Azalea Residences is your after-summer address in Baguio City

#BaguioCity is still the Philippines' summer capital. But now that summer is over, you will never ran out of reasons to visit this great place filled with wonders and delightful things that you can keep coming back. A much shortened 4-hour bus ride from Cubao, all you have to think about is the place to stay. I was there for 3 days and lucky that I had the best retreat at Azalea Residences Baguio.

Spend not more than 30 minutes to every Baguio City must-see destinations like Baguio Botanical Garden, Teachers Camp, Good Shepherd, Session Road, Mines View, Burnham Park and more, Azalea Residences promises that you will enjoy your stay in Baguio City #aftersummer.

Azalea Residences Fountain

View of Baguio City from Azalea Residences, 3F

Perspective

This is the only 4-star hotel in Baguio City. And coming over welcomes you with cheerful staff and good view of Baguio City. The 5-storey building also provides you the authentic feel of the natural Baguio City ambiance whole year round. It has 99 rooms, including one Presidential Suite, Deluxe Rooms and 2-bedroom Suites [book now] [see MORE room photos HERE]. For motorists, they also have 3-level basement parking spaces.

Deluxe Room in Azalea Residences

Lounge and dining areas, called 8 Degrees and Tradisyon Restaurant, also provides good gastronomic fix when you come back touring around Baguio. Family tours are also kid-friendly for they also have a nice playground at the hotel patio.

8 Degrees Lounge at Azalea Residences [Source]

Tradisyon Restaurant at Azalea Residences [Source]

Playground

For big gatherings and corporate events, they also provide a tent where you can organize your conferences and meetings.

The Tent at Azalea Residences [Source]

While you are done unpacking and resting at Azalea Residences, you can roam around Baguio City and enjoy a lot of activities that you can do after summer. Let me share them all to you in my other blog. These are some things you can plan ahead for your next #groupgetaway.

Azalea Residences is located at 7 Leonard Wood Loop, Brgy. M. Roxas, Baguio City. You can contact them for bookings in these numbers: 09178611641 / (02) 4501511 | (02) 4501584 | (02) 4508753. You can also check their Facebook Page here. You can also follow them on Instagram and Twitter.

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Pasalubong finds in Baguio City

You definitely have something to take home when you've been someplace, that is a big Filipino character. And during our tour in Baguio City, two places should not be missed: Tartland Baguio Pasarabo and Good Shepherd Convent.

We stopped over at a place where a common delicacy is made: lengua. There's no other place in Baguio that creates a crispy, milky and delicious lengua than in Tartland. We almost got lost driving to Tartland but the journey was worth it because we are about to meticulous review how their famous lengua is made and reaches to our palate.

The working area is very sanitized and the workers are well equipped and neat. From a simple mixer turned into massive machines for big production now displayed at the developed facility just a meter from the owner's home.

The mixer and syringe pioneering the Tartland business

Workers and baking oven

After a few talks and a visit inside the factory, we are so lucky that the owner let us taste the product fresh from the oven. There are a few overcooked lengua and I prefer them than the lighter ones. But every jar of lengua you buy from the market or pasalubong store, they are guaranteed fresh from the oven and tastes so good.

Another pasalubong find from Baguio is the Good Shepherd Convent that produces the famous ube. Most people want this from any tourist who goes to Baguio. Overseeing the Mines View from the convent, (by the way, the place is also managed by nuns) you can stroll along while some of your companions may be queuing for jars and jars of ube which costs Php200 each. Enjoy the view or buy, you will be satisfied. Also for every purchase, you help Cordillera youth with their studies.

I really have to bring something home because I wanted to.

While the dark seeps in and it's nighttime in Baguio City, we are about to get scared. Follow the #aftersummer trail.

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Perstaym ko sa Tam-Awan Village

After ng isang masarap na lunch sa Slaughterhouse, may hangover pa rin kaming malala papunta sa Tam-Awan Village. Kasalanan ng BnB to kaya grabe sa kakatawa ang nangyari sa byahe namin. Ibang level of friendship at parang kami ang papalit sa #TeamAmiga. Hahaha

Pagdating namin sa Tam-Awan Village, dito nako nakakita ng Strawberry Taho. Php20 isang baso na gawa mismo ng naglalako ng taho. Perfect pictorial moment para sa mga turista ng Baguio. Maaaliw ka na rin sa buong lugar kasi may mga kubo at mga artworks na gawa ng mga taga-Baguio. Sabi nila, nagturo din daw si BenCab dito.

Sa Tam-Awan Village, dito mo na mararanasan ang cultural pride ng Cordillera. May mga tribal dancers na nagpapakita ng kung ano ano: panliligaw, pakikipagdigma, etc. In full costume pa.

May coffee shop din sa taas pero ang highlight namin doon e yung portrait sketching session. Php200 lang sya at magagawa na sya sa loob ng 15-20 minutes. Wag ka lang malikot baka kung ano maidrawing sayo. Hahaha! Tatlong artists ang gagawa ng portrait sa Tam-Awan Village. Si Ate Jenny ang nag-sketch sakin nun na may isang anak din na marunong mag-drawing. Kahit may mga nagkukulitan sa mga kasama ko e focus ako at focus din si ate Jenny sa kakadrawing at happy ako sa naging resulta.

Ito lahat ng drawings sa mga bloggers sa Tam-Awan Village.

Marami pa kaming pupuntahan kaya nag-merienda muna kami.

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What to eat in Baguio City's "Slaughterhouse?"

Find comfort in Baguio City's slaughterhouse. Though the  name has an uneasy feeling but the meals are perfect for beer-moments even. If  you want to have a dive on warm soup with a lot of memories as your pasalubong, Balajadia Restaurant is the place to be.

The entrance welcomes you with a smoking grill and boiling large pot of papaitan luring you into this humble restaurant.

Just beside a public market, the place is forgivable to be clean and efficient. They serve barbecue, warm soup dishes and the price is very affordable. But note of these dishes for your next Baguio City visit: liempo, bulalo, papaitan and BnB.

The liempo has a special blood sauce, just like the sauce from the local dinuguan. I cannot imagine the combination at first but it tastes great. While the bulalo and papaitan are regular inuman session dishes, we are greatly curious of what BnB is.

Liempo with blood sauce

Standing for Butt and Balls, yes this dish is made of pork butt and balls that are somehow awkward to eat. Cooked like asado but more tender than meat. Try it soon.

Continue my Baguio City adventure here.

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Perstaym ko sa Easter Weaving Room

Kung mas marami lang akong pera, marami na akong inuwi galing sa Easter Weaving. Dito world class at export-quality ang hinahabi ng mga Baguio locals para i-preserve yung weaving culture sa Cordilleras. Ayon sa mga alamat, may mga mensahe daw ang kada-habi ng mga Igorot. Pero commercialized na kasi ito. Design at quality na ang pinag-uusapan. Tinatag ng isang Amerikano na gustong bigyan ng kabuhayan ang mga lokal at para at least makilala din ang Pilipinas lalo na ang #BaguioCity sa mga magagandang project.

Sinubukan naming pumasok sa weaving area kaso wala yung mga gumagawa. May conference daw sila sa ibang lugar, sayang naman. Kaya nagpicturan nalang kami sa loob. May mga gawang bag, kumot, bonnet, jacket at marami pa na gamit na tela ay gawa sa Easter Weaving [more pics here].

Store entrance

Open ang Easter Weaving Room everyday.

Ituloy ang Baguio Tour sa katayan.

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Perstaym ko sa BenCab Museum

Maraming paghuhugutan ang post na to. After namin magpakalasing sa tapuy sa Cafe Yagam, maaga dapat gumising kinabukasan para sa actual tour. First stop, mag-Tadhana Trail tayo! Napanood nyo naman ang That Thing Called Tadhana diba? Since nasa #BaguioCity kana, simulan mo na ang mga ka-emoterahan ni Mace at Anthony.

From Azalea Residences, medyo malayo sya. Mga 30-40mins drive hanggang BenCab Museum at sa loob pa ata sya ng isang subdivision. At mas kalmado na ang buhay-Baguio kase nakakapag-overlooking ka na. Tho dumadami yung mga residential area sa gilid ng bundok, buti at may nakikita ka pang green. Sana mas maraming green. Nageenjoy ka din sa mga makikita mo lalo na yung mga wood shop. Iba ibang wood carvings at sculpture na halos life-size na tulad nito:

Sa loob ng BenCab Museum, siyempre maraming art. Ilan dun gawa ni National Artist for Visual Arts BenCab (Benedicto Cabrera) at pati ng iba pang artists from all over the Philippines. Entrance kung di ako nagkakamali ay Php 100. Buong museum na maiikot mo dun kaya gora ka na next Baguio visit mo.

Unang malaking painting ni BenCab ay si Sabel. Inspired sya sa isang taong grasa sa Sampaloc, Manila at pininta sya ni BenCab sa mga tiles. Nandun pa rin yun hanggang ngayon at isa sa mga sikat na artwork nya.

Hinanap ko yung gallery sa Tadhana pero wala na yung painting dun. Pero may ibang  mga galleries na mage-enjoy kayong tignan.

Tulad nitong Erotica gallery na sobrang natagalan ang mga babaeng ito na "mag-appreciate ng art"

Sa Ode to the Flag gallery, running until August 2015 only.

Meron ding mga antique collections ng mga  furnitures at mga anito na sinasamba ng mga Igorot para sa masaganang ani at kung ano ano pang dahilan. Ginagamit din nila yun kapag may iaalay sa mga diyos nila.

Ang mga anito at iaalay na birhen. LOL

Pagkatapos ng tour mo sa loob ng Museum e pwede kang kumain sa Cafe Sabel. Inspired pa rin ni Sabel, na by the way patay na many years ago, dito naman pinapakita ni BenCab kung saan saan na sya nakapunta. Dun sya sa pinakababa ng museum.

Sa labas ng museum, may malaking garden na may maliit na farm at pond. Sa di kalayuan makikita mo rin ang bahay ni BenCab kung saan nya ginagawa ang mga masterpieces nya. Sayang wala sya dun para nakilala din namin sya.

Bahay ni BenCab sa likod ko.

Para ituloy ang tour, isa rin sa mga ginagawa ng mga Igorot ay maghabi ng mga balabal at kumot. Click here.

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authentic Igorot dishes in Cafe Yagam

Travel is not complete without food. And for every place you visit, you'll learn more of the culture. During our #aftersummer #groupgetaway in Baguio City, courtesy of Azalea Residences, we get more acquainted with the locals by trying their own dishes. These dishes are served fresh warm in Cafe Yagam.

We are totally feeling the cold weather in Baguio and it was raining outside. Cafe Yagam, was just a humble 2-storey house converted to a restaurant. The fireplace warms down the cooling climate and even made cozier by the owner of the place, Miss Poleen Carla Rosito, that welcomed us cheerfully.

Then the food is served. They taught us how natives prepare these food and why they are made. Mostly these dishes are served in big tribe gatherings or offered in rituals and later consumed.

Kinwar

Blood Sausage

Pinikpikan

You'd better be careful of what you put in your mouth. If you can't tolerate exotic dishes like these, Cafe Yagam also serve normal food in the menu. But the experience trying these are priceless. They also come best with rice wine, also called tapuy, to draw heat to your esophagus down.

Cafe Yagam is located at 25 J. Felipe St., Gibraltar, Baguio City. You can also call them at these numbers: +63 948 9585 157 or +63 946 4550 364.

Cafe Yagam was our last stop for the first day in the Baguio City group getaway. Click here to continue the tour.

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Casa Vallejo's HILL STATION

After we are done with the short photo session at Mt. Cloud, I got a bit hungry and I don't have to trod longer because Casa Vallejo offers another surprise within its doors. The Hill Station serves more than just the ambiance of Baguio City, it also provides delectable desserts that we have to try.

Stepping into the cafe gives a very homey feeling. The shiny wooden floors reminds you that you are in a great country getaway. Welcoming us at the counter is a shelf of yummy desserts and I said to myself that I have to stay and try one of those.

Exit Mt Cloud to the right and enter Hill Station's Cafe Area

The dining area is a great ballroom overlooking Session Road and when you turn around is a huge staircase leading to the quarters also available for tourists. Its walls are decorated by old photos by which if they can talk, you will learn more of the history of the place and appreciate the heritage it offers.

We stopped in Hill Station longer and ordered yummy desserts. It is not too pricey and I was really satisfied with my Chocolate Lemon Tart. The citrus kick at every bite is very interesting and smooth. Perfect to match with a steaming Cordillera Coffee.

Clockwise from top right: Chocolate Lemon Tart, Lemon Meringue, Cordillera Coffee and Chocolate Cake

After this break, we went back to Azalea Residences and we formally started our itinerary for the next 2 days. Please click here.

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Perstaym ko sa Mt. Cloud

Dahil wala pa kaming itinerary, tamang inassist naman kami ng mga taga Azalea para makapag-gala-gala naman sa Baguio. Dumarami na rin kami at may lokal na rin kaming kakilala. Nagpahatid kami sa may Session Road kaso medyo inabutan kami ng ulan. Ready naman sa payong kaya go lang ang lakwatsa.

Nagkayayaang pumunta sa Mt. Cloud. Nasa loob sya ng Casa Vallejo at akala ko usual na gimikan lang sya at meron pang katabing spa. Pero pagpasok namin, simpleng bookstore pala sya pero matutuwa ka sa space na ginawa nila. May 2 floors sya at parang sinadya para sa magandang photoshoot na sinamantala namin. Dahil ang modeling ay para sa ekonomiya.

Photo op lang katabi ng mga libro

Bookstore counter

Climb-on shelf

Iba't ibang klaseng libro ang mabibili dun. From children's books hanggang political references. Kung nakapag baon-baon pako ng pera, baka may nabili pa akong libro. Pero dahil medyo gutom na kami, eto ang susunod nating pupuntahan. Click!

Kung gusto nyo pang malaman ang tungkol sa Mt Cloud, bisitahin nyo ang Facebook nila. Pag may tanong, tumawag sa (074) 424 4437.

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Perstaym gumala (as in!) sa Baguio

So eto na nga. Salamat sa Azalea Residences para maexperience ko naman ang Baguio kahit hindi na summer. Actually mas naenjoy ko ang Baguio ngayon kasi last time is 11 years ago na ata at dahil school activity pa yun. At ngayon, marami nang activities kaming nagawa at wala masyadong tao. Imagine ko kung gaano kalala kapag summer o kaya kapag Panagbenga.

Wala akong tulog bago pumunta ng Baguio. Actually nag-videoke pako with officemates at past 10PM na nakauwi. Kailangan ng empake at di talaga dapat matulog kasi napaaga daw yung byahe namin. Buti nalang talaga nag-online ako at nakita ko ang changes sa schedule. Kung pupunta ng Baguio, dapat maaga talaga. Madaling-araw, ganon. Kasi di mo maeenjoy yung pagsikat ng araw sa dadaanan mo at parang kukulangin ka ng oras. Okay pala pag sa Joy Bus ka nakasakay. Narerecline nang maayos yung upuan parang LaZboy chairs, may free food and mineral water, aside pa sa na-provide ng sponsor. Pero tinulugan ko lang lahat yun sa byahe. Around 430AM kami umalis ng Cubao at dumating ng Baguio nang 830AM. Naabutan pa namin ang KrisTV sa byahe na episode nina #DanRich at ewan ko nalang kung anong pagbibida-bida ni Bimby sa episode na yun. Four hours lang pala ang byahe. Namulatan na ako na UP Baguio na pala yung nasa kaliwang bintana at ready na pala kaming bumaba.

Pagdating namin sa Baguio, etong mga bibong staff ng Azalea na itatago natin sa pangalang Paul, JC at Debbie e napaka-nice na hinatid kame sa hotel with their branded van. At pagdating sa Azalea e may welcome drinks agad from 8 Degrees Lounge. Tapos open din ang breakfast buffet sa Tradisyon pero kumain kami sa Tent. (Sipsip na ba sa Azalea? Hahaha)

After a few pictorials of the hotel, punta muna kami sa make-shift room. Before lunch, nagpunta naman kami sa Botanical Garden. Mga 5 minutes lang mula sa Azalea by driving. At eto na nga ang start ng galaan.

Baguio Botanical Garden
Medyo umaambon nung pumunta kami sa Botanical Garden. Ok lang para di masyadong mainit. Nakakapaso din kasi kapag tirik ang araw sa Baguio, tanghaling tapat pa naman. Sa dami ng bagyong dumaan, may ilang attractions sa Botanical Garden ang may sira na. Pero kita pa rin na inaayos ito at maganda pa rin.

Habang paikot ikot kami sa garden, nacurious ako kasi may malaking Japanese arch na may papasok na madilim. Pinasok namin yung Japanese Tunnel na ginawa pa pala noong panahon ng Hapon. Since libre naman, sumunod kami sa tour guide na nageexplain sa history nung lugar. Dati palang kuta ng mga Hapon yun na ginawa ring dating ospital. Malamang sa alamang e marami ring mga namatay dun. Sabi din nya, doon din daw nakita si Gen. Yamashita at doon nya tinago ang mga kayamanan nya.

Japanese arch sa may Tunnel

Tour mula sa loob ng Japanese Tunnel sa Baguio Botanical Garden. Sabi ng tour guide namin, dati syang make-shift hospital nung WWII at nakita dun dati si Gen. Yamashita at Yamashita's treasure. #aftersummer #BaguioCity
Posted by Perstaym on Sunday, June 28, 2015

Nung makalabas na kami ng Botanical Garden, nagpose din ako sa signage. May mga nakaabang na matatandang Igorot pero kapag nagpakuha sa kanila, may fee na. Bilisan mo nalang umalis para di ka masingil pero kaunting tulong e pwede din.

Bumalik na kami ng Azalea dahil medyo nagutom na kami. Tapos kaunting pahinga at gumala gala pa rin.

Marami pang mangyayari sa pagpunta ko sa Baguio sa mga susunod na blog. Malaking thank you pa rin sa Azalea Residences Baguio na nagsama sakin para macheck naman kung ano ang pamumuhay sa Baguio kapag hindi summer. Sundan lang ang mga link. ;)

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