From Pagudpud to Bangui, we were southbound yet again! The bus was loaded with sacks of rice and hog feed, so we had to do some acrobatics to find seats all the way to the back. We practically drove the bus conductor crazy when we couldn't make up our minds where or next pitstop was going to be. Vigan, Laoag, Vigan - Vigan it is! A couple hours later we were at the town's bus terminal. An elderly tricycle driver spoke to us in Ilocano and broken Tagalog. Boy, did I wish we had Roland right now.... After he figured out what we meant by "cobblestone streets", we found ourselves in the middle of the most romantic town I've ever seen. Vigan is absolutely beautiful. Pre-colonial architecture from houses, church, shops, and streets well preserved. Quaint antique shops and modern stores lined the cobblestone streets that only horse-drawn carriages have access to. The moment we entered the preserved town, we couldn’t help but think about...

Food. We had to grab a bite.

Max’s Fried chicken was right by the town square. We walked through the narrow street and into the opening. The gates of heaven came into view. Behold the tourists! There they were, all of God’s children—Filipino elite and European backpackers. And here we were... Starving like the offspring of Somalia and smelling like a Vietnamese sweat shop. Or maybe that was just me. Doh! With a silly fear of potential rejection at the restaurant, and a great need to be accommodated and fed immediately, I pulled out my wild card. In my most nonchalant call-center English I ask the waitress, “Do you accept credit cards?”

The waitress says yes and seats us by the window. Not that we couldn’t pay. Jungkay had gladly offered to pay in cash. Ady, however jumped at the opportunity to get a free meal care of yours truly. We ate, I swiped, and we were off. Everything about the town was just awesome. Jungkay and Ady window-shopped while I took photos. Vigan calms its guests. People just tend to walk slower, talk slower, and I felt like breaking into a song—a kundiman. Even Ady had a spiritual boost and walked into the church with Jungkay.


Segue to Baluarte
(Stay tuned…)