Ambot ah! Travel Blog

I was a happy shutter bug at Camp John Hay and could have spent the entire afternoon there if I hadn’t checked the time. It was already 3:40pm and I still had a few places in Baguio that I wanted to visit.

It had been a long time since my first trip in Baguio (eight years ago). It happened during an education tour when I was still in high school. We visited the attractions of Baguio and the nearby Balatoc Gold Mine.

Of course, an initiation to Baguio wouldn’t be complete without going to the touristy spots like Wright Park, The Mansion, and Mines View Park. I wanted to revisit these places to take new photos and know what had changed all these years.

Welcome to Baguio City Wright Park

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I love traveling because it affords me the opportunity to be transported to unfamiliar environments. Being in a different natural or urban setting becomes an opportunity to realize conceptual photos.

My biggest goal in Baguio was to have my photo taken among towering pine trees. Yeah … pretty vain, I know.

I was looking for a good spot where I could pretend to be in the temperate zone of the world. It’s my dream to visit the pine forests of Alaska, New Zealand, the French Alps (or any alps for that matter), or Forks (Twilight fan here!). The pine forests of Baguio are as close as I can get since I don’t have enough money to travel to these places.

After a walking tour of downtown Baguio, I took a cab to the Mile Hi Center (P50+ metered taxi fare). I was hoping to find a good pine covered spot in this upscale part of Baguio.

Cozy interiors of Little John’s located at Mile Hi Center, Camp John Hay in Baguio

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Baguio is one of the most walkable cities in the Philippines.

The pedestrian-friendly sidewalks were wide, clean, safe, and most notably, didn’t suffer from the merciless tropical climate.

I’ve always wanted to live in Baguio and escape the unbearable heat of  the lowlands. During my visit, however, I had to settle for a 3-day trip.

On my second day, I did a walking tour of the city.

Started at Session Road, the main thoroughfare of Baguio and main hub of the city’s central business district.

Morning Walk at Session Road in Baguio City, Benguet

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My first visit to Baguio happened during an educational tour back in high school.

It was eight years ago. We spent a week visiting many spots in Luzon.

Although my memory of the trip had already become hazy, most of what I could recall were my experiences in Baguio.

My revisit to the City of Pines was very special to me. I could still remember the feeling I had during my first time in Baguio. I was curious to know how I’d feel returning to those familiar places and retracing the steps I made as a kid. How much change in perspective, I’ve developed in seven years.

View on the bus ride from Vigan to Baguio at 3:30pm

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It was my second day in the Heritage City of Vigan in Ilocos Sur.

Having just arrived from a short side trip to the Santa Maria Church, I had the afternoon to have my tour of Vigan.

There were a couple of options to go at it. I could go on the touristy calesa (horse drawn carriage) ride around town or join a guided tour group.

Since I wanted to go on my own pace, I went on my own walking tour. Most of the old houses and structures in Vigan were comfortably within walking distance.

Started in Calle Crisologo and wandered around the city. Went into whatever alleyway looked interesting.

Of course, I did keep a list of interesting places I jotted down earlier so I wouldn’t miss anything.

Calle Crisologo street sign

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The Santa Maria Church was inscribed six years earlier than Vigan in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

It is grouped together with three other churches under the category of “Baroque Churches in the Philippines.”

Having just seen photos of the Santa Maria Church, I had an impression that it paled in comparison to the San Agustin Church, Miagao Church, and the Paoay Church.

I was definitely curious to see how / why this church got included in UNESCO’s prestigious list.

Santa Maria Plaza with the Santa Maria Church peering out in the background.

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It was my first morning in Vigan. I spent the night at Vigan Hotel, an old Spanish-colonial house turned budget hotel.

Awakened to a bright sunny sky. Normally, I’d be really happy to be greeted by blue skies but I was a bit disappointed. I was hoping to take dawn shots of Calle Crisologo.

I wanted to go there when it was still dark and witness the sunrise slowly light up the houses … complete with the sensory experience of the soft twilight colors and the crowing of roosters and all. Oh well, I still had the next morning to try it.

I planned a full day to explore the heritage structures in Vigan. It all started with a fulfilling breakfast at the Vigan Empanadaan.

Morning view of Vigan Hotel

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It’s the seventh day on my trip across Northern Luzon and I’ve arrived in the World Heritage City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Vigan is one of those places that immediately enters my mind whenever I think about “Traveling in the Philippines.”

It’s the pinnacle of Spanish-colonial heritage tourism in the country. In my opinion, there are grander structures elsewhere but there’s no other place in the Philippines where a considerable part of the city still has its old structures intact.

Walking along the cobblestone streets of Vigan’s Calle Crisologo have long been a dream of mine. A wish come true for me!

Ilocos Sur Tourism Information Center, my first stop in Vigan

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