Comments on: Ilocos Sur

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:49:05 +0000

my bad… this should be the 2nd link…

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46946&id=1481464155&l=ff28eac5ab

keep up the great job that and your group are doing in this website…i still love the philippines, 2nd to none =)

mike

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:39:29 +0000

Thanks! Wow, very nice photos! You are so lucky that there weren’t as many tourists around in the places that you have visited. Glad that you had a great time! Cheers man, keep exploring the Philippines! :)

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:46:19 +0000

Im a fan already of your facebook website but i still like this site better..
hehehe. You can check my photos here…

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46540&id=1481464155&l=64313ced51

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44917&id=1481464155&l=bcf4857a42

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:37:59 +0000

Hey Mike!

Thanks for those tips! I agree, the mini-buses though how dubious they looked are quite helpful. We took a mini-bus (we left the rest of the tour group in Pagudpud as they were too slow) from Pagudpud town proper and then stopped over to Bacarra on our way to Laoag. Bacarra has that domeless belfry and the town square was quite interesting. we just walked around town and asked townsfolk who were very helpful.

I definitely agree with securing a map, we did that too in Vigan (also normally we secure a map in Manila before we leave so we can plan ahead. EZ Maps is so far the best map that I can find.

Btw, if you are on Facebook, find us there at Tourism Paradise Philippines fanpage and if you please, please share your photos. :) Thanks in advance and I am glad you enjoyed your trip!!!

Ryan

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:42:48 +0000

Hey Ryan,

Thanks for the help! I finished my trip already vigan to patapat. I was able to rent a motorcycle from one of the employees of Granpa’s Inn in Vigan.

If you wont mind ryan, just some tips for those travelling alone using public transport like me from vigan to ilocos norte;

1) the farinas bus (or the one i was in) didnt go inside vigan city. i was dropped instead at the crossing of bantay and rode a tricycle going to vigan (about 10 minutes away)

2) the mini buses were a big help for me in going to the different places especially, from laoag to pagudpud. the last mini bus going to pagudpud leaves laoag around 7:30pm. the conductors and passengers were a big help in making sure that I stop at the right place, so dont be afraid to ask. This can save a lot of money because the nearer you are to the place the cheaper the tricycle ride.

3) secure a map always from the tourism office, it will help a lot in planning where to go and save time and money.

Thanks again Ryan for the help!

mike

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:56:58 +0000

That is great Rene! I am always supportive of initiatives especially ones that promote local industry. More power to the Mayor. Hope we can come back to Vigan! Please extend to her and the Vigan weavers our best regards! :)

Ryan

By: Rene R. Baltazar

Rene R. Baltazar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:20:50 +0000

Hi Ryan,
I was in Vigan in March last year thru the invitation of the Mayor Eva Marie Medina. I was the resource person of Negoskwela for bagmaking. I used the woven material for the bags that we made. It was very nice and the women participants love their projects. Since our schedule was very hectic, I was not able to see more of Vigan. Next time around I would stay a couple of days just to see Vigan. The good mayor had requested us to come back for another series of training. The product made of vigan weave could be a good export. It is just a matter of product development using this woven material. Thanks!
Rene

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:48:35 +0000

Hi Mike!

Happy New Year to you too! Regarding your Vigan trip, I think it is really wise to base yourself in Laoag if you plan to go around Ilocos Sur and Norte. About motorcycles for rent, you may contact the hotel/resort you are staying with or you may try contact this guy -Dr. Charles Rabara (+63 .77.722.2297), apparently he does biking tours around Ilocos, he might be able to help you secure a bike. :)

Hope that helps! Cheers and let us know if that worked!

Ryan

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:58:51 +0000

hi ryan,

happy new year! great job in putting up this site. very informative and interactive.

i am planning to go to vigan. i will follow your suggestion to make laoag as my base. do you have any info about motorcycles for rent there? since i am on my own, i believe i can cover more places if i use one.

thanks!

mike

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:23:20 +0000

Hi Sol,

No problem, glad to help you. We were traveling alot the country and we couldn’t find a lot of information on any other sites ourselves either and our friends were bugging us to do something like this. Most of the sites only have a lot of photos but not much information as well.

Btw if you are on Twitter, you may follow our adventures via @TourismPinas or our fanpage on Facebook (where you will see a lot of photos of some of the destinations we covered (mostly photos we took ourselves)- look for ‘Tourism Paradise Philippines’ on Facebook. :)

Cheers!!!

Ryan