Lion's Head (Baguio City)

March 15, 2015

It was our last day on our first Baguio road trip with our son. Since we're heading to Kennon Road and the famous Lion's head is located in Kennon Road, we've decided to drop by for a breakfast and check our motorcycle breaks before continuing our Journey back to Manila.



So how to get there?

If you have your own vehicle you must take the Kennon Road instead of following public buses route which is the Marcos highway, because you won't be able to see this tourist spot instead you'll see Marcos off course.

Through public transport; if you're already in Baguio and decided to visit the famous Lion's Head, you can always ride a cab but you should make sure that you already make arrangement with your taxi driver to wait for you and bring you back to Baguio, because you won't be able to get back easily to the City unless another tourist will visit the place and you'll get there cab.


Explanation: On our first visit here with my husband's family, we easily get a cab going TO Lion's head, but we were not able to get a new cab going back to Baguio. There will be a few PUJ's traveling from La Union to Baguio but it is always full and most of the tourist riding a cab already make arrangement to send them back to Baguio. Good thing a good Samaritan driving a truck a vegetable delivery truck was able to give us a ride up back Baguio City, we were very much thankful because we're with a couple of kids with us.


So don't forget to take a note of that, or else you'll be left with this Lion if no Good Samaritan will pick you up.


What to do here?

Honestly, since it's along the road, what people who visited here probably done,,, PICTURE TAKING. Yes! you can take a lot of pictures of the famous Lion's head. But aside from that, there are also "pasalubong" stores here, Where you can buy different handicrafts, mostly made from mats and woods.

My son bought for his car collections 

tourist taking there photo ops 

me & my son having our picture taken 

There are also a couple of food stores where you can buy water, soda drinks, and some foods. But we decided to take a sip of Baguio's strawberry taho instead.




Done with the Lion's Head adventure.


Happy planning!


Location: Camp 6, Kennon Road Baguio City

TACAY Lodge Drive Inn Hotel (Baguio City)

So it was the 2nd day of our Baguio Road Trip 2015.

The previous day was a bit tiring from finding PKNY to the steep parking area of Hill Station at Casa Vallejo, from driving here and forth at Leonard to Luna Road.

From having a super full brunch at 50's Diner to being blessed at Baguio Cathedral. Dropping by at SM Baguio to waiting for my husband's best friend at Tacay Road and then finally a couple of hours waiting for my husband to finish their "Inuman session" at Erky's Ninong Edwin's house.

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Since we are already at Tacay Road and the place where we are is already in front of Tacay Lodge, we decided to stay there and take a rest for the night before going to Manaoag church and finally going home to Manila.



Honestly, at first, we thought that the place was really for couples who would want to just have a one night you know?!? hihi☺

Why? Because as we inquire on the receptionist, they mentioned that the price of their room is 1000/night, same check in and check out time as other hotels, but since it's already past 12am of March 15 and we're also planning to leave by 9am we asked for a discount, guess what they have told us?

"Ma'am, Sir mag short time nalang po kayo."


Huwatt?!? as in short time!


Well, my husband just says "I am with my wife and son."


We've had 2nd thoughts on staying at Tacay Lodge at first, but then after my husband's reunion with his best friend since he is already "almost" drunk should I say, we decided to stay at this Lodge for safety purposes and for the excitement of lying in bed to rest.


Once you enter the vicinity, you would be asked, what's the enclosed gate'S with Letter and Numbers all about?


Guess what my husband thought at that time?

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Since its name implies DRIVE INN, the couples who'd want to have a "short time" as the staffs would say, couples will just get their cars inside and that's it!

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Hahahaha! Silly husband!


They've got us a room in the basement. I thought for the meantime that they'll give us their smallest room since we haggle for a discount.


But this lodge surprised us! I think a thousand peso will be worth your stay here, especially if you have your own precious cars.


1st the enclosed gates we thought of something else is way more different than we thought. Gladly, the enclosed gate will be for each guest's cars.


Surprise! Surprise!

Absolutely! This spacious parking lot is all yours while you stay here.

It's like your renting your own space!

Own parking lot at B2

The Bathroom

The stairs connecting to our room from the parking

So we've had an up and down room/lodge, 2nd floor is the parking lot, the 1st floor is our room.

Nothing special with the room itself, it's just a simple but clean room. It has drawers, well a comfortable bed, a table, cable TV, but sorry they don't have WiFi access, I believe the signal is really bad at their area cause even our cellphones can't find a good signal, given also that we are at the basement.

The bedroom

Tacay Lodging House Bath Towel; after use. 

Would like to note, that compared to our previous post (Prince Plaza Hotel), this simple lodge has a complete complimentary soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, a plus points for that.

But wait there's more! They gave us a discount to have our room until 9am for 660pesos only. Since my son is super tired and sleepy at 9am, we decided to extend so my husband could also extend his rest before taking a drive back to Quezon City. And we are happy because an hour extension would only cost us an additional 50pesos per hour.


Budget friendly lodge in Baguio for someone as picky as me.


Rating:

Price & Value of Money - 4.5 out of 5 stars
Cleanliness - 3 out of 5 stars, because the bed sheets when we arrived have footmarks on it! OMG, it seems a "kapre" has put his foot on it.
Service - 2 out of 5 stars, maybe not all, but the receptionist is kinda "masungit". She showed us a room upstairs but after a couple of minutes when we decided already to get the room, she says someone has already taken the room, so she'll just give us the room at the basement. Makes me lose my temper! 
Ambiance - 4 out of 5 stars, cause I love waking up in the morning with the view of the trees and mountains and the sun rising. (which I wasn't able to take a picture, due to the overwhelming happiness of peace ☺.)

the view outside the hotel

If we would try checking in again? YES! We will! Definitely. Especially if we'll drive our own car to Baguio. 

Location: Lt. Tacay Road Baguio City

Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac) - 1

March 15, 2015


After a couple of hours traveled from the City of Pines we were now down to the last part of our itinerary, the Isdaan Floating Resto Fun Park in Gerona, Tarlac.




This place has been featured in a couple of TV shows, including Rated K, and has been popular since then. Every time we traveled to Baguio thru provincial buses, and we get to pass by this place, I have always wanted to drop off and experience what this place has to offer.

at the entrance from the parking lot 

And now, we did it already. We were able to enter this famous place.

So what does Isdaan Floating Resto in Gerona, Tarlac has to offer? Off course, as we all know this Resto's specialties as the name implies, are S-E-A-F-O-O-D-S! It's just so strange that in the middle of rice fields is a floating seafood restaurant, who thought of that? Oh well, leave it to the owner.

receiving area 

And since we are so hungry when we arrived here at around 4pm, and the only breakfast we take was a cup of strawberry taho from Baguio, we don't waste our time and immediately order a couple of dishes listed in their menu.


What you would notice in their menu was it's very Filipino, I think mostly we're Kapampangan dialect. To be really honest, their Menu, at first sight, is really expensive.


Below are the foods we have ordered:

Lechon tinupig na manok, it's a roasted chicken cooked in a traditional tupig(is a popular native delicacy from Pangasinan which is made out of ground glutinous rice and coconuts strips wrapped in banana leaves then cooked over charcoal.) way. I can say that we don't get the worth of our money for this one, I believe 498 pesos is way too expensive for a whole roasted chicken, with no specific kick on the taste, if we buy Andok's chicken we could afford 2 whole roasted chicken already, and that's the jumbo size.

Lechon tinupig na manok - 498 pesos 

Isang Kalderong Kanin, your typical rice cooked in the old way. Well, we are so disappointed with this one, we thought it was the normal pot our grandmas used to cook rice in the old times. But when it was served oh well my eyes almost dropped with the surprise of how big their kaldero(pot) is! With the price of 134 pesos, I could already buy 2 kilos of rice and that's already the high-class type of rice.

Isang Kalderong Kanin - 134 pesos

Isang Kalderong Kanin - 134 pesos, I guess in the picture it looks big already but you have to see it to believe it.


Ensaladang Mangga, a plate full of a combination of chopped mangoes, tomatoes, onions and bagoong (anchovies), I cannot help but order ensaladang mangga whenever I saw one on the menu because it's my favorite, so I ordered one even if it cost too much for 118 pesos per plate, though at first, I thought it's gonna be a bigger serving compared to other restos who offered this, but again, I am disappointed.

Ensaladang Mangga - 118 pesos

Leche Flan, our all-time favorite, my son's super favorite, so we didn't think twice and order this for dessert. I guess this is one of the few affordable foods in their menu if you could say that 79 pesos are worth your money for 2 glass tip size and a couple of macapuno (soft jelly-like coconut flesh) on the side. Well, this one really made our dining very much enjoying, this is really good, super yummy, especially the macapuno. I wish we just ordered a bunch of this so we could say our money is worth it.

Leche Flan - 79 

For drinks, we've ordered Isang Pitsel na Iced Tea for dandararan....253 pesos! Oh god, we were just so tired and the heat is really getting into our nerves that day that's why we don't have a choice but order something that could quench our thirst. The taste? The usual, nothing special.

Pitsel ng Iced Tea - 253 

That is all that we have ordered, for that 5 items, our total bill was 1,082 pesos and I don't feel it, well except for the Leche Flan, it's my favorite! We have to compliment them for not having a service charge though, even if they are famous enough to do so. But do we really don't have a service charge? Oh well, what's done is done, and it's our first time, might be worth the experience.

Before I forgot, they have served us additional mango with bagoong, for free, yes that's right it's free so you won't be bored while waiting because your food will be served a minimum of 30mins if I remember it right.

compliment of the house

But I know the chicken took so long to serve that my husband has already eaten too many tupig which we bought in Pangasinan to be brought home for our relatives as pasalubong. And he's already complaining that we have to ring and so that the red light will flash on and the crew will be notified.

our own cottage 

Done with my review on Isdaan Floating Restaurant's food, this is only the first part for this place. Check out part 2, for my review of the place.

Part 2: Isdaan, The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant - Gerona, Tarlac

Facebook page: Isdaan, The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant - Gerona, Tarlac

Leche Flan at Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac)

March 15, 2015


This is really a Must Try! when you visit Isdaan Floating Restaurant at Gerona Tarlac.


Leche Flan, our all-time favorite, my son's super favorite, so we didn't think twice and order this for dessert. I guess this is one of the few affordable foods in their menu if you could say that 79 pesos are worth your money for 2 glass tip size and a couple of macapuno (soft jelly-like coconut flesh) on the side. Well, this one really made our dining very much enjoying, this is really good, super yummy, especially the macapuno. I wish we just ordered a bunch of this so we could say our money is worth it.

Leche Flan - 79 pesos

I could say that the taste of their Leche flan is something different, it doesn't seem to taste like your typical dessert. The thickness is just right, and the sweetness is not overpowering, really not too sweet.

But the star of this dish is the macapuno, I didn't like eating macapuno before but when I taste this, I would be coming back for more. The macapuno really compliment the taste of the Leche Flan, it's a very good combination for our old time favorite dessert.


So when you came to passed by at Gerona Tarlac and decided to dine at Isdaan Floating Restaurant, be sure to order this dessert and you would surely come back for more.


Definitely, a must try for someone who has a sweet tooth like us.


Happy Eating!

Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac) - 2

March 15, 2015

You can see the Part 1 of my review for Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac) - 1, just click on the link.

So after reviewing Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac) - 1 menu, I will now proceed with their facilities.

I like their idea of having separate cottages for each group of customers, so you'll have an exclusive (if that's the right term) time with your friends and families. So the idea is an A+ for me, because regardless of how big or how small your group is they'll surely have a place for you.

our cottage in the middle of the pond 

As most people know, this is where the famous Tacsiyapo wall is located. Just a few walks from where our cottage is located. I didn't have a closer shot because there are too many people here when we finish our dinner, and since we are so eager to go back home, we didn't find the time to at least have a closer look.


What is Tacsiyapo wall ("Release your anger. Ilabas ang sama ng loob)? For those who are not familiar with this famous wall, this is a spot where you can release your anger by throwing or smashing something on the wall. From 15 pesos, to smash a plate, bowl or a mug up to 1,300 pesos to smash a working television, yes a television if you're up to changing your 1,300 pesos just to smash a T.V. So if you want to release your anger for just a moment, you can try this.

A view from where our cottage is located. 

After releasing your anger, and to soothe things up, you will be entertained by singing staff's not sure if they are waiters as some say they have singing waiters here, the quality of singing is good, and you can request for any songs in your mind. Since the food takes a long time to be served these singing waiters will entertain you for sure, for a moment we forgot that we are waiting for our food and that we are so hungry already.

singing waiters singing our song "I'll Be by Edwin McCain"

My husband has requested I'll Be by Edwin McCain and they sang it very well, 2 thumbs up for them! We just forgot to get their names. Good thing they are the ones who drop by in our cottage instead of the one impersonating Ka Freddie Aguilar who looks like him and dress like him, I just can't imagine how he'll sing I'll Be to the tune of Anak, hahaha bad me! And so my husband is feeling a bit generous that time and he really likes their singing so he gave him 200 pesos for 2 songs...if I know I may have offered my singing instead :).

Hubby really looks happy with the singers. 

Just a thought, we noticed that in some tables with a few more heads than us, almost all singers are dropping by at their cottage to sing, and that's already a bit annoying to have 2 or more group of singers bugging you while eating and you have no choice and it's a bit uncomfortable if you can't give them even 20 pesos for their singing.


Just like the table next to us who have experienced that, one customer just uttered: "mamumulubi tayo nito, sa pagkain palang mahal na, dami pang sideline". Well, I also think so.


So as the name of this establishment implies, Isdaan, Floating Resto, literally, the cottages are floating or shall I say over the pond under. The place is surrounded by ponds and man-made lagoons with Japanese Koi fishes. The management will give you an option not just to watch the fishes swim all over, but also to feed them. But take note, one move, one more payment. That's how it works there. We don't spend money to pay the food of those fishes, the cottage next to us saw my son watching the fishes while they feed them, and so they hand him a pack of fish, and that's when all the fishes in this picture have circled around our cottage.

Koi fishes

After eating we decided to roam around to explore the place. So here's what we have captured.

Floating Island

Buddha is it? 

Pond in front of our cottage, with big fish statues that is really huge! 

A lot of baby's cradle on Isdaan's live band's stage 

See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil 

The famous See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil post. Like Monkey, like Mommy. 

And who would forget to take a post with the Obama's? 

Don't tell anybody, That's him! 

Thai already? Nah! We're just in Gerona Tarlac. 

Thai like Temple underneath. 

Unggoy, Unggoyan, for 1 kilo of free fish, survive the spitting, urinating monkeys. Gotta try this one. Good luck! 

Oh, the elephant..head... Thai, Thai, Thai 

Isdaan at night. 

Isdaan at night. The clearer version. 

Definitely, Isdaan is like a miniature of Thailand located in the Philippines, it's also like Thai+Phil in one. We really like the view and the whole package of the place, if we only have to consider the structure and design. This place is two thumbs up! You'll enjoy taking pictures with your friends and families. Actually, we weren't able to explore the whole place as we really wanted to get home the soonest that we can. As you can see it is already dark when we left the place.

I'd also like to commend how clean their restrooms are. Even if their restrooms are quite small, it is always clean, whatever CR you visit they have staff outside who is so willing to serve you.

And of course we wouldn't want to forget to commend and thank their staffs, they are really accommodating, respectful and super kind. From their receptionist to the staffs who takes our order, to their singing waiters, up to their staff in their comfort rooms, also a 2 thumbs up for all of you.

So to sum it up, we still have a great time visiting this place. And as I promise to my son, we still visit it again next time when we have more time to enjoy it and explore its beauty. Well regardless of how expensive their food is, we still want to try it the 2nd time around.

Happy Eating & Happy Planning!

Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral (Baguio City)

March 14, 2015


After visiting Glenn 50's Diner, Laperal White House, Mines View, been to SM Baguio to buy some new clothes and check out what's on sale, we then headed to the famous church in Baguio, the Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral beside Session road.


We were supposed to head to this church upon arrival to Baguio City to give thanks for our safe trip way up to the city, but unfortunately, we came in too early too late for the church mass. And unfortunately again, when we got to the church, there's no scheduled mass in the afternoon.






Me & my son in front of Baguio Cathedral


I really loved this church from the first time we visited this church a long time ago, back when my status is still "In a Relationship" and not "Married". I have this dream that someday when we decided to renew our vows and finally decided to have a church wedding ceremony, we will be blessed in this church. Oh, what a dream.


The church is located in Upper Session Baguio City, the church architecture is very romantic and vintage, not your typical kind of church, that's why most women dream of having their wedding done here.


Apart from being a heritage site, the distinctive pink facade is very feminine, hihihi, so girly.

the center of the church

And how about the aisle? Oh, the aisle is very ideal for women who want their wedding to be very dramatic and considering their long aisle who most girls consider on their wedding day.

Long Aisle of Baguio Cathedral

Please see Mass schedules according to their FB page:


Mass Schedule


EVERY SUNDAYS
5:00 am - Ilocano
6:00 am - English
7:00 am - English
8:00 am - English
9:00 am - Ilocano
10:00 am - Tagalog
11:00 am - English
12:00 nn - English
1:00 pm - English
2:00 pm - English
300 pm - English
4:00 pm - English
5:00 pm - English
6:00 pm - English
7:00 pm - English


EVERY SATURDAYS
6:00 am
6:30 am
7:00 am

Anticipated masses
5:00 pm
6:00 pm


EVERY WEEKDAYS
6:00 am
6:30 am
7:00 am
12:15 nn
5:15 pm


CONTACT INFORMATION:
Parish Office : (074) 424-7871
Catechetical Office : (074) 442-4256
Accounting Office : (074) 304-4064
Telefax : (074) 304-4064


Facebook Page: Baguio Cathedral


Here are more photos:

Erky with Pope Francis

Me & my son with Pope Francis standee

For Baguio Traveler's, let us make it that every time we visit the City of Pines, let's not forget to visit this church so say Thanks for a long and safe trip, if we can make it a habit that before starting your visit to our favorite tourist spots in Baguio, let us pay a visit to our Lord first so he can bless and guide us safely on our travel.


Happy planning on your next vacation!