blog of a frustrated traveler

Friday, June 20, 2014

Calle Crisologo

Vigan, October 2012

History is written all over this piece of calle or 'street'. It is the sole indicator and evidence that Spain did colonize the Philippines. This place, or Vigan as a whole, is considered as one of the historical places that is perfectly preserved.

Calle Crisologo did not get away with the modern time and age of capitalism. Slowly, this place is starting to generate profits for entrepreneurs. And as time pass by, the history that was embedded in this place, will soon be replaced by commercialism.

I don't know what to feel exactly in this tremendous battle between past and present.

I support changes but not in these historical places.

To quote my review on TripAdvisor:

"If you're a history fanatic, you should check this place out. The buildings are perfectly preserved. Although, it gradually turns into a commercial complex, the Spanish and modern architecture blends well. I suggest that you see this place during the night between 6-9 pm. I experienced chills in my nape as we stroll along and you can really feel the atmosphere during colonial times. Be ready though for the 'aromatic' horse poops along the walk. Souvenir shops and restaurants are also found within the vicinity."

Calle Crisologo is a beauty, a huge part that defines our identity as a whole.

Vigan, indeed, is the heritage city.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Ilocos Sur Getaway

Ilocos Sur, October 2012

Another semester's over and I was looking forward for an exciting semestral break. Me and my friends planned to spend a week away from home and we're bound to Ilocos. Erica offered their rest house for a place to stay. She invited some of her friends too. I was too excited because my break's gonna be jam-packed.

Breath-taking scenery along the trip so we seized the opportunity to take a picture. By the way, the wind is extremely blowing in the area.

I'm surprised that Erica's house has a mini basketball court. This made me happy.

Calle Crisologo is a preserved beauty. Try going at night.

Before we turn in for the night, a game of cards and a bowl full of pumpkin seeds were our midnight snack.

Rise and shine! We took a picture while waiting for our turns in taking a bath.

Fritzie was totally head over heels to lose weight.

Bad luck? Maybe. The car leaked almost all the gasoline and took half a day to repair. We had no choice but to ride public transportation.

Vigan Empanada at Hidden Garden. Nahid looks hungry!

Another photo of us at Hidden Garden. We're ready to leave and visit Baluarte.

There's not much people around. The weather is just not so stable at the moment.

We are crazy. That's all know.

The church at night.

We get to spend the day at the rest house of Erica's uncle. Videoke, baby!

We gotta love this secluded place with its own private pool. It's a vacation all right.

Cool afternoon breeze and a hammock is definitely the definition of relaxation.

Black and yellow. Hmm.

Tong-its! An addictive card game! Must-try. Ha-ha!

The night went on with a toast.

Sorry to be leaving this place. It was a nice ride. :|

Last stop for the trip: Bell Tower, in which it was rumored to be the taping area of the movie, "Sukob".

The bell. The wooden steps were unstable but at the top, the view was fantastic.

Souvenir and gift shop, Marsha's Delicacies.

It was one hell of a trip. Looking forward for more adventures with my friends!

BenCab Museum Fieldtrip

Art Gallery, August 2013

For almost four years of stay in Baguio, I have often heard about the BenCab museum from friends or other travel blogs. I never had the time to visit great places within the city because most of my time is devoted to academics (just joking). For certain reasons, I made my way to the roster of Humanities 2 that opened up an opportunity to visit the museum before I leave Baguio (hopefully).

My artsy side does not often come naturally. It’s usually impulsive and at times, dormant. Due to my extensive exposure to science, my perspective shifted to complexity and symmetry. I knew I needed to join this trip not only for the extra points but also for the restoration of my lost interest in art.

One look at the museum, I knew that it’s gonna be great, but hot, day.

As soon as the doors were opened for us, few paintings were already waiting for us. They were large, just like a mural. The planning of the museum was impressive for they categorized the paintings, this way, it’s better to look at them by their similarities.

I noticed that most of the works are inspired by the Cordilleran culture. This may be due to the geographical location of the museum and/or Ben Cabrera’s fascination of Indigenous People’s culture. From weaved cloth to pottery, it became a depiction of the once thriving culture.

If only our tour guide’s voice was louder and clearer, it would have been great. I could only stare at paintings without knowing which is which. The precision and undefined boundaries of the paintings impressed me the most.

On the other side, abstract paintings were abound. It was really hard to discern what the artist wanted to depict in the paintings. In the end, it leaves the viewer something to ponder on. This left me questions dancing in my head which I held on for some time. But for the record, abstract paintings are constant reminders of that sometimes, imperfections are perfect.

What's that? :D

It may look odd but I enjoyed staring at the paintings in the Erotica Gallery. At first, the idea of erotica, for me, was absurd and harassing. But upon integrating the human body to art, the definition became clearer. To me, before, it should be talked of privately, but somehow this notion changed. It’s fascinating how the human body is being portrayed and given importance to. In my opinion, the artist may be a fan of Freud.

Erotica miniatures.

This trip, somehow, uplifted my interest in art. I wasn't supposed to join this activity for the load of requirements waiting to be accomplished. At the end of the day, the time that I intend to devote to my requirements, gave a much better consequence in return. The experience and the bonding was worth the sacrifice.

From Baguio City:
Take a Public Utility Jeep that is bound for Asin Hot Springs. The terminal for these is located in the public market. Ask for directions (this is vital). From there, ask the driver to drop you off at BenCab museum. It is not hard to notice for the said building has a modern design that differs it from the surrounding environment. Make sure to bring enough money for there is an entrance fee plus there is a cafe resto inside that provides a scenic view.

From BenCab Museum:
Wait for jeeps that pass by the museum. The fare is Php 28.00 (as of now) for one-way back to Baguio City. If you have an afternoon to kill, head a bit further (ride a jeepney) until you've reached the Asin hot springs. Along the way, there are numerous resorts (Riverview, Palm Grove, etc.) to relax upon.

Enjoy!