Baguio City Side Trip, Stone Kingdom and Colors of Stobosa

Return to the North, My Final Provinces to complete the 81 Provinces of the Philippines June 24 to 27, 2022

My Last Two Provinces, Short Visit in Kalinga and Abra

Northern Philippines day 4: Baguio side trip, inside Igorot Stone Kingdom. Benguet side trip, Aesthetic Latin America feels of the Colors of Stobosa #solobackpacker #philippines #lakbayPinas #pinoytraveler #pilipinas #luzon

How to Go to Igorot Stone Kingdom;

Longlong Tam-awan Jeepney Terminal is located in Baguio City, near City Hall and Burnham Park. Kayang st. corner Shagem st (in front KG Baguio). Fare is PhP15 for 20 minutes travel. Entrance fee is PhP100, drone shot is allowed.

How to Go to Colors of Stobosa;

La Trinidad jeepney terminal is located in Magsaysay Ave, Baguio City (google map searchable). Fare is PhP9 for 15 minutes travel. No entrance fee.

Day 03: June 26, 2022 Sunday 

1030H Hotel checkout; tricycle 15; lunch 83

1200H ETD Bangued; bus 370

1900H ETA Baguio; free jeep to Hotel area.; BU Hostel 400; dinner 115; Pasalubong 820

Session Road / Night Market food trip 90; Genesis Joybus reservation 730

Total: PHP 2,623

Day 04: June 27, 2022 Monday 

0600H ETD Hostel; Breakfast 33; Kayang cor Shagem st Longlong Tam-awan jeep 15

0700H Igorot Stone Kingdom 100

0800H Jeep back to City 15

0820H Kayang St; walk to La Trinidad terminal

0830H ETD Baguio; jeep 9; Stobosa housing; jeep back to Baguio 9; lunch 169

1200H ETD Baguio; Joybus (Genesis Executive coach, Cubao-Baguio for PhP730, 5 hours travel) 

1700H ETA Cubao; snacks 69; bus to home 26

Total: PHP 445

Baguio City Side Trip, Stone Kingdom and Colors of Stobosa

My Last Two Provinces, Short Visit in Kalinga and Abra

Return to the North, My Final Provinces to complete the 81 Provinces of the Philippines June 24 to 27, 2022

My 102nd solo backpacking trip and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself (DIY) itinerary from arrival to departure. Also, Kalinga and Abra served as my 80th and 81st province respectively on my quest to conquer the 81 Provinces of the Philippines.

The new normal of traveling is inevitable. Pandemic doesn't stop me of my dream and excitement to visit places I've never been. Coming from a 7 months solo trip in American Continent from Nov. 2020 to Jun. 2021, this itchy feet strikes again. This trip is also considered as my Pandemic Adventure Series following the (1) Earth Circumnavigation Jan. 2020, (2) Abu Dhabi Folding Bike Cycling Apr. 2020, (3) Caribbean and Europe Oct. 2020, (4) American Continent Jan. 2021, (5) Mindanao Nov. 2021, (6) Visayas to Luzon RORO Trips Feb. 2022, (7) Mindoro Island Mar. 2022 and (8) Southernmost Philippines Apr. 2022

I made a short visit unintentionally to Kalinga and Abra due to the following;

For Kalinga, my planned itinerary was to visit Buscalan rice terraces. Due to no regular transport from Tabuk to Buscalan and no transport from Tabuk to any part of Abra, I decided to go to Baguio for Bangued destination. 14 hours gruesome bus travel from Tabuk to Bangued transit in Baguio 

For Abra, my planned itinerary was to visit Kaparkan Falls. As advised during visit in Bangued, Kaparkan Falls is subjective to open in public on August 2022. Thus, I just visited the Cassamata Hills out of frustration and did not visit other tourist spots anymore.

Preparation: CebuPacific SuperPass MNL-TUG-MNL 1,900

Day 01: June 24, 2022 Friday

0230H ETD Home; Grab taxi to Airport 750

0400H ETA NAIA Terminal 3; check-in

0650H ETD Manila; flight 5J 504

0800H ETA Tuguegarao; tricycle to van terminal 20

0830H ETD Tuguegarao; van 150

1000H ETA Tabuk; no transport to Buscalan / Abra

Lunch 200; tricycle to Talama Viewing Deck 150; Snacks 106; dinner 105

1700H ETD Tabuk; overnight van 1,000

Total: PHP 2,571

Day 02: June 25, 2022 Saturday 

0100H ETA Baguio; 3BU Hostel 400; breakfast 85

0900H ETD Baguio; bus 400; snacks 100

1500H ETA Bangued; walk to hotel; Don Virgilio Valera Mansion 1N 1,500; dinner 140

Victoria park / Cassamata hills 

Total: PHP 2,625

My Last Two Provinces, Short Visit in Kalinga and Abra

Pasig River Ferry Joyride from Escolta to Guadalupe

Metro Manila ferry service from Escolta, Manila to Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City 11-Jun-2022 Saturday

FREE RIDE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE (as of June 2022)

Are you looking for an alternative and free transportation in the heart of Metro Manila? Come on now ride the Pasig River Ferry Service. Check the link MMDA Pasig River Ferry Service and facebook page for the latest schedule, guidelines and station locations for better hassle-free ferry trip.

* There are 13 ferry stations in Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasig.

* Journey is from Monday to Saturday (8am to 5pm). No Sunday trip.

* Downstream - from Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City to Escolta, Manila

* Upstream - from Escolta, Manila to Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City

* Photography and Video taking is prohibited between Quezon Bridge and Tomas Claudio Bridge (PUP)

* Passengers below 5 years old is not allowed.

* No eating, talking and no phone calls.

Note (as of June 2022): In morning, trip is between Escolta to Guadalupe only and 1st trip is 9am. Downstream trip (from Pasig) will commence in afternoon, around 4pm.

Pasig River Ferry Joyride from Escolta to Guadalupe

Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Volunteer Clean-up

My First Volunteering in Metro Manila / June 04, Saturday 

My first major Volunteering / Outreach was in General Nakar, Quezon Province (Sep. 2016) for School Supplies distribution.

The Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach (approximate 500 meters long, next to US Embassy) is scheduled to open to the public on June 12, 2022. No online pre-registration is required. The Dolomite Beach will open at 6:30AM and close at 5:30PM from Monday to Sunday.

At this time, swimming is prohibited as the current (as of June 2022), ambient test results in the beach area fluctuate (depending on the station/area) between 900-1500 MPN/100 mL. A 100 MPN/100 mL test result is required for safe swimming. Testing is done weekly by the EMB-NCR.

Manila Bay Beach and Manila Bay Beach Radio will continue to co-host Clean-up Drives. If you are interested in doing your part to show your love for the beach, before and after it opens to the general public! Volunteer and join both Manila Bay Beach Joe and the beach’s growing group of volunteers!

Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Volunteer Clean-up