You’ve filed your leave at work, got an on-call Yaya to take care of your family and house while you’re gone. You are so ready to go visit Baguio again and then… a storm is up! What do you do? Do you cancel your trip or go.
Typhoon Gorio was up in the country affecting Visayas and Luzon with an ample amount of rain and wind. Baguio is located way up North, high in the mountains. The road to reach the place is no joke, it’s a zigzag road , it gets really slippery when wet, plus the fact that the way up is prone to landslides. We pushed through our trip anyway. We left Manila at 2:15am riding a Joy Bus (the express premium commuter bus to Baguio with no stop over). We were in Baguio at 5:15am. Whoa that was really fast ride! I didn’t notice because as soon as we left the terminal I was out to lalaland.
It was fortunate for us to be staying at Azalea Residences Baguio. I believe this is the best hotel to stay at when in Baguio. Rooms are spacious, well maintained, very clean, nice view and complete kitchen and dining amenities in case you want to stay in and cook your own food. Or indulge in the delectable dishes and desserts prepared at Tradisyon, Azalea Baguio’s in-house restaurant that serves the best pastries, hot chocolate, and buffet lunch, breakfast and dinner spreads, definitely #YourHolidayHaven
Aside from that , one of the best things Azalea Residences Baguio can offer you, your friends or family and loved ones is a travel concierge service where they can arrange all your Baguio tour requirements for you and you just pay them a very reasonable amount. You don’t need to worry about your transportation, tour bookings, where to go and what to do, where to eat. Just tell them what would you like to see and do and they will present you with an itinerary (upon your approval).
We met some new foreign friends on our visit, Sean and Emily from California USA, who availed of the travel concierge service at Azalea. They were so grateful to have met us , as they were able to conveniently visit places they want to see inspite of the nasty rain #BagyoinBaguio.
Here’s a video summary of our 3D/2N Rainy Day weekend visit in Baguio that Azalea Baguio arranged for us:
What's Inside
Now, what Azalea Baguio Can Arrange for You to Do/See in Baguio on a Rainy Day Visit, let me count the ways…
Baguio Museum
This was our first stop on our first day arrival . I have been to Baguioi several times already but I have never been to this museum. I am glad we went. This is where can find artifacts of inhabitants of the 6 provinces in the Cordillera region. You will learn their culture, see the clothes the Igorots (inhabitants of the mountains) wear and get fashion inspiration. The highlight and most priced possession of the Museum is the one and only mummy, mummified Igorot that can be seen outside a cave. The cadaver mummy is still fresh and it’s real not a dummy. Photos not allowed . The tour is very educational . It was so nice to see 6 different ethnic costumes and tribes. Very pretty, intricate and ethnic.
General Emilio Aguinaldo Museum
I was not expecting much in this historical museum tour until we reached the end of tour. I got really emotional and nationalistic upon knowing that I was in the presence of the first and the only Philippine flag raised in 1898 to signify the Philippine Independence. I was elated with the though that this flag was the one raised in the presence of Jose Rizal, Manuel Quezon, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Gregorio del Pilar and all our Philippine heroes, we just read in our history textbooks. The museum tour was a great brush-up course on Philippine history . It also made me realized how significant the Philippines was with regards to the World War 2, and the Philippine relation with America as well. I learned some details I did not even mind knowing before.
Easter Weaving
It’s always a stop for tourist, especially if you would like to get hold of authentic Igorot weaved fabric designs and ethnic fashion items and wood carved souvenirs. You can buy it all here and even get a chance to see weavers weave their way to a fabric.
Videoke Night
We were supposed to go to Rabbit Hole but slippers and shorts is not allowed in there so we just went to Verve instead where we got to sing a few songs only because the place is packed! Boohoo.
Locked In
Because it was a rainy day all we can enjoy are indoor activities. We were suppose to go to Mt.Ulap but the venue was closed because of the nasty weather. It was not my first time to do an escape room adventure and I really enjoy it. This is the first and ondju love how everyone was challenged to test their bravery and smarts. They have three rooms available, where you can experience being chased by a cannibal, be a mental patient or a ghost buster. We were divided to three groups for the three different rooms. My team (Me, Rain, Alex and JP) ran out of time but we were almost there solving a mystery and testing our acting skills. One group made it (composed of Jeman, Ed, Gabriel, McRichard,l Denis, Lou, and Nherz) and we did not expect it haha! Almost is not enough for Adrian and Pau’s team. I leave everything else to your imagination.
Bayanihan Block
Baguio is very famous for second hand goods and shopping aka Ukay-Ukay where you have to dig in a lump of items to find a treasure haha. Go empty your pockets and go shopping for second hand goods (clothes, shoes, bags , toys, gadgets, accessories, jewelries and everything you can think of!) We were able to snag a mini-gorilla pod for Php60 and the regular gorilla pod for Php300 at Bayanihan.
Overrunners!
I didn’t know this thing exist in Baguio. This is the place for the “authentic overruns ” from outlet stores of branded stuff. Unfortunately for us there were no new items and the place is almost wiped out. Luckily some of us were able to snag some good stuff, real good deals for Php30 per piece! I was mind blown! And yeah I got a fleece vest and a formal vest in very good condition.
Slaughter House
A trip in Baguio will never ever be complete unless you made a stop and pig out at Slaughter House Balajadia Kitchenette to try out their scrumptious meals. They are popular for their Bulalo, Pinapaitan, Grilled Pork with Blood Sauce, Soup #5 (BNB hehe) and that amazing huge grilled ribs with corn. Just go. I can’t tell you more you have to try it!
Baguio Central Market
A one stop shop for all your pasalubong, kitchen, household and everything else needs. Market is divided to dry and wet goods, native delicacies and souvenirs and everything else. Look for 5 Star for the best Ube Jam, Strawberry Jam (with whole bits of strawberry), and Choco Flakes. Look for Tamtanco’s for the best Lengua de Gato, I agree it is better than Tartland.
Baguio Cathedral
Catholics or non-Catholics would want to visit the Baguio Cathedral for it’s historical and architectural . The structure was built in the 1800’s and was a big part of the Japanese invasion in the Philippines and Pearl Harbor. Visit it at 9am on a Sunday and you will hear a pure Ilocano dialect mass. Visit on a nighttime and it is a good place to find lost spirits and ghost from the WW2.
Food Trip at Tradisyon the in-house restaurant of Azalea Residences Baguio.
I gained 10 pounds from this weekend and it’s Azalea Baguio’s fault! Their breakfast, lunch, dinner buffet are satisfying and varying, dishes are good as well. But my best pick from Tradisyon are their, Hot Chocolate, Tres leches cake, Tres kesos pizza, tres choco cake, Hot Pot, monggo soup, Tiramisu, Adobong chicken and pork. They have a Pizza, Pasta, Salad Bufet dinner every Wedenesday for Php300 only! OMG! I wish they’re closer to Manila so I can pig out on Wednesdays haha!
Azalea Residences Baguio has good looking and friendly staff as well, the’re all easy on the eyes and very warm you need not look further. They can be your travel companions in Baguio too if you avail of their travel concierge service.
In sum, my #BagyoinBaguio trip was warm, cozy, fun, crazy, spooky, adventurous, and educational. awesome! In short, No amount of rain and wind can douse the summer capital reputation of Baguio, come rain or shine. We may have changed our itinerary a couple of times because of the weather, it all worked out well for the best of us. With that said there are more reasons to come back to Baguio and stay at Azalea Residences #AzaleaBaguio #YourHolidayHaven.
How about you, have you been to the places I mentioned above? How was your experience?
Stay gorgeous everyone!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
P.S.
There is an option to get yourself immersed in the mystery of Baguio and learn more about their ghost stories and maybe encounter one. However, Azalea Baguio doesn’t make arrangements for that. You could however go to the Baguio Tourism office and get a Department of Tourism Baguio accredited tourism officer to take you around the mysterious / spiritual sites of Baguio City. Places you will visit in the tour with a DOT guide are Diplomat Hotel Baguio with full access all the way to the rooftop where the famed white lady was said to be seen jumping. Laokan Road where a hitchhiker would hail cars where the driver later on finds out his hitcher was a ghost. American Cemetery where another white lady was seen roaming around the graves of the fallen American Soldiers from World War 2. Baguio Cathedral where a lot of people died during the Japanese invasion including the parish priest of the church during that time. Other sites you can visit with this tour are Camp John Hay, Teachers Camp, Burnham Park , the Japanese Tunnel, and the Philippine Military Academy. We could have visited all venues mentioned but the rain was too nasty to tolerate a tour.
