Alone in Baguio

Welcome to my first post of 2019. Today, we go to the City, 258 Km away from Manila.

Welcome to Baguio, and this is "Alone in Baguio". A North Traveller's Special Trip to the City of Pines.

Baguio is a 258 km trip from Manila, its cold at night, even at day. You can experience cold weather even in Summer. Hence called "Summer Capital of the Philippines".

Baguio City Skyline, Early in the Morning

Baguio is the gateway to some of the famous mountains of Cordillera, such as Mt Pulag in Kabayan, Benguet.

Mt. Pulag, Kabayan, Benguet

And Bakun, the home of Mt. Lobo, Mt. Tenglawan and Mt. Kabunian

Mt. Tenglawan, Bakun, Benguet

But before I tell the story of my tour around the city, let me share you my challenges before the trip.

CHALLENGES
- First, travel alone (my first solo travel) or just bring a stuffed toy as your "travel buddy".

Meet "Riki", my favorite "travel buddy".

Riki, my "Travel Buddy"

- Second, visit some or all the tourist spots in just one day with a limited budget.

Visit all the places around the city as many as you can. You can research the places you need to visit, set an Itinerary, and you're ready to go.

No extra expenses like buying luxurious items. But, have money for "pasalubong" and personal expenses like food. One good tip is try to eat at the local restaurant for local delicacies.

- Lastly, No Stay-in or Accomodation

Like I said, limited budget, so no stay-in. If you want to rest, don't worry, you can sleep at the terminal if you arrived too early.

Now I'm ready and all set. Now, let me share you how I survived One day in Baguio.

1. Book early for a later trip
Sounds Ironic but yes, you have to go to the bus terminal early to book for a later trip. Be at the terminal at least 3 hours or earlier before the desired travel schedule so that I still have seats.

Victory Liner Bus to Baguio

I choose the 10pm trip, but I booked my trip at 7pm. Make a habbit of arriving early at the terminal because there are times that the trips are fully booked or ended up as a chance passenger.

Baguio is a 6 to 7 hours trip from Manila, depending on the traffic and travel condition. Since it is a very late trip, I arrived too early at 4am.

If you have plans to visit Baguio, try the Strawberry-Flavored Taho as you arrive.

Taho as Arrived in Baguio, cheers for the safe travel

2. Mines View Park
For the first time travellers, my one simple trick is this. Set a base. For me, my best base is the Baguio Plaza or the Burnham Park because there's already a jeepney ride to all the spots around Baguio.

The jeepney terminal going to Mines View Park is near the Harrison Rd. cor. Mabini Street. It's a short journey from the Plaza to the Mines View. You can ride a taxi, but remember, limited budget.

Mines View Park

Mines View Park lets you enjoy the mountainous view of the Cordillera. You can rent a Binocular for 5 minutes with a rental fee of Php 20.

Cordillera Mountains

Or you can have a picture taking with this Dog. Don't worry, the dog is harmless.

After a good picture taking, it's time to go to the next spot. You can ride a jeep, or take a walk. See the sign? It's perfect to walk because of the cold temperature.

3. The Mansion and Baguio Wright Park.

In just a few kilometers away from Mines View is The Mansion. 

The Mansion is the summer residence of the President of the Philippines. Meaning, a Government Property and should follow a very strict rules so that you can still enjoy visiting the place. You can take a picture but stay only at the gate, you are not allowed to get near the building.

Also, keep off the grass. It is also not allowed to step on it.

Just across the Mansion is the Baguio Wright Park. It's a small park though, but a good place to walk around it.

The Mansion as viewed from the Wright Park

Flowers at the Wright Park

Just a few walk downstairs, there's a horse back riding. You can ride it for at least 30 minutes.

Horses at the Wright Park

After a good walk around the park, it's time for a jeep ride or another walk to the next destination.

4. Baguio Botanical Garden

A few meter walk from the Wright Park is the Baguio Botanical Garden. Like Wright Park, it has lots and lots of flowers. A perfect place for pictorials (and proposal if you have plans).

Inside the Botanical Garden

 You can rent the Tribe Costume and take a picture around the area.

Flowers around the Botanical Garden

After a quick tour around the garden, its time to go back to the Plaza and ride a Jeepney going to the Dominican Hill.

5. Dominican Hill Retreat House a.k.a. Diplomat Hotel
It's time for a little Ghost Hunting at the Dominican Hill Retreat House, also known as the Diplomat Hotel. It's an abandoned building at the top of Dominican Hill.

Historically, this place is a retreat house for Dominicans. During the World War II it became an evacuation center. But became the Japanese's last line of defense in 1945. It was destroyed and repaired in 1947. It was became Diplomat Hotel in 1973 until 1987.

Diplomat Hotel

Let's take a tour inside this building.

The Lobby

The Stairs

The Fireplace

The Hallway

Some Rooms

Another Hallway

Fountain

Let me tell you a story. It was believed that the place is haunted. Unless if you don't believe in Ghosts or Supernatural beings, then you will definitely enjoy the place. For me, I want to visit this place and I'm into this kind of place.

If you're already scared (because your friend pulled you in or because you are not into this kind of tour) you may stay outside or face your fears and go up to the rooftop and see the remarkable skyline of Baguio.

The Cross

Baguio Skyline as seen from the Rooftop

After a quick visit around the building, it's time for a lunch break. There's a food hub just beside the Diplomat Hotel. Hive Food Village has the amazing view of Baguio and food as well.

The Hive Food Village

 The food choices are already here.

Enjoying the meal... Oh look, my "travel buddy".

The meal at the Hive Food Village

After lunch, it's time to go the another destination just near the place.

6. Lourdes Grotto
This is another long stair climb. Just like Last Year in my Hong Kong trip.

All we have to do is simple, do some leg stretching and ready to climb up. Along the way there's a vendor selling flowers and candles. It's up to you if you want to buy one, like I did. This is for the offerings as we successfully arrived at the Grotto

Candles and Flowers for Offering

Now that we're here, it is time to offer the flowers, light a candle (at the separate location which is just beside near the Grotto, not at the Grotto itself) and say a little prayer.

Lourdes Grotto

After a little prayers, time for a little photo shoot.

Just Imagine How long the Stairs and how I manage to climb it.

Now it's time to go down and go back to the Plaza.

7. Burnham Park, Baguio Market and Baguio Cathedral

Daniel Burnham, Architect and Baguio City Planner

Remember that I set this place as my base. For a reason that it has a jeepney terminals nearby. It's very near to Bus Terminals as well. Also a perfect place to enjoy. There's a bench to sit on after a long tiring day of walking.

Burnham Park

 You can rent a boat here and have a boat ride around the Burnham Park Lake at Php 100 (additional fee may apply if you need a rower)

Burnham Park Lake

After a quick tour around the park, it's time to go for a sidetrip at the Baguio Market. A good place to buy "Pasalubong" and souvenirs.

Baguio Market

And for the final sidetrip before we go home, is the Baguio Cathedral for a little prayer for guidance back home.

Baguio Cathedral

8. Gov. Pack Road

Gov. Pack Road

Not enough "pasalubong"? Gov. Pack Road is there for another wave for buying treats and souvenirs. It is much better to visit this place if you are now ready to go home because it is also a bus terminal going back to Manila, and some other places like Tugegarao, Laoag and many more.

What happened to my "travel buddy"?
Don't worry, she's OK

She enjoys, I also enjoy the short but tiring trip here in Baguio. It's a wonderful experience to travel alone and visited a lot of its top spots around the city. Hope that you enjoy reading my all day travel in Baguio. See you next trip.