Baguio City: Again and Again

Since Sept 1^st is a US Holiday and I can’t just stay at home doing nothing I tried to convince my friends to go somewhere we can relax. We agreed for Baguio City. At first the plan was to use a personal car but end up commuting due to one android application says there’s a storm in Baguio. (crazy app...)

There are several bus terminals in Cubao that offers hourly trip to Baguio City. We choose Victory Liner since we are already comfortable with their service. (Fare: Php 450)

August 30, 2014 (Saturday)

10:30PM 

Departure from Cubao (travel time is 5-6 hours)

August 31, 2014 (Sunday)

04:30AM

Arrived at Baguio City. We stand by at 7eleven store in front of the terminal to grab a coffee and snacks while I plan for our itinerary and because it is still dark.

06:00-07:00AM

We attended mass at Baguio Cathedral. It's been always a good start to pray, thank and ask guidance from above. 

Baguio Cathedral by morning

07:00-09:00AM

We had breakfast at Café by the Ruins. The food was good but not exceptional. It is quite pricey but the ambiance was very nice. It’s a breakfast-in-the-garden style.

Cafe by the Ruins exterior.

Sagada Rice from Cafe by the Ruins.

The very artistic Menu of Cafe by the Ruins.

09:00-10:30AM

Since we don’t have reservation we inquired to different hotels/lodging nearby. And thanks for Agoda.com for being very informative. We selected Holiday Park Hotel, just a walking distance from Burnham Park and Café by the Ruins. What was amazing is that they have UNLIMITED BREWED COFFEE which really captures my attention. The room is spacious and very homey. They also offer promos with complimentary breakfast.

Holiday Park Hotel: Deluxe Double Room for Php 1,500/night

11:00-01:00PM

We took a cab to BenCab Museum. There was a road construction on-going that time so our travel time is approximately 20-30mins.

BenCab Museum exterior design.

The BenCab Museum is a project of the BenCab Art Foundation, a non-stock organization that supports activities related to the arts and environment.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Tuesdays to Sundays 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
(last entry at 5:30 pm). Closed on Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Admission to the Museum:

General: PHP 100.00
Students and senior citizens with valid ID: PHP 80.00
Special rates for student groups with prior arrangement.

TRANSPORTATION ACCESS

Car: 15-minute drive from Baguio City center.
Public transport: Jeep to Asin from jeepney terminal near Baguio market.

Source: http://www.bencabmuseum.org/ 

Bencab Museum Guide. Entrance Fee is 100 Php.

Collection of Anito in the wall from ground to second floor.

The pair that captures my attention.

Outside view from the deck of Bencab Museum. This is open for guests.

Going back to the town proper from Bencab Museum is not easy, cab seldom pass through the street so we need to walk for about 5mins to the jeep terminal going to Burnham Park. We waited in the jeep for 15mins and it was so hot and we are both hungry.

01:00-2:00PM

From Burnham Park, we took a cab to 50’s Diner. The first branch was full and there is a long queue outside good thing our taxi driver suggested the other branch. Luckily, it was also full but there’s no long queue. The waitress asked our order in advance for them to prepare the food. After 5-10mins of waiting we had our space and the food was served just in time. 

Just half of the Menu

50's Diner's Shrimp and Fries with Strawberry Milkshake

Saw a customer ordered this and we just copied. The presentation is as good as its taste.

50's Diner exterior.

02:30PM

Back to hotel and sleep.

08:00PM

Woke up and prepare to go outside for dinner. We walked to Burnham Park and saw an “Ukay-Ukay” and checked what’s there for us. The whole street was almost covered by the sellers. There are lots of items like Bags, jackets, shirts, bed sheets, shoes, etc. in a very low price. Though we are not in the mood to buy, we only bought bracelets for less than 100Php.

Ukay Ukay near Burnham Park

09:30-11:00PM

As planned, we had Pizza and Pasta for dinner. We ate at Pizza Volante along Session Road. I saw good reviews in the net and suggested it to my friends. 

It has 2 floors and the interior is kinda old but still good. Be ready to wait for couple of minutes because the restaurant is usually crowded.

We ordered Seafood Pasta, Four-Cheese Pizza and Sardines Pizza. They are all tasted good specially the Seafood Pasta.(if only we can order another plate)

Counter at the first floor of  Pizza Volante

The exterior signage of Pizza Volante Restaurant.

Dinner: Seafood Pasta, Four-Cheese Pizza and Sardines Pizza.

11:30PM

Back to the hotel and sleep… again. 

September 01, 2014 (Monday)

06:30AM

This is our last day in Baguio so we woke up early. We had complimentary breakfast.

07:30AM

Took a Jeep to Camp John Hay (my first time there). We strolled and just enjoyed the forks-like-sceneries. (we have a twilight fan here...)

They also have has Tree Top Adventure that was featured in different TV shows. BPO Offices and american food chains also branched out there.

Camp John Hay

08:30AM

Next in the list is Mines View Park. I visited the place for three times already and it was very different from my last visit. Construction is on-going; they placed a smooth-path from the road to the viewing deck. The view didn’t change of course, it was still lovely and overwhelming.

Mines View Park

The viewing deck of Mines View Park.

Outside Mines View Park there are lots of stores that sell pasalubong in a cheap price. They have Peanut Brittle, Lenggua de gato, chocolate flakes, cringkles in three flavors and souvenirs. We bought a lot for family and friends for a reasonable amount.

09:00AM

Then we walked to Good Shepherd to buy their famous Ube Jam. They sell limited number per customer and that time big jars are out of stock.

10:30-11:00AM

Back to Hotel and pack our things. We had lunch at the restaurant in the center of Burnham Park so we can just sleep and relax in the bus.

Me at the counter of Holiday Park Hotel.

11:30AM

Departure from Baguio City to Manila.

It was an overall great travel. Every time I visit the City of Pines with new places to visit and food to try it always excites me. What I also like there is the honesty of the taxi drivers by giving you the exact change as well as the flat rate is at 35 pesos only. The weather and the surroundings are still awesome and very relaxing. I will surely visit this city again and again.

Join Me

I attempted several times creating and managing a blog. I think it is more than three times pushing me writing from scratch, selecting what free blog site and hardest was what name to use. But still I always fail. It is maybe I am not giving enough time for it or because I am afraid I am not ready yet. I may be not confident on how to put things into writing or what style should i use. What I only want is… I want to make it unique. I want it to be different. But it is difficult.

I don’t want to surrender this time. I will again attempt to write and to share.
My purpose is just to share my stories – travel adventures, food trips, life’s challenges, crazy and happy thoughts, random celebrations and simply how i value living and love life.

To start with let me share you quotes that in some point changed my view about life.

“You only live once, but if you do it right, Once is enough”, Mae West

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: IT GOES ON”, Robert Frost

“Life isn’t about finding yourself, Life is about creating yourself”, George Bernard Shaw

So let us keep it moving. Please bear with my style, sentence construction and grammar errors because I don’t have extensive writing training…just making excuses :D

Join me. Let us explore life together.