Why is it called the SUMMER CAPITAL of the Philippines?

When summertime comes in the Philippines, starting the month of MAY, the usual temperature rises from an average of 30°C up to 37°C which is a typical hot summer day, very humid and the sun is scorching hot, all you want to do is to stay at home, air conditioner at full blast and eat ice cream all day long. I think I am taking a bath at least four times a day (HAHA). BUT one of the best parts of summer is to enjoy going to the summer capital of the Philippines and that is to travel to BAGUIO, the City of Pines.

This is the iconic BIG LION head when you approach the entrance of the city. Almost everybody can't resist to stop and take a picture when you arrive in Baguio.

Baguio has a cool climate since the city is located approximately 1.540 meters (5,050 feet) above sea level in the Luzon tropical pine forests ecoregion, which makes it conducive for the growth of certain kinds of plants like orchids, mossy plants and the like. The average climate in Baguio City is ranging from 7°C to 8°C which features a subtropical highland climate. Well, considering the Philippines as a tropical country, having this kind of place to relax and take a deep cool fresh of air is very satisfying.

Practicing my photography skills

my faves succulents! I bought 20 kinds of succulents as I remember but unfortunately, when I came back to Manila which again the temperature is too hot they didn't survive. Poor plants (sob)

so many flowers to choose from at an affordable price indeed!

Strawberry Farms in La Trinidad, Benguet a couple of minutes drive from Baguio, have a vast land full of sweet and fresh strawberries that you yourself can pick and put it in your own basket.

Aside from strawberries, since Baguio has a very favorable climate when it comes to planting, there are plenty of fresh vegetables that you can buy here and bring home at an affordable price. (oh yeah stir-fry veggies!)

this is what they call "sundot kulangot" it means "poke booger or coconut candy boogers" (HAHAHA excuse my translation but technically that's what it means but it is not a booger of course) This is a type of sweet delicacy in the mountain regions that is a sweet coconut jam that you will poke with a stick to get it inside a small coconut-like orbs (YUM!)

Baguio has a great number of sweet delicacy aside from "sundot kulangot" they also have Peanut Brittle, assortments of different kinds of fruit and soft milk candies

One of the best Ube Halaya that I ever had, Good Shepperd Ube Jam! (Taro Jam) This is best for halo-halo (a Filipino dessert with shaved ice and different kinds of sweet fruit mixture) or best when eaten on its own!

As we walk around the city we met some locals of Baguio. They are called the "katutubo" or the first settlers in the mountain province.

This place has a rich culture. Yearly, they celebrate the Panagbenga Festival or also known as the Flower Festival that they celebrate every February. I haven't actually experienced this but maybe when we come visit the Philippines again. It is a beautiful parade of natural flowers that grow in Baguio that they showcase in different kinds of shape and sizes.

We also went to a museum of the great Benedicto Reyes Cabrera a Contemporary Filipino Artist who is popularly known as BENCAB, he has won several major art awards in his career. There you can see different kinds of sculptures, paintings, and trinket collection.

This is me appreciating all these statues.

There are many things that you can explore and appreciate in this museum especially if you are into art and culture. Such a beautiful and interesting museum.

That's BenCab in the middle. The master.

Next Stop, The Lourdes Grotto. It is a Catholic Shrine and a place for meditation in Baguio. It has 252 steps and is popular tourist destination especially during Holy Week.

Since it's a Holy Week and a Good Friday, there a many people traveling and visiting Baguio especially Lourdes Grotto to pray and reflect.

After a long day of walk and 252 steps in Lourdes Grotto its time for a good and affordable meal! We went to downtown and check out this small but full of traveler kind of restaurant. The name of the restaurant? Good Taste Cafe and Restaurant I can rate it 5/5 really. For a backpacker like us, this is the best meal we ever had.

For three persons we ordered buttered chicken, fried rice and lumpiang shanghai (spring rolls), all these for less than $3! and I reckon with that name this meal really tastes good. We didn't even finish it so we had to bring some to our lodge and ate it the next day.

look at those people, Jampacked! We are lucky that we didn't wait long to have a seat.

Our last stop was Tam-Awan Village Garden in the sky. I don't remember how many kilometers walked but I do remember we hiked going here. It was fun because you can really enjoy the gush of wind that smells of pine trees and the magnificent ambiance around you.

Welcome to tam-awan village folks!

me & @lires

Inside the village, you can see some Cordillera Huts, Trinket Shops, Art Gallery, and a Cafe.

There are so much to do in Baguio City. We stayed for 3 days and 2 nights and it is too short! I think 1 week would suffice but we had fun! A very good time to cool down ourselves in a hot weather in Manila.

Oh! one of the best parts before going home is to buy some "pasalubong" or gifts to your family and friends from your vacation. You can buy different kinds of crafts here in Baguio. From keychains to "walis tambo" or broom to ube jams and fresh vegetables you name it they have it.

there is a different way of personalizing items with your name here. Very innovative.

what a very artistic ashtray! hah!

So indeed Baguio City with its cool and chilly weather is an ideal place to travel especially on hot summer days in the Philippines.

See you again, Baguio City!

❤︎ Tsokoletmint