Something About Tomato: Adventures

GOING SOLO: MT.ULAP + BAGUIO (PART 1)

Last August, I gathered up all my courage to have my first hike and my first solo travel. I registered as a solo joiner for Mt. Ulap and gone solo exploring Baguio afterwards.

Thanks to the long weekend of August 19-21, I was finally able to do something about my dream of travelling solo. When I learned about this break, I knew I shouldn’t waste it like I used to do before. Baguio was the first thing that came to mind, so I started searching on what to do there. I’ve been there just last year with a group of friends, but this time would be different, I knew.

I came across an article about a day hike at Mt. Ulap and mind you, I’m so excited! Of course, I searched for events on Facebook. I found numerous events for August 18-19, but I went for Sir Arphi of Team Akyat Pilipinas for an event fee of Php1,200. Inclusions were the transpo, registration fee, guide fee, headbuff, dinner, and sidetrip to Mines View Park. Sir Arphi was very accommodating and even lend a hand on searching for my Baguio accommodation as I will be staying in the city for another day.

We gathered at a fast food place in Kia Theater and left for Benguet at midnight. What excites me here that time was when I was informed that there was another solo joiner, Jam, so we're two! The others came in groups, so it's really hard for an introvert like me to just join their conversation.

Nonetheless, the van where I'm in was so full of energy. Jam and I were with two groups that time, Filipino and Chinese. So you can just imagine the mix of convos, laughs, and sometimes jokes from the Filipino side of course (maybe because I don't understand Chinese, eh?)

We had our early breakfast at Leeza's at I think 4 in the morning. I tried to sleep my way in the whole ride after, but it's so hard when our driver was full of enthusiasm! He had a lot of stories and guess what? Had a lot of "Versace on the Floor" versions in his playlist! (Sobrang laugh trip si Kuyang Driver)

We arrived in the registration area at 6 in the morning with so much "kilig" from the girls on the other groups. That's the time when I learned that James Reid just left and went on hiking in the very same mountain we're gonna trek into. (The odds, I know)

We started our Mt Ulap adventure at 7am. We were always the last group as we were so keen on taking pictures. Trees, rocks, even soil, you name it, we have a photo!

The most notable area for me before reaching the summit was the Gungal rock which hangs on a 60-70 ft high cliff. All the members of my group went to have their picture taken with the sea of clouds behind them, except me. I had really no plans to do it. That time, I was thinking that what I did was more than enough. The courage a boring person like me put into this activity was more than enough. But my new found friends thought otherwise. So, yeah, there I am, in that rock, with the sea of clouds right behind me, enveloping me each second that passed, cold wind sipping through my skin.

They say the summit was the best part. At first, I thought maybe because of its beauty. But as I go deeper, I think it's because the summit shows as the real adventure. It reminds us how far and high we have gone, it's just like the cherry on top. The frostings and the base of the cake are the things we have to go through to reach it. And that makes indulging on that cake more rewarding and deserving. (Why am I always talking about food?!)

So, we had our lunch in the summit. Mine was cheeseburger while Jam was biscuit. We're both thinking back then that babawi na lang kami sa free dinner. Ha!

The descend was more than easy, we took less photos, less stops, but more convos. I loved it! I must say our group was too fortunate that day considering it rained heavily after our descend, just before we reached the van! I felt bad somehow that there were still other members of the group left in the mountain as it rained cats and dogs.

Everyone enjoyed the shower afterwards while I stayed in the van to rest. As I will be staying in Baguio for the night, I figured I'd just have my hot and satisfying bath in the inn.

The group had a quick run in Mine's View Park to buy pasalubong amidst the heavy rain. Too bad we weren't able to roam around the park, Jam and I really like to try and have our photo taken with the traditional Igorot clothing available for rent inside the park though.

Then came the most awaited part, early dinner! I was so excited to taste the food being served at Good Taste. I've heard a lot of nice reviews about it and I finally got the chance to savor its goodness.

And as expected, tummy's full! That night, I bid goodbye to the best people with a fulfilled heart and happy tummy. :) Sir Arphi was also kind to assist me a few blocks away to the inn I'll be staying at.

Ah! That day was just so perfect! I don't want to be overly dramatic about it, but it just felt good. To conquer your fear, go out of your comfort zone, meet new friends, discover new places... it makes you love life even more. <3

Now, off to my Baguio solo journey. Please do read about it on the part 2 of this post. ^_^

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Adventures

Staycation at Privato Hotel

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Adventures

Baguio: Rediscover the City of Pines

It’s always fun to explore a new city with the people you’re close with. Let me take you to places we’ve been when we’re in Baguio. J

Though we rented a van on our trip to Baguio, I loved that it has been very spontaneous. While one of my friends created a comprehensive itinerary, we were faced with problems beyond our control.

We left Manila around 11 in the evening and arrived in Baguio at around 3 AM. I know, that’s pretty fast, right? I think it really was, because I wasn’t able to get a proper sleep while we’re on our way!

When we were riding through Kennon Road, all of us seemed awake aside from my boyfriend who’s controlling his dizziness by staying asleep. I couldn’t help but to tell them how I remembered the movie “Mama” in our current situation. We were surrounded by cliffs and a full moon. It’s fun to talk about something scary at three in the morning and one or two of your friends would just scream. :D

Our first stop was supposed to be at the Strawberry Farm but it’s still too early, so we parked at a nearby gasoline station and wait for the sun to rise.

I’ve been wanting to witness a fog and it all came true that one cold morning. It’s also calming to watch how simple it was to live there and observe how the people start their day, and carry on to earn money. The goods were unbelievably priced at a low amount compare to those in the city, so we grabbed the opportunity to buy lots of veggies.

We took the 252 steps at Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. I’ve been here when I was three years old, and the place changed a lot in a good way. I love how they’ve been taking care of the place.

After breakfast, we visited Bell Church and headed on to Tam-awan Village. The place requires a minimal amount of PHP 100 as entrance fee. Tam-Awan Village is not your ordinary tourist spot. It looks like a mountain designed to be an outdoor garden. Though some of the areas we’re not properly maintained, it’s still a nice place to enjoy Baguio and its culture.

By lunch, I was informed that our driver has fever and we have to change our itinerary because he needs to rest. While eating at Diner’s, we decided to just go home, take a nap, and continue the sight-seeing at three in the afternoon.

Good thing that the house where we’re staying was near Burnham Park. Having regained a two to three hour of sleep, we went to the park for boat sailing. We were a group of 8 and our boat was not quiet sturdy, so I must say, it was as nerve-wracking and exciting ride!

We walked our way to Session Road. I love how I felt like a resident there, just walking and enjoying the cold breeze. It felt so refreshing and normal – in a way that you’re in your own city, just wearing your old top and ragged shorts, while looking for a place where you can indulge in a hot coffee and a slice of cake.

I can’t believe how the La Azotea building along Session Road was hiding a jewel behind its venerable façade. Oh-My-Gulay is at the top floor of the building and I felt like I was transported in a whole different place. The pasta I ordered was not that outstanding, but hey, just by the ambiance, I thought I’m already full! I think we spent an hour taking pictures in almost every corner of the restaurant. It’s breath-taking.

We tried to have our dinner at Zola but it’s crowded and we thought it’s not a wise decision to have a meal there. The place looked like a bar, but according to my friend who lived in Baguio for a couple of years, Zola wasn’t like that before.

We ended our first day at the night market. How I love to watch thrift sellers side by side there on the road. The prices were really low, it’s insane! You could find a lot of merchandise on sale, from shoes to clothing, name it.

We walked our way on the market to buy breakfast and souvenirs. We’ll be leaving that day, so we bought souvenirs as much as we can. The most exciting part that morning was the shower. The water was icy cold, it awoken every sleepy nerves I got. It’s so liberating and fun, I wouldn’t trade the experience for a hot dip. ;)

I was able to enjoy a cup of strawberry taho while we’re on our way to Mines View Park. I love how sweet it tasted, that’s one of the things I’ll miss in Baguio. We had a quick trip at The Mansion before heading to Camp John Hay. I think it’s the best place to end our Baguio tour. It has a lot of Baguio feels.

Though we weren’t able to go on some of the places in our itinerary, still, I had so much fun being with the people that matters. I love their company and this trip wouldn’t be as much as fun and enjoyable without them.

Have you been to Baguio? Tell me about your experience in the comment section. J

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Adventures

The Beauty That Is Ilocos

Let me take you back to my adventure a year ago in one of the places where the Philippine history lives forever: Ilocos.

It was a group tour arranged by Viajero Gabrielle Travel and Tour, and I must commend their staff (tour guide and driver) for being patient with us. After all, it’s not every day that we got to visit this beautiful place.

We started our two-day tour in Calle Crisologo at five in the morning. How serene it was to finally set foot in a place which has one of the richest histories in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Calle Crisologo isn’t called as Vigan Heritage Village and be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for nothing. While the place itself might complete your visit, Ilocanos won’t let you leave without treats. You could buy here souvenirs (t-shirts, Ilocano made arts and crafts, antiques, etc.) and of course their Longganisa (Filipino version for chorizo or meat sausage), my all-time favourite! On the other hand, we bought their famous Bagnet (deep fried crispy pork) in the same place we watched the process of pottery. If the shopping made you crave for Ilocano dishes, worry not because the 500-meter long street offers a lot of dining options you can choose from. On our third day before going back to Manila, I remembered we ate at Abuelita’s – affordable and naimas.

We proceed to Chavit's fortress. Baluarte is a home to various animals like ostrich, deer, duck, and tiger. I have read that animals roam freely here, but it’s only the ostrich that we saw roaming around with his long neck eager for selfies. God forbid they let the tiger out of its cage! I’m afraid the ostrich will go wild after a lot of photo encounters, so I let my feet wander to the dinosaurs. No harm, none at all. ;)

We went to a lot of churches, but I only remembered two: Bantay Church Bell Tower (above) and Paoay Church (below). We went to Bell Tower and had to climb a flight of stairs to reach the top of the belfry. While we turned frisky upon seeing the glorious view that welcomed us, its past of being strategically used to prepare for its enemies will always be hidden behind its walls. Paoay Church is another Roman Catholic Church like the Bantay Church, but it was noted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Paoay Sand Dunes popularized itself not only because of its iconic 4x4 ride and sand boarding activities, but also because it is the home of the classic film, Panday. I couldn’t describe how exhilarating our 4x4 ride was. I used to remember how my friends promised to go to work early or called out the name of each Saints just to spare them from the ride! Some of the slopes were too steep that left my stomach churning after every move. The sand boarding was equally fun and worth every screams.

After our nerve-wracking experience at La Paz, we paid visit to the Marcoses. We went to the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum, and in their mansion known as Malacañang of the North. After all the places we’ve visit, we were reminded that it’s time for food. We dined at the famous La Preciosa in Laoag, and it didn’t disappoint. I personally loved their carrot cake – I think all of us did! It’s a residential Spanish home converted into a fine dining restaurant. You have a choice to dine inside or outside, but since it just rained and we’re a big group, we chose to have our dinner inside.

Our second day in Ilocos started with church visits before heading to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. We were still quite far to the lighthouse when we decided to just walk since there were a lot of tourists and vehicles near the spot. I used to watch horror documentaries and this one’s definitely included, but I wasn’t able to think about it when we were there, because how could I? The view from the lighthouse was so breath-taking, you won’t stop taking pictures and feel the serenity away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Our next stop was my most awaited: Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. It is approximately three kilometres away from the area where you’ll be off, so you need to walk for a couple of minutes before you can appreciate its beauty within close proximity. You also have a choice to ride with a horse to get you there, but mind you, it’s hot. I suggest you go there early in the morning, but even us who did that weren’t saved from the scorching heat. Nevertheless, it was worth it. J

I already managed to spot a few windmills while we’re on our way to the rock formation, but not when we arrived at Bangui Windmills that a dozen of them greeted us. Just beautiful!

We had a sumptuous lunch at Blue Lagoon. We were able to choose what we want over a variety of live seafood before ordering them to be cooked, so you just imagine the freshness! While waiting, we also got to munch on one of Ilocos’ famous delicacies, tupig!

I loved the little tour guides in the main road to Bantay Abot Cave. They keenly told us an overview about the cave and how it was used to be a shooting site for numerous Philippine TV shows. I had a hard time climbing the cave because my shoes were too slippery, but that didn’t stop me from my track. We also went to Patapat Viaduct since it’s just near Bantay Abot Cave and dropped by at Paraiso ni Anton. The place looks like a spring with stairs going to the altar. Our tour guide said that its water is miraculous and can cure various kinds of diseases.

We wrapped up the day with a quick dip at Saud Beach – well, they did. I just roamed in the seashore and adored the tranquillity I felt that time.

P.S: Days after we’re back in Manila, we found out that one of my friends is pregnant! Imagine she rode the 4x4 and took sand boarding without even knowing she already have her little blip! It just made our experience truly memorable. J

Have you been to Ilocos? Share your experiences with me in the comments section. J