Baguio Getaway: Our stay at Azalea Residences

When we were looking for a place to stay during our vacation in Baguio, Azalea Residences instantly caught our attention since it had a high rating in Agoda.com (8.4) and they had a flash sale during the time we booked. We got the two bedroom premiere suite (60 sqm) since we were 6 adults and 2 kids, and it came down to just about P5k per night all-in. Super cheap for the size of the room!

The hotel was not difficult to find and the location was very convenient because it lies just 5 km from the city center. It was built in 2011 so the hotel was still very new and clean. We arrived at around 12 noon and they allowed us to check-in at once (they also allowed for a late check-out at 2pm instead of 12 noon).

Here's the description of our room:
One (1) unit with queen sized bed in the master's bedroom, and 1 full sized bed in the guest room, sofa bed, LCD TV and DVD player, Telephone for local calls, Kitchen and dinning facility, toilet and bathroom with hot and cold shower. Room is located at the back part of the hotel, has balcony on selected rooms with limited view.

2 bedroom premiere suite

Kitchen & Dining area. There are plates, saucers, and utensils available, but no pans if you want to cook. I'm not sure if you have to ask for these. Dishwashing soap is also available at P100 (which we got since we had to wash the dishes).

The couch is a sofa bed so it can accommodate 2 people. The mattress is just a little thin though.

We had a balcony, but like the description said, it had a limited view.

balcony view from the back part of the hotel

spacious master bedroom

TV and DVD player in master bedroom

The guest bedroom was smaller but still comfy. It only had a small window above the TV though.

hello! ;p

The room had 2 bathrooms, which were clean and modern looking

If you noticed, the rooms have ceiling fans because they have no air-cons. This wasn't a problem during our stay since the weather was cool, but I don't know how hot it can get in Baguio during the summer.

They also have wi-fi and cable TV (and I love that the suite had 3 LCD TVs! everyone could watch their own shows in peace). Breakfast wasn't included in our package but we brought a lot of food so we just heated stuff in the microwave. Although there's a nice restaurant in the lobby if you want to have breakfast or dinner there (although we weren't able to try it out, but the menu looked pretty good).

Anyway, for moms like me, the best part of the hotel was the kiddie playground! It was located at the side of the hotel so the kids got so excited when we pulled up the lobby. Everything was still so new, clean, and CUTE! The kids had so much fun playing and we had the whole playground to ourselves during our stay.

I'm glad we discovered this place since we had a really great and relaxing time, plus they also have a very accommodating and helpful staff. I would definitely stay in Azalea Residences again if we go back to Baguio and would recommend it to anyone visiting as well. :)


Azalea Residences Baguio
7 Leonard Wood Loop, Brgy. Manuel Roxas, Baguio City Proper, Baguio
http://www.azalea.com.ph

Baguio Getaway

First off, let me start by saying that I did push through with my DIY project of painting the ceiling and I am beyond exhausted... physically and mentally! I'm done with it but it still needs some touching up which I don't even want to think about now. So, I'll blog about something in the meantime because I seriously need a BREAK! ;p

Last week, we were able to make a quick, last minute trip to Baguio. Don't you just love how it's the spur of the moment plans that tend to push through? ;p The last time I was in Baguio was about 4 years ago for work. I was mostly inside a conference room for a week so I don't think that really counts. But when I was younger, I remember vacations here with the family, playing mini golf, going on picnics, having bonfires... If I remember correctly, the last time I was really able to experience Baguio was when I was 12. So I was really super excited to go back after all these years especially now with my kids. :)

We left Manila at around 6am and was able to arrive in Baguio just in time for lunch. It was a good thing both kids were asleep for most of the road trip, because I was worried how we'd survive 6 hours inside a confined space considering how hyper and impatient they can get.

We were able to check in at once (I'll be blogging about our hotel in the coming posts) and then we were off! The weather was perfect during our stay. Although you can't really drive around with the windows open since there's still so much pollution. But it was just the right amount of cool which was great since the kids were able to wear their jackets and long sleeves. ;p

I love cold weather outfits!

We had lunch in the Mile Hi Center inside Camp John Hay, where they also have a few outlet stores like Nike and Mango (super few pieces and nothing great). But you don't really go to Baguio to shop right? ;p

We drove around Camp John Hay where we were able to see lots of flowers left over from the Panagbenga festival. It was hard taking a picture by this float since cars kept passing by! ;p

The whole Camp John Hay seems different from when I remember it though. Somehow older and less magical. The mini golf area was still there but the ice cream parlor and playground around it where we spent most of our time as kids were all gone! :(

However, there's also something new inside Camp John Hay like the AyalaLand TechnoHub. The main building is where Convergy's is, and you can find 7-Eleven, Pancake House, BPI, and Starbucks near the area. You can find more shops across the street like Res Toe Run and Brat Pack, and even more restaurants. It's just a nice area for the kids to run around and also to just chill and relax.

After, we dropped by Mine's View Park for a little sightseeing and pasalubong shopping. Poor Sabe was knocked-out at this point so he stayed in the car while we went down to see the view.

I really wanted Miley to experience riding a horse during our trip but I wasn't sure she would want to (she can be scared of trying new things at times). But when I saw this pink-haired pony, all I had to say was that it looked like Pinkie Pie, a character from My Little Pony (which she loves watching) and Miley was game! But she had to make Mommy ride the horsie first haha! It cost P10 per shot and luckily, we got this pic on the 2nd take.

look, my pants match the pony's hair!

or if you want, you can also have your picture taken with this cool dog!

The next day, we went to Burnham Park where we went boating and the biking. It was so much fun doing these activities with the kids!

Bikes can be rented for an hour but I don't think we even got to 30 minutes haha! After hubby and I took turns pedaling, Miley wanted to stop because she saw a kiddie bike like the one we have at home! Good thing we were able to divert her attention but she just wanted to run around the park by that time. Again, poor Sabe fell asleep during this part so he wasn't able to ride with us. :(

We went boating as well with hubby, father-in-law, and brother-in-law taking turns rowing. It was a bit tricky at first, with us going in circles and sometimes hitting other boats haha! I don't think we were also able to consume the 1 hour time but it was still fun. :)

The trip would have been almost perfect if not for the incident that happened that evening. We had dinner in Mario's, a restaurant known for its Caesar Salad and steak. My brother-in-law had spaghetti bolognese while hubby and I shared a truffle pasta. When we got back to our hotel, I wasn't really feeling that good anymore so I fell asleep early. Hubby woke me up in the middle of the night saying that they were bringing my brother-in-law to the emergency room since it seems like he got food poisoning (he threw up about 3 times and was already dehydrated). I went back to sleep but I was still feeling queasy so I went to the bathroom where I also threw up! It was a good thing I felt fine after, but my poor brother-in-law had to be given a dextrose. We don't exactly know if it was the pasta (since hubby and I shared but he was fine) but we're assuming it was that since it was the last meal we had (and maybe hubby's stomach is really more resistant to germs, he drinks Yakult regularly after all ;p).

Side kwento. My sister also went to Baguio last year for her senior retreat and more than half the class (including her) had to be brought to the hospital because of an upset stomach. I don't know if it's something in the water but just be mindful of what you eat and drink (just order bottled water or softdrinks in can) when you go to Baguio.

My mother-in-law informed Mario's the next day of what happened. What was good is they were so gracious, even offering to pay for the hospital bills (which my MIL declined). They sent a cake to our hotel room later with a letter saying that they were sorry for what happened and that they had informed their kitchen of the incident. In fairness, the cake looked delicious (hubby had some and it was really yummy daw) but do you really expect us to have an appetite after what happened?

It was a shame our trip had to end on that note, but I guess you can say it was a good thing it happened on our last night. Sayang lang coz we were planning on playing mini golf that morning but of course, brother-in-law and I ended up staying in bed. The rest of the fam just went pasalubong shopping instead.

We left Baguio at around 2pm to avoid Manila traffic. But somehow, the trip back seemed way longer, since aside from not feeling so good, Miley was awake the ENTIRE time! Trust me, it was uber exhausting being with a hyper and noisy toddler for more than 6 hours straight when all you just want to do is sleep. I kept thinking, if we were on a plane, for sure the other passengers would want to kill us already haha!

Well, we all made it back in one piece and despite everything that happened, it was still a good vacation since we were able to spend time with the family. I definitely wouldn't mind going back to Baguio again soon. And this time, we definitely have to play mini-golf! :)

Am I crazy for thinking of doing this?

After painting Miley's room, I'm now somewhat more confident with my painting skills. Well, I think I'm ready to take a BIG leap and try something more challenging... YEP, that's the ceiling you see right there.

I'm overwhelmingly confident right now, so I think I can actually do this... Hmmm what do you think? Anyway, I keep telling myself I can just hire someone to paint it if ever I do mess up haha. But I gots to do it! My hands are just itching to get dirty! If I don't blog in the next few days or so, it's either I'm super busy with this task or I may have just fallen down from the ladder (hopefully not). So stay tuned! ;p

Photo of the Day: Puzzle Pieces

I am such a proud mama! You see, I was on my computer blogging when I noticed Miley tinkering with her favorite Barbie puzzle. Usually, she asks me to help her, which basically means she watches me finish the entire thing. But this time, I was surprised to see that she had already gotten some of the pieces in the right positions. So I instantly stopped what I was doing to cheer her on (and of course take pictures!).

What was so amazing for me was that she was able to find the correct pieces despite being mixed in with other puzzles (see all those other pieces on the floor?). And every time she got something right, she would sort of fist pump with matching "Yes, I did it!" haha!

I'm just so proud of her! When I was a kid, I loved doing puzzles too, so it's obvious where she got her talent. hehe! ;p

Have fun saving our seas with EnviroPop

My kids just love playing games on the iPad and even on the iPhone. I make sure to download lots of apps that I know are educational and entertaining. I know some people say that exposing kids to these gadgets are bad (of course everything in moderation right?) but I honestly believe my kids have learned a lot from playing with them. Just the other day, my daughter Miley and I were finger painting and she suddenly exclaimed "Look Mommy, I'm ARTISTIC!" which is a word she learned from one of the apps she loves.

So I'm really happy that there's this new iOS application called EnviroPop, a collaboration between World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) and AppLabs Digital Studios. What I love about this app is how it helps spread awareness on how to minimize threats to marine life.

The game allows users to digitally rescue the endangered sea creatures here in the Philippines from a host of treacherous sea hazards such as oil, cyanide, dynamite, PET bottle and trawl net. For one minute, you need to tap and swipe on three or more like hazards across the screen. The more hazards you eliminate, the higher you'll score.

When Miley saw the characters, she was so excited since they were all so cute! And what's more, they also have an "Enviropedia" where you can learn some cool facts about our undersea friends and the hazards that face them.

The app is now available for download on the iTunes App Store for only $0.99 (around P40.00). Proceeds will directly go to WWF-Philippines' marine conservation programs. If you want to try it out first, you can get the Lite version for free. But come on, it's just P40! And not only is it something your child will enjoy and learn from, but you're also helping the environment as well. :)

Oops! I did it again...

Sabe hasn't had his hair cut since almost a year ago at Cuts 4 Tots. It was getting way too long but his Daddy wanted to grow it out even longer. According to hubby, this was the only time Sabe could probably have his hair super long so sulitin na. Well, I was getting so much pressure from the grandparents and even his yaya to cut his hair already since according to them, poor Sabe was feeling so hot and his head was always sweating.

So when his Daddy was at work, (my mom forced me) I decided to just give his bangs a trim so that it wouldn't get into his eyes so much. Remember Miley's bangs which I cut before? Well, I did it again! Now poor Sabe looks like he has an apple cut!

looks like somebody isn't happy with his new hair...

I decided not to say anything when hubby came home, to see if he would notice. Well, after 5 seconds, he was like "you cut Sabey's hair!!!" haha! He was mad at me for a while but after a bit, he saw how much cuter Sabe was. So we might just actually keep this apple bob thing a little longer for now. :)

Movie Stars Cafe's Dino Buffet

When we ate in Buffet 101 MOA a couple of weeks ago, we saw this new restaurant in the area called Movie Stars Cafe, which was near Vikings. Fast forward a few days later and I saw that they were offering a discount for their Dino Buffet at just P399 (instead of P699). I got a couple of vouchers since we had a friend visiting from out of town and we really wanted to try this new place out. I made a reservation via their website and got an email confirmation soon after.

Ok, first the good. The place looks really cool, with characters in full costume greeting you from outside. In fact, there are a lot of people wanting to take pictures with the characters, even passersby. Inside, there are lots of TVs all around which are tuned in to different channels like HBO, AXN, Star Movies, etc. There are also lots of movie posters, memorabilia and life-sized statues of famous characters like Ironman, Shrek, Batman, etc. Actually, it sort of has a Universal Studios feel to it. You can even have your photos taken with the servers, in full costume, at your table. We were seated inside, but there is also an alfresco area by the bay.

Now the food. The buffet area is just one strip with an open kitchen. Since it's aptly called a "Dino Buffet" (notice the T-Rex head in the middle?), the food is made up of hamburgers, sausages, chicken and steak. There are also onion rings & fries, but that's pretty much it. To be honest, the food for us was nothing great so it was a good thing I had the vouchers because I don't think it's worth the actual price. The menu is pretty limited (everything on the buffet table can be found in the pictures I took below), but if you're a meat lover like me, then maybe you just might enjoy this.

Don't expect a huge selection of desserts like in the other buffets. This was all they had when we ate there, although I did like the cake.

Now the bad part, for me. But first, let me give a disclaimer that this is based on my own, personal taste and I mean no offense for those who actually enjoy this type of entertainment. Ok, here goes. My first issue is that the music was SO loud. We could barely hear ourselves talk over the sound, so the TV screens around the whole place was actually a good thing since you can just watch while eating. Maybe it would have been better if we were seated outside, but I wouldn't know since they also had speakers on full blast there. It was a disappointment bringing our balikbayan friend there since we couldn't even make chikahan with all that noise. It was like being in a club or bar, but they kept playing songs like Gangnam Style (I think they played this 10 times?), Shots (which is so 3 years ago!) and other party songs. Definitely do not go here if you want to have a nice, intimate dinner with someone. And do not bring your grandparents or elder relatives here because they will surely go deaf.

Another thing they had were performances from the waiters and waitresses. So one minute, they're just regular staff in costume taking your order, then the next minute they become the "MSC Dancers", called on stage for a production number. Again, this might be entertaining for most people but it was just so loud and distracting for me. I wouldn't have had an issue if the performances looked professional or well rehearsed. But the performers seemed like they didn't know their proper places on stage, they were nudging each other, and some looked like they didn't even want to be there. Honestly, it just seemed like a bad Christmas party number where they force the new employees to dance. And again, the songs! Spiderman dancing Gangnam Style? It was just way too baduy for me.

They also had a couple of birthday celebrants in the house. And if it's bad enough in some restaurants when the staff sing for you, here they ask you to go on stage! Again, if you enjoy this kind of thing, then by all means, celebrate your next birthday here and be the center of attention.

Happy Birthday to some dude named Christian

The performances would be tolerable for me if they had it once every 30 minutes or more. Because at least mid performance, they would tone the music down a teeny tiny bit allowing a window of opportunity for some small talk. But no, it seemed like they had one every 5-10 minutes! In one part, they announced that they would be having a Mask of Zorro and Spiderman musical number which would be perfect for the kids. Well, I thought musical number meant some singing or something, but it was just Zorro and then Spiderman fighting with the "bad guys" (which featured some awful sword fighting and poorly choreographed stunts).What made it worse and such a turn off was the way the host (Mr. Gingerbread Man) kept commentating on everything!

"Parating na po si Zorro... ayan na po si Zorro...at kasayaw niya si Catherin Zeta-Jones!" (weh? asan?)

It was so bad it was actually funny! Like we just kept laughing over how corny everything was! After the performances, the band came on, and again, nothing great. I mean, picture this. There were 3 singers on stage but they only had 2 microphones! So one girl was just bopping around during the song, just clapping her hands and stuff, then after, the other singer would pass her the mic. What?

Like I said, the whole place actually reminds me of Universal Studios with the set up and all the characters roaming around. But the entertainment is just not for me. I wish all the MSC dancers well, but I don't think I'll be coming back to this place. I'll just stick to the other tried and tested buffets like Yakimix, Buffet 101 and Vikings.