BAGUIO CITY is the Summer Capital of the Philippines. The place is also called as the City of Pines. Baguio City is one of the most visited places in the Philippines. It is an urbanized city in the Province of Benguet and the place is very famous for it's strawberry farm fields, historical sites and the natural cold temperature.
Many locals and foreigners come to Baguio for a long vacation especially during Holy Week, Christmas and of course the famous Panagbenga Festival.
If you want to know more about Baguio City you can visit the links below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguio - Wikipedia
http://www.baguio.gov.ph/?q=frontpage - Baguio City's Official Site
We went to Baguio with my friends last November 2012. We bought our promo airfare tickets via Cebu Pacific (Cebu to Manila). From NAIA, we ride a taxi straight to Victory Liner Bus Terminal in Pasay City. Our bus schedule is at 3am.
I highly recommend Victory Liner buses because they always check and assure the safeness of its passengers. and their buses are very comfortable with a free Wi-Fi connection. Cool isn't it?
You can visit their site for their schedules, terminals and latest fare rates at http://www.victoryliner.com
Travelling to Baguio is approximately 7-8 hours. So you still have time to sleep and reserve energy for your Baguio getaway.
Many locals and foreigners come to Baguio for a long vacation especially during Holy Week, Christmas and of course the famous Panagbenga Festival.
If you want to know more about Baguio City you can visit the links below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguio - Wikipedia
http://www.baguio.gov.ph/?q=frontpage - Baguio City's Official Site
We went to Baguio with my friends last November 2012. We bought our promo airfare tickets via Cebu Pacific (Cebu to Manila). From NAIA, we ride a taxi straight to Victory Liner Bus Terminal in Pasay City. Our bus schedule is at 3am.
I highly recommend Victory Liner buses because they always check and assure the safeness of its passengers. and their buses are very comfortable with a free Wi-Fi connection. Cool isn't it?
You can visit their site for their schedules, terminals and latest fare rates at http://www.victoryliner.com
Travelling to Baguio is approximately 7-8 hours. So you still have time to sleep and reserve energy for your Baguio getaway.
Our first day and first stop in Baguio - Burnham Park
Before we went to Burnham Park. We ate our lunch in SM City Baguio food court and checked in at King's Court pension house in Aurora Hill (Rimando Road). Rooms are okay and no aircon. Definitely, no need to have one. Baguio is such a cold place, you wouldn't mind using electric fan or aircon. We got a room for only Php 1,500.00/night.
This is where King's Court is located.
Their food is great. (Food court in SM City)
Photo from my Instagram account @iamjunnette
We tried boating in Burnham Park. This is one of their main attractions. Boat rental costs at Php 100/boat and you will paddle it all by yourselves. Boating is fun and exciting. What makes it exciting? Well, you have to manage the balancing of the boat or else. Haha! You know what I mean.
Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral also know as Baguio Cathedral_
The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ will be the first scenic structure you will see as you enter the Cathedral.
Mother Mary on his right and St. Joseph on his left.
Photo from my Instagram account @iamjunnette
The University of Cordilleras.
This is a private university in Baguio formerly know as Baguio Colleges Foundation.
This is a private university in Baguio formerly know as Baguio Colleges Foundation.
SM City Baguio.
This is the only mall in the Philippines which has NO AIRCON.
They save a lot of electricity. Hehe!
This is the only mall in the Philippines which has NO AIRCON.
They save a lot of electricity. Hehe!
After standing-by at SM City Baguio, we decided to go to Nevada Sqaure to drink something that will surely give warm to our bodies.
I was confident wearing shorts throughout the day because the temperature is just so normal for me. But as the night goes up, "GOSHNESS" I felt very cold to the highest level. My knees were really shaking as we walked in the streets going to Nevada Square.
I was confident wearing shorts throughout the day because the temperature is just so normal for me. But as the night goes up, "GOSHNESS" I felt very cold to the highest level. My knees were really shaking as we walked in the streets going to Nevada Square.
The entrance of Nevada Square
Picture-picture.
We went inside the FRIDAYS and had some beer to give us warm.
We went inside the FRIDAYS and had some beer to give us warm.
The day was full of talks and walks. Hehe! You can just go around the city proper by walking. Don't mind riding a jeepney within the city proper, establishments are just a walking distance away from each other.
Next is our second day itinerary. In this part, we availed a one day travel package at the Baguio Tourism office near Burnham Park. The rate was Php 350/person for a whole day tour (this does not include our lunch and snacks). The packages includes the following spots:
So Php 350/person is not bad at all for a your tour including van rental and guide. These spots are far away with each other. And it will cost you more money to spend with taxi and time for waiting.
Why didn't I mention the famous strawberry farm? We didn't bother to visit the farm because the locals told us that there are still no strawberries to pick or harvest during that time. Strawberries are planted as early as October so no harvest until December. First quarter of the year is the best time for strawberry picking in La Trinidad, Benguet. Anyway, you can still buy strawberries in the market especially in Mines View Park but it's a different experience though when you are the one who picks the strawberries in the farm.
Next is our second day itinerary. In this part, we availed a one day travel package at the Baguio Tourism office near Burnham Park. The rate was Php 350/person for a whole day tour (this does not include our lunch and snacks). The packages includes the following spots:
- Wright Park
- The Mansion
- Botanical Garden
- Mines View Park
- Camp John Hay
- Tam-awan Village (Garden in the Sky)
So Php 350/person is not bad at all for a your tour including van rental and guide. These spots are far away with each other. And it will cost you more money to spend with taxi and time for waiting.
Why didn't I mention the famous strawberry farm? We didn't bother to visit the farm because the locals told us that there are still no strawberries to pick or harvest during that time. Strawberries are planted as early as October so no harvest until December. First quarter of the year is the best time for strawberry picking in La Trinidad, Benguet. Anyway, you can still buy strawberries in the market especially in Mines View Park but it's a different experience though when you are the one who picks the strawberries in the farm.
We had our breakfast in Jollibee and while waiting for our van, we took a pose at the Burnham Park. Hehehe!
First stop - Wright Park
This is one of the scenic spots in Baguio. It highlights a long rectangular pool facing the gate of The Mansion. Sad thing I lost my own photo of the pool.
This is one of the scenic spots in Baguio. It highlights a long rectangular pool facing the gate of The Mansion. Sad thing I lost my own photo of the pool.
This is how the pool it looks.
Photo not mine.
Wright Park is also know for its center of horseback riding in Baguio.
A closer look to their horse ride rates
Horses in Wright Park. If you want to take a picture with the horse, you have to pay Php 10 each photo using your own camera.
Photo from my Instagram account @iamjunnette
Still in Wright Park. Straight from this point is a pathway to The Mansion.
GM, Jeff and Aye.
Guys for SALE. Hahaha!
The candid shot. Hahahaha!
Please don't do this at home. LOL!
Finally, we reached THE MANSION.
The Mansion is the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines which was built on 1908.
The Mansion is the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines which was built on 1908.
A closer look of The Mansion.
You can enter the gates of the mansion for picture purposes but you cannot go near on it.
Photo from my Instagram account @iamjunnette
You can enter the gates of the mansion for picture purposes but you cannot go near on it.
Photo from my Instagram account @iamjunnette
Second stop - Welcome to Baguio Botanical Garden
This garden is as big as the Burnham Park. A nice place to sit, stroll, relax and of course pictorial. Hehe! You can see and enjoy the beautiful landscape of different plants and flowers. At the entrance, you will see Igorots wearing on their native attires. You can take photos with them and they enjoy it a lot, of course with a fee. Hehehe! An extra income for the natives.
This garden is as big as the Burnham Park. A nice place to sit, stroll, relax and of course pictorial. Hehe! You can see and enjoy the beautiful landscape of different plants and flowers. At the entrance, you will see Igorots wearing on their native attires. You can take photos with them and they enjoy it a lot, of course with a fee. Hehehe! An extra income for the natives.
Just having fun with this Igorot structure. Hehe!
A structure inside the Botanical Garden.
A replica of the Golden Gate Bridge inside the Botanical Garden.
The entrance to the World War II Japanese Tunnel inside the Botanical Garden. This tunnel is longer than of the Japanese Tunnel in Davao City. There was no cave lights on the time we went here so it's kinda creepy. We challenged ourselves to walk inside the cave using the lights of our mobile phones only. I really thought we would not get through the exit because it was too long than I expected.
Inside the tunnel. The tunnel is very very dark if you have no flashlights or mobile phones as source of light. It's very cold inside and the wall tunnels are moisten with water. I don't know where the water comes from.
The " ME "
Btw, this is the pathway to the Japanese Tunnel.
There are structures of Japanese Buddha along the way.
Let's now proceed to the next stop.
Third stop - Baguio City' Mines View Park
This park is also a popular tourist spot in Baguio City where tourist can shop souvernirs, strawberry jams and strawberries. In this spot, you can view the abandoned mining area used by the early Igorot natives.
This park is also a popular tourist spot in Baguio City where tourist can shop souvernirs, strawberry jams and strawberries. In this spot, you can view the abandoned mining area used by the early Igorot natives.
This attracts me as I enter the entrance of the park. Soooooooooooo cute! DJ the St. Bernard dog. He is just so adorable. I was so much excited to hug him when I saw him. He is like a huge stuffed toy. Hehehe! Of course there's a fee if you want to have photos with him at Php 50/head. There are five of them I think but DJ is the biggest among them.
Another set of photos.
Photo from my Instagram account @iamjunnette
This is not the mining spot. It's on the other side. Hehehe! Got no photo on the mining area. Sarreh!
Next!!!!
Next!!!!
Fourth Stop - Camp John Hay
This is also one of the major attractions in Baguio City and most commonly visited for relaxation and recreation especially to the US Armed Forces in the Philippines including their employees and dependents.
This is also one of the major attractions in Baguio City and most commonly visited for relaxation and recreation especially to the US Armed Forces in the Philippines including their employees and dependents.
One of the recreation activities in Camp John Hay is GOLF.
The entrance of The MANOR Hotel. A five star hotel located in Camp John Hay.
We ate our snack in a restaurant in Camp John Hay. I forgot the name. Haha!
So epic fail. Sarreh!
Next!
So epic fail. Sarreh!
Next!
Fifth stop - Tam-awan Village (Garden in the Sky)
Tam-awan is a village with a lot of different Igorot huts in the mountains.
Tam-awan is a village with a lot of different Igorot huts in the mountains.
Old native house of the Igorots in Tam-awan village. See how small it is? This is smaller than the next photo.
You can go inside in the open native houses in Tam-awan Village. Just leave your shoes and slippers and climb on the wooden ladder. You will likely feel and experience how to live in one of these huts.
Base on my experience as I entered this hut, the little house is so cold that it tempts you to go to sleep. Haha! The height and space of the house is just so perfect for the size of the Igorot people. Same size as me. Hehehe!
You can climb through the pathways of this mountain village if you want to see more different kinds of Igorot huts. It was almost sunset when we reached the village so we never bothered to climb higher because we already ran out of time and we still have one tourist spot to visit.
Base on my experience as I entered this hut, the little house is so cold that it tempts you to go to sleep. Haha! The height and space of the house is just so perfect for the size of the Igorot people. Same size as me. Hehehe!
You can climb through the pathways of this mountain village if you want to see more different kinds of Igorot huts. It was almost sunset when we reached the village so we never bothered to climb higher because we already ran out of time and we still have one tourist spot to visit.
Lovely isn't it? Hehe! This was taken in the mountains of Tam-awan Village.
Credits to Sir Aye.
You can see a more beautiful view of Benguet province if you reach the highest peak of Tam-awan Village. If I will come back here, I will surely climb to the highest peak but of course during day time and with enough time.
Next!
Credits to Sir Aye.
You can see a more beautiful view of Benguet province if you reach the highest peak of Tam-awan Village. If I will come back here, I will surely climb to the highest peak but of course during day time and with enough time.
Next!
Finally! The last destination - Lourdes Grotto
This is a Catholic Shrine located in Mirador Hill and you have to climb for about
252-steps to reach the Grotto.
It's already past 6pm when we reached the spot. It was a perfect end of our adventure by praying and meditating at the top.
This is a Catholic Shrine located in Mirador Hill and you have to climb for about
252-steps to reach the Grotto.
It's already past 6pm when we reached the spot. It was a perfect end of our adventure by praying and meditating at the top.
After our prayer, it was a perfect time seeing the fireworks display in Grotto from Session Road Rotunda. It was December 1 and the major highlight of the day was the lighting of the giant Christmas tree in Baguio City.
So tiring but we enjoyed a lot. As we go down in the 252 steps from the Grotto, our tummies are starving. We were quiet inside the van thinking of what we should eat when we reach Burnham Park.
We thanked our guide (our van driver) for his nice companionship and of course, we gave him a reasonable tip for his kindness and being friendly to us.
We head our way towards to Solibao restaurant. The food was kinda expensive but it was delicious.
We thanked our guide (our van driver) for his nice companionship and of course, we gave him a reasonable tip for his kindness and being friendly to us.
We head our way towards to Solibao restaurant. The food was kinda expensive but it was delicious.
This is a big flat basket of different dish good for 4-5 persons. It has grilled squid, grilled pork belly, grilled fish, boiled egg, kinilaw na talong, slices of fresh tomatoes onions and green mango on it. We also had a soup as our starter.
It was already our last night in Baguio. After we ate our dinner, we came back to the pension house to pack up our things and took a rest because we will be travelling back to Manila by 4 am on the next day for our Enchanted Kingdom Adventure.
Hope you had fun reading my story. Next to this is our Enchanted Kingdom Adventure to be posted separately.
Hope you had fun reading my story. Next to this is our Enchanted Kingdom Adventure to be posted separately.
