No way but up!!.. to Baguio!

The weather maybe cold but we are definitely too hot to set our foot in the City of Pines. Started the journey via Cebu Pacific Air from Cebu to Manila at 4:50am and landed on Manila almost 6am. Since Iris and I are on a budget trip we decided not to take the airport taxi and (again) walked our way outside the NAIA Terminal 3 premises (not to mention it started to rain on our way out).

Thank God the walkalator was working when we got to NAIA Terminal 3.

Boarded the taxi by 6:30 and found our way to Victory Liner terminal in Pasay and took the 7am trip to Baguio.

I was thinking of taking the Deluxe trip that will pass thru SCTEX but it was scheduled at 11:15am and we cant afford to lose any time.

Started our journey at 7am passing thru EDSA all the way to Monumento while traffic was starting to build-up.

Made our way to Balintawak exit to NLEX's toll gates by 8:30. The trip along NLEX was smooth and non-stop. I was thinking it will be that well until we reach Baguio. But I was in vain when the bus made a turn in Tarlac City. We cut our way to Tarlac for about 4 hours including two bus stops - one in Tarlac City and the other in Sison.

Not to mention for the entire 4-hour-trip all I can see is plain boring rice or sugarcane field and that Soliman EC Septic Tank Services that vandalized almost all concrete walls along Tarlac highway! (I was meaning to take a pic but of course I didnt thought it would go all the way till the end of Tarlac)

Anyways, we also passed by a couple of malls along the way and some amusement parks built in a subdivision (yes!). We figured the province is a landlock province located in a valley and unlike Cebu going to the beach will be a luxury for them so instead they've built amusement parks and resorts near these Subdivision.

The bus started climbing the mountains by 12:30 and we were greeted by fog along Marcos Highway. The temperature started to drop and Iris is already complaining about the pressure pricking her ears. The fog looked like curtains unveiling the view of the mountains with every turn.
 
The weather was great when we got to Baguio. Its not even raining though the wind is so cold. At first we were hessitant to take a Taxi going to Hotel 45 thinking they might ask for an extra fare. But we were surprise taxi drivers are so honest that they really give you change down to the last cent and they dont even complain about where you wanted to go wether its rush hour or no.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  We checked in at Hotel 45 for 2 nights and paid 1300/night with free breakfast (but dont expect much on the breakfast). The room was ok, equipped with an electric fan, cable TV, a comfy bed, heater for shower, a cabinet.
 
Iris and I walked our way to SM Baguio since its just near our hotel. We bought an umbrella since it has started to rain. I forgot to mention my umbrella was confiscated in the airport earlier. I was told I have to checked it in. No way I'm 100php for an umbrella so I have chosen to part ways with it.
 

SM have an amazing view of the city.
 
We looked all around SM only to realize it has been monopolized by BDO and could not find any Unionbank ATMs! Then, I remember thru my earlier research via wikimapia that there is one Unionbank along Session Road. So we walked our way out of SM to Session Road only to get lost! We ended up walking for almost a kilometer with no sign of Session Road. I swear we never got lost before on our trips except for this one. So we ended up taking a cab to session. I think I have to blame the mountainous terrain for that. You see, when we walked our way to Victory Liner we also got lost even with a map on hand. Tsk
 
   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We saw the stairs heading to the Cathedral so we took it and visit Baguio's Cathedral.
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Went to Camp John Hay via Taxi and guess what we only paid around 56php to the driver and I tell you it wasnt near the city.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Yes! Iris dared to go out with her shorts and slippers on this chilly weather. hahaha
 
 
 

I couldnt tell you how prepared I am for this trip. hahaha

 

Look closely the Cullens might be there somewhere.

Had a quick stop at Mile-Hi Shopping Center, where I scored a great jacket for only half the prices in Cebu. We even had ice cream at Mile Hi.

It started to get dark when we realize there is no cab inside Camp John Hay not unless some tourists arrive but no one did. We waited and waited but almost all cab that gets inside have passengers until the driver from The Manor offered us a ride to the City for 150php (gulp!) I know its pricey but do we have a choice? We cant wait till someone rescues us. LOL. The van can accommodate 10 people so if in case its packed you'll only pay 15php but that wasnt the case then. Tsk.

We asked the driver to drop us at Burnham Park and like all tourists who visit Baguio the trip wont be complete w/o a boat ride at the Burnham Lake.At first we had our own bangkero then he gave us chance to navigate the pond (or lake) alone. Paddled our way around until our back and hands ached.

We decided to give it up by 5:45pm and headed to the skating rink and took a bump car ride. You see, we cant ride the bump car at SM Cebu because its always packed with kids so we took the opportunity to do it here. ;D

We headed to Volante Pizza for our dinner and both had their combo meal priced at 160php a plate with spaghetti, a slice of pizza, chicken and fries with hot gravy. I must say that one tastes so much better than Shakey's bunch of lunch.

We took a box of pizza back to the hotel in case we get hungry. We enjoyed watching the people walking along Session road - some in their fancy winter-inspired outfit others on their plain Lolo's jackets and rubber shoes. Got back to the hotel at 7:15pm and I dont notice I doze off after 20mins of lying I didnt notice Iris' mom arrived around 1am.

The next day we headed to La Trinidad Strawberry farm after a quick breakfast at 6am. Iris' mom told us it will muddy as it rained the night before and she was absolutely right so she didnt tag along. 

 

Didnt got the chance to picked strawberries because aside from the mud there were no strawberries to pick. Hehe.

Trying some strawberry wine. I didnt buy one though as we are on Go Lite they might asked us to have it checked in! I got th chance to try their strawberry taho with real strawberries in it!

According to the people its Rattan's fruit that goes well in sinigang.

Our next stop was the Philippine Military Academy at Fort del Pilar.(Tip: You have to bring your ID upon entering the premises. No ID, No Entry policy applies.) We were lucky as the PMA cadets were on formation when we got there.

They were on some sort of a Tactical Inspection (which reminded me of my ROTC class way back in college).

Did I mention there were 6 buses loaded with students on field trip that day? You could only imagine how noisy and rowdy those college students watching the formation with us. GGrrr!

Next stop was Mines View Park that looked like more of a Tiangge than a park. It was packed! And of course we didnt miss having a mini photo op with Doglas.

By the way, its not for free and you'll have to pay 25/shot or you better get the sulit package at 50php/3 shots. I know! Murag Studio pic! ;)

you might also wanna try this. Picture ala cowboy, and oh! its 10/click so beware you might be surprised they'll asked around a hundred pesos. ahehe.

Taken by Iris' mom at  Wright Park

At the Mansion playing some sorta prisoner

At Kennon viewdeck. Didnt got the chance to visit the Lion's head its all the way down.

Had our late lunch at Cafe by the Ruins. Iris and her mom were both surprise they have no softdrinks. So they have to do with their shakes (organic shakes). We didnt know they serve healthy food minus the MSG lacing? tsk.

We stopped by Barrio Fiesta's Hotpot and took some wacky pics with these wax figures.

Ended the night with a dinner at Hann Mann in SM Baguio where Iris and her mom sang Happy Birthday for me before we hit our plates. So I celebrated my 23rd birthday in Baguio minus the cake and party. I realized why dont I do this? Be at any random place on my birthday? hmnn. Later that night Iris and I strolled Session and went to Vizco's for coffee and cake.

Strawberry cake for me and Tiramisu for Iris. Went to rummage some Ukay2 and scored a few bargains before heading to Volante for a nice cup of coffee with Vanilla ice cream. Had my birthday at Volante with Iris.

Dinner at Margarita Family Cuisine

Earlier today I blurted in facebook that I will conquer this crazy sale with an empty pocket. Luckily, i did or rather I survived. I made it out of the mall alive without buying a thing! Though I bought something for Iris' mom but hey that shouldnt count! It's not for me anyway.

I managed to squeeze thru the shopping crowd and took a snapshot with these Cosplay participants.

Shoppers flooded SM so we (Iris and her mom) headed out for dinner instead. A coworker had told Iris about this resto located at the rooftop of Robin Land near Cebu Doctor's University at the North Reclamation Area so we tried it. We headed to the penthouse where Margarita Family Cuisine and Tequila bar is located. Their waiting area is loaded with comfy couches where you can slouch while waiting for your table.

Iris while wating for our table

They have an array of both Filipino and Chinese dishes and what's more exciting is that prices ranges from 160 to 450 php depending on the size of your order. Personally, I didnt enjoy the food that much (it's a bit oily) but who cares if you're there just for the ambience?

 

At the height of 10 floors, you can chill and enjoy the breeze while looking at the city lights as well as the view facing Mactan. So you get a 360-degree view of the city. Its the kind of place where you can can sit down, sip alocohol and talk with your friends till the wee hours without worrying you'd smell like a cigarette butt upon getting home since its an open air resto.
 
 

The crescent moon teased us before it sank into the horizon.

Vampires really suck

Iris and I were never a fan of vampire movies. She got the chance to watch Twilight a few months ago after I got her to download the movie. Still, she wasnt in to it and either I am (err, though on the movie premiere of the Twilight movie 2 years ago I endured the long line in Ayala). Anyways, we came accross some DVD shops last weekend and since a movie will only cost 40php, we got ourselves a heap of movies that we havent got the chance to watch. Then Iris asked if they already have the 3rd movie installment of Twilight which is Eclipse. The tindero instead gave us a spoof of the Twilight Saga entitled Vampires Suck, said it was funny.Without hesitation we both gave in.

 To be honest, nothing's really special though. Everything has been said and done so to say. By the way, the version that we had still needs those "finishing touches". Some scenes still needs dubbing while others need background music. In fairness to the actress who starred as Becca (Bella) she did really well portraying Kristen Stewart's gestures. We'll see if the movie launches her career the way Scary Movie did with Anna Farris. In case anyone is interested, the movie will be shown in US and Canada theaters this coming August 18.

here is the official trailer (enjoy!)

Seasons in the Sun

It has always been a habit for me to open Wikipedia when at work especially during idle (avail) hours (I know my team manager would kill me if he'd read this but I have been careful since my partner got caught before). Anyways, I have opened the site earlier today and I was shock to read about the reported CME (Coronial Mass Eruption) observed in the sun (more like solar flares) last August 1. As per wikipedia, this is a release of material from the solar corona, usually observed with a white-light coronagraph. The ejected material is a plasma consisting primarily of electrons and protons (in addition to small quantities of heavier elements such as helium, oxygen, and iron), plus the entraining coronal magnetic field. (nosebleed eh?) Anyways, these are constant eruptions happening in the sun due to some magnetic forces stronger than average. But sometimes these eruptions get so intense that it releases material off to space towards Earth and neighboring planets.

Wikipedia also added that at an observed velocity varying between 670,560 m/s and 1,118,000 m/s (meters per second), they were expected to strike the Earth's geomagnetic field sometime between August 4 and early August 5. As of 05:00 UTC August 4, the estimated time of arrival of the series was as follows:
Wednesday, August 4 – 07:00 UTC
Wednesday, August 4 – 17:00 UTC
Thursday, August 5 – 00:00 UTC
Thursday, August 5 – 06:00 UTC

All four were described as large and, according to scientists, possessed enough energy to cause aurorae to be observed by the naked eye in non-polar regions. According to reports, aurorae would be visible at night toward the northern horizon in temperate latitudes between 45° to 50°, and near overhead in regions farther north. Philippines, by the way, is in the 13°latitude. Ok, so much for my excitement of seeing auroras without having to go to the Arctic. But that can happen if the CME was a big as it was during the solar storm of 1859, the largest recorded geomagnetic storm that happened bet Sept 1-2, 1859. Auroras where observed even in the Carribean.

Got this picture from Spaceweather taken by a man named Peter Rosén from Stockholm, Sweden

Picture taken at 1:36 am local time on August 5th using Canon 5D Mark II

Aside from the visual effects of the CME series, scientists also fear that electric impulses caused by disruptions in the magnetic field due to the ionized particles may damage infrastructure such as power grids and telephone lines not adequately protected against induced magnetic current. It has also been reported that several Earth-orbiting satellites may be in similar danger. If you happen to see the movie Knowing you could only expect for the worst. Has anyone heard whispers? Just kidding ;)

that's my shirt!

I take pride on wearing something unique and original (not necessarily branded). I've am an avid fan of t-shits as I feel comfy with them and I feel myself when wearing them. I only wear blouses when at work or when the situation calls for it. So when my supervirsor found out about shirts.ph and it unique design, w/o hesitation I placed an order of this one.  You see, I got the shirt way back in November and has been one of my favorites. Back then, only a few people know about Twitter and Miley Cyrus' tweet is still alive. Plus the remark right below the word is just soo true: Para feeling mo may paki kami sa 'yo. Haha!

I got so obsessed with the shirt when I got it that I have to force my phone 20+ pictures to see the print clearly and even posted it on my Facebook's wall photos.

Ok, so I have been wearing the shirt for the last 8 or 9 months until last weekend when we passed by some children's wear at SM Department Store. I was in horror to see a similar shirt hanging on their shelves not to mention exactly the same color! But this time it beared the Hey Dude! brand! Darn it I could have ordered the black one if i knew this would happen ;(

I have to say the print is not as smooth as it is in my shirt. I wonder how long the print could last. I'm happy to say my shirt still looks pretty new.