Got it, not everyone can carry it off like a fat, pink, sweat stained Mercan :)
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Looks like you are having a really good time Katie, thanks for all the additional information. I liked the look of the stairs to the arbor and gardens. I am pretty sure that would be the correct term.
@bonecollector - yes, I had a great time in Baguio. I liked the cooler temps. Now I'm back to 34 degrees C. I also did a lot of walking. During that 2nd day, I did 23k+ steps, accdg to my phone. Btw, thanks for the note re: the arbor. I wasn't sure if it's an arbor or gazebo - it had no roof.
@mm77 and topper - heh. :)
More pics...
Next site for that day was the Baguio Botanical Gardens. It's a 5-10 min walk from Wright Park. My last visit here was when I was a teenager. My elder sister and I travelled to Baguio and we stayed with her friend/ classmate from uni who's from La Trinidad (next town). Our parents were friends, so we (sis and I) were allowed to make the trip. My sister was also 18+ at that time (I was still underage), so she was responsible for me. This (Botanical Garden) was the most changed, based on my memories.
Anyway, on with the pics.
This was at the entrance.
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Again, lots of local tourists
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Years before, the gardens were more of a forest, with large trees and it was darker. Now, they've divided it into several sections.
There's a Chinese-inspired garden.
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There are also statues of the animals in the Chinese zodiac.
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There was also a Japanese garden but I didn't go there - too many people.
The Thai section of the gardens
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There's a replica of the San Francisco bridge
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More tourists
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There's a coffee shop near the entrance, so one can buy food/ drinks there. The restrooms were also nice & clean.
I saw this group of ladies at the start of my tour. I was struck by her boots - high heels, very fashionista. :)
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I again saw her towards the end of my tour. These boots were made for walking (and posing). ;)
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I didn't know that the city of Vaughan in Ontario, Canada is the twin city of Baguio.
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For the cat lovers
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After visiting 3 sites, I was tired and hungry, so whent back to the city center (by jeepney). I had lunch then went to my hotel to rest.
Went out again in late afternoon. My hotel was near the playground of Burnham Park.
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It was rush hour. There were queues for jeepneys for people on their way home.
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Bottom of Session Road
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Maharlika commercial complex - it's near the public market (place for buying cheap souvenirs, veggies & strawberries)
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View from upper part of Session Road
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There are stairs along Session Road which lead to the Cathedral
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At the upper portion of Session Road, I was glad to see this. :D
It's fun to stay at the...
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Burnham Park Lake at twilight
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More pics later...
Thanks Katie, it does look interesting!
^cheers, topper.
Day 3: started off with another Filipino "silog" breakfast. This time it was tapsilog. (tapa = cured pork). The fruits & cucumber were from me. I bought them from the market. I had started eating when I remembered that I should take a pic.
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After checking out of the hotel, I went to SM Baguio to drop off my backpack in their luggage department. (Tip - you can always drop your bags off at an SM mall if you have to check out before noon and your flight/ bus is at night/ afternoon.) I had some hours to kill before the night bus back to Manila. (I prefer night travel to/ from Baguio - I just sleep and there's no traffic.)
SM Baguio is the only SM mall that I know which doesn't have A/C - not needed, since it's naturally cool.
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View from one of the viewdecks of SM Baguio
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Wood carvings from one of the stalls
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After exploring a bit of the mall, I went to visit the Cathedral. My last visit there was when I was a teen. I was with my sister and we were tour-guided by her friend/ classmate who was a local.
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Nothing much changed, I think. Just more people taking selfies. :)
I went inside and paid my respect.
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There was a radio station (AM/ FM) and ttansmission tower within the compound of the Cathedral.
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I descended these stairs to return to Session Road.
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More pics later. Thnx for the greets & greens.
^spamsilog wasn't on the hotel's list, unfortunately. It was a budget hotel, not posh enough for spam. (sad). :D
Lovely spam, wonderful spam! (Cue the Vikings) :D