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| Mines View Park, Baguio City. Philippines, April 6, 2018 |
Sometimes we feel that we are bored on things that are happening as usual the usual.
While some choose to stay doing the same over and over again...we are some of the few people who looked for ways on how to change this.
WHY BAGUIO?
Baguio is one family destination vacation that we wouldn't think twice having a visit.
This is because even at the time, I and my wife was still in a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship many years ago, we were visiting Baguio almost every year...and we have so many beautiful memories there.
Secondly, there are so many EXCITING places to go to, as well as pasalubong to buy for loved-ones and relatives.
And FINALLY, one great consideration is the COLD WEATHER...especially now that the SUMMER in the PHILIPPINES is OFFICIAL!
WHEN WAS THE PLAN TO VISIT BAGUIO BECAME OFFICIAL
We really had the plan to visit Baguio this year...in fact this was part of FAMILY'S BUCKET LIST.
The thing is I couldn't commit for I was waiting for a job call that could possibly come any day of this month. But since there are no NEWS yet, out of boredom...I told my wife to push for the plan.
There was actually a sudden decision on this.
I remember my INTERNET CONNECTION was BUFFERING at the 3rd of April and that I gave up BOOKING for a place to stay.
Since I couldn't book a hotel, our second option was to find a house that we can rent.
The following day, my wife told me that she has found a perfect place in BAGUIO for only P250 per head. The same day afternoon, I went to CUBAO and PURCHASED TICKETS.
Were supposedly getting a next day trip to Baguio but the only available time was at noon.
I'm thinking that it would be a waste of TIME if we will be arriving there at night.
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| Victory Liner, Cubao, April 5, 2018 |
Luckily, there was a trip on the following day but was scheduled 12:15 am, another scenario was the only two seats available was 13 and 25. Our plan was to seek a permission on seat number 14 to exchange seats with him or her. We tried doing this along with the help of a bus attendant but never worked out. Luckily there was two passengers who offered us their seats.
BAGUIO FINALLY!
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| Victory Liner, Baguio City. April 5, 2018 |
We came in around 4:10 am the same day, we rode on a special bus trip via TPLEX. Were supposed to be picked-up around 7:00 in the morning. But since we came-in too early, 3 hours EARLY to be exact we all just waited for the bus station until the morning unfolded.
We just decided to come out around 6 am but the house number was never given to us...only the street's name.
We sent a message to our contact in Baguio, we even called her but the phone was unattended.
Until we made a call again during our taxi ride...our contact's phone rang. The taxi driver was instructed by our contact where to drop us exactly, and FINALLY we were able to LOCATE it.
A COZY HOUSE IN BAGUIO
We have seen the photos before we booked for our Baguio trip. But we never knew that the house was BIG, just imagine that there was a HUGE SPACE for the KITCHEN, another space for the DINING area and much importantly there was so much space for the LIVING ROOM.
Well, not to mention that there's a SEPARATE ROOM where we can all rest.
No wonder, for this HOUSE was a HOME that was BUILT so many years ago.
We have so much adventure lined-up for our 2 days stay but were all tired, we slept for a few hours and started our journey to explore Baguio in the whole afternoon.
THE BURNHAM PARK
After a very powerful sleep, we all rode to the FAMOUS PARK in BAGUIO...THE BURNHAM PARK!
But we have a rumbling stomach so we look for a place to have our lunch. I don't know I just instructed the TAXI DRIVER to bring us in a RESTAURANT, we were dropped at THE SOLIBAO.
We chose to stay outside, after a few minutes I and my wife went inside to order but we were instructed by one restaurant staff to wait outside. Then came again another few minutes.
We have noticed that there were group of new customer's who came in just recently and that the waiter took their orders but never ours.
It was lunch when we came-in and we understand that there are customers who came ahead of us. But there was no single waiter approaches. By the look and feel, it goes without saying that we are UNWANTED customers...right then and there we left.
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| Jollibee, Burnham Park, Baguio City |
We FOUND a FAST FOOD CHAIN near the park, we are LEFT with a CHOICE but to DINE-IN there. Not because we never wanted to eat here anymore but because we wanted to have another experience by TRYING OUT a different restaurant.
The kids were very HUNGRY at the time, we never wanted to ruin our first day, but you know what even though in Manila we dine-in at JOLLIBEE most of the time, we were all SATISFIED and HAPPY EATING here. Because here we FELT that we are not FAR from our HOME, FAR from the TREATMENT...we got from THE SOLIBAO.
ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT
The park was very inviting you see plants with colorful flowers, it took us a while, took pictures, play run and laugh. But the man-made RIVER was very INVITING, the kids would have wanted to immediately go there. We paid P200 for the BOAT RIDE for half an hour paddle. But were told that we can extend longer if we want too.
If you think that PADDLING the boat was an easy thing to do...NO, DEFINITELY NOT.
Because first, we do not do this on a regular basis. It actually TOOK me a LITTLE WHILE to managed it.
At times, we were just in a middle, and sometimes here comes another boat BUMPING us.
But we ENJOYED it SO MUCH!
PARK BIKING
The whole family was surprise because there are now so much BIKES to choose from. Not unlike before very FEW. Now, if you want the WHOLE FAMILY in ONE BIKE ( as many as eight ), you now CAN!
If you want biking with your boyfriend or girlfriend...there's a DUAL bike for you.
If you want it SOLO there's a usual bicycle ride for you, or if you wanted to go for a CHANGE you can TRY their GO CARTS.
We have little break in between, water break and food that we can buy just around the area.
We are on our GREAT TIMING coming-in on WEEKDAY, at least visitors and tourists were very FEW and MANAGEABLE.
We paid for P150 for a FAMILY BIKE WE RENTED.
We never finished the entire hour rent, but they allowed us to replaced it with a GO CART, for my eldest Althea was really dying to have it a try.
The whole stretch of our afternoon were spent there, plus a few PICTURE TAKING at the park and a shopping at the UKAY-UKAY.
We had dinner at the SM baguio FOOD COURT and a SUPERMARKET visit back home.
It took us an HOUR to get home for there was a long queue for taxis.
AT THE LA TRINIDAD
We still have so many plans that wasn't fulfilled yet, and places that we wish to visit.
Our SECOND DAY began with our TOUR at the LA TRINIDAD for STRAWBERRY PICKING.
The kids were also EXCITED in this and also us. With our previous visit...we never really had the chance to pick strawberries, we just gone there for PICTURE TAKING purposes only.
But this time it was part of our BUCKET LIST...we will do this no matter how MUDDY the place.
Since, this was our VERY FIRST TIME, everything was a CLOUD NINE FEEL!
We never knew how much FUN we could get there.
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| La Trinidad, April 6, 2018 |
I even made a 1 minute video of our STRAWBERRY PICKING MOMENT.
From asking we've learned that STRAWBERRIES were PLANTED during month of OCTOBER and it was READY FOR PICKING after 6 MONTHS.
Well, our goal as family was to HARVEST 1 KILO of Strawberries. At the time it was priced P450 per kilo.
We had so much fun especially the kids. we even created a strategy to be away from each other so that we can get and pick only the BEST REDDISH STRAWBERRIES.
And because we had so much fun, we had reached 1 KILO plus instead of paying for P450 we exceeded to P500.
Not only planted strawberries you will find in the farm, There's also LETTUCE and BROCCOLI.
Imagine you'll get a 1 KILO of BROCCOLI for P40 only and the LETTUCE for P45, while each CUCUMBER were sold for P15 per piece.
See how AFFORDABLE that was...it's a make BELIEVE THING.
MINES VIEW PARK VISIT
From La Trinidad we proceeded all the way to MINES VIEW PARK
But before we officially began our family adventure again...we thought of having lunch first.
From walking, we found "GRANDMA'S KITCHEN", restaurant.
The extra-bonus that we got aside from a very SATISFYING lunch was a breath-taking mountain views covered with green plants.
What we had in mind for lunch was our FAVORITE SINIGANG NA BABOY!
It became so much interesting when it was served to us not on a usual BOWL but was placed at BLACK PALAYOK.
Hot and has so many pork meats along with veggies.
There was also a unique way of serving the rice they're were using wooden plates that has banana leafs. Their tables were made of steel while chairs were monoblocks.
Seeing all the elements present was a bit WEIRD...but BELIEVE ME this was ONE EFFECTIVE WAY of CALLING PEOPLE to DINE-IN!
Mines View Park was so different now compare to our previous visit where there was an on-going road constructions and developments. This gave tourists and visitors like us the easy access to walk and tour inside the park.
Along the walk-way both sides were a markets of BONSAI plants, many types and EVERLASTING FLOWERS too.
There was also sellers of corns and a lot more.
Pretty normal to see HORSES with a very STRIKING HAIR COLORS to attract tourists for PHOTOS and SOUVENIRS.
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| Mines View Park, Baguio City. |
This TIME with a TWIST, a PICTURE SOUVENIR for a CAUSE.
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| Mines View Park, Baguio City. Philippines, April 6, 2018 |
The COSTUME I was talking about could be worn for only P25, with complete ACCESSORIES like that of NECKLACES and HATS with FEATHERS.
AT THE GOOD SHEPHERD CONVENT
The only IDEA I have in mind about "GOOD SHEPHERD CONVENT", is that you will find it somewhere in Baguio, never knew that it was just 500 meters away from the Mines View Park..
Of course you wouldn't missed it or anyone who went to Baguio GETTING PASALUBONG for their loved-ones and relatives.
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| Good Shepherd Convent, Baguio City. |
We PRIORITIZED buying UBE and STRAWBERRY JAMS plus BRITTLE NUTS.
They've got so many PRODUCT VARIETIES you can choose from plus the fact that PORTIONS of MONEY you used to PURCHASED those products were helping them to FUND their projects.
We stayed for a moment for COFFEE and HOT CHOCOLATE breaks.
ONE obvious observation I have seen and I guess VISITORS would definitely agreed as well was that they have a cleaned restrooms, with many cubicles, liquid soap and a clean water too.
Here, you're not required to pay but you can give DONATIONS as TOKEN for using the RESTROOMS.
A WRIGHT PARK ADVENTURE
We do not paid a visit to Baguio for no reason, we are here because WE WANT TO HAVE MORE ACTION. And we meant what we said, especially our daughter Althea who wants to ride a horse just like a PRO.
It was actually her very first time, but she never felt or showed any NERVOUSNESS nor FEAR but more on EXCITEMENT through out her riding journey.
Each horses has PONY RIDER (a person who assist tourist on her journey riding the horse).
You an choose from an experience of HALF AN HOUR for P200, and an HOUR, double the Price.
At first, I have seen Althea with a common walk ride with her pony rider. But after a few minutes, at the latter part of her HORSEBACK RIDING course it became a little MORE FASTER.
I was actually there following Althea, SECURING her SAFETY.
But like the CURIOUS Althea, of course as the old saying goes..."LIKE DAUGHTER, LIKE FATHER", I and my youngest Mikayla would also wanted to give it a TRY.
And so WE DID!
It was too SHAKY for I was seated behind my daughter, but I need to REMAIN CALM during the ENTIRE RIDE for I was also looking at the WELFARE of my youngest.
But ONE GOD THING during the HORSE RIDE, try to KEEP a GOOD POSTURE, so that it won't HURT your back.
We MET John-john, a 16 year-old PONY RIDER, who's been working with the horses for more than 6 years.
Out of CURIOSITY, I asked how much he's earning...he said P150 a day.
But it could be higher depending on the flock of TOURISTS and VISITORS interested in renting the horse.
Our OVER-ALL experience riding with SHADOW (our horse name), was indeed an UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURE.
It was just a FEW MINUTES of a RIDE, but the MEMORY it gave us was a feel of a LIFETIME!
I also did a little shopping at the WRIGHT PARK. I have seen a very FAMILIAR toy that gave back my CHILDHOOD DAYS.
I got this "SUNGKAAN," for only P200.
We END our LOVELY NIGHT at the SESSION ROAD where the family had dinner with one RESTAURANT famous for Baguio natives as "VIZCOS".
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| Vizcos Restaurant, Baguio City, April 6, 2018 |
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| Vizcoz, Fettucine Carbonara |
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| Vizcos, Fish Fillet in Bercy Sauce |
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| Vizcos, Baby Back Ribs |
ON OUR HOME SWEET HOME IN BAGUIO
On our first day we have notice a fireplace that was situated between the dining area and the living room. We were all too EXCITED to light it up.
I made a special request to the HOUSE CARETAKER to provide us WOODS that we could use to light up the fireplace.
I thought IT WON'T be working when you LIGHT IT directly with MATCHE. But since it has a SPECIAL SOLUTION that was in it...it FLAMES easily.
The whole flame lasted for 15-20 MINUTES and it was a PERFECT TIMING for us to do that because that NIGHT the WEATHER was SO COLD.
Our second day activity was jam-packed, and this all gave us a DEEP SLEEP despite the CREEPY NOISE of a DOG BARKING outside the house. I even heard it also at the time I was having a bath. But just disregarded it.
ENJOYING OUR LAST DAY STAY IN BAGUIO
The following day, I enjoyed preparing for our breakfast. I had FUN cooking at the kitchen.
It was a again my first time to use a KNIFE to open a canned goods. Well, I had a little injury but very far from death.
Also on our second day, I was able to resolve problem I encountered with too hot water coming from the shower. I preferred to heat water instead.
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| The whole family going back to Manila |
"I THINK WE ALL HAVE ENJOYED OUR ADVENTURE MAYBE SHORT BUT EXCITING.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS WE HAVE AN OATH OF COMING BACK AGAIN...HOPEFULLY THIS DECEMBER".
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