Asia Going...Gone! Philippines

My First Trip to Pagadian City

A couple of years back, I had the chance to travel to Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur in Mindanao. The trip was work-related and yet just like any travelling we do, there is always something new to experience in a new place. And may I add that it was my first time, too.
Since I came from Butuan City that time my trip by bus there meant 4 hours going to Cagayan de Oro City (this is now a five-hour bus trip as bus speed has been regulated). From Cagayan de Oro to Iligan City, that’s another 1 and a half hour bus ride. And then from Iligan City to Pagadian, about three or four hours. I must say, thank God, for air conditioned buses. I was also told by friends to stay overnight in Iligan, that way I won’t be too exhausted when I get to Pagadian. Of course, if you were coming from Cebu or from Manila, you can take a plane from there since these are separate islands. But since I was coming from the same island, Mindanao, the buses were the mode of transport available.
I have to add here for those unfamiliar with Mindanao travel that there are several security issues as well in these parts of the Philippines. I was advised not to take night buses from Iligan to Pagadian for security reasons. All in all, I arrived in Pagadian quite ready for work and for the new experiences there πŸ™‚
I will just name two distinct experiences while there in the city. I had to make a Β work-related visit to one barangay there (A barangay, by the way, is the smallest unit or division of a town or city in the Philippines). My friends took me there by way of a banca or small boat, sailing through the river. And why was it so? Because if we go there by land, that will take us hours! With the boat, it was less than 30 minutes πŸ™‚ That was cool and I love the the view of the sky and the river as we sailed.

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Clear skies and river in Zamboanga del Sur

Another distinct experience that my friends were eager to let me try is to ride the passenger tricycles there to get around the city. As the city is quite hilly or should I say sloping in most parts, their tricycle is structured in such a way to make sure that it can travel these slopes quite easily. Well, except that when you ride one, you had that nagging feeling that you are falling backward! πŸ™‚
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The tricycle in a sloping city πŸ™‚

Thanks to my friend, Jet, for the camera and for taking memorable shots there πŸ™‚
Note: This post is linked with Blog Photo Challenge, Tuesday Travels, Watery Wednesday, Our World Tuesday
 

29 thoughts on “My First Trip to Pagadian City”

  1. beautiful view Mommy Deli, miss riding the motorela πŸ™‚ Visiting from #50 of BPC, hope that you can return the visit too

  2. ay, i wanna try that “inclined” tryke too! does it feel like you’re in a roller coaster or something? πŸ˜‰
    visiting you back for TT!

  3. oh… this post made me smile..because I remembered my first trip to Pagadian alone ( several years back) and my first time to ride their tricycle.. I was literally giggling all by myself.. mura gyd ko ug gigitik!! ..weird gyd kau ang feeling ba? mura ka na ug gahigda na gasakay..hehehe!
    Here’s my TT entry: From Asia and Beyond: BangkokΒ Trip

  4. I miss riding in a pedicab! πŸ˜€ I haven’t been to Pagadian yet, but I got friends based there. Lami kaayo sila diha ug bulad. πŸ˜€
    BPC 50 visit ko diri Ma’am!

  5. I’ve been in Pagadian twice or 3 times, I think. I have an uncle living near Columban school? It’s a nice city in a hill.

  6. haha.. i love that experience I had with that motorcy in pagadian. challenging indeed! and number one rule.. don’t wear a skirt! if you do, wear shorts underneath! lol. here for bpc lors, sorry for the very late visit!

  7. This brings back wonderful memories of my trip there in January/February 2010. I loved those funny little sloping tricycles. The trip up to the Rotunda and the views, and photographic opportunities from there, were awe inspiring. The people are wonderful and friendly. I was lucky enough to travel to the town of Aurora in the same region. It was a beautiful, friendly little town. Two years later I am still in regular contact with the Pagadian / Aurora people I met. I will for sure return in the near future.

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