Zigzag road going to Baguio City
ORIGINALLY, Baguio City was a settlement camp of American troops during their occupation in 1900s where they patterned the architecture of houses and buildings after their homes in the United States. And to easily access the neighboring towns, they have constructed Kennon Road; a highway known for its narrow and challenging turns. Apparently, this changed its peaceful face to a city of merchants and uncontrolled migrants from surrounding towns. When Americans left, more settlers invaded the thriving city and soon turned into a crowded district of mixed locals and vacationing tourists who come mainly for its temperate climate.
Baguio Cathedral
The city’s economy moved progressively despite the absence of the founding Americans. Parks, Gardens, Museums, markets and shopping malls were established everywhere and perhaps elevated the rapid rise of tourism. Big growth on hotels, lodging houses, restaurants and bars is increasing every year. Aside from farming, locals shifted to handicrafts to sustain the rising demand of market coming from tourism. Because of this Baguio famed itself as the best place to go for cheap wood carvings and fabric weavings. These shops are all over the city market and nearby town markets of Asin and Trinidad.
Fresh Flowers of Baguio
Baguio illustrates an ambiance of people wearing warm outfits all year around. If you only see Philippines as a tropical country, visiting Baguio somehow changes that view. Filipinos regarded this city amidst the towering peaks of the Cordillera, as the summer capital of the country, where they can move away from the irritating heat during summer.
Panagbenga Festival celebrates the bountiful harvest of flowers
To get there, Victory Liner, bus company based in Pasay City along Edsa, has departures for Baguio in the morning daily. You can also take your car. From Balintawak take North Expressway and get off at Dau Exit. Pass by Tarlac, Urdaneta and Pozzorubio. Before reaching Rosario, you may see a junction (Kennon Road) to Baguio. Skip that way, and at about 500 meters, you will see a newly constructed road with a signboard "to Baguio". Other routes such as Naguillian Road from Bauang, or Marcos Highway from Agoo are good options for people who may want to enjoy first the beaches of La Union.
Enjoyed Baguio, If your not used to high altitudes take it slow, i didnt, got dizzy had to sit down for about an hour, then I was fine. Thre is great shopping for wood carvings,snacks, small and big soveigners, silver, bee honey, lots of shops. There is a small lake you can paddle boat in, You are above the clouds,the weather is cool and very refreshing. There is a walk up dunkin-donut shop on the sidewalk, u walk up to a window, u pay, u get your donut and continue walking on the sidwalk. At night the smoke from fires below reach Baguio city, is a little smoggy but soon lifts away. My wife and I took a mini bus(size of a greyhound) up the winding roads, and it was a fast moving blur into the beauty of Baguio. The travel up is wild, but going down is fast then slow, fast then slow, the bus was braking a lot. I remember just praying that the brakes would keep strong.
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