Baguio: Day 2

I'm usually a heavy sleeper in the comfort of my own bed, but not when I'm not at home. So, I woke up at around 2 in the morning, and just watched tv. Since I was informed that I can order hot water anytime, I just went to the lobby by 4 in the morning asked for coffee and seated by the Patio. I just drank my coffee, eat the sandwich I wasn't able to finish, checked emails and admired the view infront of me.

By almost 6 am, the sun has already risen so I went back to my room, showered and prepared for the day ahead. I went to the restaurant for my free breakfast. 

My breakfast :) Longsilog, with a side of papaya and brewed coffee.

After eating breakfast, I went to Mines View Park which is just walking distance from the hotel. I have to be honest though, I wasn't impressed with the park. All I saw was the two st. bernards dog which you can take a picture with for 50 bucks (not the friendliest owner, for such cute dogs), a couple of white horses with pink hair, which I think is for picture taking as well, lots and lots of souvenir shops, and the space where you can admire the view.The view deck is not a spacious area. You can't really do much on the park aside from taking pictures and pay for pictures taken with the horses or the dog. I just bought a sando for my nephew and went the Good Shepherd which is just 8-10 minute walks away.

Mines View Park's view deck

Panoramic View

I highly recommend that if you are already in Mines View Park, buy your ube jams directly at the Good Shepherd. It is much cheaper, and more fresh. I bought the ube jams for Php200. If you buy them from the souvenir shops on the park, market or near the bus area, it is around Php 250 - 280. There is also a jeep back to the city or near Burnham Park for Php10 only.

Wright Park, view from the taxi

Wright Park

Upon arrival back on the hotel, I just rest for a little then packed my bags and went to my next destination which is my second hotel. I checked in at Hotel 45 Extension, which is just near SM Baguio.

My room at Hotel 45 extension

Upon checking in, I decided to get a late lunch at BonChon in SM Baguio (I know, I know haha). After that, I started becoming touristy and first checked the Bagui Cathedral which is just a couple of minutes away the hotel.

I don't know about you, but I also don't know about me.. haha. Because somehow, I really don't know what to do next. I smelled Vigan longganisa (not sure if it was Vigan, but it definitely has too many garlic on it) and I really want to try some. But my feet led me to a staircase where some people are passing by. And surprisingly, it led me to Session Road. I don't have any business or plans to do something on session road so I just walked and walked I found myself at Burnham Park.

Burnham Park

Since it is already getting dark, there's not too much to see on the park. Please don't expect me to hop on a boat alone, or ride a bicycle. I would definitely do it, only if I have someone with, but I don't. so.. I just walked around the park, and ang daming momol.

I was thinking of eating at Chaya because I was craving for Japanese food, but google map messed with me haha. And so I find myself walking towards Cafe by the Ruins.

Ruins' Fillet Mignon :D

After eating my dinner, I headed back to Harrison Road to see if the night market has already begun. Sadly, it hasn't and I was too tired and had no place to wait for it to start so I went back to the Hotel, got myself a hot shower, watched tv and slept the night away. 

My nightcap :)

Day 3 of my Baguio Trip is on the next blog. :) -iana

Baguio: Day 1

I was not expecting to travel or go out of town alone, but chances made me to do so. I chose Baguio because I knew the place was great, I knew they speak Tagalog which will not be a problem for me specially I'm alone and its a cold place. I only have a week to prepare and look for hotel or a place to stay, and unluckily for me, I wasn't prepared by means of money.

Going up to Baguio is a just a one bus trip away, the question is what bus liner to choose. I was eyeing on Victory liner, their deluxe trip since I have never tried it, however their trip schedule is not flexible for me. "Daily trips from Pasay to Baguio first class bus:01:15am,06:15am,11:15am,01:15pm and 11:45pm." - from Victory Liner FB. Btw, fare is Php750. Also, they don't have online booking which could have been easier. So, I opt for Joy Bus, which I have already tried when I went to Baler last year.

I didn't reserve my seats for JoyBus since I'll be leaving on a monday, and somehow knew that I can still get seats from the place itself (so much for liking online booking haha). So I went to Joy Bus at around 3:30 am, and luckily, there were still 5 seats available for the bus leaving at 4am. My seat was in 8b, and I have to be seated with another person (no biggie, kasi tulog si kuya the whole time). Our bus left at exactly 4:06 am from Cubao and arrived at 8:05 am (that's 2 hours and a minute earlier than the expected arrival time). But anyways, to follow na lang review ko for JoyBus.

First view. At University of the Cordilleras. BLUE SKIES!!!

First destination, Danes Bakeshop. I found it as one of the places to go to Baguio from another website. They said you can come in the place if you're too early to check in from your Hotel (usual check in is at 2:00 pm). And so I walked, following Google map's direction, with my luggage on my right hand and a tote bag on my left shoulder. I was kind of disappointed with the place, yes they serve hot pandesal, I think all bread are freshly baked but there was no good coffee. While I was lining up for the breads, I was looking for a table to seat, there were hardly any, and a big sign to be careful of pick-pockets and bag slashers. Okay. first time in the city (actually second, my first time was when I was still 2 or 3 years old, and the only thing I remembered is playing in a play house - but it is a big shoes in my memory -huh?? haha), and first time to travel alone, so be kind to me if medyo na shock ako sa warning na yun. I got two breads, Php25 each and when I asked the cashier if they have coffee, she said they have 3in1. Don't get me wrong, pero I was just really expecting something more authentic than a 3in1 coffee. BUT the bread I bought was gooooood! I can't remember what it's called but it taste and looks like the pizza bread from Breadtalk. When I come back to Baguio, I'll go back to Danes for this bread. 

Bread from Danes

My unique breakfast. Beef Tapa with coffee

So... Jolibee it is for breakfast. Haha. I then called the place where I'll check in and asked If I can bring my luggage and they said I could. They told me they'll check first if I can already check in earlier but got no confirmation. So I hailed a cab.. I mean I went to the jeepney line and got in the Hotel.

Very luckily for me, I can check in already with NO extra charges. I checked in at around 10 in the morning. Hotel: Mines View Park Hotel (Please wait for another post for my thoughts 

on the Hotel). The room I got is just the price I payed for. :)

I sleep first, because I barely slept on the bus. When I woke up, I ate the bread I got from Danes then showered. I left the Hotel at around 2 pm and went to SM Baguio to get some cash and decided where to go. I finally decided to go to BenCab Museum. I hailed a cab, for real this time, and hired the driver. On most website (I did some research),  they highly advise that if you are travelling without a car, you need to hire the taxi driver because there are barely no jeeps or taxi available. We had a fixed Php250 per hour agreement, BUT, as in BUT, the museum is CLOSE ON MONDAYS (so much for the research I did hahaha). Hindi ako sure kung di talaga alam nung driver na close sya or.. I don't know. But I end going to Lourdes Grotto instead. We arrived at the grotto exactly 1 hour, so pwede na din.

Closed on Mondays :(

My view back to the city.

Then Lourdes Grotto, they said count the steps, but there's no way I can do it. I need to catch my breath atleast every 5 minutes. And men, I made sure I will start walking long walks again after that, which I do now. So back to the grotto, I think I had the perfect timing going there since it was peaceful at that time (I was up there at almost 5pm). I really had time to pray, reflect a little, and just admire Baguio from where I was. 

Lourdes Grotto

After .... steps :D

Going back to the city was no hassle since there is a jeepney going back. Side note: there was a school that the jeep stopped to get passengers and the students were so sosyal. As in some of them were english spokening, with bakal on their teeths and iphones on their hand. (Not judging, just describing, plus it reminded be of myself back when I was in highschool where there was nonstop chika on jeepney rides :D )

Unfortunately, I was not prepared, nor do I know the route of the jeep. I just knew I was near Burnham Park and the local market. Google map again. And, yes, naligaw ako. But I was able to see the place, I was able to walk inside Baguio Market, it was clean, and their foot bridge even has a police officer in charge! Good Job! And after long walks, streets that I don't know where they are heading, and even a building people are passing by which I also don't know where it's heading, I finally found the jeepney stand and went back to the Hotel.

I bought a few snacks from the sari-sari store just across the hotel before heading my room. I washed up, and got dinner at the Hotel's restaurant. After eating, I changed into my pajamas, watched tv and slept the night away.

Carbonara and BLT sandwich

Please wait for Day 2 of my Baguio trip. And on my Day 3, I'll share my highly suggested tips when in Baguio. :)