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Baguio City
The country's summer
capital, Baguio city stands amidst the mountainous region of the
Cordillera. Situated 1,500 meters above the sea, Baguio in one of the
few places in the country blessed with a cool climate. At any given
time, it is eight degrees cooler in Baguio than the Burnham Park, Club
John Hay, Lourdes Grotto and Mines View Park. Baguio is also a great
shopping place. Delight on freshest vegetables and strawberries. Baguio
also is the jump-off point to the famous Banawe Rice Terraces.
One of the Lists members, Jiri Doucette wrote about
Baguio
Baguio City, The Tourist capital
of the Philippines also known as the "City of Pines" or the "Summer
Capital"
Baguio City is known for its
cool crisp climate in relation to other cities in the Philippines, you
can expect the tempter to be on average 8-10 degrees lower then in the
lowlands, Baguio is approx. 1400 - 1500 meters above see level and is
located in Northern Luzon about 250 kames. from Manila.
How to get to Baguio, there are
a number of ways to get to Baguio from Manila, by land you can take the
bus either Philippine Rabbit or Victory liner. There are 3 Hi-ways that
can be taken, Marcos Hwy. Kennon Rd. also known as "Zig-zag rd" for it's
numerous bends and turns and there is Naguillian rd. each route is about
equal give or take an hour depending on the weather and traffic
conditions. Travel time is about 6 hours from Manila.
Traveling by air with Asian
Spirits, there are one or two flights a day to Baguio from Manila the
cost is under a hundred dollars and takes approx. 55 min. take note that
the Baguio airport (Loakan airport) closes due to dense fog certain
times of the year, it would be a good idea to call ahead to make sure
there are flights available.
Baguio is also the jumping off
point to other great locations in Northern Luzon such as the world
famous Banaue Rice Terraces and Sagada Mountain Province famous for
their hanging coffins.
Once in Baguio, you will find a
bustling little city, you will not find Tricycles like in the low lands,
but you will see your share of Jeepneys and taxi's, getting around town
is never a problem.
Session rd. is the main strip
it's also the main business district, you will find great little shops
on either side of the road there is lower and upper session rd, to help
guide you, from specialty shops, restaurants, and American franchises
like McDonalds you will also see your share of street vendors selling
everything from kids toys to small home appliances, water heater act.
Public Market, now this is the
heart of Baguio it is spilt into wet and dry, regardless of where you
are from, there is a good chance you will find what you are looking for,
not only your basic food groups are sold here but you can also find the
freshest fruits and veggies, food is not the only products you can find
in the public markets, you can also find clothes, shoes and just about
everything under the sun including have your clothes tailored while you
shop, there is an entire section dedicated to tailoring and repairs, I
brought a bag to be repaired while I did my shopping and I could not
believe the quality of the repair when I got back, I thought I was
looking at a new bag, very professional service.
SM (Shoe mart) is the newest
addition to Bagnio’s sky line, it is a very modern, open air mall with
literally everything under the sun, from Furniture stores, Brand name
clothing, Movie house, department store, hardware store, modern Dental
office, modern Americanized supermarket, Food court, coffee houses, bake
shops, Barbers, Pizza hut, and other eating establishments, you can also
get a great view of Baguio from one of the second and third floor
outlook decks.
What to see and do while in
Baguio, Even though Baguio is only about 49 sq. Km. there is always a
lot to see and places to go, some of the more popular attractions are
Mines view park, Wright Park, Burnham Park, Mansion house, Botanical
garden, Lion's head Park, Rizal Park, Lourdes Grotto, Camp John Hay,
Baguio Catholic Cathedral, PMA (Philippine Military Academy), Bell
Church, Tam-awan village, Teacher's Camp, Easter weaving room, Aguinaldo
Museum, Crystal caves, Good shepherd Convent, Dominican Hill, there are
also two quality golf courses one at Camp John Hay and the other Baguio
Country Club they are both in close walking distance from one another.
Horse back riding can be found
at Wright Park and Baguio Country Club Village, great rates and guides
are available.
Camp John Hay also has 5 star
accommodations and dinning, the Manor is Baguio's crème' de la crème' of
class and style.
You can also find things for the
kids, like Bumper cars, bike riding, Roller skating/blading, video
arcades, pool hall, play ground, picnic areas can also be found at Camp
John Hay, not to mention shopping, miss some of thing you had back home?
It can all be found in the shops and stores in John Hay.
If night life is what you crave
you can find a number of popular night clubs as well as pub style bars
with live bands that are very good, there are also plenty of Karaoke
bars and Pool halls.
Baguio City has something for
everyone, not only is it a very clean City but it's my favorite City
that I call it home as it has stolen my heart with its charm and the
people are just great, you can also find many foreigners both living and
traveling in Baguio.
So if you are planning a trip to
the Philippines, you owe it to yourself to spend a couple day's in
Baguio and just let it all soak in, you be glad you did and hey who
knows maybe we'll run into each other.
(Jiri Doucette)
-- TOP --
Palawan
Island
An island
of peace and quiet, it seems time has stood still for Palawan. Situated
between Mindoro Island and North Borneo, Palawan is the country's last
frontier. It is home to over 80 cultural minority groups. It is
sanctuary for the most exotic animals, plants and aquatic life in the
country including the Calamian deer and Palawan Bearbat. Palawan also
features white sand beaches, black marble caves, exquisite corals and
breathtaking dive sites. Visit Calauit Island, Ursula Island, El Nido
Beach and St. Paul Park for an unforgettable Palawan adventure.
-- TOP --
Metro Manila has a population of
more than 10 million and is the country’s business
and political hub.
Ortigas,
Center, Manila
It
also has congestion and pollution -- probably more
of those things than most retirees would care for.
But it also has urban energy and excitement, and
if you thrive on that, Manila might be for you.
CARS FOR RENT IN METRO MANILA
CAR VANS Tel. no.929-2811
Carsvans Coaster Bus Tel. no.422-9296
CARS/VANS/BRIDAL Tel. no.896-9956
Cheap Van Rental Tel. no.933-0311
L300 Urvan Starex
MB100 Vios Altis Tel. no.726-8388
STAREX'05 MB100 Tel. no.948-3535
P800/L3 Tel. no. 913-6710 OR 433-3682
RENT A VAN
Contact no. 0917-5444721 OR 642-4405
REVO w/ driver Tel. no. 9272821
For a positive look at Manila
below is a letter from this member of our List who
lives in Manila into consideration:
Dear List Members,
I often wonder why so many folks who have never
even been to the Philippines are so positive that
they will live _anywhere_ except Manila? To have
the kind of infrastructure around you that you
desire, you're going to wind up in a city. And
although many members of this group live in and
around Cebu (a city I haven't yet visited, but I
would certainly not cross off my list) there are a
number of members from Metro Manila. Manila
certainly has the drawbacks of big city life, but
it also has some very lovely neighborhoods and
suburbs. It is my opinion (and thus worth no more
than a few centavos) that you'll get more out of
your research and trip if you approach it with an
open mind
I live in Manila and put some of this down to fact
that when people visit, they stay more in the
centre such as Ermita, Mabini, Roxas Boulevard or
the financial and business district of Makati. In
most cases they see a traffic congested, polluted,
not so clean area or Makati, traffic congested,
polluted and expensive. In the high end sub
divisions of Makati such as Forbes Park it is for
the rich or those on a nice ex-pat package. Even
there as you come out, it is right at EDSA with
all its traffic problems, but at least with a
light rail system. What most people are not seeing
are the suburbs, where in most cases tourists do
not go.
Living in a good residential area in a Manila
suburb has a lot to offer. For instance here in
Alabang it is as nice as most suburbs I have seen
in other cities around the world, it is relatively
safe, traffic or pollution is not problem. It is
green with wide tree planted roads. On top of all
this it has what a city has to offer. Many
shopping malls in particular two large ones,
Alabang Town Centre and Festival Mall, which in my
opinion are better than the ones in Makati, such
as Glorietta or Megamall in Ortigas. The shops are
very similar better laid out with easy parking. On
top of this there are many restaurants of
different nationalities (the same as what is in
makati), coffee shops, not only the 3 starbucks,
cinemas, bowling alley, indoor amusement park, top
class fitness centers and spas. Add to that US
style supermarkets with the Ruston's owned
Shopwise, and the membership shopping Pricesmart.
Within
the shopping centers there is a very little I cannot get. Both outside
and inside the shopping centers, I have every food fast food chain you
need and yet another starbucks making it
4 plus the night market. Also in the area are Golf
Courses and other sporting clubs. I sit at my
local tennis club surrounded by the coconut palms
paying only 15 pesos for a San Miguel Beer, to
refresh the first in between games, what more do
you need? If you have children you are close to a
number of top international schools. Close by is a
water park and within 30 minutes, the Enchanted
Kingdom, Philippines largest theme park. Add to
this the best hospital in the Philippines and one
of the best in Asia. Nearby is a proper
international airport and the domestic hub, okay
those in Cebu will say there is an international
airport there, but we are talking about an airport
with many flights a day across the globe, not the
odd few flights. If you want to go in the centre
of the city, a skyway will take you into the
centre of Makati in twenty minutes. Manila is also
the cultural and entertainment centre of the
Philippines, and known as one Asia's most exciting
cities for nightlife, with activities to sort all
tastes. Living out in the suburbs also means you
are close to more rural areas, completely missing
the main centre.
There are toll ways passing by
which makes the journey to the crater resort of
Tagaytay only 45 minutes, the hot springs spa
resort of Los Banos in one hour, and the beaches
of Batangas in two hours. A significant part of
the highway to Batangas city is complete making a
journey to the jumping off point to Puerto Gallera
very quick. The drawback of all this is that
cities are not for everybody or suburbs either, it
is also more expensive mainly the rental price,
plus you will spend more as there are more things
to spend your money on. Ayala Alabang is not the
only residential area there are many and you can
find reasonable housing such as a 3 bedroom house
in a sub division on 280 sq mt. lot from about
20,000 upwards. It is still compared to other high
class suburbs in other cities a very cheap place
to live and as good as anywhere I have lived
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