Baguio City - Basking in the Bliss

September was the best month of the year for me. It was my birthday after all. As a post birthday gift, I prepared my self to set off to Baguio City with my girlfriend.  Well, truthfully though, my girlfriend has an official business trip to Baguio so I just kind of came along :) ssssssshhhh don't tell her officemates okay? :)

I didn't get enough sleep the night before because I was so scared to wake up so late. I know myself very well and as well as my capabilities. I have to say this, but yeah, like everybody else (hahaha) i sleep like a pig! So by morning, i packed up my things, geared up my wallet, and set off my feet to battle. 

My first time in Cubao was horrible. I got myself stranded in an overwhelming flow of people in Farmer's Plaza. I didn't expect the place to be smokingly crowded (I feel very uncomfortable when there are so many people around). In addition, the overpass bridge was terribly dirty (or so I thought). Eventually, Jane came in few minutes and I have the unbearable urge to go away from that place. 

We then reached the bus station and booked ourselves in the next trip. We bought some chips and water to have something to eat in the 6 to 8-hour drive. 

The trip to Baguio was a long drive. I just found myself loving the views of rice fields along NLEX. When we reach Pampanga area, the views were breathlessly boring to watch. Good thing the TV was turned on. Now showing...

I so love how the perfect monkey turned into the fierce monkey (credits to Jane for this brilliant movie review). 

The road to Baguio was long and winding. The views were very astounding I could not take away my eyes from the window. Too bad though I could not take a picture or else I would have to stop the bus. Damn!


When we reached Baguio around 4pm, the rain was in outrage downpour. In addition, we need to find a place to stay. After  an hour of hotel to hotel hopping, we eventually found ourselves resting in Don Henrico (not so sure of the name though). Being a carrier of itchy feet virus ourselves, we couldn't contain the urge to explore, and hence we unpacked our things and walked along Baguio streets at night (luckily, the rain stopped pouring like crazy!). After a series of picture takings, we found ourselves in Session Road- the well-known road in Baguio for its lively nightlife! Indeed it is! There are so many people coming in and out of bars that lie in every corner, Ukay-ukays that lie on the road just like delicacies in a carinderia, and street foods that were so tempting to look at. We can't help it anymore that we found ourselves buying a scarf!


The next day comes the work. Jane had to go to Benguet for a business meeting and I came with her. We went to Benguet State University. I took some pictures while I wait for her to finish. After few minutes we went to a strawberry farm to pick some you-know-what. Unfortunately, there were no strawberries to pick :( After some time we headed back to Burnham Park via a public transportation. It is so exciting to ride a jeepney in an unknown place:) Well, you know what happens next!


After checking the itinerary, we had our eyes set on the next destination- MINESVIEW PARK!!! the problem is, we don't know how to go there :( Like what a normal tourist would do, we got a taxi and drove to the park. The view was breathtaking. I'd say, the  92Php that we paid to the taxi was worth it. Picture taking with the famous Douglas the St. Bernard, dressing up like a true Igorot warrior, etc. etc... click! click! click! AaAaAhHHhh


As soon as we go back to head to our next destination, we saw a jeepney. So we decided to ride to go downwards and head to The Mansion, Wright Park, and Baguio Botanical Gardens which was just along the way. After asking some questions, we learned that a jeepney ride to Mines View Park just costs 10Php. Damn! That's a huge difference! Anyway, there is no time to mourn for that. We got ourselves the camera and click ourselves away. Just like the 92Php! Damn again! :'(


We were so tired that day we weren't able to hang out that night. But all the exhaustion we felt was really worth it. After dinner, we just let the bed engulfed us to dreamland. zZzZz...      (-.-) Oyasumi! 


Waking up the next morning was terribly difficult. The weather was so cold it made my back so painful I would never want to stand up. It was really troublesome. We managed to wake up though after some time. That day was the day to bid goodbye. However, we could not let the chance slip by without going to PMA. So, we walked along Hotel Veniz road to ride a jeepney with a board sign that says PMA. Good thing we were street smart already! After quite a while, we reached PMA and clicked ourselves away! click! click! click! 

I thought the day in Baguio is coming to an end. We walked along Session Road and headed to the chapel. Of course, being an itchy traveler, we couldn't help but take a photo with their chapel. The weather was nice as well. We walked to Victory Liner terminal afterwards and back home to Cubao after 8hours. Geez what a day! 


Things come to end eventually and we have to face reality. But the experience will forever be a blissful memory in me that i'd like to bliss out over and over and over again. I'd be back to Baguio that's for sure :)


...pictures to be followed :)

MASINLOC ZAMBALES -unexplored venue for extreme adventures

"Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished" - Francis Bacon

Last April 2010, I was just a VERY new employee to our company (13 days to be exact) when we had our 2010 Summer Team-Building. While I was still adjusting to the new environment and to the new people that surrounds me, an activity that will help me build relationship with my future co-workers were facilitated by HR. As the days were approaching, HR personnel gave us a "waiver" stating that the company does not hold any responsibilities just in case there will be a "rope" accident since by signing on the waiver means we are also waiving their responsibilities to us. Why there is a "rope activity"? And the thought crossed my mind "papatayin ba nila kami? Initiation ba to sa mga bago?" After a few times to think, I signed the waiver.

And then, the big day came. It was a long tiring 7 hours trip. Thanks to Eugene Domingo who made us laugh for 2 hours with her movie Kimi Dora, and the rest is history, haha, I mean.. boredom..Masinloc Zambales is the 2nd town after Zambales capital town of Iba. Road from Manila to Masinloc is very good (about 4 hours by car), but road from Masinloc to Coto is a different story. It's another 1hr vehicle torture test.

When we reach the team building site, it made us even more fatigue since we arrived there at around 7pm, the beauty of the site is no longer in sight.. It's dark already. We had our dinner and then proceed with the house rules, groupings and briefing of the activities in line for us for the next days. Then the whole employees had their beauty rest.. You got it right, even boys have their beauty rest. hehe.

The fortunate people known as "mararangya" were lucky enough to stay in the air-conditioned rooms with beds and mattresses.

And the rest preferred to stay in the AIRCON-WARI tents which were already pitched.                                                                     Fortunate enough, I am with the "mararangya" people and slept on the rooms though I would also love to stay on the tents.

Then here comes Day 2, early wake up for an early call time. It's made me feel indifferent since during that time of the year, I am not a morning person. But what amazed me more is when I opened my eyes and the door of our room, I saw the beauty of nature nobody can't resist. A crystal clear water, 25 ft. deep, rocks surrounding the river, falls from the top of the mountain flowing thru the river and the trees and mountains surrounding the whole area. I am a nature lover. And at that very moment, I loved the nature even more. 

Masinloc, unlike the infamous Subic, is a not so explored area in Zambales. Maybe because it is far and the road to Camp Coto is not yet developed. However, this area is a good venue for those people who loves extreme adventures. Rapelling , water rafting (depends on the intensity of the water flow) and other extreme activities are possible here. Actually, one of the activities in our team-building is to do rapelling. It was my first time to do it. I only had a few briefing and actual rapelling was conducted with the help of the experts. In this kind of activity, it can really be the longest nerve-wracking moment of your life, yet it can also be one of the most exciting part of your adventure as a human. You just have to trust the equipments and the people in charge.  I overcomed and I conquered my fear. Actually, the experience is a blast and the feeling while you're in 75 ft. above the ground is amazing.

Another rope activity done was when I was in harness, wearing my life vest, go float in 25 ft. deep river and let your group pull the rope for me to elevate a few meters to sign my name and signature to the tarpaulin being put on the bridge. 

Indeed, the "rope activities" indicated in the waiver that made my heart beats faster is the activity that i enjoyed too much. And I have reached a not so explored area in Zambales that is truly majestic. Mother Nature really sometimes hide her best features so that when someone saw the hidden beauty, he/she will definitely appreciate and love it.

And the bonus, I had the chance and opportunity to build my relationship with my colleagues through this activity. This Team-building is really a good start.

-enajenna-

Photo Credits:

Colleagues

Till next adventure :)