Baluarte - An Afternoon with the Animals

     After our lavish lunch we headed to Baluarte, it is an 80 hectares Zoological Park owned by Gov. Chavit Singson and 10 minutes away from Vigan City proper. It’s open everyday to the public for FREE from 7am to 6pm. You can also take ride (a mini kalesa pulled by small horse) and use the picnic area for FREE. Baluarte is the most famous zoo in the northern.

from afar

zoom version

     That is a BIG signage of  BALUARTE that is very visible at the entrance and located at the heart of the park. Because this was the first thing that caught our eyes, we did not waste anytime to have some photo opp......

     After this photo opp we went around the area and we noticed that this is not a usual zoo park where we usually see cages, pens and fences to protect the animals or the guests from the animals. A lot of animals (except for the wild ones of course) actually roam free within the walk areas as the guests. 

     Actually one of the ostrich blocked our way so we had a chance to see it up-close and personal. A first time for all of us so we had some tricks to have a photo opp with this ostrich.

where she really belong...

up-close and personal

     Other animals you will see around are Fish, Tigers, Monkeys, Camels, Deer, Different kinds of birds (Ostriches, Parrots, Peacocks, Eagles and more), Snakes (Pythons, and others), Iguanas and there is also a Butterfly  Garden and more.....

     There is also a Live Animal Shows and it's for FREE again. Not only do you get to learn about the animals, also animal care, science and conservation. They also ask some volunteers from the audiences to participate in the show and had a chance to touch and see up-close the animals.

the brave volunteers

     After the Live Animal Show they let the guests have some photo opp with the tiger this time its not free. Since it was not free, a long line of guests are waiting and some of my friends are afraid to go near we didn't bother to line up instead we had our own photo opp for free.

we are good in camera tricks, ayt?!?!

Here are some of the animals that we inside the zoo.......

Fishes swimming with the "V"

birds....birds....birds.....

The small horse that pull small carriage that can ride around Baluarte and its for FREE....

and there are DINOSAURS...of course not alive.... hehehe

and there is also a YELLOW SUBMARINE on the way to exit

That ends our BALUARTE tour....

For more info about Baluarte you can visit their website here: http://www.chavitsingson.net/baluarte/baluarte-zoo.html

part of the Biyahilo sa Norte - Escaped in Region 1

-----  Au revoir MJ 
 

Free Lunch sa Bahay ni Lola

     I already mentioned in my post about our Food Trip  in the Vigan City plaza that a friend's friend/ colleague offered to help us to go around the city by letting his cousin to be our tour guide/ driver and have a free lunch in their ancestor's home. So, of course we say YES to the free lunch that's why you can noticed in my previous post that we only ordered halo-halo in Hidden Garden because we already know that there was a good lunch waiting for us.

     So after our tour in Hidden Garden, Kuya brought us to their home and introduce us to Lola and show us around their home.

     This is not the house but the school next to their front yard....(we don't have a picture of the whole house...too busy thinking of our lunch...)

    and there is a tree that look like a cactus or whatever it is in the center of their front yard......

   and on the backyard is a mini farm with different fruit bearing tress, vegetables garden, poultry, piggery,  and a wide space for playing, for running.....

           and inside the house.... of course we had our crazy poses as always

     That is Lola the one in gray dress with her shades and her english tounge... "nose bleed" ....and you see the little fella in the green motorcycle?!?! yeah, he really look amused or amazed or confused with us....maybe the this little kid was thinking if we are aliens.....hahahaha

        and when the lunch is ready....look what they prepared for us :)

       There were fish, bagnet, vigan longganisa, veggies, fruits for dessert and everything were FREE and YUMMY!!! We really enjoyed our lunch here while Lola telling us stories of her adventures and giving us advices where to go and what to do next.

     After the yummy lunch we didn't stop.... we invaded there backyard, we picked some mangoes and kaimito or star apple.

      and I don't know how many kilos we had here....

.... the backyard...

   ....the front yard.... hahahaha

     We surely had a great afternoon here. We filled their yard with laughter and craziness. After we re-charged time for our next destination - "Baluarte".

part of the Biyahilo sa Norte - Escaped in Region 1

-----  Au revoir MJ 
 

Hidden Garden with ♥♥♥

       Hidden Garden is located in the heart of Vigan City. What really brought us here was the mouth-watering picture of Halo-halo that one of my friend saw during her food research in the planning stage of this trip. Well, it really look good in the picture and all reviews are positive. So, time for us to do the verdict but let us first have some tour inside the Hidden Garden.

     At the entrance of this beautiful garden/ restaurant is a mini museum, where different superb potteries, figurines and potted plants are displayed. There is also a celebrity corner where pictures of their famous costumers are hanged. I can only remember Donaire the boxer....hehehe...now I'm wondering if the owner also hanged our picture there, since he asked us to e-mail the photo to him (feeling celebrity)...hahaha 

(from top left to right) Celebrity Corner, Religious Figurines Display, Potteries Display, The Lover's Corner (but I guess its a Kalesa turned into chair), Small Altar, Entrance Signage, The wishing well with the Frog Prince, Christmas Tree made from pots, Display of potted plants / Bonsai.

     While strolling around Hidden Garden I have realized that it is not really just a garden or a typical restaurant and it is not only the famous Halo-halo that you can enjoy here. Everyone of all ages will enjoy going around here while waiting for their orders.

For the plant lovers....

      They can go around and check the wide variety of potted plants and bonsai. I bet when they come back they already bought something for their garden at home. Yes, those plants are for sale for very affordable prices.

     While walking around their garden and you are eating don't forget to use the trash can properly. Gets mo?!?! hehehehe.....

For animal lovers....

 

 
      There is a mini zoo. You can see cages of birds and some exotic animals around the garden and don't forget to look for this Snobbish Mayna. (talk to her to find out why....hehehehe)

For food trippers....

 

     Since we only ordered Halo-halo here we just took a photo of the menu. Almost all Ilocano dishes are on their menu in affordable prices so you can enjoy your food trips here.


its Halo-halo time...and the verdict.....

     Lets give them "A" for the presentation. They serve it in a coconut-shell (very pinoy style), colorful toppings, generous ingredients. Looks really yummy ayt?!?!

      and the taste..... AWESOME!!! HEAVEN!!! This is what you called "SULIT' hehehe..... This is so far the BEST halo-halo I ever had.  All the flavors of the ingredient in the coconut shell bowl compliment each other. The melon flavor ice cream give extra twist to the flavor.

This is the Halo-halo life cycle.....

Simu't sarap!!! :)

      We obviously enjoyed this one....

    When we are almost done one guy approached us, maybe because we are a bit noisy??!?! hahaha....but he introduced himself as the owner of the Hidden Garden and asked for some photo opp (feeling celeb). So, this was the picture I mentioned earlier that he asked us to email a copy to him. If you see this in their Celebrity Corner let me know....hahaha :P 

 

      Maybe because we are too obvious that we enjoyed the halo-halo and our staying in his place that's why he approached us. But in all fairness he is very accommodating, humble and a funny guy. Hope to meet you again sir. :)

 
 >>>> Since we enjoyed the place of course expect for more photo shoot/ camwhoring  .....hahahaha
                                                    

In every corner of Hidden Garden....

 
 oohhh...someone committed a suicide here

mga sadyang chismosa lang... :P

 and the "Isang Linggong Pag-ibig" started here....

ang sadyang maharot na lalaki....hahaha

 The ultimate pang-teleserye and pang-baliwan poses ......hahaha

     That's all for our halo-halo trip in Hidden Garden. Make sure you include this place in your Ilocandia/ Vigan adventure. Next stop 'Bahay ni Lola for the free lunch.....hahaha



part of the Biyahilo sa Norte - Escaped in Region 1




-----  Au revoir MJ