ハードで最高のビガン旅【バギオ留学69日目🫛】

昨日は、22:30に集合して、【Lockdown Bar】と【The Terminal Resto Cafe】へ。

先生ともたくさん恋愛トークができて楽しかった！

親戚の子どものような友達を見送る朝4:00。

5年後の彼の姿が本当に楽しみ。

急いで学校へ戻って、準備。

5:30、眠気と疲れでぐったりしている日本人8名と韓国人1名とベトナム人1名を乗せ、世界遺産ビガンへ向けてバンが出発。

山道＆下り坂＆フィリピーノ運転のおかげで、補助席に座った自分は袋を握りしめる。

途中、本物の海と見間違うような漆黒の雲海がみれてラッキー。

トイレ休憩を挟みつつ、満身創痍で10:30【Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo】到着。

餌やりやシャトルバスなどが全てついた「PACKAGE B」で1人300ペソ。

トラとの写真撮影は、別途1人100ペソ。

トラの赤ちゃんが、本当の赤ちゃんのようで、動物が得意でない自分でもメロメロになる可愛さ。

巨大ヘビとの写真撮影は、1人50ペソ。

ワニの餌やりは、鶏肉4ピースで100ペソ。

釣竿で鶏肉を吊るすと、どんどん集まってくるワニたち。

最終的には、10匹ほどで餌の取り合い。

絶妙に不器用な感じが愛おしかった。

元々は政治家のプライベート動物園やったということが信じられないレベルの広さで、あちこちにいる鹿はまるで、奈良公園のよう。

暑さにやられつつ、お昼ご飯は有名な【Hidden Garden】へ。

植物園のような雰囲気もあるおしゃれなレストランで、大人数でもゆったりできる。

舞台で歌っている歌手もお客さんも上手過ぎて、耳まで心地よい。

【エンパナダ（大きい揚げ餃子のようなビガン料理）】

【バゴネット（厚切り豚肉のカリカリ揚げ）】

が美味し過ぎる。

灯台【Bantay Bell Tower】で写真撮影をしたあと、

スペインの街並みのメイン通り【Calle Crisologo】へ。

昔ながらの建物や土産物店が並んでいて、観光客を乗せて走るカレッサ（馬車）もいい雰囲気を作っている。

【CAFE AMIAN】にてドリンク休憩。

徹夜のため、さすがにみんなしんどそう。

1時間ほどゆったりした後、街散策。

大聖堂【St.Paul Metropolitan Cathedral】も美しい。

街自体は広くないため、時間を持て余しそうになり、迷いに迷って海岸で夕陽を見ることに。

17:05にバンに乗り、日没17:26の2分前に【Mindoro Beach】到着。

本当に綺麗で、「よし、いこう。」と決めたあの瞬間に感謝。

日が沈んだ後のノスタルジックな空と、満月まであと一歩のくっきりした月を眺めながら、街へ戻る。

【Old Soul Bar Beans】で、ふわトロのオムライスと【ロンガニーサ（ガーリック風味強めのソーセージ】をシェア。

19:00お会計をして、【Plaza Salcedo (Luneta Park Musical Dancing Fountain)】へ。

19:30と20:30から音楽と光の噴水ショーがあり、19:20到着の時点でものすごい人混み。

19:40、やっとショー開始。

まさかの噴水の外まで水を飛ばすタイプ。まるでアトラクション。

音楽や光も相まって、クラブのようにはしゃぐ我々。

最後まで楽し過ぎやろ。

20:00過ぎにバンに乗り込む。

トイレ休憩の記憶がないくらい泥のような眠気で、右に左に上に身体が揺られる。

1:00前に学校到着。

寝ながら部屋まで歩き、洗顔と歯磨きだけして、ベッドに倒れ込む。

旅の計画を担当する度に感じてる「残念な場所やったらどうしよ」「うまく進まんかったらどうしよ」という不安。

そんな大きな不安を吹き飛ばすくらい、全てがうまくいって、たった1日やのに充実しまくってて、みんなを誘いに誘っていった価値があり過ぎた。

みんなが楽しそうにしてくれていて本当によかった。

ほっと一安心。

よく眠れそう。

………………………..

【English】

Yesterday, we met up at 10:30 PM and headed to Lockdown Bar and The Terminal Resto Café.

I had so much fun talking about love with my teacher!

At 4:00 AM, we said goodbye to a friend who felt like a little sibling to us.

I’m really excited to see how he grows and changes over the next five years.

After that, I rushed back to school to get ready.

By 5:30 AM, our van left for Vigan, a World Heritage Site.

Our group included eight Japanese, one Korean, and one Vietnamese, all of us tired and sleepy.

Sitting in the front auxiliary seat, I clutched my bag tightly because of the winding mountain roads, steep slopes, and the typical adventurous Filipino driving style.

On the way, we were lucky enough to see a jet-black sea of clouds that looked just like the ocean—it was breathtaking.

After a quick bathroom break, we arrived at Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo at 10:30 AM, completely exhausted.

We chose “Package B,” which cost 300 pesos per person and included animal feeding and a shuttle bus.

Taking a photo with the baby tigers was an extra 100 pesos per person.

They were so small and adorable—like actual babies—and even I, who isn’t great with animals, was completely charmed by them.

Photos with a giant snake were 50 pesos per person, and feeding the crocodiles cost 100 pesos for four pieces of chicken.

Watching the crocodiles gather as we dangled chicken on a fishing rod was thrilling.

By the end, about 10 of them were fighting over the food, and their awkward, clumsy movements were strangely cute.

It was hard to believe this zoo was originally a private collection for a politician.

The deer wandering freely around the grounds made the place feel a bit like Nara Park.

Even though we were worn out from the heat, we went to the famous Hidden Garden for lunch.

It’s a beautiful restaurant with a botanical garden vibe, perfect for large groups.

The live music on stage was incredible

—both the performers and the guests were so talented, it was a joy to listen to them.

We tried two Vigan specialties: empanadas (large fried dumplings) and bagnet (crispy, deep-fried pork).

They were absolutely delicious!

After lunch, we visited Bantay Bell Tower for some photos before heading to Calle Crisologo, the main street in the Spanish quarter.

The cobblestone streets were lined with old-style buildings and souvenir shops, while horse-drawn carriages carrying tourists added to the charming, nostalgic atmosphere.

We took a break at CAFE AMIAN for some drinks.

Everyone looked exhausted after staying up all night, so we relaxed there for about an hour before wandering around the city again.

St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral was another highlight—it was beautiful.

Since the city itself isn’t that large, we found ourselves running out of time.

After a little confusion, we decided to head to the coast to catch the sunset.

We got back in the van at 5:05 PM and reached Mindoro Beach just two minutes before sunset at 5:26 PM.

It was such a stunning moment, and I’m so glad we decided to go.

As we drove back to the city, we watched the sky turn nostalgic hues after sunset, with a bright moon just shy of being full.

At Old Soul Bar Beans, we shared fluffy omelet rice and longanisa (a flavorful, garlic-heavy sausage).

At 7:00 PM, we headed to Plaza Salcedo for the Luneta Park Musical Dancing Fountain show.

By the time we arrived at 7:20 PM, the crowd was already massive.

The show started at 7:40 PM, and it was incredible

—fountains spraying water to music and lights, even reaching beyond the fountain area itself.

It felt more like an amusement park attraction than a simple fountain show, and the vibrant energy made it feel like a club.

We had so much fun, right up until the very end.

We got back in the van after 8:00 PM, and I was so tired that I barely remember stopping for a bathroom break.

My body swayed with the van’s movements as I drifted in and out of sleep.

We arrived back at school just before 1:00 AM.

Half-asleep, I stumbled to my room, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and collapsed into bed.

Reflection:

Whenever I plan a trip, I always worry:

What if the place isn’t as good as expected?

or What if things don’t go smoothly?

But this trip went so well that it blew away all my doubts.

Even though it was just a day trip, it was so rewarding and fulfilling, and I’m so glad I invited everyone to join.

Seeing them have so much fun made me feel so relieved and happy.

I think I’ll sleep really well tonight.