Baguio: The summer capital of the Philippines

After my posts about the scorching hot Boracay island and the similarly humid Hanoi City (Vietnam), it's a breather to blog about the cool and crisp Baguio City - the summer capital of the Philippines.

It's actually quite weird that in a country of beaches, the summer capital is a waterless, sandless, and beachless city on top of a plateau. I guess it's known as such because of its cool climate, which is so different from the hot and humid climate in Metro Manila. Because of this, Baguio is PACKED with people - tourists and locals alike - during summer and even Christmas (when the climate is much colder).

To get there, people from Metro Manila have to travel 5-7 hours (or even more, depending on the traffic). I think there's also an airport up there, but I haven't tried going there by plane, after all, the roadtrip is already half the adventure! :))

There are two roads to Baguio, but Kennon Road is the older and more popular one. Ironically, it's also the more dangerous choice. It's quite scary to pass there at night. Drivers should always always always have to be careful with the sharp turns and the blind areas.

Kennon Road: Imagine driving here at night!

When driving along Kennon Road, you'll surely see the giant Lion's Head. I really don't see the significance of this animal (their mascot? the region's famous animal? - but Baguio doesn't have lions, weird).

Baguio's Lion Head

The only info I know about this is that it started out as a simple rock formation and the natives just noticed that it looks like a lion's head, so they just made a landmark out of it. Read all about it here. But if you ask me, they should have just left the natural rock formation as it is :p 

Baguio is famous for kulangot (or booger in English - yes this is food). The native delicacy has this gross name because of its appearance and also, when eating it, you have to scoop out this small, brown, sticky thing from its shell - much like how you take a booger from your nose. :)))

...On a less gross note, Baguio is also famous for its strawberries. In fact, some owners of strawberry fields offer people the chance to pick their own fruits. :) Don't miss out on this activity because it's definitely FUN, especially if you're travelling with your kids. Don't forget to brink sunblock! The fields can be quite hot and  sunny. :)  

Next stop is the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). Obviously, from its name, this is where Filipino military hopefuls train and study. From a family with a lot of Military background (my grandpa is a retired general), this is a permanent stop on our itinerary every time we're here in Baguio. 

They have a number of old tanks and war planes on display for army enthusiasts to view and for children to play make-believe with. :) While we were there, we actually caught a bunch of first year cadets doing their drills and training.

This isn't necessarily a tourist spot but this huge school is also worth seeing. :)

I've been to Baguio a lot of times but I only noticed recently how pretty all the plants and flowers are. I guess being in a colder climate means having healthier plants - I observed the same thing with Tagaytay.

Photo taken at PMA. Lovely Flowers :)

The next time you're here, take a breather from your tour schedule and take a look at the colorful flowers and luscious green plants. :) 

... And to keep up with our nature theme, take a stroll in Wright Park along with your chosen horse. :p

Riders can choose from their wide array of horses. This is the only place where you'd find tiny pink and white princess-y horses - with their manes obviously dyed :| The girls love this but I don't think PETA would be enthusiastic when they see this. 

You also have a choice to either ride around the 'forest' or to go outside and ride along the streets of Baguio. Don't worry, if you're a beginner, there are guides who can ride on the horses with you :) 

At the end of the day and after visiting all these tourist spots, you'll surely get exhausted and would want to rest in a comfortable hotel. I recommend the lovely Elizabeth Hotel. 

We stayed here during Christmas so the hotel was fully-booked. Despite that, the ambiance still remained peaceful and quiet. Plus, the staff are very friendly and helpful :) Although the food isn't that great, that's probably going to be the least of your worries because you'll probably eat out most of the time anyway. The small balconies outside the rooms definitely compensates for that - consider this hotel the next time you're in Baguio. 

IMPORTANT TOURIST TIP: Be here early and book accommodations extra early during Christmas and Summer!!

Enjoy your stay in the Philippines' summer capital. ;) 

♥ Anna

P.S. Visit my tumblog for more Baguio photos! http://fyeahtravelling.tumblr.com/