the sky before seven Unknown 7:59 PM

I don't know if I could fool you for saying that the sky did look like that at seven in the morning, because it doesn't look like it, does it?

But I failed to wake up earlier because my body knew it was weekend and I had to drag my ass to shower (thankfully their hot shower was working) and get out there and do the morning walk and try not to look like a tourist.  I wanted to say 'try not to look like an idiot' but I thought that might be too harsh.  But I did look like an idiot and a little bit clumsy.. I don't know if I could share that though.

the grandest fireworks display which i almost missed Unknown 11:08 PM

Everybody was at the field, at Melvin Jones field, waiting for the main event of Panagbenga's closing ceremony.  I went there for that very reason; the fireworks display which they said would be the grandest you'll ever experience.. for FREE!  It was massive, colorful, and lasted for about 30 minutes.. or less, no, I think it was more than 30 minutes.  It was quite long, and I almost missed it.

But I was at the park first.  I was actually everywhere.  I was at the Session Road.  I was at the market.  I was at 711 for more than 2 hours, charging my Coby player and I was quite happy one of the cords matched mine because I would literally cry if I wasn't able to charge it. 

After 711, I braced the heat of the afternoon.. scoured every stalls which I've scoured the day before because I had nothing to do anyway.  There I found the cutest puffer fish I've seen! and he's the first puffer fish I've seen! I had to take him with me, and I did, and he's now hanging nicely in my room, together with Owly and Woodcat (I thought of Woodcat's name just now).  He's a cute addition.

After shopping, I went back to the house, because it was really hot and I thought I'd go back to the park at around 5pm.  I had dinner at 5pm, at this restaurant I found at Burnham, but I can't remember the name.  The food was nice and quite affordable.  The coffee's nice too.  I tried to read there, but it felt wrong to read at the restaurant, but they didn't disturb me.  I left after a few pages, and went back to strolling/window shopping while looking for a vacant seat; a bench, a rock, grass, whatever, and I found a very nice spot at the lake, facing the people happily paddling together.. making memories.

So how did I almost miss the grand fireworks display?

can it be more clear? Unknown 6:30 PM

I had no idea what these words mean, but I think there's no need for asking. hihi

Arko ni Apo - art gallery Unknown 9:40 PM

We were waiting for a cab outside the Tam-Awan Village in Baguio when I noticed this art gallery.  The first time I went to Tam-Awan, this gallery was closed and when I saw it open, widely open, open to the public.. I didn't hesitate.  I went inside while my other 2 friends were waving for a taxi.

Outside it looks quite intriguing, inside it's quite interesting.. and kinda creepy.

Silent Sunday Unknown 8:50 AM

manong n dog Unknown 8:01 PM

I was playing on some features in Photoshop that I haven't tried and maybe post them here because I can't think of anything to post today but I need to because I'm on a posting marathon which is getting more difficult on some days because I can't think of any topic to talk about like today but I'm still trying and that's what I'm trying to do right now.

i can feel it! Unknown 6:30 PM

That's what I think is this dog's saying in his head while I was taking a picture of him.  I think he loves the attention, and that's what I like about this dog.  He didn't give me the kind of look that would back me out.. instead, he did that head-swaying "I can feel it" face like in the commercial.  Or maybe he was just about to scratch his head..? I can't remember.  :>

walk this way Unknown 11:06 PM

mostly stolen Unknown 9:41 PM

I think everyone would agree if I say stolen shots are the best and the most interesting shots you could see in a photo album.. except maybe if they made you look like a monster in it.  But no monster you would see in this list, for the people in Baguio are all pretty inside and out.  

This shot was taken at Tam-awan Village where everything is artsy..

great height Unknown 7:19 PM

You know what my brother's first words were when he saw this photo?

"blair witch project"

the rain never stopped loving us Unknown 10:01 PM

We were back to Baguio last last week where we spent the long weekend holiday which was originally planned to be in Borawan in Quezon.  There's this thing about travel companies which is a little annoying, but understandable, yeah, I understand it alright, but still annoying.

I was so excited about this trip, visiting these islands in Quezon I didn't know exist that I told my office friends I'm going there because they asked where I'm going.. when the travel company told my friend, our manager, that the trip was cancelled.. not because of bad weather but because there's no enough people who booked for that trip.. unless we pay for the rest of the seats, then we will go. fuckers.  But because they knew how we've waited for this long weekend trip, they suggested another island hopping location, which is better but much more expensive; Sorsogon.  Now that is the problem, it's a little bit out of our budget because this kind of trip requires longer preparation.  We would love to, but our bank accounts say NO!

is ice cream my favorite? Unknown 9:05 PM

Honestly, I don't know if I have a favorite food, but I do love ice cream, and there's this flavor that I'm starting to love.. strawberry.

Last week we came back to Baguio, and the strawberry ice cream and I met again.  It's only in Baguio that we get to experience great-tasting strawberry ice cream, and the funny vendors who always tell us to instagram it!

in Baguio City, what more can you see? Unknown 2:50 PM

There are plenty of places to visit; 2 or 3 days is not enough.  And on this post, I'm combining the photos I took from my first time to this recent visit.. isn't that nice? no? whateverr.

On our first visit, we were able to explore the city and walk the streets even under the rain, but that is not that exciting.  Walking under the rain is the last thing I could enjoy; it makes me feel and look miserable, so please, pour down when I'm under a roof and not going anywhere.  Because how can you enjoy walking from one street to the other and buy some stuff when you're soaking wet on a very cold place?  I was forced to buy an umbrella and a cardigan; the cardigan I loved.  But what I really love to experience is the night market adjacent to Burnham Park.  We saw that during our company trip as our bus passed by it, but I had no enough energy to explore anymore so I decided to just play cards with the others (Uno cards).

And on our next Baguio trip, we must stop by the night market, and get there earlier before the crowd gets worse.  Yes, this is highly recommended.

Here are the list of photos from my first visit in Baguio: Burnham Park, Lourdes Grotto, Minesview, the Mansion, and the Wright Park.  I only have few, because it was really raining.  But I sacrificed my camera for spelunking in Sagada.

company trip to the City of Pines! Unknown 12:13 PM

This was the perfect time to go to Baguio because Manila has gotten really hot, but it could have been perfect if we went there earlier.  We went there on the last week of May, which is the start of the rainy season.. funny enough because it was also raining when I went to Baguio for the first time.  I thought I'd be able to explore the city this time without getting wet.  But all went well, still.

Everyone's excited for this trip, well, it's our only chance to get out of our system and chill and hang out and not talk about work for a few days.. and that was really nice.  But there's one person who did get in our nerves; the bus driver.  He arrived late on picking us up that's why we missed some of our activities on the first day.  He went nuts because of some misunderstandings, and kinda refused to drive us back home.. it was like, he held us captive for almost an hour in a gas station.. where he also lit a cigarette.
After a long conversation of the bosses on the phone, we we're then freed.. we actually thought we're going to hitchhike on some strangers' cars that time just to get home.. that could have been really exciting.

But it was a nice experience all in all.  I don't get to hang out with them that much, that's why this trip is a great idea.  And here, I'll share with you all the pictures of them I took during this trip.. and some I took from their folders hihi.

photo credit to Lia

photo credit to James

photo credit to Lia

photo credit to Lia

photo credit to Lia

photo credit to Yhavz

And the best thing about this trip is the food that I don't get to experience on my personal trips.  And also, the house we rented is so beautiful, it's so perfect.. I loved the hot shower.  The people too are so nice; the owner and her staff are helpful on everything.. and the house is new.  Take a look at the few.

But there's one thing I forgot to mention about our trip back home.. the back tire of our bus broke off!  We heard a loud sound and one of my office mates confirmed that the tire was broke.  We alerted the bus driver who then checked it but then said we could still continue our trip in that kind of situation.. "chill, everything's fine."  He continued driving but the tire got worse.. then my head was filled with bus incidents in EDSA and all over the Philippines.  We don't know what he was thinking but he went for a U-turn and stopped and changed the tire, thank God!

photo credit to Yhavz

photo credit to Yhavz

what to see in Tam-awan? Unknown 10:21 PM

When you say Baguio, there's one only one thing on mind; strawberries, oh and pine trees, so two.  From the fresh strawberries you could harvest in strawberry farm, to strawberry jam, strawberry taho, and strawberry wine, and strawberry ice cream.. I don't know if there's anything more product they produce with strawberries, but all of them are so delish.. especially strawberry ice cream and the wine, which I'm consuming right now but is almost empty.. so I gotta go back and buy more.  Am I serious?
But the high light of our company trip was that visit at Tam-awan Village.

Just by the entrance, you'll notice how artsy the people here are, and that mural could have been prettier if that van wasn't there.  Yeah, they kinda have no parking lot, I think.  Tam-awan is also called Garden in the Sky by the way.. and the trek going up to the view deck is a bit slippery on some part, so be careful.

But as we entered the place, we saw these guys on Ifugao costumes.  This may sound funny, but, I was amazed as I was seeing these guys who seem a bit anxious about their thing.  I did ask if it's okay to take a picture of them.. nobody replied with a no, so I took some nice shots, and I'm glad that I did.  I was the only one in the group who did it, I think.

The amount of art and love you'll find in this place is so overwhelming, I could hardly look at each of them.. too many to handle.

And entering this souvenir shop, we were greeted by this statue of a guy who was too welcoming, I think he wasn't able to control it.  And that's not the funny part, there's a sign on his chest saying "hands off" hahahaha!

They're also offering an overnight stay at tiny houses like this for Php500 per person, but they also have group deals.

for more info., visit their website at http://www.tam-awanvillage.com/