Cutty

You know I meant Ukay Ukay shopping.  But, I feel so "alta," because I scored several nice pieces. On our first free day, I went to this ukay ukay joint in Baguio with my mother.  I really had no intention of getting anything. In fact, I told my husband that I was just going to accompany Mama. I only had P2000 with me. Deep inside, I was dragging myself to go ukay ukay shopping.  I can score brand new cheap items from H&M and Uniqlo.  So, why bother? That mindset changed when I saw authentic Jimmy Choos, Louboutins and Dior shoes.  Unfortunately, they weren't my size.  They didn't carry those interesting brands in my size.  But with that fire of interest in me, I went to the other stalls seeing if there is anything worth buying. There definitely is.  Presenting to you my ukay haul.... After careful examination, I therefore conclude that this Phantom is the real thing.  It feels genuine and it looks like one too. I ...

We finally got back from our last family trip this summer.  We don't usually take summer trips.  Our summers are usually spent shuttling between home and summer classes.  We find it cheaper to just stay in the city.  We usually take trips during off-peak season. This time it's quite different.  It has been a whirlwind experience since mid-May.  There was a trip to the province for a family reunion.  A weekend visit to Taipei for Vic and me and some in-laws.  You know, the vacation after the vacation.  It was then followed by my father's retirement party, which I semi-organized. Finally, a trip to Baguio before the kids go back to school. All these trips are partially subsidized.  I don't know how we were able to wing it, but we just did. No, this is not a humble brag post.  I just realized that we had help. ============ Last February, I lost one of my sisters-in-law due to uncontrolled diabetes and its complications. ...

I was just telling my friends last week that I have no more planned trips for the year. Then,  something unfortunate happened that a trip to Baguio was in order.  Over the weekend, Vic and I made our way to the summer capital. It was an impromptu trip that we had no time to book our hotel for the weekend. Although it was a spur of the moment thing, everything else felt conveniently planned.  Travel was a breeze. Literally. Thanks to the interconnectivity of NLEX, SCTEX and TPLEX we made it to Baguio in 3.5 hours, two stops included. We got back  to Manila in 3 hours because no speed limit was imposed on the whole stretch of TPLEX.  Our usual hotel was fully booked but the alternative was good enough. We stayed at Chalet Hotel, owned and operated by the Dulcinea group. It is only 3 years old so facilities are quite new. It was adequate for our overnight stay.  In our short stay, we managed to try out 5 new restaurants. Yes, we were never hungry. Hehehe. Unfo...

If you haven't gone to Baguio in ages (like me) and has to re-acquaint yourself with Baguio, here are some tips: 1.  Parking is always difficult in the city.  Park your car at Burnham Park.  Give your kids time to bike and ride the boat.  This also the best time to visit the local market for fresh produce and other Baguio products. 2.  SM Baguio is still THE tambayan.  It is incredibly crowded on weekends.  Avoid if possible. 3.  When you visit Wright Park and the Mansion, you will be asked to taste Sagada oranges.  They're quite sweet and seedless.  Don't be duped into buying.  The vendors mark it up by 100%.  It is still best to purchase them in the market.  I learned my lesson the expensive way. 4.  If your feet are tired from walking up and down the slopes, have a foot massage at Bellfrei Spa at the Techno Hub.  The massage and the view make the experience so relaxing. 5.  Skip Choco-Late. Spe...

I heard that Baguio is nice and chilly this time of the year.  When we were there two weeks ago, but it wasn't too cold.  A long-sleeved shirt would suffice.  Strawberries were still scarce.  Traffic and parking spaces were still difficult for us out-of-towners.  Nevertheless, the city wasn't lacking of tourists. I haven't been to Baguio in 5 years.  So much has changed.  John Hay now offers numerous nature-related activities.  The convention center didn't look as imposing as it did before.  There's an Ayala Techno Hub inside John Hay.  Well-known establishments from Manila have also taken up room in this area. As for the rest of Baguio, ukays were no longer in every corner.  Huge St. Bernard dogs were the attraction in Mines View Park.  It seemed that the view only came in second. It was also our first Baguio trip with the kids.  They were quite excited to ride horses and pick strawberries.  We accomplished the...