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| Baguio City's Iconic Lion's Head at Kenon Road. Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/51278495@N06/5139129946, (e.r.w.i.n., 2010) |
Being a local from the place, I know the do's, don'ts who, what, when, where, why and hows for whatever the need may be when living like a local in the place so you won't attract any unwanted attention, find and go to places that's worth spending any amount or no cash at all. Forget about eh Lion's Head in the dangerous curves on the way traveling to Baguio. Believe me that these kind of things are so important that it would make any reader who would follow this blog thankful enough to leave a small amount of cha-ching for maintaining the blog.
Without any other blabbering of me going on and on about how things are, I have listed EIGHT Major tips below that would let you live like a local in Baguio City as any tourist would like to experience.
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| One of the Airbnb rooms which can be rented in Baguio. Image Source: https://www.realliving.com.ph/lifestyle/travel/airbnb-of-the-week-bliss-homestay-baguio-a99-20160720, (Santos, M., 2016) |
Yes it is kind of weird of me to suggest that any tourist should not check in to hotels since I am in the hospitality industry which would be predictable that I suggest it but not this time. The reason is that it is expensive and would only let you be restricted for what I am about to mention in the last and best tip. So, right after deciding that you would like to spend a few days in my local city, I would suggest you open your Airbnb application and search for reasonable prices for places you could stay for a few days and nights or you can go around the skirts of the center of the city where people do stand in the sidewalk showing placards of rooms you could rent. I've stayed in some of the rooms they let you rent and it's very decent. Some hosts are out of town and leaves the keys to their houses for a sharing profit to the person who could have it rented. If you have a pet, check if they allow it and ask for any kind of restrictions they would require you. I repeat, do not check into hotels. Plus, this will let you feel like you're living as a local especially if you get to find a house that has a backyard or front yard where you can lay down or sit and have a nice night with someone or family or friends (Two Monkeys Travel Group, 2015).
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| Flower Park in Rose Garden at Baguio City Burnham Park. Image Source: http://www.allabouthappylife.com/wallpaper/flower_park_wallpaper/flower_park-dsc00910.jpg, (n.a., n.d) |
2. CLOTHING
This is one of the important things you need to be ready for. It's best to be ready for the weather which depends on which time of the year you would like to visit. If you're coming some time in between September to next year's March, I would suggest that you bring a thick jacket or something that would protect you from the cold breeze. If you plan to visit during summer from April to August, it is wise to bring light clothing and even slippers. If you're used to cold countries that has winter seasons, you won't have to worry about wearing layers or thick clothing in the cool season because it would only seem as if you're in the fall season of your country otherwise, I would suggest you wear thick clothing. One more thing is that in cool seasons, you should be ready with a blanket or... a tug of war with your companions with the blankets unless you want to walk in the park on a summer (CushTravel, 2015).
If you enjoy having picnics and/or hiking, it is best to pack you are in for a delight! The Burnham Park is the most visited park in Baguio of which the locals themselves likes to go for a picnic on the grass with their family on a cloudy weekend. I've done it myself and you can really feel the relaxing vibe of the place.
If you're into hiking for the most part, there are hiking trails that would let your wandering feet and adventurous soul get the satisfaction of adrenaline. There are trails such as Sagada hiking trails which would lead you to the highest peak in the Philippines, Mt. Ulap which comes from the term "Clouds" in english as clouds actually touch the ground and it's almost hard to see and the place that I loved to go with my friends called Mt. Kalugong which means "Hat" for the reason that the rock formation at the top of the mountain looks like a hat from down below the valley.
The image taken was at the most top of Mt. Kalugong with me and two of my best buds. I'm the one on the most right and the beautiful lady in the picture is our princess on the hike. It was supposed to be a pic of the three of us but she wanted to be included. So, yeah. It ended up very nice of a photo for the long hike (Bertillo, 2017).
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| Baguio City's 24th Panagbenga Festival. Image Source: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1784907, (Sunstar, 2019) |
4. THE PANAGBENGA FESTIVAL
The highly celebrated panagbenga festival. Don't go to this event unless you're ready for sweaty walks, hunger and has no issue with personal space. I'm telling you this because as a local coming from there, it's a great event but the people I take to the festival usually complains and ends up not finishing what they wanted to do. This is only suitable if you're up to the challenge. The event is great but the overall effort is not worth staying for so long. If people would still want to go, I would let them get a glimpse of the parade and move on to the other places of the event. No use hanging around the parade where we can't actually see what's going on inside (Baguio City Guide, 2018).
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| Grumpy Joe at Baguio City. Image Source: https://www.pepesamson.com/2016/02/grumpy-joe-restaurant-baguio.html, (Samon P., 2016) |
As a chef that has the tongue for adventure, I am simply going to discourage you to enter fast food chains. The food in Baguio is not the ordinary food that you will encounter unless you prefer to go for food at fast food chains. If you do, I believe that you only travel for the view. Setting aside my opinion of fast food, there are lots of places to eat in at the very loved city of Baguio. There is a place called "Slaughter house" that serves various kinds of food from vegetables to meat of which the locals love and even all the people that I have toured. Do not let the term intimidate you. It was only called as such because it used to be a place where butchers cut and fabricate meat.
The other places to eat at is in Grumpy Joe's. This individually owned business is a diner style restaurant that serves large amounts of food and has the quality that exceeds what you pay for.
One more is the most famous of all the restaurants in the area is the "Good Taste". If it's large servings of asian cuisine you want, this is the place to go. You'll get what you pay for by the taste and will exceed your expectation in serving size. Do not go on exactly lunch time and diner time. Visit the place before those times if you can. Locals tend to come to the place that time to avoid tourist lines which go around the building. Twice (Lost and Wonder, 2019).
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| Baguio City Night Market. Image Source: https://lostandwonder.com/baguio-night-market/, (Chrian B., 2019) |
Ahh.. The ever always mentioned night market by the locals of Baguio city. If you are or if there is anyone you may know that is interested in buying clothes, then this may be the place where opportunity can be found. This market only sprouts at night and will be closed around 2am in the morning. There are various things being sold in the night market from keychains to overrun designer clothes and even shoes. Some had reportedly found branded shoes that are way too expensive when store bought and were being sold for only a few bucks at the stalls there.
It is reported that the Night Market is in doom of being closed down. Nope, it won't be. Even if the news says that it is being thought of by the municipal, it will never be closed as it is part of the life of the locals. The Night Market is also a place where street food is prominent at night. All people that does there spend mostly on food after going around looking for things they might like. Street foods there are sold by locals and are meant to be eaten by locals but tourists are welcome too and are encouraged to do so (Lost and Wonder, 2018).
7. BUYING THINGS
I will not elaborate on places but I will mention which people to avoid.
Many people are sketchy. Most vendors are opportunists. This is very common in the area as it is teeming with tourists all year round. Vendors sell normally to locals but lifts the price of their merchandise to triple the amount if they notice that you're a tourist. It would be obvious to them that you are a tourist if you are not asian. To contradict this, tell them that you don't want the item even if you do. Walk around as there is always a chance that you might find the thing once more in another vendor's hand for a different price (Bluedreamer, 2016).
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| One of the many Pubs at Baguio City. Image Source: http://www.traveltrilogy.com/2017/07/restobars-baguio-city.html, (Potpot, 2017) |
This is the best part of being a local in Baguio City. Be sure to prepare your drink may it be alcoholic or non-alcoholic, at night is always a drinking time on the evening. It is always cold at night which leads people to do nightly activities or drink their way to their beds. No need to say any more. Life as a local in Baguio is mainly getting warm at night with drinks on hand. On the other hand, there are numerous bars open for the night at almost every corner of the city. Entrepreneurs take advantage of this knowing tourists tend to spend money when drinking out (Virtual Tourist, 2017).
Basically, other than the clothing, stay at Baguio the way how you want to. People do not discriminate in Baguio.
References
Baguio City
Guide. (2018, December 17). Panagbenga 2019 Schedule of Activities. Retrieved
July 29, 2019, from Baguio City Guide:
https://www.baguiocityguide.com/panagbenga-2019-schedule-of-activities/
Bertillo, J. C.
(2017, June 3). Mount Timbak: Early Morning Stroll to Luzon’s Third
Highest Mountain. Retrieved July 29, 2019, from Jamie In Her Nook:
https://jamieinhernook.wordpress.com/author/jamieinhernook/
Bluedreamer.
(2016, April 26). Things You Should Buy When Visiting Baguio.
Retrieved July 29, 2019, from It's Me Blue Dreamer:
http://bluedreamer27.com/things-you-should-buy-when-visiting-baguio/
CushTravel.
(2015, October 30). Planning What to Wear in Baguio. Retrieved July
29, 2019, from CushTravel:
https://cushtravel.com/planning-what-to-wear-in-baguio/
Lost and Wonder.
(2018, March 10). Baguio Night Market at Harrison Road: Quick Guide and
Experience. Retrieved July 29, 2019, from Lost and Wonder:
https://lostandwonder.com/baguio-night-market/
Lost and Wonder.
(2019, January 14). Where to Eat in Baguio City: Food Guide and Tips.
Retrieved July 29, 2019, from Lost and Wonder: https://lostandwonder.com/where-to-eat-in-baguio/
Two Monkeys
Travel Group. (2015, November 18). LIST OF THE BEST LUXURY HOTELS IN
BAGUIO, PHILIPPINES : UPDATED FOR 2019 @TOURISMPHL. Retrieved July 29,
2019, from Two Monkeys Travel Group: https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/ultimate-list-of-the-best-luxury-hotels-in-baguio-philippines/
Virtual Tourist.
(2017, February 21). Baguio Nightlife – Clubs, Bars & Nightlife Tips.
Retrieved July 29, 2019, from Smarter Travel:
https://www.smartertravel.com/baguio-nightlife-clubs-bars-nightlife-tips/
