Michi Photostory

Thirteen years ago, we dined at Cafe Uno for lunch and Irene’s Vigan Empanada for merienda. But last month, we only ate at Hotel Luna. We didn’t plan about it but since satisfied na kami sa food sa Hotel Luna, ayaw na namin lumabas pa, sa hotel na lang kami kumain. 

Hotel Luna features three restaurants, including Azotea, Comedor, and Chula Saloon Bar. We visited Chula Saloon Bar and Comedor. I did not know about the Azotea, hindi tuloy namin napuntahan. Ito pala yung may magandang view. 

Anyway, we ate dinner, lunch, and merienda at Chula Saloon Bar, and for buffet breakfast, we ate at Comedor. 

For lunch and dinner, we tried these dishes. Luna Bagnet PHP600, Luna House Salad PHP250, Sinigang na Hipon, Pork Belly Adobo, Rice, Burnt Dulce De Leche Cheesecake PHP250, and Halo-Halo PHP250. The meals are good for sharing. 

After our DIY Vigan Tour, we had late lunch at Chula Saloon Bar and sa sobrang late ng kain namin, naabutan na namin yung pagprepare ng afternoon feast. If we knew na meron Merienda Buffet, sana naghintay na lang kami ng konti kasi mas mura. Para lang kami bumili ng isang dessert. Hehehe!

Merienda Buffet is an afternoon feast of Filipino Treats for PHP299. It is from 2PM to 5PM. We checked the buffet spread and promised na babalik kami. We decided na magmerienda buffet na lang kami kaysa magdinner. 

Actually, hindi pa talaga kami natutunawan, but we went back around 4PM. We only saw one occupied table, so fortunately, wala pa halos bawas yung food, and we were able to enjoy our meal. There are pansit bihon, carbonara, goto, Vigan Miki, pastries, okoy, and kakanin.

Our room includes a complimentary breakfast buffet, and for two days, they have the same menu for the main dishes. So we had fried rice, longganisa, daing na bangus, corned beef, tocino, and tapa. They also have bread, soup, salad, eggs, and others, so it was a satisfying breakfast. 

We liked the food and service at Hotel Luna, so kaya siguro hindi na kami nagtry pa sa iba. In addition, hindi rin siya crowded. 

V. Delos Reyes cor. Gen. Luna Street, 

2700 Vigan City, Ilocos Sur 

Philippines

2700 Vigan City Ilocos Sur Philippines

After lunch at my in-laws, we traveled to Alaminos. We were supposed to stay in a hotel, but it was fully booked, and fortunately, my husband discovered Laylow Villas. It is a small boutique resort near the Hundred Islands. A thirty percent down payment is needed to reserve the accommodation via GCash. The night before our trip, we received their menu, so we needed to preorder our meals. 

We arrived around 1PM and paid the remaining balance. They don’t accept credit card payment, so prepare cash or Gcash payment. After that, they allowed us to check in. 

For an overnight stay, we only booked one room for PHP6,500, which is good for 4 persons. The room still looks new and clean. The bed and pillows are comfortable too.

The bathroom is spacious and there is a bidet but no hot water. They provided a dental kit, shampoo, body wash, and even makeup remover wipes. 

There is complimentary bottled water too, and you can also refill water at their water dispenser. There is free WiFi, but the signal is weak inside the room. 

We were lucky because the resort was not fully booked, 2 lang yung room na occupied so parang nirent namin yung buong resort kasi hindi rin kami nagkakasabay sa pool nung other guests. 

There is “One Island” near the resort, so even though we did not go to Hundred Islands, may navisit pa kami na isang island. But in order to reach the island, we need to wait for low tide so we can walk. It was a long walk and buwis buhay din kasi may mga aso sa labas ng resort, and I’m not comfortable with dogs, feeling ko kakagatin ako.

This island reminded me of Bruholmen in Norway, same kasi na kailangan maglow tide muna bago kami makatawid. 

For dinner, we preordered Sinigang na Fish PHP380, Grilled Pork BBQ PHP350, and Rice. 

For breakfast, we preordered Bangsilog and Longsilog. Breakfast is complimentary; it is included in our room package.

The resort only serves breakfast and dinner, and because of that, we decided to check out early and went to the CSI Mall for our lunch. I find it weird na from 12 - 2 PM, closed ang kitchen. Overall, we enjoyed our stay here at Laylow Villas. We liked the room, food, and service. 

I visited Pangasinan numerous times since I was a kid, but Ihave  never been to Hundred Islands. Nung nagka-outing yung family namin dito hindi ako nakasama, I can’t remember kung bakit hindi ako nakasama. And hindi rin sinasuggest ni hubby na side trip ito since nakapunta na naman daw ako sa Palawan so baka hindi ko na appreciate. 

Anyway, since we were in Alaminos already, we dropped by at Hundred Islands port so maayos naman pala, may parking area din. 

Hundred Islands Day Tour from Manila via Klook 

We stayed here for two hours. We bought some supplies and snacks. For lunch, we ate at Shakey’s. 

After lunch, we purchased fruits and dried fish sa mga nadaanan sa hi-way and dinala namin yung iba sa in-laws ko before going to Vigan.

Our best fishing experience was during our vacation in Norway. We are blessed to experience this every time we visit my mom. You can check my old blog posts. 

Here in the Philippines, we also experienced fishing while staying at The Farm at San Benito. We were lucky na may ganoon activity for the kids kasi yung next na visit namin, wala na sa list of activities yung fishing. Binabalik din yung fish na nahuli. 

Our second fishing experience was in Macampao Beach and Leisure Farm. The resort has a fishing pond, so we caught 7 bangus. We paid PHP300 per kilo + PHP250 cooking charge.

Just recently, we went to Caylabne Bay Resort & Marina for our third fishing experience. This is supposed to be a Father’s Day Getaway, pero hindi available lahat ng June 15, so advance celebration na lang. 

My husband discovered their Summer Day Tour Fishing Packages. You can choose from Package A or B. Advanced reservation is highly recommended. Day Tour Fishing is from 6AM to 6PM 

Package A - PHP1580 per person 

Set lunch with dessert and cold beverage. 

Package B - PHP1680 per person 

Set lunch with cold beverage and afternoon refreshment 

Caylabne Bay Resort & Marina is located in Ternate Cavite. We left the house around 4:30AM, fetch my in-laws in Binan, Laguna and travel to the resort. We arrived past 7AM, ang tagal din ng biyahe, parang nagpunta na rin kami ng Batangas.

Upon arrival, we paid for our reservation, and the staff asked for our preferred menu for lunch. We can choose Chicken Adobo sa Gata, Arroz ala Cubana, and Breaded Fish Fillet with Tartar Sauce. 

We purchased shrimp bait, PHP150 per 100 grams kaso wala ng balat. Kung alam lang namin, sana pala bumili kami ng shrimp sa palengke. Anyway, nakahuli naman kami ng lapu-lapu fish but unfortunately, they are all small so pinapakawalan lang din namin. Expectations vs Reality talaga, malalaki kasi yung nakuha sa sample photos sa website.

Nagtatawanan na lang kami kasi we paid PHP1580 per person plus 300 grams pa na shrimp. Tapos wala kami naiuwi na fish. Well, charged to experience na lang. Maybe, nakasummer vacation ang mga fish kaya wala kam nahuli, hehehe!

The primary breakwater is not included in the approved fishing grounds, so limited din yung spot kung saan kami pwede magfishing. The staff said, once or twice a month lang daw inoopen yun. 

We can stay up to 6PM pero since low tide na rin naman and nakakapagod yung wala ka mahuli, nag give up na rin lahat. Naligo na lang sa beach bago umuwi. We left before 5PM. Despite our experience, we had fun naman.