Heading to Ilocos

[steve]

I met a girl from Ilocos, I plan to make a trip there for a few days.
Nice pictures hopefully next time I can try a longer stay to see the other parts of the country.
What would you recommend for a short stain in Ilocos?

[wanderlust]

I would recommend Ilocos Norte for a great stay. Also visit Vigan, the Bangui windmills and the lighthouse. :)

[stella]

http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0611/philippines-images/1Vigan-Street.jpg

http://www.fnetravel.com/travel_info/english/philippines-info/images/vigan3.jpg

Vigan is found in Ilocos Sur. It's a very historic place...it's like you actually came back in time because of it's Spanish colonial influence in the local architecture and old-world charm around the place. And the presence of the calesa, a horse-drawn carriage that still clip-clop through Vigan's streets doesn't hurt too.;)

[filz_33]

wow! is this pic vigan? it looks like venice.. hehe

[wanderlust]

the old churches are great in vigan! everything just looks oooold but super nice. :)

[stella]

wow! is this pic vigan? it looks like venice.. hehe

That's all Vigan!

[filz_33]

is it expensive there in vigan?

[Kelly]

wow! is this pic vigan? it looks like venice.. hehe


Would love to go to Vigan. :)

[steve]

I heard you have to travel from Manila. How long?

[filz_33]

The former Pres. Marcos was from Ilocos, right?

[wanderlust]

I heard you have to travel from Manila. How long?
The ride from Manila to Vigan takes about six to seven hours, but you can always take the plane going to Laoag, which will only take you like 45 mins. :)

[wanderlust]

The former Pres. Marcos was from Ilocos, right?
Yes, he's from there. :) They still have their ancestral home in that area.

[wanderlust]

is it expensive there in vigan?
Not really. If you're going to go with a group, a budget of 5k must be sufficient. However, if alone or just with a couple of friends, maybe about 6-7l would be all right. It all depends on the places you would want to drop by while you're in Ilocos.

[stella]

The former Pres. Marcos was from Ilocos, right?

Yep1 He was.

[Manix16]

I met a girl from Ilocos, I plan to make a trip there for a few days.
Nice pictures hopefully next time I can try a longer stay to see the other parts of the country.
What would you recommend for a short stain in Ilocos?There are a lot of places to see in Ilocos. For us to be able to provide you with the one that's most accessible to you, would you mind telling us where in Ilocos this mysterious girl (;)) is staying?

[Gr@ciousJDC]

It's nice to go to Ilocos if you have your own car, para makalibot talaga from vigan to patapat bridge...nice...nice ocean view :)

[wanderlust]

I agree. when we went there nga lang, kulang sa time so we weren't able to go to other scenic places. sayang.

[stella]

What I'd really want to do in Vigan is ride the calesa! I'm a total history buff and it'd be soooo cool riding one!

[travelfactor]

Hi!

We do have a scheduled group tour in Ilocos this coming May 23-24.
It is called Photoholic Ilocos Trip. It is a weekend trip only.
It is open to all.

For more information, kindly visit the link below:

http://thetravelfactor.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/photoholic-ilocos-may-23-24/

[tadz1158]

Would love to go to Vigan. :)

http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0611/philippines-images/1Vigan-Street.jpg

http://www.fnetravel.com/travel_info/english/philippines-info/images/vigan3.jpg

Vigan is found in Ilocos Sur. It's a very historic place...it's like you actually came back in time because of it's Spanish colonial influence in the local architecture and old-world charm around the place. And the presence of the calesa, a horse-drawn carriage that still clip-clop through Vigan's streets doesn't hurt too.;)


Looks very ancient in structure.

[Lee Rhyne]

Hmm Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the sites from Vigan were now tagged as "World Heritage Sites" by I don't know, was it UN? Anyway the scenes from Vigan are really great. Vigan is located in Ilocos Sur, the late president Ferdinand Marcos was from Batac Ilocos Norte.

If you like you could go to Batac or Paoai and visit the Malacanang of the North, the house where the Marcoses lived then. It was like a partial replica of the Malacanang Palace.

Well was Ferdinand Marcos' body now buried? I recalled seeing it personally then at his mausoleum in Batac.

[tadz1158]

Hmm Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the sites from Vigan were now tagged as "World Heritage Sites" by I don't know, was it UN? Anyway the scenes from Vigan are really great. Vigan is located in Ilocos Sur, the late president Ferdinand Marcos was from Batac Ilocos Norte.

If you like you could go to Batac or Paoai and visit the Malacanang of the North, the house where the Marcoses lived then. It was like a partial replica of the Malacanang Palace.

Well was Ferdinand Marcos' body now buried? I recalled seeing it personally then at his mausoleum in Batac.


Well, perhaps that will be a good thing to find out. I have never heard anything about anymore.

[Lee Rhyne]

I know cameras are not allowed inside Marcos' mausoleum. That's why we were unable to take pictures. But Marcos' body looked like a wax figure rather than the true body. But they told us that it was his real body. :P

Anyway you could also head further north and visit the beach at Fort Ilocandia. Be careful though, the tides there are really huge. Maybe they can start a surfing spot there? Or have they? Well my last visit was way back so I have no idea what happened now. Maybe I'll go there sometime. Afterall that was my province. LOL:p

[tadz1158]

I know cameras are not allowed inside Marcos' mausoleum. That's why we were unable to take pictures. But Marcos' body looked like a wax figure rather than the true body. But they told us that it was his real body. :P

Anyway you could also head further north and visit the beach at Fort Ilocandia. Be careful though, the tides there are really huge. Maybe they can start a surfing spot there? Or have they? Well my last visit was way back so I have no idea what happened now. Maybe I'll go there sometime. Afterall that was my province. LOL:p


Yes, after all, that is where you came from!!!!!!

[wanderlust]

I sure hope they could start a surfing spot somewhere there. I'm sure it'll be a big hit among tourists.

[Lee Rhyne]

Yes. I also agree to that as well. Tourists love watersports, and they seem to find a lot of those here. But most of those were found in Visayas Area, so maybe they can put one up here in the Luzon Area, and maybe Ilocos could be a good spot.

[Hisbenz]

Posted this in Pex

Kung nag road trip kayo try to start in Candon City Ilocos Sur, well, not much of site seeing pero they are famous of the Calamay product ( its a rice-made product in ilocos)

Then Vigan naman, yup their famous heritage houses. Dont forget to drop by Clay making house nila.

Then drop by at Baluarte in Vigan din. I believe this is a project of Chavit way back his political supremacy in ilocandia. This is an animal zoo.

Pgapasok niyo sa Ilocos Norte, madadaanan niyo muna ang Currimao town ( i believe this was featured in tv patrol) with its clear beaches din. Then next town will be Paoay, very breath taking paoay church, ganda sobra.

Drop by Batac City, nandito ang famous Marcos body and yung house niya sa Batac. Check out batac's famous empanada. yummy

Check out the Malacanang of the North over looking the paoay lake.

THen next city will be Laoag City, makikita niyo dito ang sinking tower ( mays tory behind this sinking tower)

Then as you go on, Madadaanan niyo din ang Bangui Windmills. Check out the Light House, over looking the south china sea

Then ayun sa Pagudpud na, Saud Beach and lot more choices, dont forget to drop by the patapat bridge ( yung zigzag) maraming waterfalls dito, grabe ang ganda

[danaya]

I went to Ilocos Norte about a year ago. It was a very wonderful experience. It was a long ride from Manila, around 6 to 8 hours. But it was all worth it. I was able to see Vigan where old houses can be found and even the streets are vintage! I also saw the Windmills and they're about 10ft high, if I am not mistaken.

[wowpinay]

Hmm Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the sites from Vigan were now tagged as "World Heritage Sites" by I don't know, was it UN? Anyway the scenes from Vigan are really great. Vigan is located in Ilocos Sur, the late president Ferdinand Marcos was from Batac Ilocos Norte.

If you like you could go to Batac or Paoai and visit the Malacanang of the North, the house where the Marcoses lived then. It was like a partial replica of the Malacanang Palace.

Well was Ferdinand Marcos' body now buried? I recalled seeing it personally then at his mausoleum in Batac.

We saw the Malacanang of the North. It was really like Malacanang Palace, only smaller. They also have a pool beside it. Well now it is not a pool anymore. It is not filled with water, just dried leaves.

My mom told me that they were once allowed to swim there. I'm not sure why or when but it was the pool where she learned how to swim. Haha. Fun.

And yeah, it was the real body of Marcos--the caretaker told us. Imelda refused to bury the body unless the government give rites in her husband's burial.

[maying]

I was about to go here with my officemates sometime last year, too bad I wasn't able to come because I got sick. I just feasted on their pasalubong and pictures during their stay in Vigan:p

[wowpinay]

I was about to go here with my officemates sometime last year, too bad I wasn't able to come because I got sick. I just feasted on their pasalubong and pictures during their stay in Vigan:p

Wow. Pasalubong.
You probably missed a lot. Vigan alone is a nice view. Old houses really creep me out but when I saw what looked like a village of old houses, I was really amazed. :)