Baguio
is a place close to my heart after living there for five years. I might have
been to numerous special places but Baguio remained different. My social media
feeds might have photos of adventures from many cities but Baguio’s still my
happy pill. When I’m sad, it’s the place I regularly yearn to be in.
I
recently accompanied my former officemates to a quick Baguio trip. My aim was
to bring them to as many places as I could without making them feel rushed. We
arrived early morning and went to Strawberry Farm to buy vegetables because
they’re way cheaper there. We then proceeded to the nearby Bell Church and
Tam-Awan Village.
Come
afternoon, we went to Burnham Park where I met this Samoyed, Leia. The owner
was delighted when I started massaging Leia’s ears. Why do you have to be so squishy, Leia? I want to take you home!
Dinner
was at Oh My Gulay Artist Café, one of Baguio’s most blogged-about places. The
restaurant is on the fifth floor of the La Azotea Building (in front of Zola
Café) along Session Road. A seemingly endless staircase will lead you to the
penthouse floor where Oh My Gulay will unveil all its artistic glory.
Oh
My Gulay serves as Victor Oteyza’s permanent gallery. He was one of the
country’s Modern Art pioneers. The artist space regularly holds events and
other artists’ exhibits.
Bargain
hunters shouldn’t miss out the city’s daily Night Market. Every 9 p.m.,
Harrison Road transforms into a lively avenue for vendors. Here you can buy
clothes for as low as P10! If you can withstand crowds normally reserved for
rock stars, this place is for you. There’s a selection of street food stalls to
allay your hunger.
Our
next day was allotted for Mines View Park and my favorite Camp John Hay. I like
how its rustic atmosphere is different from other places in the city where
commercial developments are unrelenting.
Baguio
made me realize my love for walking, and when I was a student, I used to
explore the camp’s winding route and just appreciate the place’s sheer beauty.
There’s an abundance of coffee shops and restaurants inside. Apart from strawberries
and peanut brittles, you can similarly bring home Manor Hotel’s famous raisin
bread.
Enjoying
Baguio sans the rushed feeling is entirely possible. You may steer clear from
itineraries because everything in the city may be reached within half an hour.
It will be helpful as well if you’ll park your vehicle somewhere and just walk
to alleviate traffic congestion. Travelling by steps will allow you to relish
the city’s chilly temperature too – a genuine scarcity in Manila.
Let’s take into consideration the locals of Baguio. I’m sure they want visitors
to experience what Baguio has to offer, but at the same time, it pains them to
see how some tourists disrespect the place. Wherever we go, it will certainly
be lovelier if we will treat the place like our own homes. :)
