
	a nomad in search of...



HOME PAGE Contact TheLoneRider Web TheLoneRider.com

HOME PAGE
ADVENTURES
Fitness Free Diving Kayaking Mountain Biking Mountaineering Rafting Rock Climbing Scuba Diving Snowboarding Surfing Traveling Yoga
REVIEWS
Book Review Gear Review Movie Review Restaurant Review
MISC
Chilling Out Cool Sites Community Counter Culture Fab People Food Odyssey best food recipes Lucid Thoughts Quotes Random Lives Showbiz Snapshot Thought Bubble Verbatim Wealth Building

Archive Sitemap Reciprocal Links
DIRECTORY
Stereolithography California Wineries Dumaguete Directory
REAL ESTATE
Real Estate Philippines Negros Oriental Realty Dumaguete Subdivision Lots
WEB SERVICES
SEO Services Web Design Services Advertising Here

search engine optimization consultant, seo, web designer stereolithography, color 3d printing, rapid prototyping, sla, color prototypes Phyllis Wallbank, educational trust, England dry cleaning, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Reston, VA, Virginia outdoor adventure tours Philippines rural development, agrarian reform, local governance, Philippines bag manufacturing, Philippines birdwatching, birding, sightseeing, Philippines renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, Philippines

October 17, 2005 Monday

Baguio

After a sumptuous ihaw dinner at the Salpicao area with the UP Mountaineers, I broke off from the group to head off to Sagada. Unfortunately, there were no night trips. A friend was able to provide lodging in a condo conveniently located beside Burnham Park. That saved the night for me.

Breakfast
I couldn't have enough of a good thing. For breakfast, I went back to the Salpicao area and had seaweed salad and anchovies. I'm hard pressed to remember the last time I had breakfast this indulging.

Public Market
I would have taken the first bus out of Baguio but its market scene was far too tempting to pass off. Fresh veggies are always in abundance. The mussels were screaming "Moules Marinieres".

While venturing deeper into the narrower alleys, I chanced upon a vendor preparing pinikpikan chicken. The chicken is patted with a stick until it dies, then its feathers are plucked off and the meat is seared. In another area, I saw how they prepared my favorite - market-style peanut butter (none of those processed brands for me).

I would have stayed longer but I wanted to arrive Sagada with a bit of sunshine left. I left Baguio haunted by the same sentiment I harbored in my last visit. The place is perfect...if only they can put air pollution in check.

Halsema Highway
The ride along the notorious Halsema Highway is long, picturesque but nerve-racking. It reaches the highest elevation of any road in the country along narrow roads with barely inches from the ridge.

With the 6-hour ride, the Morning Star Restaurant is a refreshing stop-over. Some claim they serve the best balut. I tried it, this time mindful of its taste and texture. Verdict? No better than your everyday balut! This is also the place to get passion fruit. The seeds can be annoying at first, but the subtle fragrance makes me want to have more.

I reached Sagada shortly before 7 pm. It was already dark.

--- TheLoneRider

Reader Comments:

Choy Calunsod
(7 Nov 2005) Astig!! Saya!! Kipidap!!