For years I've been curious of what lies in the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Some say it has some spooky history. Some claim that it is the entrance to the Cordilleras. But majority would say that it has changed. It has become a tourist destination. The richness of the culture and the serenity of the pine trees have been disturbed for quite some time now. Me and Kenny decided to do a stop over at Baguio from Sagada. Embarked the (first trip) 5am bus, I continued my slumber while Kenny was nauseated (and vomited). Roughly 4 hours after, we passed by La Trinidad's Strawberry Farm. I seriously thought it would be a vast field, but it wasn't, as much as I want to stop and check the farm out, it would cost us our stay in Baguio. So an hour after, we arrived at Baguio's bus terminal. It is somewhere the city center, yeah, I'm not quite familiar and my network's not working so we had to ask where SM is from the locals. They said it would be near, so we walked. Passed by Baguio Plaza and Session Road, and a whole lot more. We dropped our backpacks at the SM package counter and went to Victory Liner Terminal to get advanced tickets. Rode a taxi to Good Taste Restaurant (one of the most affordable in town I guess) then Botanical Garden and Burnham Park. We seriously wanted to try their Strawberry Taho but we were so full that we just let it all pass. Walked to to their City Market, saw a lot of street foods, I swear I wanted to try each but my tummy isn't expanding anymore. So we took a jeepney to Dominican Hill and went to the Miracle Grotto of Our Lady Lourdes. Since we heard that the Diplomat Hotel is somewhere near, we asked for directions, Kenny was confused with the road that we got lost, he thought that an old house with full of dogs was the hotel, so we backed out and asked somebody of the directions. I didn't imagine than would be more than 2-kilometer walk. Good thing that it was in the mountains, it was 2pm and I can see fog. And I'm happy again. As we got nearer the Diplomat Hotel, I didn't feel any spookiness, I am just amazed by the structure and the fact that the same Thomasian Architect/Priest built this like in UST. Kenny was more afraid of the Pope's face in the entrance. We tried to talk to the caretaker but she didn't answer, yeah, imaginations kept falling in, we asked again and she gave us directions on how to get to the rooftop. The hotel is more of a typical Spanish-styled building with fountains, rooms and a vast rooftop. There is a slight possibility that a person might get lost in their labyrinth-like rooms in the second or third floor. As we enjoyed the view on the rooftop, Allan called, telling us that he was in the hotel already. We saw him and yes, he thinks it was creepy, but we told him to go up. After the three of us enjoyed the view, he exclaimed that he saw something creepy, a picture of a headless nun, we didn't see it which gave him the creeps. So we went down and he directed us to a cardboard structure of a nun. We just laughed at it. We decided to go Chocolate de Batirol for merienda at Camp John Hay by taxi, had their infamous hot chocolate, bibingka and turon with langka, it was a mouthful and their interior gave so much organic vibes with plants, lights and wooden furniture. Allan will take the 7pm trip and it was already 5pm, so we decided to go the Ketchup Food Community for dinner (yeah, I was still full but in my mind, it's my first time here!) by walking using his app to which I forgot. So we arrived at KFC at nearly 6pm and decided to eat at Canto. Had their Backribs and Salad. Another sumptuous experience and a tummy-filled ending for us. He (Allan) went first to the terminal while we walked to the jeepney terminal then went back to SM to get our backpacks. Kenny decided to stay in the terminal to wait for the bus at 1030pm. To my mind, TWO HOURS of waiting? Nah. I went out to buy some pasalubongs and checked their night market and by 10PM, went to the terminal. I didn't have the time to shop but I bought what I needed. At 330am, we arrived at the Pasay Bus Station and went to our hotel near Roxas Boulevard. 112414 3AM We woke Allan up so that he can fix his things and to be with us (if ever) to Baguio. I slept again 415AM I woke up again. Freshened up and checked out (Paid P800/room for the second night) 5AM Hopped On the Bus to Baguio (P290) 10AM Baguio bound. Walked to Session Road to SM Baguio and left backpacks. Bought advanced tickets to Victory Liner for Manila (P460) 1130AM Rode taxi to Good Taste for Brunch (P170 each). 1PM Walk to Burnham Park (Souvenirs P100) and Marketplace in search for jeepney to Dominican Hill to Grotto (P9) 2PM Lourdes of Grotto. Bought Candles for prayer (P30). Walked to Diplomat Hotel. 4PM Allan arrived at Diplomat Hotel and we went to Camp John Hay together to Chocolate de Batirol by taxi (P40 each). Ate Hot Chocolate + Bibingka + Turon (P120) 530PM Walked to Ketchup Food Community and chose Canto for dinner (P200) 7PM Allan went first since he must get catch the bus early for Manila. Kenny and I just stayed for a while, walked around the area and went back to SM to get the bags and headed to the terminal. Kenny opted to rest but I had to buy something for souvenirs and I had to see their night market. (P900) 10PM went back to Victory Terminal from Night Market at Burnham Park by taxi (P60) 1030PM Bus left for Manila. 4AM Arrival at Manila and went straight to the guesthouse (P60 each)
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AuthorI go for the name GK since it is short for Gloria Katherine. A nurse by profession but a traveler at heart. I hope you'll find my blog interesting and noteworthy. ArchivesCategories |