Baguio! What is that?

27^th of January 2018

Today, it was the time that I really waited. Why? It was the holiday and I will forget everything just for this day (Just kidding). So, it just the time to be relaxed! Hehehe. This day we went the Baguio. Does anyone know Baguio? I thought no one hehehe. So, listen my story

This day, we wake up earlier in the morning around 04.00 p.m to prepare everything to go to Baguio. We went to Baguio at 05.00 p.m. During the way, all of us just slept again in the bus because we were still sleepy. I also couldn’t see many things because outside is still dark. Time fast away and the bus stopped in one of the place. Guess what? It was Jollibee. It’s the Fast Food Restaurant. Yeah, It was the time to had breakfast. We had breakfast together and enjoy our breakfast. 

 

Breakfast :)

Then, it was the time to continue our journey to Baguio. Along the way, seems that I felt so sleepy but I couldn’t sleepy anymore because I want to see the view on the way. I could find the green view because many trees and also beautiful mountain.

Then, we arrived in Baguio. Actually,Baguio is the one of the city in Philippines in the Benguet Province. Baguio has been the capital city in the Philippines before Manila. Baguio is popular with its Flower Festival called ”Panagbenga”. Unfortunately we couldn’t attend the Festival because it would be hold on February :( So sad. But, in Baguio we visited many places.

The first place is The Lion’s Head. The lion's head along Kennon Road is the undisputed landmark that is synonymous to Baguio City. It is commonly said that a trip to Baguio City would not be complete without taking home a souvenir photograph with the famous lion head which serves as the backdrop on Kennon Road. It was not the long time we visited that place because we had to continue our trip to another place. 

Nice to meet you Lion's Head

The second place is Baguio City’s Mines View Park. There was no doubt that the Mines View Park is one of the most popular and most visited park in the city. It was a spectacular sight to behold and should not be missed when visiting Baguio. It was too cold but there we could see beautiful view on the mountain.  When I was in Baguio, I felt that so cool because there we could find so many trees. It was look like we back to the nature. What a beautiful place! Around the Mines Park we could find many people that sell various flowers and souvenirs that cheaper. We could also use traditional costume here but we have to pay 20 Peso. It also the good place to take a lot of pictures, so here I took many pictures with my friends.

Gate of Mines View Park

Flowers

Traditional Costume

Let's be happy guys

Beautiful view of the mountain

At the entrance to the park are stalls selling native handicraft such as wood carvings, locally made silver products and jewelry, baskets, brooms, sweaters, blankets, and a variety of other items. There were also canteens, snack stores, and street vendors selling food and beverages. Items one will find here were similar to those found in the public market but only at a much smaller scale. There were however some good bargains at the stores and it is best to check and compare prices before deciding to purchase a particular item. There was an open parking area at the vicinity of the park where the stores are located. In Mines View Park, I bought souvenirs like various key chains and also T-shirt that I would bring to Indonesia

Souvenirs

The third place is The Mansion. The Mansion was look like White House Building in USA. I was so excited to visit this place and it was the gold opportunity for me. The Mansion was so beautiful and so clean. When I saw the gate, I felt that I was in Europe because it looks like the building in Europe. The Mansion is located on the eastern part of the city along the Leonard Wood Road and right across from Wright Park. It was built in 1908 for U.S. governor-generals and was destroyed in 1945 during the battle for the liberation of the Philippines. According to history, The Philippine government later rebuilt and improved the structure in 1947 and since then it has been used by various Philippine presidents whenever they come up to Baguio for their official visits and engagements. The Mansion served as the seat of the Second Session of Economic Commission of Asia and the Far East in 1947. It has also been the site of first meeting of the South East Asia Union which was popularly known as the Baguio Conference of 1950 which was conceived and convened by President Elpidio Quirino. The elaborate main gate of the Mansion is said to be a replica of that at Buckingham Palace in London. Vehicles entering the compound pass through a great circular driveway and it is usually open only when the Mansion is used for an official function or activity. With its beautiful gardens and a well-manicured lawn, it was a favorite site for sightseeing and picture taking. So, here I took many pictures also.

Gate of The Mansion

After visited three place in Baguio, we felt so hungry. So, the next place was looking for Restaurant. We walked to find the Restaurant and we stopped in the Halal Restaurant called “Jamil Kebab House”. Here, many menu that offered to us. But, I ordered Boneless bangus with one cup rice. Boneless Bangus is the big fried fish without bones. If we want to order it we have to pay P150. But, I’m sure that you will so full because the fried fish was so big and it was so yummy. I suggest to try it. After eating in that place all of us felt so full and we were ready to explore another place in Baguio :)

The menu

Let's eat

The last place that we visited is Diplomat Hotel. It was the old building in Baguio. The former Diplomat Hotel in Baguio City, Philippines sits on top of the Dominican Hill. It used to be a rest house and a seminary way back 1911 before it was developed into a school and eventually, a hotel. Almost every tourist that goes to Baguio makes it a point to visit this place because in spite of the ruins, it remained as one of the most panoramic and picturesque spots in the City of Pines. During the World War II, numerous nuns and priests were beheaded here. This is believed to be the reason why headless apparitions can often be seen during the night inside the hotel. The employees and guests also claimed that they would often hear strange sounds coming from the building. Crying coming from kids and babies became a common noise, which can be attributed to the massacre of numerous children done at the fountain. Based on research, there was an incident wherein fire broke out many years ago and several guests who were then staying at the hotel were trapped inside and died. One of the caretakers also affirmed that for unknown reasons, a woman who used to work here as a nurse committed suicide by jumping from the rooftop where the cross is situated. However, the people who are living nearby were often disturbed by sounds coming from the Dominican Hill at night. They would hear banging of doors and windows, clattering of dishes and voices of screaming people, who seem to be agonizing. A lot of documentaries have been written about this mysterious structure. Up to these days, many curious people go to Baguio to see the ruins of what used to be the spellbinding grand hotel that boasts of its large rooms, striking details and admirable design. In Diplomat Hotel, if we went to the highest floor we could see beautiful view in the town. It was so beautiful and it was the good place to take some pictures. Beside the Diplomat Hotel there was a building and in front of the building there was Carving of The Ten Commandments of God that we could find in Bible. It also the good place to take pictures. 

The Ten Commandments of God

Highest floor

Side of Diplomat Hotel

Entrance of Diplomat Hotel

Inside the Diplomat Hotel

After visited all of the sides of Diplomat Hotel and took many pictures, it was the time to go back to Hostel, although I want to spend more time here, but I hope one day I could visit this place again. Before back to the Hostel we went to the market to buy some traditional foods from Baguio and then continue our destination to go to Hostel. It was so tired day but all of us so excited with the beauty of Baguio. See you next time Baguio :)