March 27, 2008

A guide: Baguio Itinerary

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A friend wrote me, asking for travel tips for baguio:

Hello Edwin,

My parents are visiting next month and we are planning a 3D/2N trip to Baguio.  We are looking for places to stay, preferably yung mga house for rent since there will be 6 of us.  In case may alam ka na reasonably priced, please inform us.  Tsaka proposed itinerary na rin, hehe.   Ang dami kse ng parks and we want to narrow it down to the must-sees.  Thanks! 

Here’s my off-the-top-of-my-head recommendation. Hope this works for you!
Basics:
City Center:
Off-center (1-3 kms out)
  • Lourdes Grotto - A classic. See your grandparent’s old “ekskarsyon” photos in Baguio and you’ll see the Lourdes Grotto. Drive up the hill, say a prayer at the grotto, then walk down and count the hundreds of steps. (btw, it’s a ten minute drive to Tam-Awan Village)
  • Cafe by the Ruins - quaint cafe across the Baguio City Hall
  • O Mai Khan - mongolian barbecue, mix your own dinner; Sizzling plate - steaks, sizzling dishes
Mines View Area:
  • Mines View - the classic “view”, lots of photo opportunities with the view, the horses, the manangs/manongs, the dressed up flower booths. Souvenir shopping galore.
  • Good Shepherd - buy some of the most sought-after ube jam and other food products
  • The Mansion - Official Presidential Residence in Baguio; Photo ops only, no sleeping over.
  • Wright Park - Horse Back-riding
  • Botanical Garden - pose with the manongs/manangs, see the flowers abloom (sometimes)
  • Pink Sisters - Quaint church; Get their delicious angel wing cookies, guess what they’re made of. Catch the Pink Sisters singing their prayers.
Intermediate:
The Posh Greens of Baguio:
  • John Hay - picnic grounds, food stalls, paintball, zipline, rapelling, skating, biking, hiking, butterfly farm. Visit the Manor, if only to see the garden beyond the hotel lobby.
  • PMA - For a good chance of seeing cadets marching in formation, go there by 11am before the cadets march to their mess hall for lunch. Photos with military relics, photos with the cadets, a visitor’s center.
Artist’s hub:
Advanced (a full-day!):
  • Strawberry Farms of La Trinidad — take a 30-45 minute ride to La Trinidad, go to the strawberry farms, pick strawberries for a fee. Try the strawberry wine
  • Narda’s  – a world-renowned exporter of woven textiles, their main branch is in Trinidad; (They have a branch near Victory Liner Bus station at the city center).
  • Bell Tower - Buddhist temple, manicured garden, fountain. So zen.
  • Easter School weaving - traditional cordilleran weaving. go straight to their weaving showroom where there are more than a dozen weavers at work. Chat with them, see how ingenious (and meticulous) weaving is! Once you’ve seen how they weave, THEN you come back up to see the end products — you’ll appreciate the end products more.
  • (Tam-awan village is ten-minutes from Easter School by taxi or private vehicle)
Night life:
  • Session road - various folk/R&B live music and bars, Videoke; Jazz bar between Session and UB; Various bars at La Azotea, maybe even a concert at Vocas.
  • Legarda - Kaffe klatch for great acoustic music! Gilligans, 18BC and other bars
  • Nevada Square - clubbing, rockers, lounging, alcohol
Tips on using the above destination ideas:
a.) For first timers, cover the basics first.
Morning: Tour the Mines view area.
Afternoon, go around the city center. End with coffee or dinner at Ruins, O Mai Khan, Session  or nearby restos
b.) For second timers or for the second day of a first timer, Visit the Posh Greens.
Start in the morning with PMA which is farther from the city. Ordinary lunch at the cafeteria (or make your way back to John Hay for lunch).
Afternoon, come back towards the city to John Hay (30 mins drive between PMA-John Hay). Spend the afternoon in John Hay, have some light snacks or coffee at the commissary or the filling station.
c.) Third day:
Do the Advanced itinerary (Start with farthest = strawberry farm) + the artist’s hub.
From Artist’s hub, you could proceed to Lourdes Grotto + Off-center (Cafe by the Ruins) to wind down the afternoon.
Notes:
  • This itinerary is light for a small group who’ll just go for picture taking without the activities.
  • It’s a packed itinerary for a big group (a big group is slower going through the itinerary) or a group that will do the many activities available.
  • Mix and match according to available time or preferred activities.
  • The destination groups are within the same vicinity or route.
  • Except for the city-center destination group, the destinations are arranged from farthest from city center going back towards the city center.

Transportation:

  • Don’t bother driving around and wasting time searching for parking. Park then walk the city center, all within a 1.5km radius. If tired, get a taxi, city center is all within Php40 (de-metro).
  • Off-center and MinesView area can be managed by taxi hired from point-to-point.
  • Best to take private vehicle or day-hired-taxi for Posh Greens and Advanced. Commuting will add 15-45 mins each time you have to wait for a jeep/taxi.
Accommodations:
  • Hotels: http://biyahe.edongskey.com/baguio/directory-of-hotels-in-baguio/
  • Book ahead, you don’t want to worry about accommodations. (sorry, I don’t have referrals in this department).
  • If getting a transient house, ask how long it takes to drive to session road. If it’s more than 15 minutes, you’re far outside the city center.
Last tip: Lighten up! You’re with family and/or friends. Enjoy the travel time!
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February 6, 2008

Directory of Hotels in Baguio

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Here’s a list of hotels in Baguio.

Rajah Soliman Hotel
#44 Bokawkan Road Baguio City
4427574 / 4427499
4442636

Hotel Supreme Hotel
#113 Magsaysay Ave. 2600 Baguio City
4432011 to 18, 4424499
4422855
hotelsupreme@skyinet.net
http://www.asia-hotels.com/hotel/supreme_hotel.htm

Baguio Palace Hotel
Legarda Road, Baguio City
4427734 / 4435716 / 4438594 to 97
4436622

Belfrant Hotel
Gen. Luna Road Baguio City
4425012
4424298

Hotel Elizabeth
#1 J. Felipe St., cor. Gibraltar Rd., Baguio City
6190367 / (02) 9122691
reservations@fersalhotel.cjb.net
www.hotelelizabeth.com.ph

Skyrise Hotel
#18 Dominican Road, Baguio City
4456977 / 4456834 to 36
4433897

Prince Plaza Hotel
# 17 Legarda Road Baguio City
4425082
4425093

El Cielito Inn Baguio
504 North Drive Baguio City
4434846 / 4435272
4432134
www.elcielitoinn.com

Princess Apartelle
#227 Ferguson Road Baguio City
4427261 / 4427509

Baguio Country Club
Country Club Road
6192050 to 64
4427674

Baguio Vista Inn
#18 MH del Pilar
4435208 / 4470221

Baguio Village Inn
355 Magsaysay Ave
4423901 / 4453626

Citylight Hotel
#245 Upper Gen. Luna Road Baguio City
4447544 to 47
4447422 / 2463513

Microtel Inn & Suites
2/F Phinma Bldg., 166 Salcedo St, Legaspi Village Mkt City
6193333 / 09275164129
6193344
microtelbgo@viacomm.com.ph
www.microtelphilippines.com

Elegant Hotel
#421 Magsaysay Ave. Baguio City
4443369 to 70
3005424
elegant@skyinet.net
http://www.skyinet.net/~elegant

Golden Pine Hotel
intersection of legarda and carino roads
4449965 to 72
4449965 to 72
goldenst@skyinet.net / goldenpinehotel@skyinet.net

Inn Rocio
#68 Kisad Road Baguio City
4424028
4426535

Hotel Veniz
#1 Abanao St., Baguio City
4460700 to 03 / 09175060701
4460704
hotelveniz@skyinet.net
www.hotelveniz.com

Starwood Hotel
Kisad Road cor Marcos Hway, Along BGH Rotonda, Baguio City
4465830 to 33
4465833

Hotel Constancia
Upper military Cut-off Road Baguio City
9175070338
4448202
hotelconstancia@viacomm.com.ph

Charles’ Inn
#22 Session Road Extension Baguio City
4466714

Baguio Vista Inn
#18 MH Del Pilar Baguio City
4435208 / 4420221

Hotel 45
Bagong Bayan St, Mrgy Salud Mitra (near SM Baguio)
4466306 / 3042963

Villa Princess Theresa Inn
#221 Session Road Extension Baguioi City
4426946 / 4460639
4427368
teresitasantiques@yahoo.com

La Brea Inn
#24 Session Rd, Baguio City
4466061 / 09164098616
4466062
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/la_brea_inn/

Tulip Apartelle
#47 Legarda Road Baguio City
4461297 / 4466746

Burnham Hotel
#21 Calderon St. Baguio City
4422331
4428415

Villa la Maja hotel
Outlook Drive Baguio City
4427239

Baguio Condotel
#19 Harrison Road Baguio City
4424587 / 4428047
4428046

Calalily Pension House & Apartments
24 Sandico Road Baguio City
4442841

Gracious Angeli Travel & Tours Hotel
25 Abanao St. Baguio City
4425078 / 4422746
3044922
graciousangeli@yahoo.com

Ever Lodge
Marcos Hway Baguio City
4465361

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December 17, 2007

Bolinao Resorts Directory

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Looking for Beach Resorts in Pangasinan, Philippines? Try Bolinao which is around an hour away from Hundred Islands, Alaminos.

Here’s a quick reference of Bolinao Resorts. Island resorts they aren’t but many of them are beach resorts.

This list is for information only. It’s not my fault if you have a terrible time, but if you have a great time, I sure am glad that you found the resort via this list :-) .

have fun!

ka edong

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July 10, 2007

Why Wowowee is HUGE in the U.S.

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I’m amazed at how Wowowee has captured the hearts and minds of Pinoys in the US.

My cousins, titos and titas in the US watch the show. Some love it so much that they say they are likely to join the studio audience of Wowowee the next time they visit the Philippines. (I found out that subscribers of The Filipino Channel (TFC) get free passes and exclusive seats to Wowowee when they come to the studio).

My Tito Bodjie and Tita Bodjette are all praise for the show. They explain that Willy Revillame is a good person. They continue to rave about how the show helps so many poor people. It’s instant reward and gratification glorified on TV. It’s also concretely shows how lives can be changed with the whiff of Willy’s finger.

And that Pinoys abroad can take part in helping Pinoys in the Philippines by giving directly to Wowowee (so that’s the story behind all these Fil-Ams going to the studio and giving Willy dollars).

The show gives Pinoys abroad a vicarious (or sometimes direct) experience in helping out Pinoys at home. This is a feel good TV show. That’s what it is.

On the other hand, it breeds a mentality that placing your bets on a TV show or another person’s whims is the way to achieve your dreams. The mentality we should be breeding is for us to take fate into our own hands, making good for ourselves through discipline, creativity, hard and smart work.

In the meantime, my Tita Bodjette will continue to watch Wowowee and dream of joining the studio audience one day, give a couple of hundred dollars for a good cause.

Perhaps it is *some* help. But is it the help our countrymen need?

ka edong
wowed

 

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“pa-tour-tour lang”

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It has happened a couple of times now. I get them in different places, different times, from different people, but it’s the same remark.

I’d chat with fellow-pinoys, usually OFWs. One was traveling with her “amo” in a train in HK, another tending the cashbox in an Aremenian resto in LA’s Farmer’s market, another taking a break from their set at the hotel bar in Chengdu, while yet another was retailing some souvenirs in Toronto.

Then they’d ask: “Ikaw, dito ka ba nag-tatrabaho?”

Then I need to explain that I’m on tour.

Here’s where the common remark comes bugging me (get ready for this).

The OFW says : “Buti ka pa, pa-tour-tour lang…”

It puts me in an uncomfortable situation where they compare my leisure travels to their lack of it. I usually manage to just smile sheepishly and give a grunt or something. I haven’t figured out a more appropriate response to this remark.

Have you gotten this remark in your travels? What’s a good way to respond that isn’t offensive nor boastful?

ka edong
discomfort in your words

 

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July 17, 2006

Coron Photos

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I haven’t written about my weekend at Coron. But I uploaded some Coron Photos. Check them out …

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July 10, 2006

The Farm at Pinoytravel blog

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I’ve haven’t been writing about my travels lately. But I mustered one article for Pinoy Travel Blog:

Health and Wellness at The Farm at San Benito, Batangas

The Farm at San Benito is a refuge for relaxation, healing, wellness and healthy eating. It’s tucked away in a 49 hectare property in the woods and rolling hills of Lipa, Batangas, with a good view of Mt. Malarayat. The Farm has 9 hectares of developed land (the rest are forestry, wildlife, agricultural lands).

The developed area includes three swimming pools, more than 40 cottages, a library, many relaxation and meditation huts, a 100% vegetarian restaurant, an amphitheater, a meeting hall and reception area, at least two ponds, lots of green green grass and trees, a SPA, a gym and … a farm (almost missed that).

Here are some photos at The Farm at San Benito

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December 7, 2005

Sengiyahamba

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I had spent the whole day communing with the wildlife in the Milwane game reserve, Swaziland.

Now dusk has set in and the lightning and thunder in the horizon threaten to rain down this walk back to Sondzela backpackers.

Then it starts to rain. I muster a slight jog with my tired legs and aching knee. And seek shelter at a horse stable.

I am met with smiles from four Swazi young men. We take this cool afternoon shower in liesure and exchange stories. And when three or more men are together, what else is there to talk about? Women!

Hahaha! We spoke of the Philippines and Swaziland, the difference in courtship and marriage. We exchanged experiences, stories and jokes.

And then one of them, Jablan, started singing a tune - just to himself. I whipped out Brosia, my SmartPhone, and recorded Jablan’s song without his knowledge.

When I played it back, all his white teeth showed behind his smile! They decided to do a song that I could record.

Ah … here’s an article in Technobiography, including an audio file of Sengiyahamba that you could listen to.

edwin

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November 2, 2005

Pinoy Travel Blog - We have lift-off!

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Visit Pinoy Travel Blog, the latest travel group blog in town and the *only* one, as far I’m concerned ;-) . I’m one of the bloggers over there.

I’ll be keeping my personal and international travel blogs in Biyahe! while the nice Pinoy Blogs will be mainly located in Pinoy Travel Blog and linked from Biyahe!

Happy hopping!

ka edong
biyahero

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October 20, 2005

Napagkamalan 3

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When I was on a trip to Swaziland, it struck me that I did not ask about the need for a Visa to get into Swaziland. Everybody I spoke to earlier gave me the impression that Visas were not required when crossing the border from South Africa to Swaziland.

So I’m at Swaziland immigration with a tour group, then I get called. My passport is stamped and then I walk on. But I get called back. They say I need a visa! Whu-wat? I claimed ignorance! I didn’t know. (I was one of the two people in our tour group who’s nationality needed a Visa to get into Swaziland. Everybody else, the Americans and Europeans, did not require a visa).

I was permitted to pass through. When I spoke to the tour guide, I asked for an explanation. I told him that I thought I asked him about Visa. He said (he claimed), “I thought you were American”!

Whu-wat? American? Ka Edong, an American? I asked him why he thought so. He explained: “You speak English so well.”

Yeah right. I wouldn’t know if he was just making excuses. But my wife would probably agree that I might sound American at times. I guess it’s this diction I learned while I was in AIM, having to pronounce words more clearly and with less of a Filipino accent so that foreigners can understand me better.

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