Trialaland
  • Blog
  • Places
    • Luzon >
      • Ilocos Sur >
        • Vigan
      • La Union
      • Metro Manila
      • Palawan >
        • Coron
        • El Nido
        • Puerto Princesa
      • Pampanga
      • Puerto Galera
      • Tagaytay
      • Zambales
    • Visayas >
      • Boracay
    • Mindanao >
      • Davao
  • Food
  • Quickie
    • Quick Trips
    • Quick Eats
    • Quick Meals
  • Blogroll
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Read Me!
  • Contact

Why We Should Have Skipped Baluarte: Holy Week 2012

4/17/2012

3 Comments

 
Visiting Baluarte at 1:00 in the afternoon on Easter Sunday wasn't exactly the best idea for a group of twenty-something pals who tagged along ze impatient parents XD Even the charming Calle Crisologo didn't win their hearts. And I say blame the summer heat that felt like 40° Celsius on our skin.
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Photo by Kert Tria
And the crowd. Gazillions of people visited Chavit Singson's zoo on that fateful day. Couldn't blame them though. It was Easter Sunday and the next day was declared a non-working holiday so tourists and locals alike flocked to Baluarte. Funny thing is, there were actually more people than animals in the area. There were even more cars in the parking lot than the animals! :))
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Okay so let me start with the bad things, as what I always do ;). The three majors things I didn't like about Baluarte were the crowd, the summer heat and the animals, or the lack thereof. The first two things aren't always there or are "seasonal". It was too noisy, too crowded and too hot when we visited, unlucky us! No entrance fee + summer heat + long weekend = chaos.
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
It's not surprising [but still a li'l bit disappointing] to see that there were only a few animals in Baluarte. I mean, anyone can just go inside for free and it'll be really heavy on the pocket to maintain a zoo with lots of animals in it without charging the visitors. 
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
because turista shots can never be avoided! :)) must.take.pictures.whenever.wherever :))
But the best thing about Baluarte is the liberty of being in contact with the animals! As visitors, you have a lot of options to choose from - let the colorful parrots rest on your shoulder for a photo op, feed the goats and the alpaca, play with the ostrich (at your own risk), have the python "hug" you, and get in line to have your photo taken with a tiger.
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
thiz iz the activity that i enjoyed the most! :)
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
up close and personal with the aloof alpaca
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Tiger at Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
tiger to human: do not, i repeat, DO NOT dare touch me.
Even though I enjoyed playing with the animals, overall I think we should have skipped Baluarte and went over to the Juan Luna shrine instead or stayed longer in Calle Crisologo. My judgment is, of course, forever affected by ze impatient parents, the not-so-good timing of our visit, and the summer heat. But I don't think I would still go back to Baluarte on a relatively colder weekday. There's honestly not much to see! 

And to end this post, here's a couple of turista pictures brought to you by our vanity and our oh-my-god-time-for-FB-profile-pic thinking.
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
with Kert
Baluarte, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
with Toto
P.S. You can ride a a pony-driven carriage that will take you around, how should I describe this, a space? Definitely NOT around Baluarte, just around an open space that's probably 50sqm in area.

P.P.S. Coke-in-can is sold for only P25! Sweeeeet. There's also fresh sweet cane juice offered for only P20 a cup but the long line discouraged us from trying it.

P.P.P.S. Forgot to buy some pasalubongs in Calle Crisologo? Worry not! There are also souvenir shops just outside Baluarte.


Facebook Comments:

3 Comments
Wander Shugah link
5/3/2012 06:04:26 am

I wanna visit this someday! Siguro early morning the better :) para d masyadong mainit :)

Reply
Trialaland link
5/3/2012 10:44:48 am

8-10am would be ideal. And on a weekday or during lean season! :)

Reply
Serwis laptopów wrocław link
7/19/2012 08:24:15 am

This is a great common sense write-up. Really beneficial to 1 who is just finding the resouces about this part. It will undoubtedly assist educate me.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Search this site

    About Trialala
    About Trialaland
    Travel stories, misadventures, gluttonous tendencies, and occasional what's-wrong-with-the-world rants.

    Receive Updates

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed


    CONNECT WITH ME

    CATEGORIES

    ITINERARIES
    REVIEWS
    HOTELS
    TRAVEL
    BEACH
    FOOD


    TOTO'S CORNER



    ARCHIVES

    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012




Copyright © 2015 Trialaland | About | Contact | Privacy
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.