My First Ever Baguio Experience

Being four hours away from Manila, Baguio was my first out of town vacation ever!  I was around 10 years old when I went to Baguio with my aunts, uncles and cousins.  Back then Baguio was surrounded by pine trees.  It was so cold that when we were near the top of the beautiful plateau, we would turn off the air conditioning and open the windows to enjoy the cool breeze.  You could see cold mist and fog surrounding the area.  My cousins would fool around and breath in the air and see if fog would come from our mouths.

credits to the owners of the photos

We went to so many places on a single day.  We tried boating at the man-made lake in the middle of Burnham Park.  Back then, the lake looked so big and wide to me.   After that was my favorite activity, pony riding at Wright Park Circle.  I can still recall that the pony I rode was color brown.  Some of my cousins were afraid to ride but that was ridiculous since we were assisted by staffs and we couldn't even make the ponies gallop faster.=)  We dined at Camp John Hay during dinner and shopped around the city before hit the sack.  It was the first time I ever saw "ukay-ukay" shops.  We also saw lots of interesting native products and word works like the barrel man.

credits to titakosivilma.com

The next day, we visited Mines View Park.  The view was so nice.  We also ate "pinipig" being sold on the streets.  My aunts also went to the market.  They came back with boxes of FRESH vegetables and strawberries.  I love strawberries!  The strawberries in Baguio are so fresh and sweet I ate to my hearts content.  We also visited Good Shepherd to buy peanut brittle and strawberry jam.  On the way home, we also purchased brooms.  It was so much fun!

So why am I reminiscing?  It's because Baguio City is celebrating its 102nd year.  Happy Birthday!=)

In case you want to visit Baguio check out the cheap rates of http://www.eurotel-hotel.com

Departure for Sagada (Day 3 Part 1)

• Leaving Ilocos

We woke up at 4.a.m., ate breakfast and went to Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur to fetch our other companions.   We arrived at 5:30 a.m.  but everyone there was still unprepared so we joined them again for another set of breakfast.  Many dishes were prepared: bulalo, pata tim, malaga with black beans, roasted chicken, salted egg, pinakbet and puto.  We couldn't finish them all so we brought a whole pata tim with us.  (This was unfortunately spoilt during the trip)  At around 7:00 a.m., we left for Sagada on a 4-car convoy.

• Baguio City

We arrived at Baguio City at 9:00 a.m. to fetch our cousin who attended a summer camp.  We then ate our lunch at Mc Donalds and bought Off! lotions and other various items from convenience stores.  We passed by the gasoline station for a full tank and left baguio city at around 12:00 p.m. 

• Benguet Mountain Province

We drove across the curvy roads of Benguet mountain province.   Looking outside the window of our van, we were awed by the natural green scenery of the trees, the rivers than ran between the mountains, the foot bridges connecting the mountains and the stair-like structure of the plantation fields.  We used to think there was only one place for stair-like plantations but we encountered so many of them.  

• The highest point of Atok, Benguet (7,400 feet above sea level)

                    We soon reached the highest point at Atok, Benguet.  Like many others, we stopped for picture taking.  It was also a good opportunity to give our mobile vehicles some rest.  During travels involving curvy roads, the brakes are often used and they need some tire to cool off to prevent them from getting worn out.  After 15 minutes of taking photographs, enjoying the scenery and the cool mountain breeze, we continued our journey.

                    

• Kafalig Coffee Shop and the Panorama Park View

                    After an hour, we reached Kafalig Coffee Shop.  We again parked our vehicles and went to the rest rooms=)  To our surprise, it was clean.  We then went up the hut to enjoy the view while drinking its delicious freshly brewed mountain coffee (worth 20 php).  I was looking at the map of the mountains posted at the bamboo-like walls of the hut when one of the foreginers also in the hut drinking coffee approached me.  He invited me to join their mountaineers camp below in Mt. Kalawitan.  He said it was a 3-day camp.  He also showed me their guest book full of photographs of people trekking in the mountains.  I politely said that we couldn't since we were already booked our stay in Sagada.  However, it looked interesting and maybe someday we will try that.  After our coffee went down to visit the small shop below selling wines, jams and coffee.  While standing to take a look a mountain dog went near me for a sniff.  Then we got back to our van.

Asian Massage Swe-Shi and Indian Ear Candling 54% off

Coupon Deal: 

Relax, unwind and drift to another world with Asian Massage Swe-Shi with Aromatherapy and Indian Ear Candling (299 php instead of 650 php)

Coupon offer is until: April 30, 2011

Voucher Validity Period: May 01 to October 31, 2011

Terms:

• Need to have minimum of 20 sold coupons in order for the deal to be ON/ ACTIVE
• Will accept unlimited number of coupons.
• Unlimited coupons per person
• Price is inclusive of VAT and Service Charge
• Coupons cannot be used for home service massage.
• Coupons cannot be used in conjunction with any discount card or promotion
• Valid from Mondays to Sundays; from 12am to 12pm (24/7)
• From Mondays to Sundays; 7:00 am to 3pm; You can avail of VIP Service
• Appointment is required (first client who will set the appointment first will be prioritized)
• Cancellation of Appointment must be made at least 1 hour before the scheduled date and time.
• If you’ll not arrive on the scheduled appointment (on time), other clients will be accommodated

Highlights:

• Asian massage, the country’s largest and most trusted home massage and spa service offers Massage and Ear Candling package promo. As a way of giving back to its loyal clients and encourage more therapeutic massage enthusiasts to sample its famous, top quality service
• Asian massage offers  a 1 hour treatment of a combination of Swedish and Shiatsu Massage with Aromatherapy of your choice
• Included in the promo is an ear candling session, an alternative stress.

Company: Asian Massage

Location/s: 

4658 Cuangco St. corner South Super Highway, Goldrich Mansion Pio del Pilar, Makati View Map

573 Nakpil Corner Bocobo Streets Malate, Manila View Map

No. 1 Engineer Hills Corner Cabinet Hills Baguio City View Map

Anilao, Batangas View Map

Deal Description: 

Total Value: PHP 650 

Offer Price: PHP 299 

% Discount: 54% 

Advance Payment: PHP 99 

Balance Payment: PHP 200

Where to purchase the deal: