Philippines

Started my vacation last Thursday and things did not go so well...and I think it is only now, a week since I left that I can say, hmm maybe things are turning around.

First, got on the plane without our luggages. So my parents and i spent the first THREE days (yikes!) with whatever was in our handcarry bags. Thank goodness I packed toilettries and my cameras. I bought new clothes at the mall (underwear, pajamas, fresh shirts and pants...).

Second, Andy's car batteries died. Third, Papa didn't have enough of his daily medication. Fourth, rained most of the time in Manila, grey and gloomy and wet!!

We finally decided to get out of the city this morning and drove to San Fernando La Union to visit Aunt Rocio and Uncle Marvin. It's Auntie's birthday today and she had a breakfast party with her church group. We left Manila at 4am and arrived in La Union at 9am...in time for a big breakfast: lomi, longannisa, daing na bangus and Paciencies (kinda like Enseymadas). We could have stayed one night in La Union but decided to drive on to Vigan (yey!) The drive was ROUGH! It's very difficult to explain how harrowing the drive was. I think most filipinos would say "huh?" not "harrowing" at all...but for me, it was! Just imagine going on a two lane road with tricycles zippping in and out of the road constantly, big provincial buses zooming to and fro. My dad is so accustomed to it: weaving between lanes, dodging incoming cars, squeezing in between tricyles, siding up a few inches away from jeepneys, school children walking along the roads, farmers walking with their equipment, dogs, cats, carabaos, horse drawn carriages...it's THE road that connects all barrios and provinces so they are all there!! On a major highway!

I hate Urdaneta City in Pangasinan. The most congested, dirty town we passed. Can't even describe it.

I love Vigan though. Such a dignified town. We arrived at 2pm, took a shower, a nap and woke up and tried the restaurant in the hotel (Vigan Plaza is a whole nother blog entry!) then right after dinner, took a calesa drive around town (our driver was such a sweet person who explained the history of his town). I can't wait till I photograph everything tomorrow!

Let's just hope there are no ghosts in this 16th century old hotel...yayyy!!!