(Day 4) Ilocos Sur: Vigan Hotel, Vigan's Fountain Display, Cafe Uno and Calle Crisologo

We arrived in Vigan at around 8:30 PM already and checked-in at Vigan Hotel. We stayed in an Ordinary Fan Room (double w/ common bath) and paid 595 PHP for a night. Personally, I love the Spanish ambiance of the hotel. Our room has two beds, a sink and a television. The hotel is only a couple of blocks away from Calle Crisologo.

Huge mirror in the living room

Antique furniture in the living room

Ordinary Fan Room (595 PHP)

Since it was late at night already, we decided to eat our dinner at local fast food restaurant located across Vigan Plaza. During that night, there was fountain display. We were more than amazed at what we saw.

Fountain display (with the music "Gentleman" in the background)

It was a lively night!

We love the way they played with colors!

After watching the fountain display, we went to a convenience store to buy some snacks and alcohol and went back to our hotel to have a drink and sleep. The next morning (day 4), we took a tricycle to Cafe Uno (Kusina Felicitas) which was already open at 8AM. The restaurant was actually near, but since it was raining, we decided to ride a tricycle.

Cafe Uno

Cafe Uno's Breakfast Menu

Our breakfast meal comes with a free coffee! 

JM's breakfast

My breakfast. Yum!

After our breakfast, we went to Calle Crisologo to buy some souvenirs. It's my second time to visit Calle Crisologo and the place never failed to impress me. I was broken-hearted when I first visited Calle Crisologo. It is such a romantic place that I realized, traveling alone in Vigan is not a good idea.

Calle Crisologo

Vigan is sweeter the second time around!

We had a budget of 1,000 each for souvenirs. I bought what my momma asked me to buy: Basi Wine, Bagnet, and Bibingka. I also bought some souvenirs for my officemates. One of the popular products in Vigan is tobacco which costs 5 PHP per stick.

Jm smokin' tobacco (5 PHP). Smoke at your own risk!

Basi Wine

Tobacco Pipe

For more information about Vigan Hotel, visit their website:
http://www.viganhotel.com/home.htm

Day 4: Budget (in PHP)

40- Tricycle from Bus Terminal to Vigan Hotel

595- Ordinary Fan Room (Vigan Hotel)

250- Dinner @ Jollibee

180- Snacks, water and alcohol

20- Tricycle to Cafe Uno

215- Breakfast @Cafe Uno (w/ one extra rice)

2,000- Souvenirs (1,00 each)

30- Tricycle to Partas Bus Terminal

1330 - Bus from Partas to Manila (665 each)

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TOTAL: 4,660 PHP

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Quezon Series: Kamay Ni Hesus

Kamay Ni Hesus is a religious complex and a healing center located in Lucban, Quezon founded by Catholic healing priest, Fr. Joey Faller.

250-something steps to reach the Grotto.

Personally, I appreciate how perfect this place is when you need a refuge. Even though I am a Protestant, I was able to easily connect with the different beliefs and practices of Catholicism.

 Hand-written words on the floor.

Hand prints from various visitors.

You can see different religious statues, a healing church, Garden of Eden, a replica of Noah's Arc, and the 305-step Via Dolorosa Grotto.

The Garden of Eden

Noah's Arc (retreat house)

Adam & Eve

You'll see this on your way to the Grotto.

View from the top.

I don't want to seem deeply religious, but when I was there, I couldn't help but thank God for all the blessings he had given me for the past year. Most of them were blessings in disguise-- and that was the part that I am really grateful for.

 Drop a coin and make a wish!

 

Kamay Ni Hesus map

Climbing our way up to Via Doloroso Grotto was a little tiring (imagine how many steps it would take!) but it was all worth it when we reached the top. It was a nice and quick retreat for us!

For more information about Kamay Ni Hesus, visit their website:
www.joeyfaller.org/

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Quezon Series: Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel in Lucban, Quezon

 

Batis Aramin Resort and Hotel is perfect for a quick out of town trip with family or a weekend company team building. It is located just a few blocks away from Kamay ni Hesus. It has a lot of facilities and activities to offer like camping, biking and trailing.

The entrance looks so inviting.

Hotel Lobby

Resort map.

The room that Ate Karla reserved for us was a posh Victorian-ish style bedroom with two double-size bed, a balcony and a crystal chandelier attached to the ceiling!

Victorian-style bedroom

Balcony

Chandelier

double-size bed

 I love this flat screen TV!

Complimentary drinks, nice.

 Bathroom.

 modern-ish mirror & sink.

 hot & cold shower

Toiletries-- I love!

The resort has a lake where you can do boating, adult and kiddie pools (with slides, yey!), adventure camp (wall climbing, biking and camping), function halls and a view of Mount Banahaw. Honestly, I was really excited to see the different activities that you can do in this place. 

Over there!

View of Mt. Banahaw

The lake.

The adventure camp.. reminds me of Caliraya. 

The colorful bridge.

Love to cross this bridge!

The pool!

Kiddie pool!

There's actually a lot of things this place has to offer. We went here last June 2013 and the place was jam-packed with visitors. Service is "not really that good" since we experienced some problems getting our complimentary breakfast and checking-out. I really love the style of the room. The resort itself is clean and really big-- safe for kids.

Credits to Ate Karla & Ate Meg for inviting us! Thank you!

For more information about the rates, visit their website: 

www.aramin.ph

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Review: La Banane Hostel, El Nido

La Banane Hostel is located at Hama Street, Brgy Masagana, Zone 3, El Nido Palawan. From El Nido Public Market, we rode a tricycle (30 PHP) to get to the hostel. Our room was just right across the road from the main hostel and few walks away to the beach. So we took the stairs when we got there at around 3AM and saw it tagged as "orange room". 

 La Banane Hostel (dorm type rooms) view from our balcony.

 Our room located on the 2nd floor.

"Orange Room"

Inside was very simple, bed just few yards away from the door and the huge fan was attached to the ceiling right above the bed. There was also a small closet where you can put your stuff on. The comfort room was pretty decent too. Our room has a small balcony with 2 chairs and small table-- a perfect place to smoke and you can see people walking by. 

Double bed

 Bathroom

 Balcony

Balcony! =)

The only negative thing I could say is the location itself-- since it was along the road, you could hear people chatting, yelling, horns from motorcycle and other outside noise. In fact, I woke up that Saturday morning because of the noise. 

However, the best part was the room rate. The negotiated amount was 800 PHP per night and we reserved 2 nights. Since we had a late check-in and early check out, they let us pay only 1000 PHP and the receptionist said "Pilipino naman eh," we were very happy because we saved a lot of money from our budget. I would say a little "charm" would help a lot as well.

  

La Banane Hostel also offers budget-friendly dorm-type rooms for backpackers. For more information about their rates and contact number, visit: www.labanane-hostel.com

Yours Truly, 

JM

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