Travex Travels - Travel. Explore. Fun in PH

The Itogon Experience: Of Hot Spring, Hanging Bridge and Grilled Food

2013-06-13T17:27:00.003-07:00

One of the resorts in Itogon Hot Springs

Why do people always look for something different from the usual? Like the contrary from the existing? When I was still in the lowland province, I certainly worry about the humidity and always complain it’s hot. And now I’m in Baguio, I was looking for something hotter than the place. When the weather is hot, we tend to look for cool things to eat, or cold places to visit. And when it’s cold, we look for something that can warm our bodies. Like a hot spring maybe? An hour away from the city is a town called Itogon, and it’s not just the hot spring of Itogon that makes it a tourist hot spot—it is always complimented with the experience, and an additive fun from the hanging bridge and of course, the grilled food.

Itogon Hot Springs: Tips and Guide

2013-06-10T17:05:00.002-07:00

One of the resorts in the becoming popular Itogon Hot Springs in Benguet.

If you are in Manila, you most probably think of the beach when it comes to summer things, but if you live in the highlands like Baguio, the nearest you could think for a summer getaway means the hot springs. Well, if you are having fun with us and want more other than the hot springs, then that’s the time we get out of the highlands and go to the beach, the most recent of which we visited were Patar Beach in Bolinao and Ampere Beach in Dipaculao (which is very very far from Baguio, post soon). For the meantime, we decided to check out Itogon Hot Springs, after our friends told us that it was underway to development. It was more than a decade now the last time I visited a hot spring—the ‘recent’ I can remember was Maleluag Hot Spring in Mangatarem, Pangasinan (maleluag means “hot” in Panggalatok, dialect of the Pangasinense).

Bell Church: Baguio Version of the Temple

2013-06-09T17:36:00.001-07:00

Bell Church is Baguio's version of the temple.

For the past years, I have never been to the so called Bell Church. This year around, I got a chance to visit this tourist spot, I must say, the version of Baguio when it comes to temple. It’s not a doubt that Baguio is indeed also rich in Chinese culture, and many Chinese people were already living in this city. As a matter of fact, Baguio City also celebrates the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year ala Kung Hei Fat Chai.

Strawberry Fields in the Philippines? Head to Benguet

2013-06-08T06:17:00.002-07:00

Strawberry fruit in Strawberry Farm, La Trinidad, Benguet

If there’s one thing that makes Baguio distinct from other places in the Philippines, it’s strawberry. But did you know that strawberries are not actually grown in the City of Pines? Strawberry fields are located in the nearby province of Benguet. Not only strawberries are grown here, all the other highland veggies are also harvested in the province like lettuce, cabbage, and carrots.

The Overlooking—Tam-awan Village

2013-06-03T17:47:00.002-07:00

Popular Cordilleran wood carvings in Tam-awan Village, Baguio City.

It was my second time this time to visit Tam-awan Village, another manmade park in the city of Baguio. The first time I went there was with another set of fellow bloggers. Tam-awan means a view point or an overlooking deck. It’s an uphill park with miniature of the different wooden houses in the Cordillera.

Diplomat Hotel & 10 Commandments Tablet on the Heritage Hill of Baguio

2013-05-24T16:32:00.001-07:00

Fountain inside the Diplomat Hotel on Heritage Hill, Baguio City

Starting our tour in Lourdes Grotto will eventually lead us to the Heritage Hill of Baguio where Diplomat Hotel Ruins lies. This is also where the largest 10 commandments tablet was erected. After our strawberry taho snack along the way to the Diplomat Hotel, we headed to walk our way to the Heritage Hill and Prayer Mountain.

The Verdict—Strawberry Taho or Plain?

2013-05-18T17:05:00.001-07:00

Strawberry taho in Baguio City, Philippines

I am not a ‘taho’ fan or a strawberry maniac (but I enjoy eating strawberry shortcakes) but indeed this “strawberry taho” needs a special post for it. When we say ‘taho’, it’s a morning drink with special ‘arnibal’ or syrup of cooked sugar topped with soya jellies and pearls. You can find someone selling along the street in a busy morning, shouting “tahoooooooooooooooo!”, at an unarguable price of P10 (some are P5 but expect a smaller container). This time it was P20, not because it was in a larger container but because the syrup, let’s say, was a bit more special than the plain ones. Strawberry syrup.

Another Step to the Lourdes Grotto in Baguio

2013-05-18T08:10:00.002-07:00

Lourdes Grotto, Baguio City

And so I met these two bloggers from Cebu, the administrators of Penfires! And FieldTripBoy for a short but worthy Baguio trip this 2013. It wasn’t my first time to actually be with a fellow blogger in a Baguio tour, but it was indeed a great adventure with Cille and Titus who are passionate in their own ways. So we met around 8:00 in the morning in front of Abanao Square and we’re due to our first stop—the Lourdes Grotto.

Baguio Trip 2013—Start It with the Bloggers

2013-05-14T16:38:00.001-07:00

Joven, Cille and Titus (from left to right) of Travex Travels, Penfires!, and FieldtripBoy

Traveling with companions is always more fun as compared to traveling solo—no matter what, if you ask me. I have already traveled to several places where I was with my close friends like in Subic, Bolinao and Dasol. In some of my travel series, I have been with some companies they call “bloggers”—or people who write articles and post it in their “blogs”, or online portfolio. My most amazing adventure happened to be with a blogger and our trip was in Sagada last year. But I cannot condemn the parts where I also enjoyed my trip with other bloggers in Osdung, Ambuklao and Baguio. This 2013, my first trip with other bloggers was well no other than my beloved Baguio City, and I honestly enjoyed our trip. :D

Bolinao Itinerary & List of Expenses

2013-05-10T22:41:00.006-07:00

Doing a two-day tour in Bolinao is already enough, especially when you start it at early morning (like 7 AM). You will have a chance to see more (like Enchanted Cave or Cindy’s Cave, and Patar rock formatons) or enjoy more of the beach or the falls. As in our case, we arrived at late lunch time, and thus we have only visited Bolinao Lighthouse and Patar Beach (with its golden sunset) in the afternoon. Then we visited the other tourist spots the next day.

Bolinao Falls—Swimming, Swimming Din Pag May Time!

2013-05-10T07:55:00.001-07:00

Bolinao Falls

Tara Falls was such an amazing little falls of Bolinao, Pangasinan. We were not able though to try and dip our body in its cool waters, so we just contented ourselves to taking photos of the falls. After it, we left Tara Falls for water falls again—this time, the Bolinao Falls. Tsk, tsk, sarap-sarap mag-swimming swimming pag may time!

Tara na sa Tara Falls in Bolinao

2013-05-09T18:17:00.001-07:00

Tara Falls in Bolinao, Pangasinan

The cave we visited was a bit downer (Wonderful Cave) because of the pricey entrance fee. But this did not stop us to continue our adventure in this western side of Pangasinan. Instead, we headed for some cool waters in Barangay Tara, Bolinao. Tara Falls was a series of different falls, but they were all small. But it was a good opportunity for photo backdrops.

Wondering What’s Underneath the Wonderful Cave of Bolinao

2013-05-09T07:46:00.001-07:00

Inside Wonderful Cave of Bolinao, Pangasinan

After taking some video clips in Patar Beach by the morning, we already decided to check out at Holyland Resort (P1500/non-aircon room, good for 4 people, but you can request the owner to accommodate more, like us, we were 7, kung nagtitipid). Our next destination was Tara Falls but we took a short time to visit the Wonderful Cave in Bolinao. And we’re just wondering what’s underneath of it.

The Beach of Patar (Morning Side)

2013-05-08T03:46:00.001-07:00

Patar Beach, Bolinao, Pangasinan by morning.

It was a beautiful and calm morning, and just after we strolled around the beaches in Bolinao where it is not appropriate for swimming (because of the marine life there, like sea grasses, fishes, and star fish), we headed for Patar Beach to see the other side of it—the morning. When we went there in 2011, it was noon time (golden strip) and yesterday, we arrived there in the afternoon (golden sunset). Today, we are braving to see its wonder in the morning. And it was a beach.

Symmetry of Life: Bolinao Beaches Greet Us Good Morning

2013-05-06T17:22:00.001-07:00

Bolinao beaches greet us "good morning"!

It was needless for us to tell what happened after the sun set in Patar Beach, Bolinao. It was a great night of fun and card games. We also had our night swimming which was fun to do and a fraction of the remaining hours was spent to sleep. It was a great morning after.

Patar Beach: The Golden Sands and the Golden Bolinao Sunset

2013-05-05T17:23:00.002-07:00

Catch the golden sunset in Patar Beach, Bolinao.

A widescreen view of the sea can be seen from the hill where the Bolinao Lighthouse was erected, but it was still a surprising scene to see Patar Beach in Bolinao. It was just a few minutes from the lighthouse (there is actually a crossroad where the one road goes to the lighthouse and the other one to the public beach). I remember the first time I saw Patar Beach on a lunch time and the sands were really creamy gold. It didn’t fail me to bring my jaw drop again. Patar Beach was just that stunning.

Watching the Sky—Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

2013-05-05T01:35:00.001-07:00

One of the tallest lighthouses in the country is the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse

We did not intend to replace the “lost stone” we found in the middle of the sea adjacent to the shores of Bolinao, Pangasinan. Instead, we found our way to the second tallest existing lighthouse in the Philippines—the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse. Did I say lighthouse? Or Bolinao?

The Lost Stone of Bolinao, Pangasinan

2013-05-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

One of the smallest islets scattered in the shores of Bolinao. It's that small a tree only grows on it.

After the church, our next destination was the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in the entire Philippines. But we took to manage and check out all the other resorts in Bolinao. And we stumbled upon this unusual and unique beach setting. A big chunk of rock was lost in the middle of the West Philippine Sea.

Bolinao Church—Mystery and History

2013-05-03T16:41:00.003-07:00

More than 400 years old and still standing, Bolinao Church.

After we reached the bus terminal in Bolinao, we took a glimpse of the posted map with tourist spots. It was already noon time when we arrived in this westernmost part of Pangasinan and we decided to eat for lunch in a nearby carinderia. Ulam cost P30 per order, and P20 for half of it. One cup of rice was P10. Enough energy has been restored for us to move forward to our first destination—the Bolinao Church.

Bolinao Tour: Tips and Guide

2013-05-02T16:51:00.002-07:00

Seems to be a lost stone in Bolinao. You will be able to see this once you do your Bolinao tour too.

I have already been to Bolinao once back in 2011 and it was a great trip. I was able to experience the golden sands of Patar, walk the shallow seas of Ilog-Malino, enter the hole to the Enchanted Cave, an epic-fail trek to Tara Falls (which we successfully witnessed the second time around!) and see the Bolinao Falls 1. More than a year after, we visited Bolinao for a weekend fun—and to create several video clips we used for a music video (Watch our video clip of Bolinao, Pangasinan here!). This time, I have to tell a crisper guide and some tips for an awesome Bolinao tour you should not miss.

Beyond the Monuments: Discover Another Side of Istanbul

2013-05-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

Istanbul. Photo Courtesy of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Istanbul is one of the world’s most majestic and historic cities. From the breathtaking Hagia Sophia to the Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern, this Turkish metropolis is packed with enough Ottoman and Byzantine sights to keep history-lovers occupied for months. There is, however, so much more to the city than its monuments alone. Need a few ideas? Here are a few of our favorite must-see spots.

Contours of Life

2013-04-30T00:07:00.002-07:00

Contours of life. Photo of mountains in Pangasinan. Courtesy of TRAVEXTRAVELS.COM

I remember the days when I have to draw maps out of different elevations, connect those which have the same data, and draw the contour of a particular location. That’s contour mapping, a way part of the studies offered within surveying (or plotting of land or water bodies). How I imagine if we can also do this in our lives, scrutinize those different events, match the linking similar assets and draw the entirety of your desired future. But that’s easier said than done.

Three-Day Sagada Itinerary & List of Expenses

2013-04-28T22:56:00.002-07:00

Some of the tourist destinations in Sagada ideal for a three-day tour itinerary.

Three days in Sagada may not be enough, but it is already good for a trip packed with lighter activities. Our very own itinerary for a suggested Sagada tour was not like the other lists because our trip was more of nature, food and culture appreciation. We were not limited to a time frame, and even though we did not do the Cave Connection and visited the other tourist spots like Bomod-ok and Pongas Falls, this one might still work for you.

Sagada All Saints Day: Burnt Pine Woods and Thick Black Smoke

2013-04-28T03:53:00.000-07:00

Local Sagadans burn pine wood instead of candle to commemorate their dead loved ones on November 1.

November 1 is called the “All Saints Day” and Novemer 2 as the “All Souls Day”. We often commemorate our dead loved ones on November 1. We bring candles, lit them up and pray for them. Some people even bring food (the dead one’s favorite when he/she was still living) as their “atang” (offering). In other parts of the country, some even rejoice, bring their whole family to gather, eat food over the grave, and sing. But it’s a different event when you visit Sagada for this important day.

When They Call It Halo-Halo in Sagada

2013-04-26T22:45:00.003-07:00

Sagada version of the popular Pinoy dessert halo-halo

One of the most irresistible Pinoy desserts is “halo-halo” (‘halo’ is a Tagalog word which means “mix”). Halo-Halo is a Pinoy authentic sweet course that is made out of shaved ice with different mixed ingredients like coconut, pearls, banana, sweet potato, jack fruit and the like. Hmm I was thinking of those fruits whenever I hear the word halo-halo, aside from the fact that it was indulged with sweets like leche flan, ice cream and ube jam, and then immersed in milk. Yummy.