Lovers in the City of Pines

Hello Guys! This is our first and official post for this blog. We just want to start off this blog with our first out-of-town trip to the Summer Capital, Baguio, and how our differences in perspectives and opinions gave us a one-of-a-kind experience we will reminisce for years to come.  We want to share this with you, our blogfriends. So sit back, relax and enjoy!

Our 1st Stop - NEVADA SQUARE

Photo courtesy of Village Idiot Savant 

Jerome - Although it is not officially our first day together since we went out with cfriends, it is worthy to mention NEVADA, a hip and happenin’ place located at Loakan Road. It was not Malate but somehow I enjoyed watching the younger crowd have fun (damn, I feel so old).

Jher - Hmmm. I never realized na may ganito na pala dito since my last visit to Baguio 4 years ago. Kinda boring by ‘gimik’ standards. And I believe the crowd there were also from Manila. There’s this one place named Fridays, and the waiters were wearing lame imitation of headgears/caps of the original Fridays. And they have a dance floor, with all the kids gyrating and dancing as if there was no tomorrow. Siguro pag wala nang perang pang order sasayaw na lang para di halata. LOL.

JEN’S FASTFOOD

Jen’s Buttered Chicken 

Jerome - First day together, we had lunch at Jen’s Fastfood at Diego Silang St. (street next to Harrison). Oh my loves! If you are on a budget, eat here. Huge servings, affordable price, and fast service - now that is a rare combination!  Forget the ambience because it’s carinderia.  And if you’re lucky, you’ll get dessert in the form of the son of the owner, Tita Lily. Ummm…

Jher - Son of the owner? Why didn’t get to see him? And I thought you were looking at the menu board! Hmph!

RAJAH SOLIMAN HOTEL

Jerome - Finding a hotel was suspense-filled and pretty intense.  Na-toxic ako, mga mare. As in. Forgot to factor in May 1 as a holiday!  So most of the hotels were fully booked. But, due to inspiration drawn from McGyver, I found Rajah Soliman Hotel at Bokawkan Rd. just 10 minutes away from Session Road via taxi. I think it is one of the first hotels in Baguio.  I loved my stay there.  Very personal service by its owner, Mr. Lim, and at 800 pesos a day!  Good deal. But here’s our learning insight: it is better to find a hotel near Session Rd. or Burnham Park. Talo sa pamasahe especially since we chose to take a cab.

Jher - My apologies for the crappy picture. I just took that from the equally crappy brochure of the hotel which I believe was updated last 1998. LOL. Anyway, it is a fairly old but well maintained hotel. At may cable pa in fairness. I loved our stay here, although our window was facing an appartelle located at the back of the hotel. Buti na lang may mga cute na tenants dun. Heheheheh.

TAM-AWAN VILLAGE

Jerome - Before I say anything, I am 178 lbs., a chain smoker, formerly-frequent-now-sporadic Yoga person. So when I saw the steep climb, I was not excited at all! I thought I was gonna pass out from the climb. But you know what I loved? It was the indigenous history and a lot f things that can be photographed! I took Jher’s photos and I was happy with how it turned out. Awakened that dormand passion for photography.  Maybe the artists and artistry also gave it a nudge a little bit.  Capped the climb with a coke light and pastry (allegedly it was a cream puff, Bleech!) at the Tam-awan Village Cafe.  If you are into art, you’ll get a kick out of this place.  You can have your face sketched too!  Then a ritual will be perfomed to release evil spirits (that was a joke… hehehehe)

Jher - I’ve been to this place before with friends but I have to say that syempre I’ve enjoyed this visit. Not too much to see except for the authentic Ifugao huts, where you can actually rent for the night. They have a fertility hut for you couples out there. Nope we didn’t rent it. LOL.

EASTER WEAVING ROOM

Jerome - I was so excited to visit the Easter Weaving Room at Easter Rd. (it is along th way going to and from Tam-Awan Village).  Finally, I was going to see weavers! When we got there, I was overwhelmed with our products (which were not Filipino-friendly in terms of price).  Tapos wala ang mga weavers. Hmph.

Jher - Notice the absence of a pic? That’s because I didn’t even bother taking one. The place was clearly made for foreign tourists. The items were expensive. And we were the only Filipinos there (except from the staff). I mean, of course we should be proud of our tradition and culture, but how can I be proud of Filipino handwoven items and other stuff when I can’t even afford to buy a darn expensive placemat? And they need to update their items. Handicrafts should not always equate with boring and crappy designs.

CAFE BY THE RUINS

Jerome - you should try the herbal pot tea and partner it with basil bread. Yum! But the nice thing about my visit there was Jher and I got to talk about things.  Very introspective. Look at the picture and observe how our arms touch each other.

Jher - a very lovely, relaxing place. What’s not to love when you’re spending it with a very special person?

BAGUIO CITY HALL

Jerome - I loved this because this is where my most favorite picture with Jher was taken. We look so happy… in Tagalog, mukha kaming masaya. Hahahahaha!

Jher - Panget ka Jerome! Bwisit na to. Anyway, don’t you just love visiting places like the city or town hall or the town plaza? For my trips I really make sure that I get to visit these ‘non-touristy’ places. And yes masaya kami hindi lang mukhang masaya.

BAGUIO CATHEDRAL

Jerome - Naku, mainit na ang ulo ko dito sa picture na to. You know… tired from walking around.  Hay. But I love the picture that Jher took where I was looking at the cathedral.  Anyway, eventually my bad mood dissipatd… maybe that’s what Baguio does. She forces you to stay in love.

Jher - Ikaw ba naman ang maglakad paakyat ng session road at cathedral with just 4 hours sleep eh di ba naman iinit ang ulo mo? It’s actually my 1st time to see the cathedral. Touristy din. Nakakainis nga na yung mga nasa loob ng simbahan didn’t care and just snapped away with matching flash. Sa inis ko nakigaya ako. LOL.

PIZZA VOLANTE

Photos courtesy of Baguio-Quezon Blog

Jerome - Pizza for breakfast! Yup! Loved it! Although, if you are not fond of spices, stay away from the Hanna Sausage Pizze. It has Mediterranean herbs that I do not know of. It gave off a pungent , used-sock-like smell. Plus, if you are going to order the breakfast special, be prepared for the substandard waffle and the diluted syrup. But what I loved about this was, beakast with my husband! Haay, so in love…

Jher - He’s THAT in love with me you know. LOL. Anyway, ako deadma sa lasa ng spices na hindi ko naman masyadong na notice. I was simply hungry. It was okay. The waffle is forgettable.

BON CHIC

Jerome - Ay naku! I enjoyed our visit at Bon Chic… the accessory capital of Baguio! I’m sure you are going to enjoy it to.  Accessories as low as Php 20.00 and watches at Php 100.00.  I bought mah man a watch, gurl! 

Jher - Oy mukha syang mamahalin in fairness. Wag lang mabasa. LOL.

CITY MARKET

Jerome - Shopaholic I am, I looked forward to going to the market. Jher introduced Tamtamco’s to me. Bought espadrille for mom and floor rugs for the house. Jher being the straight guy who does not care for shopping at all and apathetically accompanies girlfriend during shopping sprees, we just went home. I missed my fag hag slash girl-friend.

Jher -  So may issue pala ang pagpunta sa market? That’s why we made lists di ba? So that we will not waste our time wandering around and buying useless stuff. Panget na to.

BELL CHURCH

Jerome - I feel like this is one of the spots that is rarely visited by bakasyunistas.It is located at the City Limits, near the border of La Trinidad.Contrary to my initial perception of it being an old Catholic Church built during the Spanish regime, the Bell Church is actually a Buddhist temple! Went crazy over the Chinese temples and my Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon poses came in handy during the picture taking! Hahahaha!

Jher - I’ve never heard of the Bell Church before, akala ko nga it’s an American church or something (parang Bell Telephone? LOL). But it’s nice. Seeing the contrast between the Buddhist temple on one side of the hill and pinoy residences on the other side is something. 

Jerome - However, my favorite part of the trip to Bell Church was our picture taking at the La Trinidad arch. We were at two places at one time…di ba? Parang Mandy Moore and Shane West in “A Walk to Remember” (kilig)

Jher - Syempre sya si Shane West, ako si Mandy Moore. Hahahahahhahaha

OH MY GULAY

Jerome (screams in delight) Art and vegetarian food converge perfectly in OH MY GULAY owned by Kidlat Tahimik located at the top floor of L’Azotea Bldg. Along Session Rd. Took lots of pictures. Syempre I already tried cooking at home the Chow2 which I ordered.  Service sucks though but is well compensated with the ambience and the view of Baguio. Jher took a pretty picture of me and the 12 monkeys and me and the wooden guy.

Jher - This place is great. The food, okay lang. The selling point of the restaurant is the view and the ambience. Great for lots and lots of photo ops. Don’t forget your camera when you go here.

COTTAGE GI’s

Jerome - Now you have a reason to go to SM Baguio! ahahahaha! Cottage Gi’s is a coffee shop located at the top floor of SM, in front of Cinema 1. Coffee is served in big mugs and is REFILLABLE! Not only that, it has a smoking area at the deck (claps in glee while Jher glares at me). The menus are in scrolls (how cute is that) and the waitress is in a Dutch girl costume and serves food and drinks from a basket instead of a tray! Ang cute!

Jher - (Still glaring at Jerome) The coffee is matabang actually. But the place is nice. Too bad it’s in SM.

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That’s it guys! Hope you enjoyed our first entry as much as we enjoyed doing it. See y’all soon for our next posts!