Did you already know about my October plan? No? Well then, check this first before you rush on reading about Baguio: Philippine Odyssey
Planning and Smiling
One more month everybody, and I am there! The plan is to always update you via Twitter or Fb page on my whereabouts so you can ask any questions and view the photos of the places I am visiting. Right, Baguio City is going to be my FIRST Stop and I have researched a little bit about this place through Google, friends on Twitter and Facebook plus I have bought a map so I can clearly locate the tourist spots. Actually, it’s not just the popular spots that I want to visit as I always like to take the “roads less traveled”. LOLs! I can’t wait to be surprised because I know this trip is going to be great!
Good job Babe for this photo! :p
Oh, the 5 things? Ok..here they are:
1. Cafe by the Ruins
Just the name of it and I already want to go there…right now! (“,) @iam_urz on Twitter recommended this place because of its “Kamote bread”. I have a different agenda in mind- I know, somehow, that this northern part of Luzon is well-known for its heavenly delicious coffee and that’s number one on my bucket list. I might even frequent this place during my stay in the city. Maybe twice a day!
“Kamote” is the Filipino word for sweet potato.
2. Tam- Awan Village
Imagine the huts on top of the hills overlooking nature- trees, seas and birds- Ain’t it breathtaking? And that explains why in English, “tam-awan” means “vantage point”. Why is this place famous? Apart from its panoramic view, this place is the home of famous artists like BenCab creating cultural art works. Also, they have a hut called “the fertility hut” and this made me really curious. :p All these things to see for an entrance fee of just 50Php ($1.15). Ayay! I have this feeling I am going to spend a whole day taking pictures here.
3. Burnham Park
Well, this place doesn’t sound very Filipino but I’ve heard about this landmark since grade school . Anyway, this is located in the heart of Baguio City. Here you can see a lot of beautiful scenes- the tranquil lake, the dense pine trees and if you are into shopping, there’s a popular market near it. Maybe with a lot of people too. Aha! Good for “shooting” people! (“,) Well, I am more interested in how the locals dress up. Their clothes must be very different from those that you see in other parts of the Philippines.
4. Asin Hot Spring
Enjoy the natural thermal spring located at the outskirt of Baguio City. Only 30-minutes of jeepeny ride. They say soaking in it has therapeutic effects. Well,in fact, even when I am soaked in my tub, I can already feel all the positive effects the hot water brings. There are swimming pools around the spring just in case you want something cool with trees surrounding you while you relax. Another cheap pleasure, 100Php ($2.5) for a day of swimming.
5. La Trinidad
Just outside Baguio City is the capital town of Benguet province- La Trinidad. This is the place where they farm strawberries which I’ve heard they are selling them really cheaply or you can even pick some for yourself. Also, home to the Bell Church, which resembles the Chinese temple and Benguet Museum where aspiring photographers(like me) and PROs (who I will be) enjoy taking photos. It’s going to be a lovely walk, where I can just stop and pick strawberries when I feel tired or hungy. LOLs.
Right now, I don’t have photos to show you but next month, I will flood you with beautiful pictures from Baguio. Actually, I’m trying to ask photos from my fellow travel bloggers and I am waiting for their email. And if you really want to see these places right now, GOOGLE them right away!
I am still researching on some more places that interest me hopefully, I can share another 5. I only plan to stay for 3 or 4 days. But you know what? I can actually extend more days if the schedule allows it.
Thanks for reading! (“,) Oh..wait>>> Are you from Baguio? or Have you been to Baguio? What are the best places for you? I’d love to hear them. Don’t think twice on writing your suggestions or comments below.
Cheers!
Tj
ey, i would like to also suggest that you visit, Ben Cab Museum. They have nice pieces and a great view outside. =)
will do! where is it located? thanks! are you from there?
29 days is really not enough.. where are your to-bring lists? do you have everything na?
not everything…will do that soon! thanks for reminding me though…gosh! na nerbyos na me… i haven’t bought stuff pa.
nope. I’m not from Baguio, I was just there last February and Ben Cab Museum is one of the new places I’ve visited there (and the Tam-awan Village, which is already on your list). I can’t remember the exact location, just search it on the net, they have a website. =)
after Baguio, what’s ur next destination? Sagada-Banaue? =D
yes! Sagada! I actually started walking every evening to prepare myself physically (“,)
sagada and banaue are just 2 of my favorite places in luzon! =D so many food to taste, so many things to do, and so many beautiful spots to take photos! =D
i can suggest places again for ur sagada trip if u want =D hehehehe.
Shoot! (“,)
i keep hearing about Sagada.. how does one go there from Pampanga? what are the places to see? foods to enjoy?
i think from Pampanga go to Baguio and from there, there’s a jeep/bus going to Sagada. =D
Places to See
- Echo Valley
- Sumaging Cave (or one can do the cave connection [which I havent done yet])
- Bumud-ok Falls
- Sagada Church
Foods
- Yogurt from Yogurt House
- Lemon Pie, Egg Pie from Lemon Pie House
- Kape Alamid from Bana’s Coffee
- Fried Chicken from Masferre
so far yan lang naiisip ko. You can look for my Sagada Album in my multiply accnt. (robellejoyce.multiply.com) for some pics. Awwww u’re making me miss Sagada even more. Hahahahaha. Anyway, tma that you’re already ‘training’, cause there is hiking involve in goin to Bumud-ok and in Sumaging Cave you have to bring gloves to keep u from holding bats’ poop. =D
wow! i’ll keep these in mind! (“,) Where did u stay in Sagada?
nag start na ako mag walking…para pag dating jan…kaya na (“,)
balikan kita by weekend para sa name nung place na pinagstay-an namin. =D ndi ko maisip e. Hehehe. Yeah start walking/jogging na para warm up mo. =)
are u planning to go to Banaue dn ba?
Naeexcite ako for u. =) let me know na lng din if u need other suggestions pa ng mga places, baka (baka lang) i can help pa. =)
dami mo alam…(“,) thanks sa lahat nang info (“,)
hahahahahahaha.
churya a ung name nung pinagstay-an namin sa sagada. =D i have no idea magkano talaga ung extra na presyo hehehe. sorry.
gala din kasi ako, as in. san san pa ba ang balak mo punta? naiinggit na naeexcite ako for u. hihihi. alam mo bang vietnam ang last country na navisit ko. I was there last Sept last year. =D pero parang two days lang sa HCM. =D sayang ndi pa kita kilala nun. hahahaha. =D
anyway, un if u need help on places to go na baka narating ko na. =)
Yehey! Will update u re my travels dyan sa atin. Where u at? Next time pagbalik u here HCMC mag email ka (“,) hehe! Hope to see u next month.
Bencab museum is a great place to visit. There is a P100.00 for entrance fee but it houses great Cordilleran artifacts and contemporary paintings of Benedicto Cabrera (BenCab). It is located at Asin, Benguet. A sidetrip you can have located before the Asin Hot Spring Resort (which is in your list). You can also visit SAGADA and Banaue. We enjoyed our trip in Sagada so much. The accommodation is very cheap but the guide fees and food ar a bit expensive. We stayed at GEORGE GUEST HOUSE. P200.00 per night per pax.
I wish the best trip you can have here in the Philippines. (^_^)
Hi Iko! Wow! Thanks for loading me with great info. Do you know if George Guest house have a website or email? Also, how do I get to BenCab from Baguio City? Is there a bus or a jeepney?
Here’s the official website of george guest house: http://sagadageorgeinn.bravehost.com/
By the way, we stayed at the extension which is nearer to the caves but farther in the shops.
There is a jeepney going to Bencab Museum. All jeepney going to Asin Hot Spring resort are going to pass by the Bencab Museum. The terminal is located in Kayang St.You can send me your emaild add and I will send a google map with the mark of the terminal lot. It is just across City Hall loop. On the other side of Quirino Highway. I hope I said it well.
got it! thanks a lot!
Ben Cab museum is really something out of the ordinary, the scenic grounds are stunning & of course the art is well worth the time looking around. We do keep going back as the artworks do change. The beautiful location and the superb cafe/resto is also high on our list of where to eat in Baguio. The journey from baguio also takes in the Ifugao wood carvers village and Asin hot springs, (Riverview is our favorite) There is also a hot springs at Itogon, this is just past the PMA, naturally you will need swimming gear. This is really more “natural” than the Asin hot springs, take a look in the cave where the hot water emanates from…careful, it really is HOT!
Sagada, what ever you do, make sure you go to Sagada, accommodation is cheap and plentiful. You can take a bus from Baguio.. approx 300php return. Once in Sagada, you can easily walk around the town and check the great variety of food they have there…amazingly even a French Restaurant! There is quite a bit of walking to be done on any tour of Sagada, which will build your appetite. The road going to Sagada is mostly all very good now & the scenes of vegetables growing on impossibly steep hills is wonderful. Look out for the cable zip lines that the locals use going across deep ravines. We were very impressed with the woman sitting on the open cable car, baby on her breast, groceries in the other hand, calmly traversing at least a 300 foot ravine… yikes.
make sure you register with the tourist council when you first arrive in Sagada, they are very helpful and will recommend guides and local transport for you. Of course when you visit Baguio, do make it a point to stay in our beautiful transient house, baguiotransient.com
best wishes to all travellers.