If I was true to myself, Baguio would be the least of the places this mermaid would visit. It’s up in the Cordilleras, it’s cold, there about the slightest chance that there are coconut trees there and there is no sight of sea.
Almost 70 kilometers away from surf town San Juan in La Union, Baguio is really near. Minus the traffic, it can take you a little over an hour to two hours travel time, depending on your mode of transportation. The road isn’t for the easily nauseous so pop a pill if you think you’ll need extra help. Other than this, the road trip up north to this mountain city is quite pleasing.
With mountain views starting to take over previous sea and sand, the weather starting to dip, jackets and pants are making their warm welcome. I never planned to go anywhere “untropical” to begin with. I actually had no idea Baguio City was just a ‘climb’ away from La Union and when you’re with people can’t stand doing nothing, anything can happen!
It was a lay day during the final leg of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour. The waves were too crazy wild and the wind too strong, so it was decided to continue the competition the following day.
With nothing else to do, we grabbed lunch at our favorite stops along the highway. I can’t remember what I had that day, I think had a burger at the sidewalk resto of a local surfer lady who was really kind (it’s sad I can’t remember her name) but she has a shop up in Baguio as well.
I recall she was wrapped in layers when she arrived. I asked if it was cold up in Baguio and she replied it was. It was four years ago that I first experienced Baguio. Short but sweet. It was a business trip where I accompanied Cebu and Davao media to travel to my former company’s newly inaugurated hydroelectric power plant somewhere near Sagada.
The road from Manila to Sagada, I will never forget. With nowhere to buy a pill, lack of sleep and our van running at 80kph-100kph, I was praying for my life and for my insides to remain inside me. We stopped at Baguio for dinner before we headed back to Manila and that dinner in O’ Mai Khan was forever etched in taste buds’ history.
Glorious food aside, that trip was the opposite of where I would have wanted to be yet delicious memories of Baguio kept haunting me till this very day. I knew I had to go back to Baguio again, even if it was just for the food!
My reminiscing was cut short when we had to go back the hostel in La Union. I tried working in the common area but was too distracted. I needed coffee. Dragging my friend, Dom, who had forgotten his slippers the day before in El Union’s beachfront, he wanted to go see if he could get them back.
We weren’t a few minutes away when an SUV swerves right along our side of the road and the people inside were yelling at us to hop in. A packed vehicle, loud blaring music, a hungry bunch of surfers eager to escape the heat of the La Union and a clueless mermaid were heading their way to Baguio.
Literally kidnapped for ‘late lunch’! It wasn’t until we reached the border of La Union and Benguet that I realized we were indeed headed for Baguio City… in our shorts and thin tees while Dom was barefoot. He didn’t find his slippers anymore.
We did the typical tourist trip of passing through Session Road, a photo in front of the Mansion, enjoyed the food at the scenery at Mines View Park and for the finale, an evening stroll through Burnham Park. I would have wanted to go thrift shopping at the ukay stalls around but it was too cold.
Baguio certainly has a lot of secret food hangs that only frequent travelers would know. The Jollibee branch near Burnham Park has a nearby street food vendor that sells the most delicious peanuts and chicken skin I’ve ever tried. I wish I can find her when I visit again.
Oh, I waited for four years before I could try the famed Cafe by the Ruins. I ordered scones which turned out to be my favorite biscuit ever! Pair these with cheese or even butter or with jam and you’ll never want to try anything else again. Of course, this goes well with a cup of hot Siphon coffee or a cold glass of latte with Malagos chocolate. Such a delightful meal that will always bring me fuzzy, sweet and warm memories all at once.
Stay tuned next week for more on Baguio City’s eats!
