What a way to start the first day of my Ilocos 2010 visit. Native food. The Vigan longganisa, that is. My brother Jay and I share this conviction that, when we visit the provinces, we avoid the familiar, aka what can be found in Manila.
Relish what a place has to offer. Be it food, sight, sound, and language. There is a 24-hour McDonalds, a Jollibee, and Chowking here. Heck, I just saw a Robinson's Mall in San Nicolas town in the middle of what is threatening to be an Ortigas Center mini me. It is tempting to seek these places out. Maybe to feel safe amidst all the strangeness of a place. But then, what is the point of the whole visit? What is the point of escaping busy Manila if one will hanker for what it provides so easily?
Anyway, I am here now. After 9 nine hours of travel on a very comfortable Partas De Luxe bus, I am finally here.
Speaking of Partas, I don't think I'll advice people taking it on a holiday rush to the north. Be it the Christmas season, the semestral break or like now, the Holy Week. I do not know on other days, but at around 10 pm last night, there was a lot of people at their terminal in Cubao. True, they have the De Luxe bus which has three seats in a row compared to the usual four. This particular bus offers enough leg room for a six footer and the seats are fully reclinable, something that I discovered regrettably a few minutes away from Laoag.
But I do not know if they have a regular schedule for the departure of these buses. Maybe they do, but judging from my experience last night, when the flood of people comes, the alternative is: all hell breaks loose.
It was not a horror story for me. Being a bus rider for such a long time, I have developed the tolerance for the long lines, the rush of running after the monsters, and the subtlety of using my size to get inside them. So last night was the usual for me. It's part of the whole adventure. If it is any other person, maybe I would recommend riding on their own vehicle, taking the plane, or trying Maria de Leon out. There one could reserve his seat ahead of time.
I called Laoag, just after reading this but you were still sleeping. I am glad you made it. Enjoy your stay.
TumugonBurahinwe want to go to Ilocos too!!!
TumugonBurahinby the way, did you listen to the vigan longganisa store owners? they are kapampangans. hahaha
TumugonBurahinpartas is that way even on ordinary days. they do not have any system.
TumugonBurahinIts Maria de Leon forever for me. I hope they can acquire a terminal somewhere in along Edsa, though.