Holiday Park

So here's another one in Baguio City. After walking -in 3 hotels ( within the vicinity), all of which were against our budget and needs, we ended- up staying at the 4th hotel_ the  Holiday Park, located at Abanao Extension, which was so minutes away to everywhere in the city and so matching our little pouch budget for accommodation.

The simplicity and neatness of the reception lobby told us all what the hotel was all about _ neat and simple.

The room answered the unsophisticated demand of our trip - freshly scented room, comfortable beds, clean bathroom, and for the girls wi-fied

scent- checked.

clean bt- checked.




comfy beds - checked.

wi-fi - checked.

We originally checked -in for a single night stay but turned out okey and decided to stay in the same hotel for the rest of our 4 days trip.




If under budget and your trip calls for daily activities outside, Holiday Park is recommendable. Neat, service is kind,  accessible and doesn't punch a hole in your wallet. Hence, it's given that you ought not to expect 5 star amenities thu'.

Balatoc Mines Tour (part1)

Finally after breathtaking dusty edgy road trip, we reached the site.




I was actually surprised that the tour was going to happen in an actual mine site. I thought it was some kind of a park or a museum. We didn't arrange any advance booking and just walked-in. The guard in the gatepost made a call to the tour admin and returned to me with a positive feed back. Yes they could accommodate us.




They let us in and drove a lil' farther inside the gated compounded community  of Benguet Mines Corp.

If I remembered it right_ this is the hospital/clinic of the site.

We were welcomed by a tour staff at the reception and were asked to register. We were given a chapa, one for each and were told to hold on them for the actual tour later.

Boots and hard hats were provided for our safety cos we were meant to go deep inside a tunnel as the highlight of the tour.

We were actually loving it. .  and thought  our word of the day _ FIERCE ! ! haha.

The first phase of the tour was an introduction to the history of Benguet mining as well as general infos on gold mining  There was a small show room with vintage gadgets and samples of glittering rocks from which gold could possibly be extracted.

One of the showcases that really grabbed our attention was the typical bunkhouse model. . cos we saw them outside when we entered the vicinity of Balatoc.

They actually looked like this today ( after decades ....)

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. . and this.

Our excitement grew further when it was announced that we were about to enter the actual tunnel site. We were told that it would be a walking tour going thru the inside of the tunnel but we would be riding a real locomotive train going out. Fair enough! haha.




But first a touristy/ family picture infront of the entrance of the tour site. :)))




haaay. this is kindah tiring..
visit me again..
inside the tunnel..
next ;)

*now here's next

Portrait Sketching @ Tam-awan

Cuzin' from Davao is visiting us here again. Yesterday, a popped-up invite from cuzin'  (Davao) to go up to Baguio was entertained for one minute and discarded the next minute. We heard how cold ( even hit 9-10 c last week? )  it is now in the city and thu' excited about inhaling the cold wind and exhaling a foggy breath, time was not on our side. We decided to drove up to the nearer Tagaytay instead. But that would be on the next post. 




Baguio City to me anyway is not just all about the cold weather. It's also an artists' and art enthusiast mom's haven. Tam-awan Village is one spot  we enjoyed during our last month visit to the city of walis na tambo.

Older daughter ( who actually is loaded with school painting works herself )  couldn't resist the opportunity to sit still and be the one painted instead.




For only P100 and 10 to 15 minutes, daughter dared to sit still and experience how the one being sketched, instead of the usual the other way around ( she also sketch ).


The clock and pencil swayed swiftly together. . .

tic. . .shading eyes

toc. . . shading nose

tic. . . shading hair

tic. . . almost done. . .

spectators : is it done yet ??????

Here's the finished work :

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 - - - ^^- - - hahahaha!!!!! nah!!!!

Here's for real :

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gud job!




The Benguet artist- admiring or questioning his work, haha.

Nice.
-end-

Tam-Awan Craft Shop

A whaaat???. . . can't figure it out. Can you?








Now let's get to an easy-peasy ones. Miniature Igorot huts for P1k++ each, which authentic-life size ones could also be seen in this museum village _ Tam-Awan Village in Baguio City.

I love visiting ( and buying..) souvenir/craft shops of the places I go to with my girls. It's one way of exposing them to the culture and arts of that certain place.




It's educational . It's like going to a museum sans the ingestion  of a lonely boring place . Apart from the culture and art enhancement, it's also my way of cultivating individualism to my girls.




I always see my girls' eyes light- up with mine everytime we see others' creations. They evoke mixed beautiful feelings of appreciation, amazement and motivation_ moving us to either purchase ( only if we could afford it) them so we could mark an ownership or to awaken our own sense of creativity and put it to work later when we get home.

Products are limited, normally hand made/crafted and only sold here. Unlike those that can be found in the malls which are mass produced and everyone has access to. I always instilled to my girls the beauty of being different and not to be just another one of them. Fashion is a personal statement not a thing to be followed but to lead is a glory. Wow, how's that from your stay home mom ;)))




Well, another sure thing_ creativity is a way of life here. An ignition to fire your own, in case it's presently sleeping or it hasn't risen ever yet.

wood crafts showing tribal culture

wooden mask wall decors

chess set made of weighty metals

wooden pipes

trinkets box or an urn for your ashes ?

bamboo flutes




souvenir key chains for everyone

voodoo doll rings which my witch daughter  couldn't resist, she bought plenty.




more tribal creations for your living room and kitchen




Now, since this post started with a mind boggling art work of a Cordillera artist, I'm leaving you this : Which living thing you think was used as inspiration for art work items above if not a mushroom?