Christmas break is already here. Yey! It's time to take a rest from my academic activities and enjoy Christmas and New Year with the family.
Lately, we've been locked up in our house cleaning and spending time with the family. But then my mother suggested, why not we go out of town to enjoy the break?
Of course, no one opposed the idea. And guess where will go this time? In the summer capital of the Philippines, Baguio City!
Today, come with me to explore Baguio! Take a stretch and pack your things because we'll be going on an exciting adventure.
Burnham Park
Our first stop is Burnham Park. It is the number one place we go every time we visit Baguio City. It's known because of its artificial lake called "Burnham Lagoon." It also has beautiful trees and landscapes that are pleasing to the eyes.
Every time we go there, we usually ride a bike to explore the park, but this time we just walk around the park. As we strolled around the park, we saw vendors selling different foods. A strawberry taho caught my attention, so we bought some. I didn't expect it would be so good, and it was worth to have!
We continued strolling around while enjoying the hot and sweet taho we bought. We saw different people having a picnic in the shade of the trees. There are also a lot of people taking pictures while wearing Igorot clothes. Some are enjoying capturing the beauty of the park.
After a while, we sat on a bench to take a rest. While sitting, we enjoyed watching the boats roaming the Lagoon and the people walking around the park.
We visited Burnham Park almost every year, and it keeps improving. It became full of people and beauty.
Orchidarium
While having a walk around the park we came across this orchard farm. At first, I thought they only grow plants like orchids, but as we entered, we saw a lot of different plants.
They have bonsai, orchids, flowers, bougainvillea plants, and other plants. We were so amazed at how healthy and pretty those plants were. There are also stalls selling different plants.
We had so much fun seeing those beautiful plants and flowers. This place is such a haven for plant lovers.
Igorot Stone Kingdom
Our next stop is the Igorot Stone Kingdon, located at Long Long Benguet Rd, Baguio, Benguet. It's a man-made park and one of the most famous tourist attractions.
But before we entered, we bought first a ticket.
As we enter, you can already see that many people are visiting the place. Despite the crowds, we continued to explore the Stone Kingdom.
To get a better view of the place, you needed to climb to the top, and that's what we did. It was so tiring, and you probably needed strong legs for this! But the struggles are worth it because the view is breathtaking.
Since we were already tired, we decided to stop going to the top, we just appreciated the view. Also, it was so cold and foggy.
While seeing this place, I was mesmerized by how creative people are. I can't imagine the effort they've put into building this place. Using only stones, they created this magnificent place. It's a real masterpiece!
Christmas Village
Our last stop is in the Christmas village, located at Country Club Rd, Camp John Hay, Baguio, Benguet. It is also one of the tourist attractions.
Before we entered, we needed to buy first a ticket.
I was amazed at how beautiful the Christmas village is. There's a lot of people around taking pictures. Some are having a walk and watching performances.
The thing that makes Christmas Village more interesting is the snow show. A person who has never seen snow before will surely be happy to experience seeing one even though it's only artificial (it's just a bubble).
As I saw the snow fall into the ground it felt exciting. It feels like I'm also seeing real snow. It was so much fun!
Aside from the snow show, there are also performances and other entertainment that everyone can enjoy especially kids. And the Christmas designs are also interesting and attractive.
Exploring Baguio is fun because it offers a lot of tourist attractions that are pleasing to our eyes. It gives you the feeling of excitement, peace, and relaxation.
It was quite tiring, but the fun and joy, especially the memories it gives, is what makes it worth it. For me, one day isn't enough to explore Baguio, if I visit once again I make sure to have fun and enjoy it well.
Author's Note: All pictures are owned and edited by the author. That's all for now!
-Pat T.