“Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You’re by no means alone on that score, you’ll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them—if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry.”
― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
this seat is taken
© thoughts & travels since 2011
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Browsed my old copy of The Polaroid Book and picked this:
#2: Tangled
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It started with a pen and an afternoon of boredom. There was no paper in sight so I took the liberty of sketching on my own left palm. And because I predicted that there will be more boring afternoons to come, I shall create this Palm Art Project where I will sketch something on my left palm every day. I know it sounds so ordinary but I am sticking to it. We all do something about our own share of insanity anyway.
#1: Papers
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Did I mention that it was the first time I rode at the back of a motorcycle? So just imagine the level of awkwardness at the kind of position I was in at that moment. Add to that my record-high clumsiness and lack of balance. I was lucky enough that my friend is the best motorcycle rider in the world because I couldn’t imagine the amount of skill you need in order to avoid killing yourself when going uphill especially in a place like Baguio.
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Where I almost got lost, Session Road reminded me of Hong Kong, and they tried to make me eat dog meat!
Random photos of my stroll around this small city.
Warmth of the sun on my back up the mountains. I am walking alone today.
Saturday morning. Having a hard time drying my hair because of lack of humidity. The only time I missed Manila.
In this photo you can see my newly acquired secondhand phone, my wallet, my two-year old glasses, and a lottery ticket. Yes, I tried my luck ’cause I oddly felt that there’s a high chance to win the 200M-peso jackpot because the gods will hear me since I am geographically nearer to the heavens. I kid.
I met the moon in Baguio.
View from the 53rd step.
For a second I thought paradise looks like this.
A stranger at the balcony in Oh My Gulay.
Oh My Gulay is like an art museum-slash-restaurant in one.
Isn’t it so Pop?
I was not able to resist the invite of this store. I have a special relationship with secondhand books.
I hope someone finds this gem.
Across Burnham Park is a sports field. I thought of Touch Rugby Football.
I wonder how it feels like playing in a field with the cool air against your face.
On a bench at the Burnham Park. In case you didn’t notice in other posts, I am fond of taking photos of my sneakers.
Stranger by the lake. I am also fond of taking pictures of strangers. They always don’t mind anyway.
Does this mean that I’m a lonely traveler?
My second favorite mixed media artwork at the BenCab museum next to Hannah.
Sunday morning. It’s my turn to taste the special local dish they call Pinikpikan. My friend said they follow a certain ritual in preparing this food. It is Baguio’s version of Tinola.
I got paranoid the whole time I was here because my friends persuaded me to eat dog meat, which I know used to be part of their cuisine. I cannot bear to even think that I would be eating a very cute fluffy puppy.
Arca’s Yard is the best place for book lovers and yoga practitioners. The place serves sweet potato pie and coffee for free. I was not able to take photos inside the cozy room because I was pretty mesmerized with the interior design and collection of books and artifacts by the owner, an Ibaloy woman called Ms. Ninja (pronounced as Nin-ya).
The view from the balcony of Arca’s Yard. This, for me, is the most beautiful picture of Baguio.
While waiting for my lunch at Oh My Gulay. I looked for an exposed roll of film around but unfortunately, the said store was closed on that day.
Going down town from the neighborhood where I stayed. I could have just rolled down the main road. Haha!
Goodbye. Till we meet again!
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…It’s one of the best bands out there.
1901 has been on loop in my playlist for weeks now. Thomas Mars, the band’s vocalist, has this distinct voice that’s perfect for every song that they play and makes you dance on your toes even if you have two ugly left feet. Also, I can’t believe I only just found out yesterday that he’s married to Sofia Coppola.
Phoenix is included in the list of artists that I should watch perform live before I die.
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“Don’t feel bad about things because things don’t have feelings anyway.”
Of all the paintings in BenCab museum, this one has piqued my interest the most.
‘Wag mong damdamin ang mga bagay dahil ang mga bagay ay walang damdamin.
Why Hannah? Read here.
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Day 2 in Baguio: I will not attempt to bombard this post with too many words because being inside the BenCab Museum is an entirely different personal experience for the eyes and the artistic soul. Instead, I will shower you with several photos of the artworks I took while inside the museum. Please bear in mind that a picture is worth a thousand words, and I got an album of them.
Mixed media has always been my favorite.
The woman in brush strokes. I’d love to try this one.
They looked like guardians of the museum.
Gin (bottles) of Thrones
Next post: My personal favorites.
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Where I had lunch on Day 2.
Oh My Gulay, a vegetarian restaurant situated at the top floor of the La Azotea building along Session Road, is one of the places in this city where you can stray away from the hustle and bustle of the streets below. There is a good view of the congested mountains and the nearby field from the balcony.
The welcome sign at the foot of the stairs.
View from the balcony.
“Lonely table just for two.”
Oh My Gulay’s specialty is Anak ng Puttanesca.
Too spicy for my taste.
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The first time I went to Baguio was in 2008 and I lost all the photos I took there with the group. Four years later, in the middle of a mild depression over life and work, I decided to go up the mountains again to try what they call ‘soul-searching’. I messaged a friend who lives there and was offered a space in their warm abode. This time around I got to know Baguio through a local and was able to stroll around feeling a little more confident than a typical tourist from the city.
Day 1: Breakfast and Stroll With Two Guys in Black
One of the best things I discovered was that there is a small movie house showing old local films located at the basement of an antiquated mansion called Hill Station. Unfortunately, they are not showing any movie over the weekend I was around so I took a photo of the schedule instead.
Opposite the wall where the movie schedule was posted is a mural. This painting is actually outside the Mt. Cloud bookshop. I was not able to take photos inside the bookstore but it was so interesting nonetheless. There is a corner where it showcases locally published comics by Baguio artists.
The engraved carpet on the Hill Station floor. “Why Not?”
Trying to be the girl on the mural.
Breakfast at the pizza place called Volante.
Wash away the sweat with a glass of cold organic lemon juice.
this seat is taken 