Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Baguio Roundtrip-Roadtrip (Baguio city in one day)

Me: Oiy, good morning, how are you?
Friend: Good morning! Feel ko umakyat ng Baguio today, balikan.
Me: Gusto kong kumain ng champorado at ginataang bilo-bilo.
Friend: Sa Baguio ba 'yun?
Me: Hindi, sa condo ko.
Friend: Alam ko, kala ko naman sa Baguio mo gusto kumain 'nun.
Me: I'd rather sleep all day.
Friend: Magpapasama pa naman ako.
Me: Eh magkano ba pamasahe sa Baguio, yung roundtrip?
Friend: I'll drive.
Me: Tara!

That conversation happened while I was in the bus going home. So I get off the bus in Shaw-crossing and he picked me up there. He tagged a friend of his along. So there were three of us in that trip. He agreed to drive to my place so I can pick up my sweater and my camera, after preparing my stuff and transfered my "kikay stuff" from my normal-backpack to my camera-backpack, off we go on our roadtrip.

Good thing I recently bought an old edition of The Lonely Planet Philippines. We found out later on that it was a very handy and nice addition to any traveller to bring along. We were already traversing MacArthur highway at around 9:30 AM, by that time I dozed off in the backseat. When I woke up, we were along this smaller highway cruising along Tarlac, I dozed off again. When I woke up we were somewhere in La Union. A few minutes later, we were already climbing Baguio through Kennon Road. This guy sure can drive fast. We arrived in Baguio city just in time for a late lunch, that was around 1 PM. So all in all, it took us four hours to get to Baguio, not including the 20 minutes we lost when my friend missed the turn going to MacArthur highway. So we took another route just to get back where we started that took a lot of time.

While we were climbing Kennon road, I was quickly browsing my book, looking for somewhere good to dine at in the city. The navigator was supposed to be in the front passenger seat, but I love the back seat, it's spacious plus I have a lot of stuff to grab, like the maps, books and my camera. So I was very comfy on the backseat.

O' Mai Khan

We ate at O Mai' Khan for lunch as suggested by The Lonely Planet Philippines. We had a Mongolian buffet for P210. Service was slow, understandable because the place was very full when we got there. As we ate, we discussed the places we would like to see. Me as it was only my second time in Baguio, followed what was suggested in the book. I would have loved to visit the Buddhist Temple, but because it says in the book that it was very hard to find in the market place, I opt not to see it anymore, instead we headed straight to Camp John Hay after lunch instead.

Jeepney

While we were driving to the camp, I was excited as a little kid to see the clouds touch land. When we arrived at Camp John Hay I was curious on what the Cemetery of Negativism was all bout so we looked for it. It as a mini cemetery full of life's negativity, that's about it, some were cute and interesting. While we were there I feel like I was walking in the clouds, literally. All because of the thick fog.

No Damn Way

Can't shake it

Why didn't I

Heavy rain poured as the three of us were taking pictures in the mini cemetery so we huddled in the nearby museum and former residence of Mr. John Hay.

The Rain Came

When the downpour turned into drizzle, we headed back to my friend's car and decided to go to Choco-late de Batirol. The name is already intriguing as it is and I wanted a cup of hot chocolate with all this fog and rain.

Choco-Late

Choco-late de Batirol looks like an old shack in a garden full of plants. You will barely notice it with the little wooden signs outside the place. In the book (Lonely Planet Philippines), they just mentioned the place with no introduction or description on what the place is about, they just said it was an interesting restaurant. Well, it was. Outside are lots of plants, when I saw it, it looks more like a place to buy plants than a restaurant.

Yellow and Greens

The moment I walked inside, I noticed that the setting was like an indoor garden and I was surprised on how dry the interior was, considering there was a heavy downpour moments ago. I was all smiles while looking at their interior, furniture was all solid wood and Filipino inspired. Traditional native hats were hanging on the walls and some chimes on doorways. The furniture were made of wood. Tree trunks that look like scraps shaped into usable chairs and tables, expensive stuff. The place was absolutely cozy, it's like you're in a garden less the insects. When we went to the counter to check out their menu, we were greeted by a sharp nosed, moreno, young attendant; so it was not just the menu we can check out! The menu was short and simple, all Filipino dishes and all Filipino deserts. The attendant was simple, around 5'5", has nice cheekbones, nice set of teeth, good smile, smooth skin, nice brown color with a stunning sheen. But what we were after was the chocolate drinks. There were chocolate drinks of different flavors, they have strawberry, almonds, and the other famous flavors you expect to see in popular coffee shops. However, we ordered their specialty, original hot chocolate.

Cigarette

Hot Chocolate

The hot chocolate was what I expected it to be. Rich, flavorful, with bits of little bitter chocolate pieces in it; which is evidence it was made from a tablet of pure cacao and churned by hand in hot water. It was rich and delicious. The music playing in the background was a very nice playlist of Soul and R&B tracks that you will usually hear in Wave 89.1 during Sunday evenings. I almost cannot stop raving to my companions on how I love the place! Choco-late de Batirol is a highly recommended place for anyone visiting Baguio! One will have such a lovely and cozy experience.

We dropped by the Mansion on our way to Mine's View. The Mansion is the official residence of the our President when visiting Baguio city.

The Manor Gate

Street Lamp

Flowers by the walk


Afterwards, we went straight to Mines View park, but because there was still drizzling rain, we did not bother to stop and get off the car. Instead we went to Good Shepherd convent to check out the view and to buy their famous Ube Jam.

By the fog

When we arrived in Good Shepherd, oh it's my first time to go there by the way. I was shocked on how long the lines were just to buy a few bottles of Ube Jam. I went to the viewing deck to check the view, but all I saw was a foggy backdrop. When I went to fall inline to buy, I saw a sign that there was a limit of only 4 bottles of Ube Jam per customer. Perhaps to prevent hoarders or buying and selling. I ordered mine, 4 bottles of Ube Jam and 2 jars of Cashew Crunch. I did not order the traditional and famous Peanut Brittle because I thought it has more sugar than peanuts. I bought the Cashew Crunch instead because they look like bars of sugar compacted nuts in big pieces, and I love cashew nuts!

We were assisted by a lady guard while we were backing up from the parking lot. The lady guard was so pretty to be a guard and she resisted the tip. How nice of her and I will say again, she's too pretty to be a lady guard.

Baguio Cathedral

We went straight to Baguio Cathedral to hear mass. I don't hear mass so my two companions just went ahead to the church, while I took pictures around the area. I did pray and lit candles in the church's candle section.

Prayers on fire

The boy prays

After a while, I was awestruck, surprised, and my eyes grew wide on how the clouds touches everything and everyone in Baguio. Okay it was only a fog! However, I've never seen such thick fog until that night. It was so thick that one will almost only see headlights and rear-lights of vehicles as well as the lights on the lamp-posts... on most areas. I was just amazed like a little kid seeing something fascinating for the first time. I was innocent for that time being.

A foggy Sunday evening

After Mass

Lovers' holy retreat

After mass and going somewhere

After mass, it was time to go home. We left Baguio at around half past 8 in the evening. I arrived home at around midnight.

Thank you so much, friend (you know who are) for inviting me to that impromptu roadtrip, I've always wanted to do one, and you started it. I enjoyed the experience, it was tiring (you were exhausted, I know) but it was all worth it. Thank you so much for driving me home too.

May this be the beginning of many trips to come; impromptu or otherwise. After all, traveling is one passion I am yet to pursue.

16 comments:

  1. buhay na buhay ang pictures
    favorite ko yung black and white yung may ulan

    ReplyDelete
  2. gosh. thanks for posting this. i miss the "tsokolate". i miss baguio.

    ReplyDelete
  3. @Bien: Thank you so much!

    @Travis: You're very much welcome. ;-) I miss Choco-late already too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sobrang refreshing ng blog post mo friend. Parang gusto kong mag-Baguio tuloy. Impromptu lang. Hahahaha!

    Seriously, I miss the fog. The last time I saw one was when I went to Tagaytay years back. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Haaay. I was blown away by your shot of the rain.

    ReplyDelete
  6. really nice photos canonista. pareho kami ni bien. favorite ko rin yung drizzle sa roof gutter.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Baguio is my refuge whenever I feel low and down-spirited. I miss the fog, the drizzles in the mid-afternoon, the pine scent in Pacdal area...the nice people...and quiescence...Thanks for this post. It reminds me of the good times I lived in Baguio.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Juan: Ganado at excited eh. Hehe! :-)

    @Mugen:Salamat. para something different naman. Sarap ng may fog at nakakatakot din, parang mababangga ka e.

    @DB: Thank you! :-)

    @Sean: Thank you, Sean. :-)

    @Mr. G: I like Baguio, it seems quiet and definitely cozy. Yes, the people... are good-looking. I would love to come back.

    To everyone: I would like to correct myself about "the Manor", I edited it because it was supposed to be The Mansion. Sorry, first time (almost).

    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. di ka man lang nagpasabi na you were here in baguio. kung alam ko lang na andito ka sa baguio...sayang!!!

    i have so many stories to tell...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Damn you're really great. I like you're shot at The Mansion. Naisip mo pa talaga yung ganung shot. Very nice. And you're bokeh's are really good. *sigh* (-.-)

    I've never been to some of the places you've been. Next time I got there, I want to go those places.

    ReplyDelete
  11. @Asiong: Sorry, nawala ko kasi number mo, nagpalit na rin ako ng number. Long story.

    @Xall Perce: Thank you so much! Have to be look at things at different perpsectives ika nga, and to present them in another way. Tara mag street shoot na kasi tayo!

    ReplyDelete
  12. my favorite pic is the one with the rain drops frozen in mid-air. :) great shots kuya!~

    ReplyDelete
  13. I was there over the weekend enjoying the late afternoon fog and early evening shower too. I love the photo of The Mansion gate. Ganda ng perspective.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Napakaganda ng mga kuha mo. Peborit ko yung ulan, kitang kita ang bawat patak, suspended mid-air. Mahusay!

    ReplyDelete
  15. grabe ang ganda ng entry na to.... ganda ng mga shots... and nakakainggit...i want to punta on baguio again haayyy sarap managinip.... :D

    inggit ako sa mga fogs walang ganon nun nagpunta kame.. pero ang sarap mamasyal....

    ReplyDelete