Lakwatsarah

It's July and rainy season has long officially started. When an uncle invited me to go to Baguio with sidetrip in Dagupan, I got uber excited. I have been wanting to experience Baguio during the rainy months of June to September. I bet it's gonna be one cold, wet trip - sounds fun!  Baguio Pines Our group's main goal is to check out both Eagle Crest Villa 's branches in Bonuan, Dagupan and Bakakeng Road, Baguio. We're also scheduled to meet the man behind these subdivisions who happened to be my uncle's brother in law. So yes, this is a travel slash business trip - my most favorable type of travel.

Location: Baguio, Vigan, Laoag, Pagudpod Let me share with you this travel video to end our North Luzon series. Our beloved Philippines is indeed blessed with fantastic sceneries and it's inspiring me more to go on further adventures and experience our country's majestic outdoors. We had fun feel good getaway as it shows in the video :)

This is an overview of the specific places we've been to during our 5 day North Luzon trip. Day 1: Baguio day tour (Part 1) Burnham Park Session Road Baguio Cathedral Good Taste Botanical Park Wright Park The Mansion Mines View Park Good Shepherd Day 2: Baguio day tour (Part 2)

Here's a sample itinerary of what we did. We actually stayed there for 3 days but I'll just share the places we've seen on the first 2 days since the 3rd day was spent watching the Panagbenga Float Parade. Prior to the trip, I made some internet research before deciding on what places to go to. Feel free to follow our itinerary on your next Baguio trip. The first day was spent touring my friend the basic tourist spots of Baguio. Places me and my cousin has actually visited a number of times except for the Good Taste Restaurant. Day 1 07:00 am:      Check-in into your hotel/lodging house (we went to Benguet State University to follow up on the status of our reservation. BSU is located near Strawberry Farm, a 30 minute and P77 taxi drive from Victory Bus Liner Baguio Terminal) 08:00 am:      Breakfast at McDonald's beside BSU 09:00 am:       Burnham Park | Session Road | Baguio Cathedral          ...

On Day 2 of our North Luzon Trip, we went to Strawberry Farm to harvest err what else - fresh strawberries! After a hearty meal at O' Mai Khan and a quick tour at Bell Church , we geared up for the last stop for the day. Strawberry Farm is located at La Trinidad Valley few meters away from Benguet State University. We walked some few meters more before we arrived at the area. We were all excited especially my nephew Cocoy who loves strawberries very much. Good news is, we're just in time for peak season.

The cool Baguio breeze was indeed a refreshing change from the Manila heat. Location: Burnham Park , Botanical Garden , Mines View Park, The Mansion, Wright Park , Tam-awan Village ,  BenCab Museum

Our first day of tour was fun but tiring that I'm just so excited to lay flat in bed. I'm looking forward to a good night sleep, or so I thought... I woke up 10 minutes before 5am, just in time before my phone alarmed. Good thing I wasn't really drawn into deep sleep as night time in Baguio really gave me one of my biggest chills. I would wake up every now and then putting layers of clothes on top of me ( ginawin talaga ako! ).  I alarmed the clock to check on my cousin  and pamangkin scheduled to arrive in Baguio by 5am. To my shock, I got an sms at around 4am telling me they're already in Baguio! But they're still not here. I immediately txted them for updates. I would go in and out of the house (challenging, really) to consequently check on them, still no luck. I began to worry.

After a 5 hour drive from Manila, me and my friend MC finally arrived in Baguio at around 7am. We felt lucky to to finally got out of Victory Bus Liner Terminal, we barely made it on time because we weren't able to book our bus tickets in advance. We waited for 6 hours to finally get on their regular air-conditioned bus.

Truly, experience is the best teacher. And having experienced the thrill of Panagbenga myself, I would like to share a few things I learned during our 3 day stay. For those who are planning to go to Baguio for upcoming Panagbenga Festivals, read these reminders/tips below. 1. Reserve your bus ticket at least 2 weeks before your scheduled trip. I was able to book our plane tickets from Laoag to Manila for our return flight four months before the festival but failed to book our bus ticket to Baguio. Huge mistake! We waited 6 grueling hours at the Victory Liner Bus Terminal in Cubao before finally making it to the bus. Nothing can be more scary than after all the preparations you did, you'll end up missing your trip.

information desk, BenCab Museum Making its mark as one of Philippines never to be missed art gallery is the Bencab Museum.  Located in a quiet winding Km. 6 Asin Road, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet, this museum is a 15-minute uphill drive from the center of Baguio City. We went to the museum day before the Grand Float Parade , we were lucky enough to catch a cab knowing the day would be a bit of a challenge considering it's when the Grand Street Parade happens. I excitedly asked the driver to take us to Bencab Museum but I began to worry when he maneuvered the car straight to Session Road where the traffic is terrible. He said that is the only museum he knew and tried to asked other drivers but they also pointed him to that direction. I said it's in Naguilian area somewhere near Tam-awan Village (based on my online research). Still not knowing where the place is, we agreed to go to Tam-awan Village instead. From Tam-awan, we took another taxi who knew where Be...

February 27, 2011. An estimated half a million people flocked the streets of Baguio to watch the yearly anticipated event of Baguio city’s 16th  Panagbenga Grand Float Parade 2011 . The Festival theme this year : “The Environment and Community in Harmony.” This Flower Festival has surely brought in a great amount of revenue to the local government – good news to Baguio’s tourism industry, horrific to many travelers! (check out my upcoming posts to find out why)

February is an exciting month for me and my dear friends as we embark on our first ever Panagbenga experience. For all the excited Baguio travelers out there, here's something we should take note before rushing into the country's summer capital. unveiling of the 16th Flower Festival's official logo Here’s the Baguio Flower Festival schedule of activities for 2011 : November 16, 2010 – Launch of Panagbenga 2011 February 1, 2011 – Grand Opening Parade February 1 – Mar 6, 2011 – Market Encounter February 12, 2011– Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom February 13, 2011 – Pre-Valentine Event and Fluvial Float Parade February 26, 2011 – Grand Panagbenga Street Parade February 27, 2011 – Grand Float Parade February 28 – March 6, 2011 – Session Road in Bloom March 2, 2011 – Pony Boys Day March 3, 2011 – Central North Luzon Tourism Fair March 6, 2011 – Grand Closing Ceremony & Grand Fireworks Display (Flowers in the Sky) WHERE TO STAY IN BAGUIO image source:  htt...

My First BAGUIO Experience...during IALSA days...right after pack up segue sa Baguio via Kennon Road for an overnight stay. " Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin " Staff tours the city of pines with IALSA lead star Bea Alonzo At the Mansion WHERE TO STAY IN BAGUIO