Unplanned Midnight Drive To Baguio, And Mountain Lodge
After 182 days I was back in the country's summer capital. But that trip in May was a bit more business-related, so I did not have much time to see how Baguio has been.
This time, with no plans nor even thinking about it, we just took off as a convoy of 3 vehicles on a Friday, after an Eastwood nightout! Drivers ang non-drinkers - all girls!
Come what may.., whatever... hahaha!
Good that all 3 vehicles have maps. One car even had a "set-of-3 toy walkie-talkies"! So, we got to discuss where to stop, where to go, what to do, while already cruising!
Checking all those - of course with unending alaskahan bangayan on the road - was already memorable fun! No plans, but all were ready to go. Ah, that is what happens when travelers suddenly decide to travel. Laging Handa! Birds of the same feather!
It was a merry banter by over-over-roger-roger (2-way radio) among 3 cars moving at NLEX during the wee hours. Like what sorts of topics was "walkie-talkied", while our convoy cruised along? Well, foremost was "hoy, where are we gonna sleep in Baguio"?
That was followed by a chaotic "break-break", "over", "roger", "negative" -- for the next hour! Haaay, nag-flock-together ang mga teenager nung kasagsagan ng "ham radio"!
It started with one reply that said: "teka, who told you we're going to sleep?" Followed by: "Teachers Camp tayo, mura". Promptly replied with: "di ba me multo doon"? Then a protest "gutom yan, 'alang kainan". And "gash walang bidet, can we nalang John Hay?"
Waahehehe, no time for even a nimble nap - puro umaalingawngaw na halakhakan!
Yet we all tried calling the Teachers Camp. No answer. Dis-oras ng gabi eh! We knew they don't accept reservations by phone (gobyerno yan eh). We still tried, just in case.
That conversation set a mindset though, that we should stay in the area of Leonard Wood Road because: 1) it's not (yet) too crowded due to many institutional buildings; 2) it's generally a flat & wide road where you can still find safe & free parking spaces; and 3) it's 'central' to many places that driving-Baguio-visitors normally want to go-to.
Oops and OMG, I just shared one of our well-kept secrets!
Anyway, we arrived early before sunrise and went straight to Teachers Camp. As we have expected, no one to attend to us, even to answer a few questions. 8AM pa daw.
While we waited, I crossed to a sari-sari store named Shop 'N Munch (to buy yosi). A friend followed me, to perchance stumble upon coffee. There was! Others followed.
It was during this 'tambay mode' that breakfast got mentioned. A tindera (owner?) of the store suggested nearby places, and realizingly said "ba't di nalang dyan sa likod"? pointing at that big wood house, adding "hotel yan, akala ko dyan kayo naka-check-in"!
Da! Sugod mga insurrectos! Ataak Pinoy Travelers!
Make the long story short, Mountain Lodge became our home for this weekend!
Old house charm. I think there are 15 (or less) rooms in this lodge. The surroundings will remind you of prominent families' old era Baguio summer houses (before WWII).
Oy, I even learned this was/is an old Araneta summer home, converted only in 1975 to a lodge that it is now still managed by the same family. Nope, not the Aranetas of Cubao. A different 'branch', but yes, the same old roots - the Aranetas of Molo, Iloilo.
My penchant for big old wooden houses accidentally satisfied.
Crazy but safe trip (we always are).
And a Nice Find!
This time, with no plans nor even thinking about it, we just took off as a convoy of 3 vehicles on a Friday, after an Eastwood nightout! Drivers ang non-drinkers - all girls!
Come what may.., whatever... hahaha!
Good that all 3 vehicles have maps. One car even had a "set-of-3 toy walkie-talkies"! So, we got to discuss where to stop, where to go, what to do, while already cruising!
It was a merry banter by over-over-roger-roger (2-way radio) among 3 cars moving at NLEX during the wee hours. Like what sorts of topics was "walkie-talkied", while our convoy cruised along? Well, foremost was "hoy, where are we gonna sleep in Baguio"?
That was followed by a chaotic "break-break", "over", "roger", "negative" -- for the next hour! Haaay, nag-flock-together ang mga teenager nung kasagsagan ng "ham radio"!
It started with one reply that said: "teka, who told you we're going to sleep?" Followed by: "Teachers Camp tayo, mura". Promptly replied with: "di ba me multo doon"? Then a protest "gutom yan, 'alang kainan". And "gash walang bidet, can we nalang John Hay?"
Waahehehe, no time for even a nimble nap - puro umaalingawngaw na halakhakan!
Yet we all tried calling the Teachers Camp. No answer. Dis-oras ng gabi eh! We knew they don't accept reservations by phone (gobyerno yan eh). We still tried, just in case.
That conversation set a mindset though, that we should stay in the area of Leonard Wood Road because: 1) it's not (yet) too crowded due to many institutional buildings; 2) it's generally a flat & wide road where you can still find safe & free parking spaces; and 3) it's 'central' to many places that driving-Baguio-visitors normally want to go-to.
Oops and OMG, I just shared one of our well-kept secrets!
Anyway, we arrived early before sunrise and went straight to Teachers Camp. As we have expected, no one to attend to us, even to answer a few questions. 8AM pa daw.
While we waited, I crossed to a sari-sari store named Shop 'N Munch (to buy yosi). A friend followed me, to perchance stumble upon coffee. There was! Others followed.
It was during this 'tambay mode' that breakfast got mentioned. A tindera (owner?) of the store suggested nearby places, and realizingly said "ba't di nalang dyan sa likod"? pointing at that big wood house, adding "hotel yan, akala ko dyan kayo naka-check-in"!
Da! Sugod mga insurrectos! Ataak Pinoy Travelers!
Make the long story short, Mountain Lodge became our home for this weekend!
Old house charm. I think there are 15 (or less) rooms in this lodge. The surroundings will remind you of prominent families' old era Baguio summer houses (before WWII).
My penchant for big old wooden houses accidentally satisfied.
Crazy but safe trip (we always are).
And a Nice Find!
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