BTB: EWAF at Baguio 2012: 2D 1N Itinerary

It is already the 5th Christmas Party of the group and now we decided it to go to Baguio. It was kinda delayed because our schedules wouldn't meet so we decided to have it last January 2012. And because it was a holiday last January 23 so we scheduled it last January 22-23. Bongga because we had our vacation and party already but still we don't get to file a leave because it fell on a Sunday and a holiday.

I was the punong-abala or the person-in-charge.. (as always! ahahaha! It's really my expertise especially if I already know the place.. It's already my third time going here so I was the one who insisted.) I made the itinerary, deposited for our accomodation, talked with the owner of the transient, and of course, the budget committee head (because I was the one who held the money and I was the one to take note of the expenses) and the ever loyal tour guide.




So came January 21, 2012. Because it fell on a Saturday and Rhy and I normally go to work during this day, we haven't prepared our things yet. We went home early, as in after office, we went home directly. We were excited to pack our things (maybe "excited" is the wrong term because we really need to pack our things because we haven't done this yet and we needed to leave Manila at 9pm already). So I arrived at home around 530pm due to the usual traffic jam. At home, I just took a bath and then started my outfit-matching activity. As in, I was able to prepare at that time only of what I am going to wear going there, on the Sunday and on the Monday. OMG, I was not prepared at all! I picked my outfits on the spot and that was for the whole vacation already. Good luck to me! (I like to dress up pa naman if we go out... nagbago na ako mga teh, peg ko na maging fashion model. chos!) So in the end dahil wala talaga akong maisip, I just asked my cousin if the outfits I picked was okay and packed na and left. Our meeting place was at Trinoma Mcdo located at the atrium. Call time was 8pm. We arrived 9pm (sanay na ang group na lagi kaming late ni Rhy. So if you say na magkikita ng 8pm, we normally arrive 1 hour after). When we arrived at the meeting place, here were pictures of Carl and Alvin.

Alvin teasing using the french fries. Cute!

While waiting for the rest (at hindi pala kami ang huli.. for the first time) we went to an ATM machine to withdraw cash for our vacation. Pagbalik namin, Marc was there na. Then we ordered dinner and after we ate, dumating na rin sina Chabe and Rascia. There was an unfortunate event pa. While busy making kwento si Chabe, she quickly asked Rascia if where is her bag na black. Andun raw yung wallet nya with her IDs, her money na pang vacation and her cellphone na naka-line. This was not the first time na this happened. Saka ko nalang ikwento ang past events na she lost her bag too. So ayun mega call kami sa cellphone nya but no one was answering. So after hours, we decided na we leave the mall na because it's getting late and we need to travel pa. Late na nga kami sa aming itinerary because we were supposed to travel by 9pm but 11pm na kami nakaalis due to the incident. Until the last moment, we were still trying to call her cellphone at sana maawa ang taxi driver to give the bag back (we thought na ibabalik because the phone was still ringing until 7am the next day but sadly, the phone was turned off and we can't call her phone na). So we started our trip 11pm.

Here are our pictures. We used Marc's Sport Runner (later I will show you our budget and itinerary) going to Baguio.

Marc's Sport Runner. It felt spacious pagpunta namin sa Baguio, it was super sikip pabalik. hahaha!

Siksikan sa picture. You can see na si Dan lang ang walang problema sa seat. Xa na ang first lady.

Here was our itinerary (actually this is the revised itinerary - the actual na nasunod) and the budgetary computation of our 2D 1N vacation at the City of Pines

JANUARY 21 (SATURDAY)

8:00PM-10:00PM - CALL TIME at MCDO TRINOMA (please refer to the incident above if you are asking why I spent 3 hours for the call time)

11:00PM - START OF TRIP

JANUARY 22 (SUNDAY)

2:30AM - STOPOVER AT NLEX BEFORE GOING UP TO BAGUIO 

Marc was sleepy at this time na so we decided to stop over at Shell Select before heading up to Baguio

3:30AM - CONTINUATION OF TRIP

5:30AM - ARRIVE AT BAGUIO (We were very early so we decided to stop at Session Road and ate Arrozcaldo because it was really freezing cold when we arrived. We really need something hot to eat. After eating Arrozcaldo, it was another battle when we left the restaurant so we ordered taho outside.)

While waiting for our very hot Arrozcaldo... We like to rest na by the time we got there..

It was super cold so one jacket was not enough so we ordered taho to battle against the cold air.

6:30AM - ARRIVED AT LE CHATEAU TRANSIENT HOUSE (The room given to us was the Yellow Room which can accomodate a maximum of 11 people. Super spacious and super nice! You can contact Tita Sonny at 09178377488. Their rates were super affordable pa! Thank you Tita Sonny, we really enjoyed our stay.)

Here was our room with 4 double deck beds which can accomodate 8 people and there was still another room for 3 people at the other side kaya super spacious talaga :)

7:00AM-10:00AM - REST AND SLEEPING TIME
10:00AM-12:00NN - PREPARATION (bathing time, paganda at pagwapo time at kwentuhan time)

12:00NN-1:30PM - TAKE A MASS AT BAGUIO CATHEDRAL CHURCH (and of course, picture taking after)

Picture taking while under the heat of the sun. :)

At the bench outside the church. :)

1:30PM-3:00PM -LUNCH AT THE NEAREST FASTFOOD (we should've eaten at 50's Diner but the line was super long so we decided to find another place and we found Zio's Pizzeria along the way)



Zio's Pizzeria which was located at the Front of Teacher's Camp

Because we took our lunch very late and we were very hungry, we ate our food na and this was what was left.

3:00PM-3:15PM -TEACHER'S CAMP (We just crossed the road and walah, we took pictures of the signage of Teacher's Camp but we didn't roam around to save time)

As you can see, may vandal pa sa signage.. Too bad!

3:15PM-4:00PM - GO TO BAGUIO BOTANICAL GARDEN (I refer this place as the place of ninunos because the native people were at the entrance waiting for tourists that would take pictures with them.  A fee of 10 pesos per head of the native that you wanted to take a picture with, applies. No entrance fee to the garden, though. The place was undergoing renovation on the entrance part so we were limited to the other parts of the garden only.)

Rhy and I at the Botanical Garden. (Pinilit ko lang yan.. Halata diba?)

EWAF on the mini bridge. And because we are engineers, we wanted to have a picture on this. Steel members yan!

Okay, kunwari tumatakbo. And the winner of the perfect pose goes to Dan!!! Kita nyo naman, effect! :p

Rhy and I on the entrance of the cave... Scaredy cats..

Chabe and Rascia on the entrance of the cave.. Ayaw nila ng stripes, promise!

Marc posing a scared face but it seems na siya lang ang taong nkangiti pa rin pag takot. :p

4:00PM-5:15PM - TRAVEL TO MINES VIEW PARK AND PICTURE TAKING (unintentionally, the President was at the Mansion and we were supposed to go there before heading to Mines View but the Mansion was closed to the public and the PSG were outside so we can't enter the premises yet. Also the biggest turn of decision was I was called by nature. As in I need to go to the bathroom kung hindi may mageexplode sa sasakyan ni Marc and I don't want that to happen noh. EWE! So we hurriedly went to Mines View. Luck was really not on my side because there were many tourists going there and the line of cars were super long and I need to get out of the car na. We ended up walking to the bathroom. As in super walk, mega walk but I can't really walk fast because one wrong step and it will go out of me unknowingly. You know what I'm talking about right? ahahaha!!!! I don't want to divulge details pa. Nakiusap talaga ako sa toilet attendant to let me in first. Buti nalang she has the heart and she let me through agad. Heaven ang feeling ko after that very moment. As in haaay!!! And we had our pictorial after. I saw Sydney Fojas and Honeyleth Dato here also. Sydney was my former officemate.) :)

Couple picture at the Mines View... ♥

After taking a nap, we had our picture with Doglas taken. Paid 100 pesos for 3 solo shots and 3 group shots. Sulit! He was a hebigat natural cutie.. I want one! hahaha..

5:15PM-6:15PM - TRAVEL TO THE MANSION AND WRIGHT PARK AND PICTORIAL (Of course, we don't want to miss the two tourist spots that's why we went back. Sakto, wala na rin ang mga PSG and they started to let the public took pictures inside The Mansion. While waiting in line to go inside, I saw Sydney again. Hahaha!!!)

The signage at the front. Couldn't understand it (different language)

Group picture at The Mansion :)

Group picture at the Wright Park. I just love the pine trees there! Super refreshing to look at.

Rhy and I had our picture taken at the center of the Wright Park.

6:15PM-7:00PM - GO TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES GROTTO (We wanted to see what the grotto looks like so we went here and also lift up our prayers to God. Solemn night)

Our photo with the statue there. It started to be very cold already and it was dark.

7:00PM-8:00PM - GO TO SM CITY BAGUIO TO BUY GROCERY ITEMS FOR DINNER AND FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH THE NEXT DAY

Photo of SM City Baguio from afar..

Alvin and Chabe busy getting the grocery items

Because SM just have few baggers that night, Rhy, Alvin and Rascia helped the cashier to place our items in the plastic bags.Bravo!

8:30PM-onwards - DINNER TIME AND BONDING TIME

Rascia cooked our meals. It was so yummy! Here is her version of Adobong Manok with Potatoes

Our dinner: Adobong Manok and Lettuce Salad

After a nap, we had our dinner together :)

We tried the Shisha brought by Rascia. Sayang because we don't have the magic coal. In fairness it was minty.

After dinner was Shisha Time c/o Chabe and Rascia :)

That night, Carl was the Shisha King kahit at that time lang siya nakapagtry. Kapre!

We played the Jackass Game also. This game was definitely fun! I got drunk nga lang. (As in hilo mga ateng. Halatang hindi sanay.)

We played the Jackass Game and Marc drank a lot..

And of course me.. I got drunk at the end ha?

 

As per King Ryan: Throughout the game, one hand on the ears. Kakangawit!

 

Then King Carl: No teeth should be seen so we covered our mouths or else consequence..

We slept around 12:00AM. I couldn't sleep agad because I felt my head was turning around. I shouldn't have drank from the last bottle of Bacardi Gold. Hmp!

The suspect!

JANUARY 23 (MONDAY)

8:00AM-10:00AM- -WAKE UP TIME, BREAKFAST TIME, PREPARATION TIME

10:00AM - CHECKOUT OF HOTEL (We had our picture taken with Tita Sonny at the entrance of Le Chateau)

Under the heat of the sun, we had our picture taken with Tita Sonny (He was the one in black between me and Rascia).

10:15AM-11:15AM - STRAWBERRY FARM AND MARKET MODE BY DAN

Rhy and I at the Strawberry Farm..

The freshly picked strawberries sold by the vendors inside. Looks yummy!

I told you, Dan did his market mode in Strawberry Farm and take note, he had a list with him. The vegetables were way cheaper here than outside.

11:15AM-12:00NN - GO TO GOOD SHEPHERD CONVENT (We went here just to buy their famous Ube Jam and Strawberry Jam. If I'm not mistaken, the Ube Jam was sold at 115 per 125g bottles)


12:00NN-3:00PM - TRAVEL TO PMA, LUNCH AND TOUR INSIDE (We were going soldier-hunting.. Yay!)

When we arrived, we ate our lunch first before we roam around. We couldn't afford to roam on an empty stomach.

 

Our picture at the first helicopter we found inside the premises.

Here is Marc at the jet plane of the Phil. Air Force.

And also Rascia and Chabe...

We also had a group picture at the top of the tree house...

And of course our goal was to have a picture with the PMA students. (Sorry mga kuya, alam naming nagmamadali kayo but we still insisted to have a picture. Thank you!)

We found two other students. They were shorter than the first. :p

And of course, Dan who was successful to have a picture with a handsome student (Borta hunting pa rin)

Our picture at the center of the stage (PMA students, teachers, employees, live by the three words Courage, Integrity and Loyalty)

Out of Ryan's curiosity, we managed to ask a student on how they choose where to go when they graduate. (According to him, they are divided into three, Army, Navy and Air Force. Their career paths are determined like a raffle draw but still if you excel in class you get to pick first so you have higher chances to pick which you like)

3:00PM-4:00PM - STOP OVER AT LION'S HEAD ALONG KENNON ROAD (We bought pasalubong along the way and took some pictures...)

After we bought pasalubong, we hurriedly posed at the lion's head for a group picture taking. (You can buy pasalubong at 3 for 100 or 4 for 100 or 7 for 100 depending on the size of the jars and the brand)

Quick pose at the lion's head :)

4:00PM-8:00PM - TRAVEL TIME (It was super traffic when we reach the intersection of Marcos Hway and Kennon Road so we really took hours to travel and we were already hungry)
8:00PM-9:30PM - DINNER AT ISDAAN FLOATING RESTAURANT (I will have another blog entry for this place. It deserves one, really!)
9:30PM-12:00AM - TRAVEL TIME (We did stop over at the same Shell Select when we went home and at the Starbucks at NLEX because Marc was really falling asleep during the long drive. Marc was really a very good driver and I wanted to commend his driving skills. Sorry Marc if we did slept along the way even if we should've kep talking to you so that you wouldn't feel sleepy.)

JANUARY 24 (TUESDAY)
1:00AM - ARRIVED HOME SAFELY (Thank you Marc for driving us home. Happy 58th Monthsary Popsy.♥♥♥)

AND HERE WAS THE BREAKDOWN OF OUR FEES: 

(We were 8 in the group)

TOLL FEE AT NLEX - 45 + 173 = 218 x 2 = 440 (roundtrip)
GAS = 2800 (for the entire travel already)
TOLL FEE AT SCTEX = 104 x 2 = 210 (roundtrip)
BACARDI + SHISHA + COKE = 800

ACCOMODATION = 4000 (1 night, Yellow Room)

PICTURE TAKING WITH DOGLAS = 100 (3 group shots + 3 solo shots)

PARKING FEES - 40+20+20+20 = 100 (just allot max of 150 for parking fees)

GROCERY+FOOD - 1900+250 = 2150 (this goes for our dinner, breakfast and lunch already if you have time to cook. Way cheaper if you eat outside)
ZIO'S PIZZERIA - 280 (1pc chicken + rice + lasagna)

PASALUBONG - 115 (ube jam at Good Shepherd) + 100 (strawberries) + 100 (3 jars of strawberry jam) + 300 (total of 9 jars of pasalubong bought at Lion's Head along Kennon Road) = 615

For the Group Fees (divided equally into 8)
440 + 2800 + 210 + 800 + 4000 + 100 + 100 + 2150 = 10600 / 8 persons = 1325 each + 280 + 615

More or less we spent 2220 pesos per person. Very cheap for a 2D 1N group vacation at Baguio!!! It's better if you have your own car and you just pay for the gas but be sure you have two drivers so that they can drive alternately after maybe 2 or 3 hours of driving. In this way, the group is safer and relaxed. :)

If you'll be going there, just enjoy the breath of fresh air and the cold atmosphere in the City of Pines. There are more spots that we didn't go to. There was the Burnham Park and the Camp John Hay. You must also see these two and enjoy a boat ride at Burnham Park and strolling at Camp John Hay. Also, try to eat at 50's Diner when you have time.

Until here, Tata!!!