Batanes: At the Nortern Tip

by John on July 7, 2010 in Philippine Destinations · 0 Comments

Batanes is just one of those wonderful surprises you find when you go off the beaten path in the Philippines. When travelling to the Philippines, you’ll realize that the Archipelago is a place full of wonder, from the top of Mount Apo in Mindanao, the beaches of Boracay, Bohol, and Camiguin Visayas, and the major Metropolitan centers, the country just exudes a natural beauty and splendor that captures and hearts of so many visitors. There is one place in particular that remains a jewel not easily accessible to everyone, the Batanes Group of Islands, a place which looks and feels so different from the other places in the country.

Basic facts 
The Batanes Group of Islands is the smallest province in the Philippine archipelago (84.6 sq. miles) and is located at the northern tip of the country, roughly 850 km from Manila yet only 190km from Taiwan. Batanes is actually a group of 10 islands, though only 3 islands, namely; Batan, Itbayat, and Sabtang are inhabited by the 15,974 residents of the province. The provincial capital of Basco is located on the Island of Batan and houses a small airport and port, the only two ways of getting to these islands.

Culture
The people of Batanes are descendants of the Ivatans and are known for their kindness, honestly and hospitality. The development of the indigenous culture of the Ivatans as reflected in their traditions, languages and architecture has been due to the fact that the islands have been relatively isolated from the rest of the country.  

Getting to Batanes By Plane
Reaching these islands is indeed a challenge as you’ve got limited options due to the low volume of traffic going to and from the islands. You can get to Basco from Manila by plane but there’s only one airline which flies direct from Manila to Basco and that’s South East Asian Airlines (SEA Air). SEA Air has 2 daily from Manila to Basco and they’re in the mornings, the earliest is around 5:45am and you arrive in Basco at 7:30am, the other flight is at 8:20am with your expected arrival at 10:05am. Of course the schedules can vary so be sure to check their site. A flight to Basco is a bit pricey for a domestic flight, roughly P5,800++ per person again due to the low volume of passengers and traffic. Turnaround flights back to Manila leave about 15 minutes after the arrival of the flight, and pretty much cost the same.

Where to stay
I think the only problem with Batanes is the difficulty in getting to it because once you’re in Basco, you won’t have any problems finding appropriate accommodations. Here are some places you might want to consider, but I also suggest walking around Basco to find other places to suit your budget.

The Batanes Seaside Lodge and Restaurant in Basco has tour packages inclusive of accommodations, though not all rooms are have airconditioning nor televisions, you’ll realize that you won’t really need these during your stay. Rates are available upon inquiry.

During the off-peak season, the Ivatan Lodge, also in Basco is a quiet place with room rates at P300 for single, 400 for double, P600 for triple and P1,000 for double aircon rooms. They also have a family room for P750. Rates increase during the peak seasons such as December to January, the Holy Week, and the town’s fiesta.

If you’re looking for something more exclusive, then the Fundacion Pacita Nature Lodge is an ideal place for you. Located on the hills of Basco, its probably got the best that you can get in the island. The rates are much higher than the others in the island primarily because all the rooms are spacious suites with airconditioning and wi-fi internet access. Prices start at P5,525.00++ and go as high as 8,450.00++

Island Hopping
When in Batanes, one thing you should do is to go island hopping by arranging boat tours with local guides, there are 10 islands and I think it would be a shame if you didn’t see them all. Just be sure to bring medicine to counter dizziness and sea sickness as the waves can get pretty rough.

You should visit the island of Itbayat for the Torongan Burial Caves, where more than 4,000 year-old the remains of the ancient Austronesians were found. When you’re in Batan Island, go to Vayang, an easily accessible part of the island with a spectacular view of the sea, probably one of the best places to see sunrises and sunsets when on the island.

You can also go to Mt. Iraya, a 1900-foot mountain in Batan which is perfect for mountaineers and hikers. Rich in flora and fauna, a trek up the mountain is a great experience for travelers, just be sure to bring some cold weather gear and choose a day when it doesn’t look like it’s going to rain.

During the summer months (March to May) you can also visit the beaches of Disvayangan, Song-song, Nakabuang, Chadpidan, and White beach. There’s also the Tayid Lighthouse in Batan. There’s also the Sto. Domingo Cathedral, built in the 18th century by the Spanish missionaries and one of the first cathedrals in the country to have used GI sheets as roof material. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can visit the Dipnaysupuan Tunnels constructed by the Japanese during the Second World War. Rakuh-A-Payaman, also known as “Marlboro Country” because of its pasture-like appearance.

A trip to Batanes is something you should definitely do if you’re traveling to the Philippines, its natural attractions, its unique culture and architecture, the amazing weather, and the great people will surely win you over. With Basco as your home base get your  camera, walking shoes, jacket and smile ready and you’re good to go. Try staying for 3 – 7 days just to make sure you get your money’s worth for the airfare, you won’t regret your visit to this yet undiscovered jewel of the Philippine Islands.

Tagged as: basco, batan, batanes, burial, caves, fundacion pacita, ivatan, lodge, mt. iraya, seaside lodge, sto. domingo, torogan

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Camiguin: Volcanic Paradise

by John on July 2, 2010 in Philippine Destinations · 0 Comments

The island province of Camiguin lies north of the Mindanao group of islands in the southern Philippines and has become one a popular destination for local and foreign tourists, with its white sand beaches, waterfalls, hot springs and its other attractions. I suggest going to Camiguin soon before it becomes too popular and you’d have to share the beaches with too many others.

Getting There
The fastest way I know to get to Camiguin is by taking a plane from Manila to Cagayan de Oro then taking the ferry from Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin. Philippine Airlines flights to Cagayan de Oro cost P2,042.00, Cebu Pacific flights cost P2,400.00.

There are 2 ferry companies who make trips to the island starting from 5am until the late afternoon. Passenger fare for the ferries are P135.00. If you’d want and a trip to Camiguin would probably take about 2 hours depending on the weather and the waves. You can also opt to take a fast watercraft, the Paras Seacat, from Cagayan De Oro to Camiguin. Rates for the Seacat are P400 for regular seats and P600 for business seats.

Getting around the Island
Once in Camiguin you can either look for tour guides and vans to bring you around the island for the day and get you back to the docks for the return trip at 5pm. 

Hotels and Accommodations
Doing a day trip may not be enough for one to truly enjoy Camiguin. Fortunately, there are more than enough hotels and resorts to accommodate the curious travel so let me give you a run down of a few recommended ones. The Paras Beach Resort is one of the largest on the island, it’s got all you need in a hotel and resort, water sports activities, a bar and a game room though I’m not sure about wi-fi internet. Prices range from P1,950.00 for a standard room upto P3,450.00 for a family room. There are also dormitories with 12 beds for P4,200.00 a night.

Caves Dive Resort is also another good place to stay at when in Camiguin. Its more expensive than most hotels but it offers tour packages so you won’t have to worry about how to get around all the great spots on the island. They have fan and air-conditioned cottages between P1,875.00 to P3,500.00 inclusive to transportation to and from the port, breakfast and local taxes.

Other places in Camiguin you may want to check out are Busky’s Treehouse Over the Sea Motel, Bahay Bakasyunan (translated as Vacation House) or the Villa Paraiso Resort and Appartelle. Villa Paraiso’s rooms are between P1,000.00 to P3,000.00 a night.

The Food
You’re bound to get hungry after all the walking you’re going to be doing around Camiguin, so why not try to look up places like Luna Ristorante which has the best Pizzas on the Island, Vjandep home of the really great pastel and native Filipino dishes. You can also go to the bigger restaurants such as the Paras Restaurant and the Coron Restaurant.

Lastly, if you’re a fan of seafood, you’d want to check out the different seaside grills offering fresh seafood. The good thing about Camiguin is that the prices of food are reasonable which makes it so easy to further exhaust one’s self eating after a tiring day of travel. 

See the Volcanoes in Camiguin
When in Camiguin the first thing you’ll notice is that there are a lot of volcanoes for such a small strip of land. In fact, it’s got about 7 volcanoes in a province with just 5 towns, and probably the highest volcano per kilometer ratios in the world. The most popular of these is Mount Hibok-hibok which erupted last in December of 1951 claiming the lives of roughly 3,000 persons as it spilled lava and pyroclastic material from its peaks.

Today Mount Hibok-hibok remains dormant and you can actually visit it so long as you get a permit from the city local office of the department of environment and natural resources in Camiguin. The other volcanoes on the island are Campana, Carling, Ginsiliban, Mambajao, Minokol, Ginsiliban, Tres Marias, and Piyakong, and Vulcan.

Hot and Cold Springs
Now all that geothermal activity on such a small place has resulted in the large number of natural springs, both hot and cold around the province. The most frequented are the Esperanza Ardent Springs, at the foot of Hibok-hibok, the Sto. Nino Cold Springs south of Catarman, Tangub hot springs west of Mambajao among others.

The Sunken Cemetery
Another famous attraction of the island is the sunken cemetery, once a part of the old town of Cotta Bato which was buried in the volcanic eruption in 1871. The cross which is visible above the water serves as a marker for the site.

Waterfalls
 It seems Camiguin doesn’t run out of things to see as visitors can enjoy the Katibawasan waterfalls near Mambajao and the Tuasan waterfalls near Catarman. At Katibawasan you can take a dip in the deep pool of the lake or, for a few extra pesos, you can rappel down the side of the 70-meter waterfalls. Not for those who are afraid of heights though.

The Beaches at Last
Lastly, there are the smooth white sand beaches off the shores of Camiguin. The two most popular are Mantigue island and White island (which are actually sandbars sticking out of the water but beautiful nonetheless.). Mantigue Island is also a dive spot and snorkeling area while White Island is basically just a big sandbar with nothing on it. A trip to and from White Island by boat will cost you about P500 so better be sure you’re up to it and remember that the sandbars have no tree cover or any shade whatsoever so bring a lot of sunscreen or sunblock or even a huge umbrella to avoid getting roasted under the sweltering sun.

Tips for Travelers
First and foremost, it would really help if you could contact the resort you’ll want to be staying at while on the island, get a reservation and a confirmation before you get to Camiguin. This is because some drivers offering rides at the port will tell you that the resort you went to has already closed down and will try to take you to other places. Just politely say no and choose another driver. Always keep your belongings close to you, especially if you’re on an island hopping trip and be sure not to leave your stuff lying around.

What the island lacks in space, it certainly makes up in attractions. A visit to Camiguin entails more than just a day of rushing from attraction A to attraction B, you should really stay awhile longer to take it all in. Don’t’ forget to bring back pictures of your trip for your friends to drool over.

Tagged as: beaches, cagayan de oro, camiguin, camiguin hotels, camiguin resorts, cold springs, hibok hibok, hot springs, mantigue island, paras seacat, sunken cemetery, trip, vacation, volcanos, waterfalls, white island, white sand beaches

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Bohol: Island Paradise

by John on June 25, 2010 in Philippine Destinations · 0 Comments

Bohol province has beautiful beaches, exotic wildlife, the Chocolate Hills, and amazing food and the hospitable atmosphere and as such is one of the premier tourism destinations in the Philippines. Places like Panglao, Pamilacan and Tagbilaran made the province an ideal destination for tourists and a few days around the province will certainly rejuvenate your mind and body. 

How to get there
The island is one of the rice, vegetable and fruit baskets of Visayas and has recently become a world-class tourist destination due to the efforts of the local government and the entrepreneurial residents. One has two options to get to Bohol: either by boat or by plane.

Bohol has an airport in the provincial capital, Tagbilaran and the three local carriers have regular flights to Bohol. Philippine Airlines has 3 daily flights between Manila and Bohol with economy rates at P1,864.00++. Cebu Pacific flights usually cost around P1,400.00. Lastly, Zest Airways also has a daily flight to Bohol, usually at P1,500++.

If you’re coming from Cebu you can also take a fast water craft to Tagbilaran, Bohol for P500.00. Just make sure that the weather isn’t stormy or else you’ll be in for a rough ride.

Accommodations
Once in Bohol you can visit the provincial capital, Tagbilaran, where you can find a number of excellent hotels, hostels, and inns which will suit your preference and budget. If you’re looking for resorts then Panglao Island is your destination.

If you’re on a budget and just need a room for sleeping since you intend to spend most of the day traveling around the province, the city has enough traveler’s inns and pension houses to fit your budget. You can try Nisa Traveler’s Inn located in Tagbilaran where rooms cost anywhere between P900.00-P1,200.00 a night. Nisa doesn’t have the best facilities or amenities but their rooms have aircon, showers and a television, plus they can help you arrange transportation for your trip around the province.

One of the best places you can stay at in Tagbiliaran is the Bohol Tropics, it’s really more of a resort with good rooms and amenities. Room rates are somewhere around P2,150.00 to P05,350.00/ night.

If you’re looking for just a real hotel type of place that’s in-between the travellers’ inn and the resort then MetroCentre Hotel is your pick. Its located at the heart of Tagbilaran with complete amenities. The rooms are between P1,400.00 to P7,950.00 and include continental breakfast.

The Wildlife When you’re in Bohol you can’t miss the Philippine Tarsier, recognized as one of the symbols of Bohol Province. These large-eyed primates can be found only in the island of Bohol and are now mostly kept safe in wildlife sanctuaries.

Churches
Bohol is the sight of a number of churches which go back some two-hundred years, during the Spanish Colonization of the Philippine Archipelago. The places like Baclayan, Panglao, Talibon and Duero have some of the old churches in the province. The churches were made with local materials and stand as a testament to the influence of the Spanish and the religious nature of the Boholanos. Visiting the churches feels like going back to a different time, with its centuries-old saints and stone structures, and museums of religious relics and artifacts. Some of the museums don’t allow photos so keep your cameras covered.

Chocolate Hills
 One of Bohol’s most famous tourist attractions is the famed Chocolate Hills. A cluster of brown colored hills (well during the dry season they’re brown, during the rainy season they turn a lush green). There is a viewing deck which near the hills with a ridiculously long staircase but don’t give up just thinking about it because once you reach the top, you have an amazing 360-degree view of the surround areas and of course, of the Hills themselves. A trip to Bohol would not be the same without seeing the Hills so put it on your itinerary.

Food
Bohol If you get hungry, the province has a number of notable dining places but if you want something different, you can have lunch at the Loboc River on a bamboo barge. The buffet meal which costs around P300.00 can be taken as the barge flows calmly down the river and if you’re lucky, musicians will also be playing catchy natives tunes while you dine.

There are also a number of small restaurants and food places you might want to visit to experience native Boholano cuisine. But if you’re not into the sort of thing, Tagbilaran has a number of commercial fast-food establishments to suit your needs.

Beaches
Bohol’s primary tourist attraction is its amazing white-sand beaches in Panglao and Pamilacan Islands. Panglao is a medium size island now connected to Bohol via land bridge and it has it’s  fair shares of historic churches and sites but its beaches are the real crowd drawers because of its pristine white sand and blue waters. The area near Panglao also has a lot of dive sites, snorkeling areas and caves just waiting for explorers so get ready to spend a lot of time in the water.

One of the best places to stay in Panglao is the Bohol Beach Club, with prices for rooms ranging from US$ 77++ for single occupancy rooms to US$385 for large family rooms.

The months between April and July are great for whale watching and Bohol is located close to the Mindanao. If you’d want to catch a glimpse of these then the best place to go would be to Pamilacan Island. You can opt to just visit for a day trip by organizing a tour with the local guides or you can opt to stay for a day or two at Pamalican Island Paradise Resort for P6,000.00 per villa.  The resort also has packages for dolphin and whale watching out at sea.

Things to Remember
Since the Bohol has become such a destination for local and foreign tourists, a few bad apples are bound to come up. First of all, the food stalls in the Tagbilaran Pier are over-priced so be sure to ask for the prices before ordering anything. If you get the services of a driver and his van for a tour around the province, be sure to have the agreement written down on paper and have them sign it so they don’t jack up the prices last minute. If you’ve got issues, you can call the Bohol Tourism Office.

Tagged as: beach, beaches, Bohol, bohol beach club, bohol tropics, dive sites, diving, dolphin watching, pamilacan, panglao, tabilaran, tarsier, whale watching

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Batangas: Coffee and Beaches

by John on June 15, 2010 in Philippine Destinations · 1 Comment

The province of Batangas is located south of Metro Manila and a place famous for its mountains, coffee and its beaches. Travelling around the province is enough to satisfy the wanderlust of most travelers because of its natural beauty and its rich history, culture and culinary treats.  

Getting to Batangas
Getting to Batangas used to be a 3-4 hour road trip for those living in Manila but the subsequent improvements in infrastructure has shortened the trip to just over an hour.  You can get a bus from Manila to Batangas by taking the Jam Transit, fare to Batangas City or Lipa will be about P120. From Batangas City or Lipa City you can take the local buses to the more popular destinations like San Juan, Nasugbu or Anilao.

Places to see
When travelling to the province, I’d recommend that you keep a specific activity in mind, as there are just too many things to do here. If you want to see cultural and historical places, try going to Tanauan, Batangas to visit the Museum of Apolinario Mabini, an individual credited as the brains of the Katipunan the revolutionary movement establish to free the Philippines from Spanish Colonial rule. The Museum in barangay Talaga features his personal memorabilia such as letters, pictures, artifacts and other works.

Lipa – Former Center for of the Philippine Coffee Industry
Another place to visit for history buffs is the City of Lipa, a little distance away from Batangas City. Lipa used to be the coffee center of the Philippines, the Kapeng Barako, a variety of Arabica Coffee was grown abundantly in its fields and shipped to countries around the world. The Barako coffee is known for its strong aroma and flavor, and remains one of the most well-liked varieties in the country.  

Because of this Lipa became a center of trade and development in the province and housed many of the rich and prominent families of Batangas. Today, Lipa is one of the most developed places in the province but it still maintains its historical and cultural roots as evidenced by the cathedral and many well maintained Spanish colonial houses. But the more recent attraction of the city is The Farm, in San Benito. The Farm is a wellness and medical resort aiming to provide holistic healing using modern and alternative medical practices. They have rooms, suites and even villas for guests, with prices ranging from P7,000.00 a night to P45,000.00.

Beaches in Batangas
Places such as Anilao, Nasugbu and San Juan offer beach enthusiast a quiet place to unwind. These resorts don’t have the loud or noisy bars found in other tourist places like Boracay or Puerto Galera, rather these exclusive resorts value the peace and tranquility of the sea. These places offer snorkeling and scuba diving sites, wake boarding and jet skiing, afterwards a quiet dinner and a stroll by the beach for those looking to loosen up.

I enjoyed my stay at the Balai Resort in San Juan, it’s got a lookout tower and comfortable rooms. The rates are charged per person at an average of P3,000.00 per day in Anilao and P1,700 in Laiya. The rates are inclusive of bottomless iced tea and 4 buffet meals.

In Calatagan Batangas, you can find the Stilts, a resort with cottages out on the water. Apart from the novelty of staying over the water, the place also has white sand beaches, swimming pools, an outlet restaurant and a conference venue. It’s got packages for regular and group accommodations which involve renting out an entire cottage, the rates are between P7,000.00 to P14,000.00.

 There’s also the Kabayan Resort in San Juan Batangas offers rooms and cottages for couples or groups. Once there, apart from hitting the beaches, one can also do water sports like snorkeling, hiking, kayaking beach volleyball among others. Rates begin at P4,000.00 for a room and go up to P13,000.00 for a cottage for 15 persons.

Must See: Parada ng mga Lechon (Parade of Pork)
Each town, and even each barrio in Batangas celebrates a fiesta but one of the most famous events in the province is the fiesta of the town of Balayan called Parada ng Mga Lechon (Parade of Pork). Every June 21, the residents of the town cook up their famous lechon (a whole pig slow roasted over coals) and then, for some reason, dress these up in different costumes and parades these well dressed cooked pork around the town. Of course, after the parade, guests are welcome to feast.

Some advice when visiting Batangas
During the fiestas, if someone invites you into their home its considered very impolite to decline, just go in and have a bit to eat, don’t eat too much as I’m sure you’ll get invited to other houses as well and as I said, declining isn’t an option. They also like to drink, whether beer, hard liquor or lambanog, a drink made from fermented coconut juice, so just be prepared.

All in all, a trip to Batangas is a microcosm of what you’ll most likely see when you travel to the Philippines and around its 7,100 islands. The people, languages and traditions may change but the welcoming and accommodating attitude remains the same.

Tagged as: anilao, arabica, barako coffee, batangas, beaches, calatagan, coffee, lechon, lipa, nasugbu, parada ng lechon, resorts, san juan, taal, tanaun

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Baguio: The Summer Capital

by John on June 13, 2010 in Philippine Destinations · 0 Comments

Planned during the 1900s by renowned urban planner Daniel Burnham, Baguio City was developed as a summer destination for Americans in the Philippines during the early 1900s. The City sits atop a mountain and is characterized by zigzagging streets, pine trees, houses built on the mountainside and the much lower temperatures compared to the rest of the country. If you’d want to escape the noise of the Metropolis, love art and the Bohemian lifestyle then the City of Pines is the place for you.

Reaching the City
To get to Baguio, one can either take the land route or a plane. The trip to Baguio over land takes roughly 6-8 hours, it used to be much longer but the improvements in infrastructure, most especially in the North Luzon Expressway, have made travel much faster. A bus to Baguio can cost you about P350.00 for regular and P700.00 for the de luxe trip. Although you can also just rent a car or van from Manila to get you there but the prices of these vary. Ideally, if you’re heading to Baguio by land you should leave Manila in the evening around 10pm would be the best schedule so that you get to the city around 4 or 5am to be greeted by the chilly morning air. The best bus company to take is Victory Liner.

Accommodations
There are so many places one can stay at in the wonderful City of Pines, apartments, hotels, small inns, pension houses and transient houses abound in the city to accommodate the thousands of tourists who visit the city every year. Let me mention a few of the larger and more famous hotels in the city the rest you can find for yourself to suit your budget. The Burnham Hotel in the City has standard rooms for $25, De Luxe for $32, Junior Suites and Suites and $32, and US$45 respectively.

There is also The Manor Hotel within Camp John Hay offering stunning views of the surrounding forest and gardens of the camp. Room rates begin at P5,000.00 for the standard rooms and go as high as P12,000.00 for suites.

The Baguio Country Club is one of the monuments of City, it’s been around for more than a hundred years but with the continuous upgrading of its facilities it remains one of the best hotels in the City. The BCC has 112 Standard rooms (P5,096.00), 17 cottages (P11,256.00), 19 Executive Suites (P10,696.00) and 3 Presidential Suites (P17,416.00).

Must See Places When you get to Baguio
One of the places you should visit is Camp John Hay, a former US Military Camp which has now been transformed into a recreation venue for tourists. Camp John Hay has, among other facilities, an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding areas for adults and children and fine picnic spots for families.

Based in Baguio city, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is also a good destination on Sundays when the cadets perform field exercises and demonstrations for visitors and family, this are very interesting so trust me, you don’t want to miss this. The PMA grounds are a good 20-30 minute drive from the City center and the field demonstrations on Sundays begin at 7 am.

Just go to Session Road to get a good feel of the City of Pines. Apart from being the summer capital of the country, the City is also known as one of the artist hubs of the country. In Baguio artists flourish and there are a number of galleries, showrooms, stages and venues for the graphic and performing arts. There are countless clubs and bars which feature live bands and the music scene is alive every night and the food is so varied and exciting. The Bohemian lifestyle of the residents creates an atmosphere which seems conducive to self expression the artistic freedom that is distinctly found in Baguio.

Every February Baguio celebrates the fantastic Panagbenga flower festival. The month-long festival is characterized by flower floats, dancers, live band performances and street parties commemorating the recovery of the City of Pines after the devastation of the 1990 earthquake. Thousands of people flock to the city during this time so if you plan to see it, better reserve early.

Restaurants in the City
Baguio’s culinary scene is very diverse, from Asian to American and European you’ll probably not have enough time to eat at all of them but just check out some of the best. For Italian cuisine I suggest going to Palizzata near the Baguio Cathedral and to Pizza Volante on Session Road. The former serves amazing pasta and has refreshing al fresco dining with a view while the latter serves thin crust pizzas 24-hours a day.

The Forest House Bistro and Café near Camp John Hay in Baguio exudes an aura of a mountain side cottage with its wooden planks and brick fixtures, The Forest House features a number of amazing dishing including Lamb Tapa, Osso BUco, Forest House Oxtail and grilled prawns.

Café by the Ruins is another one of the  more famous tourist destinations in Baguio not only because they lie beside the ruins of the last residence of the Spanish Civil governor in Baguio but also because of its culinary delights which would appeal to foodies and healthy eaters alike. Contact them if you’re ever in town

When in Baguio be sure to visit the 50′s Diner, a recreation of an American diner complete with large servings, great burgers, fries and milkshakes. Its got a very American feel to it that you half expect the waitresses to serve you in roller skates. They’ve got a facebook account!

If you’re looking for bars and clubs to party at then you can head to Nevada Square or Session road and get your pick of the many happening places in the city.

Markets and Bazaars
Shopping is also a fun activity to do in Baguio, there are night markets popping up around the city and the city market sells more than just produce and meats. There you can find everything from native delicacies, clothes, souvenir items and other knick-knacks. The night markets on the other hand offer imitation signature clothes, accessories and shoes usually, although bags appear every so often.

Getting Around
Getting around the streets of Baguio, I’d usually recommend walking if you aren’t headed too. If you’re planning to go a bit further, then just take the taxis, they’re fast (and I mean fast so strap on your seatbelt and hold tight) and they know the city like the back of their hand. Also the taxi drivers are courteous and give exact change, unlike many cab drivers in Metro Manila. There are also jeeps, buses and tricycles in the city.

Baguio’s charm lies in more than its balmy climate or the fact that when you’re there surrounded by pine trees, its the entire laid-back atmosphere of the City and the people which makes visitors stay longer than they initially plan to.  Its bars and pubs are alive in the evenings and its restaurants and cafes are teeming with people during the rest of the day. The city, although much smaller than Metro Manila offers much for visitors to see and do. My advice, avoid the huge SM Mall (I believe it ruins the ambiance of the city) and look through the markets and smaller stores for the things you need. Don’t be afraid to walk and smell the pine scent and sounds of music in laughter in the summer capital of the Philippines.

Tagged as: art, baguio, baguio city, baguio country club, bugio city hotels, burnham park, cafe by the ruins, camp john hay, city of pines, food, forest house, forest house cafe, music, nevada square, Panagbenga, pizza volante, session road, summer capital

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