My family and I traveled to Baguio in December 2019 to celebrate my grandfather's birthday,

and I'd say that season was the greatest time of year to visit the beautiful city. As someone who
grew up in Metro Manila, I was accustomed to hot weather, so experiencing chilly weather in
Baguio was truly invigorating. When we booked our trip to Baguio, it was quite a bother because
Baguio is a popular tourist destination and we were visiting during the Christmas season, but my
family managed to organize the entire trip perfectly. I'd say that around this time of year, many
people will be traveling—most of them will be planning the same trip. We had an easy time
getting there because most of the adults in our family have vehicles, so we didn't have to cram
ourselves into a single car and just selected who would ride to who. I rode with my mother, aunt-
in-law, and cousin, and we packed snacks and drinks to enjoy on the lengthy journey to Baguio. I
slept for the bulk of the journey considering we left Metro Manila at 3 a.m. to avoid traffic, and I
only had 4 hours of sleep at home.

I was asleep for the majority of our drive, but I remember traveling up the mountain on our way
to Baguio, and it was extremely mesmerizing—-it would seem that you are surrounded by mist,
even the road would occasionally be obscured, but if you think about it, you are actually
surrounded by clouds. It will be just as chilly here as it will be in Baguio, but once you get
through here, you will feel as if you have been transported to another realm, especially with all
of the wonderful establishments that you will pass by along the way. I was seated near the
window and figured I was in for a thrill. After you pass through the notable tunnel, you will be
on a bridge that links two mountain peaks. The advantage of sitting in the window seat of the
vehicle is that you will be able to observe the brilliant and vibrant hues of the roof, letting you
know that you have arrived in Baguio.

The first site we visited was Burnham Park. This location, which is literally in the heart of the
lively city, is ideal for strolling around and perhaps engaging out various activities at any time of
day. Of course, it is not the time of year when the plants are brimming with brilliant blooms, but
it was just as lovely with all the greenery. Aside from the gorgeous vista, what I liked about this
site was the plethora of souvenir shops on one side of the park. I recall my grandmother walking
to the farthest store (seeing as they all have the same products to sell, and most customers
purchase at the stores nearest to them) and buying wines and pastries for her pantry back at
home. Did you know that two of the wines she purchased were Bignay and Strawberry? Bignay
wine is a fantastic wine that offers several health advantages! Strawberry wine, of course, is a
sweet wine that they like for a more sumptuous wine experience. This is a fantastic site to get
your pasalubong, and if you're going to buy a lot, make sure you get a fair deal from them, like
my grandmother did. Other items available for purchase in this area are tiny plants and herbs
such as succulents and mint plants. We also got them since we have a garden at home and my
grandma and aunt-in-law like taking care of plants.
Camp John Hay is without a doubt my favorite location. Camp John Hay is ideal for an afternoon
to evening visit—this is the one we went to because it can be really chilly in the day, especially
when surrounded by woods. There are other places you may go when you visit the place—you
may just need to pay an admission charge of roughly 50 pesos if you want to view the Bell
House and the nearby amphitheater. It was a great sensation of tranquility, especially while
standing on the balcony and looked out over the overhanging trees around the camp. Walking
about the house, which was littered with several people, gave me a sense of home—despite the
fact that no family lived there. The mansion was decked out in Christmas decorations for the
holiday season, and the living room had a massive Christmas tree with phony gifts at its base and
stockings hung over the fireplace.

There are plenty additional locations to explore around Camp John Hay. I was also able to
observe the Cemetery of Negativism just outside the Bell House. This is not your normal
cemetery where the dead go, rather it is where all of your negativity is buried. With the number
of tombstones in this cemetery, I am confident you will find at least one to which you can
identify; whether it be laziness, procrastination, being a doormat, being a glutton, or anything
else. It would be excellent if you checked in at The Manor (which, unsurprisingly, can be an
expensive option); they have a restaurant where you can dine for supper and all kinds of amazing
dishes, which is what my grandfather and grandma did. They headed out to dine at the Manor.
Being at the camp in the afternoon until dark is my recommended choice since you will be able
to fully enjoy the beauty of the sunset while you are here. Simply stand amid the tall trees, facing
west—stand and wait. The sun will gradually set, with every ray of light sneaking through the
trees in an attempt to conceal the sun's view. I am confident that it will leave you in awe. I didn't
realize I was holding my breath when the sun set. I took a deep breath and savored the cold wind
that caressed my cheeks. Baguio is undoubtedly a site where you can admire both human and
nature’s beauty.

I was able to see all that I wanted to see during our two-day vacation to Baguio. Of course, these
are only a few examples. I know there are many more places’ people would like to visit, such as
haunted hotels, the Bell Church, the Holy Land, the Lion Park, or even Mt. Pulag National
Park. Being here taught me to appreciate so many things about cultures and historical
significance, but most importantly, the beauty of all the art I saw. I am certain that if you explore
it, you will uncover hidden gems that you would not have imagined finding—this is the wisdom
I gained while experiencing the city above the skies. Consider what you could discover along the
way—you might meet a new companion, a new love inclination, a fresh respect for life and
environment, or even a personal growth if you are traveling alone. You could discover that you
gain more out of this type of experience than you put in. So why don't you give it a shot?