BAGUIO: How to Find the Camp John Hay Eco Trail

BAGUIO: How to Find the Camp John Hay Eco Trail

Why See the Eco Trail

To experience nature the way "old" Baguio used to be. The pleasure for me is the trek, discovering the trail and being surrounded with large pine trees and the scent of pine cones.

Click the photo to see the whole panoramic view

HOW TO FIND THE ECO TRAIL

The entrance of the eco-trail is where the Paintball Republic is located. Paintball Republic is across Le Monet Hotel, along Ordonio Drive.

Check best rates at Le Monet hotel HERE

The entrance of the Eco Trail where the Paintball Republic is located

Follow this sign. Turn right.

This is what you see when you turn right.
Go to the path on the right side of the photo.

You go down these steps...

and more steps...

...then you reach this makeshift bridge.

Then you reach the most beautiful area of the eco trail,
where you will be surrounded by numerous large pine trees.

The sign indicates your arrival at the Eco Trail

MORE PHOTOS OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE ECO TRAIL

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO TURN BACK AFTER ENJOYING THIS VIEW 

However, if you choose to continue the trail, the following photos will show you what to expect until you reach the end of the trail.

I came from down below.
Once you climb these steps, it will be hard to turn back and go down the steep steps. 

More paths to climb

Even if you see this sign, you can continue walking along the trail.

Then you start going down...

This is the end of the trail.
The paved road leads to the other entrance of Camp John Hay, near Panagbenga Park

This is the sign at the end of my trail
 indicating the other entrance of the Eco Trail

The other entrance of Camp John Hay near Panagbenga Park

THE GRAY AREA SHOWN ON THE MAP BELOW IS THE PATH OF THE ECO TRAIL

TOTAL AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT WALKING THE TRAIL with photo stops: 1 hour (for the 1.2 km trail)

My Tip: Don't finish the trail if you don't have someone to pick you up. It's a long walk back to Ordonio Drive, where you entered the trail, about 1.5 km walk along Loakan Road until Le Monet Hotel.

BAGUIO: Cemetery of Negativism at Camp John Hay: Is it Worth Seeing?

BAGUIO: Cemetery of Negativism at Camp John Hay: Is it Worth Seeing?

For the fans of the telenovela, "Forevermore", it's definitely worth seeing. Some of the scenes of this famous telenovela was shot in the Cemetery of Negativism. Below is a video of one of the scenes.

from lizasoberano.ph

(The scene at the Cemetery can be viewed at 2:00 -3:35 minutes of the video)

Aside from the fact that some of the scenes of the the telenovela, "Forevermore", was shot there, if you're at Camp John Hay, do pass by the Cemetery of Negativism. It's an enlightening experience. In fact, I never thought some of the negative thoughts "buried" there were really negative thoughts until I went there and visualized it. It's a thought-provoking journey going through that cemetery. At the same time, it will give you an opportunity to physically bury whatever negative thoughts you have and move on with life.

The sign at the entrance speaks a lot:

"NEGATIVISM is man's greatest self-imposed infliction, his most limiting factor, his heaviest burden.   

No more for here is buried the world's negativism for all time. but for you a stern reminder-- as you leave this hill, remember that the rest of your life be more positive.  

Have a good day -- treat today like it’s your last, though it’s the first day of the rest.”

There are 16 tombstones and 16 negative thoughts buried in the Cemetery: 

KANTOU NUTHIN WRIGHT :
“Born: Dec. 5, 1905, Died: June 14, 1903”

BOSS WON'T LETTUCE :
“A Great Idea: 22 May 1907, Hilted: 1 Sept 1905”

JUST KANT SHAKIT :
“Born: 5 Oct 1819, Died of Passivity 20 May 1516”

EYE FORGOT :
“Born Humbly, Died Sometime

A TRUELY MISERABLEDAY :
“Born 'n Gloom, Lives Without Bloom, Died In This Tomb”

WHY DIDENT I? :
“Born: ?????, Lived Wondering Why, Died For No Reason”

ETZ NOT POSSIBLE :
“Conceived 11 Nov 1905, Still Not Born”

 LETZ STUDY IT :
“Delayed Birth, Step Childhood, Never Reached Maturity”

UHAFTO OR ELSE :
“Born Of Intimidation, Lived In Resentment, Died Without Fame”

The other tombstones without a photo:

DOANNA SET A PRECEDENT : 

“His Passing Was That Of A Precedent”

KNOT A TEEMPLAER : 

“Born A Star, Lived A Meteor, Died In Flames”

IM N ONLY CHILE : 

“Born: March 27, 1908, Died: Before His Brother”

WONT B. USED : 

“Started December 10 1906, Abandoned December 14 1906”

KNOW DAM WAY : 

“Conceived New Year's Eve 1910, Didn't Work Out”

WILL NOT LAST : 

“Born 3 June 1906 And Didn't”

BLAME MI WILL YA : 

“Adopted 4 July 1911, Returned 5 July 1911”


LOCATION:

BAGUIO: Snacks at Solibao Restaurant, Burnham Park

BAGUIO: Snacks at Solibao Restaurant, Burnham Park

We visited this place because it was listed as one of the places for a Baguio food trip. The food was just fine, but not great. However, if you're in Burnham park and you're hungry, this place provides a good option to satisfy your hunger. Solibao is located near to both the biking and boating areas so it's the most convenient place for tourists to take a snack.

The Solibao store selling snacks are on the left side

This is the store selling snacks

THREE SNACKS ARE AVAILABLE:

Puto Bumbong
28.00 pesos

It was just ok.

Bibingka
(48 pesos)

It's hard. Not good.

Ilocos Empanada
(40 pesos)

It's ok.

LOCATION:

BAGUIO: Where to get a Good Massage: Nuat Thai Baguio Review

BAGUIO: Where to get a Good Massage: 

Nuat Thai Baguio Review

If you're on vacation and you want to get a straightforward massage that is not too expensive, I recommend Nuat Thai Baguio for the following reasons:

Consistent Quality of Nuat Thai Massage

If you've gone to other Nuat Thai branches in Manila, you know they have a trademark massage. This means if you choose  Thai massage, you get the same kind and same series of moves at every Nuat Thai branch or franchise. I found the same consistent quality at Nuat Thai Baguio.

Clean Rooms and Restroom

This branch is new so they have clean rooms/cubicles and restroom.

Reasonable Rates

The following photos are taken from their website:

LOCATION:

ECCO Building 2, #39 Marcos Highway corner Balsigan Road

NOTE: It's in the same building as 7 Eleven and Banco de Oro (BDO)

Operating Hours:

12:00 PM - 12:00 AM (last call is at 11:30 PM)

Contact Information:

Landline: (074) 4421161 

Cellphone:  0915 1354056 

Website: http://www.nuatthaibaguio.com/ 

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nuatthaibaguio

Warning from their facebook page!

We almost stopped at this spa thinking it's Nuat Thai. Apparently, a lot of people were confused too. Therefore, the warning posted in their facebook page.

BAGUIO: Burnham Park Boat Rental, Bike Rental and Parking Rates (as of May 2015)

BAGUIO: Burnham Park Boat Rental, Bike Rental and Parking Rates

(as of May 2015)

BOAT RENTAL RATES:

BIKE RENTAL RATES:

The different kinds of bike to rent

The bike with the side car as shown above is more expensive.

PARKING RATES:

Below is where the above parking lot is located:

BAGUIO: Beggang Resto Grill: Highly Recommended Restaurant in Burnham Park

BAGUIO: Beggang Resto Grill: 

Highly Recommended Restaurant in Burnham Park

If you're in the middle of Burnham Park doing the usual tourist thing like riding the bike or taking a boat ride and wonder where you can conveniently dine, I highly recommend going to Beggang Resto Grill.

WHY I RECOMMEND DINING AT BEGGANG RESTAURANT:

The food we ate was really fresh, delicious and of good quality and the place is clean and conveniently located. The price is slightly higher than ordinary meals in Baguio but considering the quality of food, I find it reasonable.

WHERE IT IS LOCATED:

WHAT CUISINE THEY SERVE:

Filipino cuisine

WHAT WE ORDERED:

We ordered fresh lumpia, buko shake...

and grilled tuna belly.

The tuna belly was delicious and fresh
It costs 355 pesos, and is good for 2-3 persons.

The fresh lumpia was also delicious and the wrapper homemade.

It had bits of crushed seaweed, rice noodles and peanut
combined with the usual vegetables.

The fresh lumpia costs 85 pesos.

We loved the buko shake!

It was refreshing, very creamy but not too sweet.

You can see how creamy it is in this close-up photo.

The buko shake costs 85 pesos.

TOTAL COST OF WHAT WE ORDERED:

We spent 700 pesos for 2 persons or 350 per head. The breakdown is shown below.

WHERE TO PARK:

There's a big parking lot across Beggang Grill that is also being used by the Athletic Bowl bus station.

This is the big parking lot.

This photo is taken from the parking lot.

The roof you see beside the "Welcome to Burnham Park" sign
is the roof of Beggang Grill.

Parking rates

MORE PHOTOS OF BEGGANG RESTO GRILL

You can buy some pastries sold inside the restaurant