Baguio City Side Trip; Northern Blossom Flower Farm DIY Day Tour

6 Day Budget DIY Solo Trip in Baguio City (Pre-Christmas December 2024)

Chill Pre-Holiday Adventure in Baguio City, Philippines December 13 to 19, 2024

6 Day Budget DIY Solo Trip in Baguio City Main Itinerary

Budget DIY Side Trip from Baguio City; NORTHERN BLOSSOM FLOWER FARM Day Trip

Atok, Benguet Dec. 2024

HOW TO GO FROM BAGUIO CITY:

* Go to Dangwa Bus Terminal (less than a km walking distance from Genesis Bus Terminal / Burnham Park)

* Early bus departures are 0300H, 0530H, 0830H

* Bus fare costs ₱150 for 2.5 hr travel / There's a van transpo costs ₱200, faster but need to be full to depart

ARRIVAL AT ATOK, BENGUET:

* Northern Blossom Farm is just 50m away from the highway

* The elevation of Baguio City is around 1,500masl while Northern Farm is 2,300masl

* Recommended to wear long pants and jacket

IN THE FARM:

* Admission fee costs ₱250 (somehow expensive)

* Admission includes complimentary unli refill local coffee and bread

* The farm is 2.5 hectares and can finish at around 1.5hr (almost all imported flowers)

MY ITINERARY (Solo Trip): (Date Visited: 17-Dec-2024)

0700H: Hostel; walk to Dangwa Terminal

0730H: Dangwa Terminal; buy ticket ₱150

0830H: ETD Baguio; ordinary bus

1100H: ETA Atok; walk to Northern Blossom; Admission fee ₱250

1300H: ETD Atok; van to Baguio ₱200

1530H: ETA Baguio

Total: ₱600

Baguio City Side Trip; Northern Blossom Flower Farm DIY Day Tour

Ultramarathon Trail (50KM DNF) Solo Joiner; VJ100UTC Baguio 2024

Filipino Ultra Trail Slow Runner Solo Joiner 14-Dec-2024 Sunday in Baguio City, Philippines

My 1st Trail Run (32KM) in the Philippines; San Rafael Mountain Run

"Fast running isn’t forced. You have to relax and let the run come out of you." - Desiree Linden, long distance runner

This Fun Run served as my First ULTRAMARATHON (50KM) as a Solo Joiner, and Third Trail Run following the San Rafael Mountain Run (32KM), My main objective is just to finish the race (beating my previous PR is optional), I want to enjoy the run at my own pace.

VJ100 Ultra Trail Challenge 2024 (VJ100UTC) is an “extremely challenging” route set within the stunning trails of Camp John Hay, Baguio City in the Philippines. VJ100UTC brings you the best that trail running has to offer.  Trail runners will challenge their physical and mental limits whilst devouring some of the very best trail scenery the world has to offer.  VJ100UTC’s goal is to challenge the norm, lead the way in trail running event standards and most importantly, greatly improve the overall experience of all participants from runners and supporters through to marshals and support crew.

 

I've been a Fun Run Solo Joiner since 2007 but not as a runner (walker actually as most of the time I was walking), just for the sake of Race Singlet and being a joiner. My longest distance was even 10km (about 2x only), and usual for 5km. I stopped joining because I was lazy and lost interest. More than 10 years later until April 13, 2024, my first official run training for Fun-Run, I was so bored I had nothing to do and no regular hobby (so somehow it was a spontaneous decision). My main triggering factor was the FINISHER SHIRT (bragging entitlement shirt) and TikTok / FB Reels of running tips randomly (not that motivated, just for a push on my interest). From 10km to a Half-Marathon, I suddenly decided again to elevate the distance to a full marathon (42.2km) as my running interest is getting addicted out of boredom and depression. 

My 1st Ultra Marathon (50KM DNF) Solo Joiner; VJ100UTC Baguio 2024

Race Name:	VJ 100 ULTRA TRAIL CHALLENGE			Distance:	ULTRAMARATHON (50KM)
Registration:	₱4,188	Inclusion:	Race Bib, Event Shirt, Finisher Medal, Post Race Meal, Medicine Kit
Location:	CAMP JOHN JAY ROUTE (5 loops)			Cut-off Time:	14-Dec-2024 Sat (16 hours)
Requirements:	marathon finished, medical certificate			Shoes I used:	Salomon Supercross 4
Finished:	NO	Time:	10:31:34	Altitude Gain:	3,500m
New PR:	N/A	Pace:	DNF	Rank:	DNF
ITRA:	1 Point	UTMB:	No	My Rating:	3 of 10 stars

Route difficulty: The excess distance per loop is around 2km and yet the cut-off is short. Thus, many DNF runners (around 50% of the participants per category) and obviously not beginner-friendly. Creating 5 loops for an ultramarathon is boring. The altitude gain is 700m per loop. I completed 3 out of 5 required loops, didn't reach the intermediate cut-off. Actually more than 50% of the runners were DNF including some foreigners.

Remarks (My rating: 3 of 10 stars): (1) Lots of DNF runners (around 50% of the participants per category) and obviously not beginner-friendly (2) Creating 5 loops for an ultramarathon is somehow boring. (3) Altitude gain is 700m per loop. (4) Well-organized, started on time. Lots of refreshments in the water stops. (5) Event shirt design is not good / No Finisher Shirt. (6) Registration fee is expensive for a local trail run.

If given the chance, would I like to join this race again? Definitely No (not Fun-Runner-friendly)

6 Day Budget DIY Solo Trip in Baguio City (Pre-Christmas December 2024)

Chill Pre-Holiday Adventure in Baguio City, Philippines December 13 to 19, 2024

Budget DIY Family Trip in Baguio City (2007) - main trip

A Day of Commute from Sagada to Manila (2011) - side trip

Baguio City Side Trip, Stone Kingdom and Colors of Stobosa (2022) - side trip

This trip served as my 4th visit, where my 1st visit happened last 2003 for my College Educational Tour, the reason why I brought my family was because I was mesmerized by Baguio city's beauty. Also, the main reason why I came back is because of my 1st Ultra Trail Marathon in the Philippines.

Baguio City is located at an altitude of 1,450 meters above sea level on the Cordillera Administrative Region in the middle of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Due to its cool mountain weather, Baguio is considered the summer capital of the Philippines. Because of its many pine trees it is also called the City of Pines. In October 31, 2017, it became part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, the first city in the Philippines to join the list.

https://wikitravel.org/en/Baguio

6 Day Budget DIY Solo Trip in Baguio City (Pre-Christmas December 2024)

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

A Day of Commute from Sagada to Manila (2011)

my 7th consecutive get-away june 17-20, 2011 friday to monday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional tasks: to be stunned by our rice terraces and bring back the memories in sagada

batad-sagada week-end trekkings
day 1: journeying batad village
day 2: sagada the comeback

continue...

DAY THREE:
FROM SAGADA TO MANILA

as per agreed yesterday, we hired a jeep roundtrip bound to kiltepan for sunrise viewing. we woke up 0400H, and then for a group of 7 we divide the transpo fee of php350. though we failed to see the most easy to access sea of clouds which i've seen last year, we manage to witness the heart-warming sunrise above the rice terraces. at 0630H, we left this stunning place. we drop-by 1st to navales bakeshop to buy some short breakfast breads and alight to st. mary's bell for a diy downtown trip. we entered st. mary's church which look-like in the western countries then proceed to the cemetery which is the start of the trail to echo valley and the famous hanging coffins of the locals.

sunrise at kiltepan peak

Budget DIY Family Trip in Baguio City (2007)

start of our family road tripping march 09-11, 2007 friday to sunday

I brought my family here, (my mother, 2 sisters, 2 cousins and my nephew) for a very sizzling summer get-away and holy week activity. Also known as the summer capital of the Philippines, this was my second time to visit following the 2003 educational tour led by the E.C.E. department of my college.

We went to Philippine military academy, hunderd steps to grotto, burnham park, mansion house, wright park, mines view park, botanical garden, baguio cathedral and we hopped to la trinidad for strawberry field.

PMA amphitheater