered around the few exhibits on the ground floor, and then went upstairs to see the rooms in which the Burgos family once lived. Our steps eventually took us to a courtyard and from there back on to the street.

      Making our way back towards Calle Crisologo, we found Café Leona, which a local had recommended to us. The menu seemed to be a mix of traditional Filipino food and dishes from other Asian countries. Mui ordered the beef teriyaki served over rice … I ordered the soba noodles with shrimp tempura. We washed our food down with a couple of San Miguels. The mango we wrapped up our meal with was perfectly ripened and flavorful.

      The entire time we were eating, there was a dance performance right outside the café. From what we could see from our table, it was a group of girls and boys performing traditional dances. They were still going at it — despite the mid-day heat — when we left Leona’s to meet up with our group. Carla had mentioned that 12 June, which is right around the corner, is the Independence Day of the Philippines, and the 4-day holiday began today. Perhaps the performance was in honor of the festivities.

      Much as we enjoyed our wander around Vigan, we were very happy to find ourselves back on the bus … an air conditioned haven. Our drive back to the port was uneventful. By 3:30p, we were back on the ship where the first order of business was a cool shower to restore my fast-waning strength.

      A day at sea tomorrow would be a lovely respite from hot-weather sightseeing. But no, we have a port of call. Luckily, we don’t get in until mid-morning, so we’ll have a chance to rest up a bit.
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    • Day 60

      Vigan - Spanische Wurzeln

      January 13, 2018 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      So ein bisschen Kultur sollte neben all dem Surfen 🏄🏻‍♀️🏄🏻‍♂️ und Chillen 😎 ja auch noch sein. So schleppten wir uns völlig fertig nach 2 Stunden Surfen am Freitag Morgen zum Bus und fuhren 3 Stunden nach Vigan, das Zentrum während der spanischen Kolonialzeit.

      Ganz grundsätzlich ist es schon faszinierend wie hier immer alles funktioniert, obwohl es eigentlich auf Chaos basiert. So als Beispiel: man stellt sich in San Juan an die Strasse auf gut Glück, wann man halt grade Lust hat. 5 Minuten später kommt ein Bus, der nach Vigan fährt. Dort an einer Tankstelle rausgeschmissen steht sofort ein Tricyclefahrer bereit, der einen für 20 Pesos (30 Cent) zum Hotel fährt. Dieses Gefühl “Läuft alles wie am Schnürchen, obwohl wir nix geplant hatten“ werden wir definitiv vermissen.

      Zurück zur spanischen Perle (wobei das nicht ganz richtig ist, denn der Name leitet sich eigentlich aus dem Chinesischen ab und bedeutet „Schöne Küste“). Heute ist Vigan im Landesinneren und sobald man in die Altstadt um die Calle Crisologo eintaucht fühlt man sich in die spanische Kolonialzeit zurückversetzt. Richtig geniessen kann man das mit wenig Touristen vor Sonnenaufgang oder in der Mittagshitze. Zu den anderen Zeiten hat man neben den schönen Kolonialhäusern auch noch Touristen beim Selfie machen und posieren als Unterhaltung. Apropos Unterhaltung: die darf natürlich nicht fehlen auf den Philis und so gibt es Abends eine Brunnen-/ Lichtshow mit abgestimmter Musik. Alles sponsored by Singson, die Montagues der Region. Dazu gibt es auch die Capulets, Familie Crisologo, ja, wie die Strasse. In diesen Familienzwist tiefer einzutauchen wäre zu spannend, aber wahrscheinlich auch gefährlich.

      Was darf neben Unterhaltung und Clans noch nicht fehlen in einer Philippinischen Stadt? Richtig: Fast Food. McDonalds, Chowking und Jolibee alle in architektonisch angepassten Häusern nebeneinander.

      Und weil wir heute schon so zynisch sind: uns beschleicht das Gefühl, dass in Vigan die Überzeugung fehlt. An den alten Häusern wird gemacht, was gemacht werden muss, damit der UNESCO Status erhalten bleibt, aber mehr auch nicht. So verfallen sie teilweise und erinnern an Ruinen. Aber Hauptsache es gibt eine hochmoderne Brunnenshow.

      Vielleicht sind wir mittlerweile zu lange in den Philippinen und in der Phase der Beziehung mit dem Land, in der man nicht mehr alles mit der rosaroten Brille sieht. Trotzdem war der Ausflug nach Vigan wunderschön und wir freuen uns auf weitere zwei Wochen Surfen.
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    • Day 2,788

      Second Day in Vigan

      July 15, 2016 on the Philippines ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

      I'm up early to see. Calle Crisologo in the morning. They said its a different look than the evening. Museums will open at 8 AM as well. Will be a fast sightseeing. Going back to Manila in the evening.Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Province of Ilocos Sur

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