Baguio Day 2: Cafe by the Ruins, La Trinidad Strawberry Field

We checked out at Tuvera Pension House and transferred to a hotel near Burnham Park, Veniz Hotel. 
We ate our brunch here at Cafe by The Ruins.

We were asked if we were okay to wait for 30 minutes before they gave our seats because the restaurant was packed. We were more than willing to fall in line even if we were really hungry just so we could find out why this restaurant is one of the famous ones in Baguio. 
Andun ako sa M. HAHAHA SOMEDAY. Dahil dyan, categorized muna ko under optimists and foodies. 
If you're wondering why the place's name is Cafe by the Ruins, then you'll be shocked behind the reason why it was named that way.

Kasi, nasa ruins siya. Diba, nakakagulat? Pati ako, hindi ko iisipin na ganito 'yun eh. Hahaha. It's a ruins of a house which was destroyed during the World War II.


I wasn't able to take a picture of the whole place but it is beautifully designed and very cozy. 
But as for the service and the food, I honestly don't get why this place keeps on getting the raves.

Sobrang na turn-off lang siguro talaga ko sa waiter nung sinabi niyang, "Alam niyo naman po siguro kung bakit matagal 'yung service, madami po kasing tao." Okay, not the exact words he said but 'yan 'yung naging dating sa'kin and I really think that shouldn't even be said to a customer. Nakisabay din 'yung service water nila sa pagiging rustic vibe kasi lasang rust. huhubells. 
P 330.00/order

Anyhow, this was my order. Okay naman siya but it didn't make me happy. I mean, I paid more than P 300.00 for a meal so nag-expect na ko na mas may satisfaction pa pero waley, busog lang ata. Walang "Ahhh, kaya pala nila gusto dito." factor. Ang hirap pati kainin nung meat kasi hindi kasya sa bibig ko 'yung shreds kung anuman tawag dun.

But then as I looked at other diners, it seemed that they were okay with everything. Ang reklamadora ko lang ba? Hmm... idk.

Cafe by the Ruins, para sa'kin, ay maikukumapara sa isang crush ng bayan na hindi ko makita kung san banda o kung pano siya nagustuhan ng maraming tao. Nakapunta ka na ba dun? Ano kaya 'yung meron siya na hindi ko nakita? 
After eating, we rode a taxi to La Trinidad's Strawberry Field. Medyo malayo siya sa Baguio kasi nga La Trinidad area na nga. If you don't like to ride a taxi, you can opt to ride a jeep (via Halsema Hi-way. Di ko alam kung anong route). 

Our taxi driver took the mountainous route to La Trinidad. Hindi rin siya nagkulang sa pagiging tour guide and we learned a lot of things from him kasama na 'yung pagre-recruit niyang bumili na rin kami ng bahay sa Benguet. He also pointed to us the casualties of the Typhoon Sendong last 2011 and until the moment we were to alight his taxi, he taught us where to ride the jeepney back to Baguio City.

My friend and I weren't looking at the taxi meter 'cause we were busy sightseeing and we both got surprised that our fare only amounted to P 130.00. E 'yung pamasahe na 'yan mula lang sa bahay pa-SM North pag traffic eh. Ang laki nung tulong ng P 30.00 na flag down rate at P 2.50 na added payment for additional meters. Haaay, kelan kaya Manila? Ni hindi nga nagpadagdag si Kuya kahit malayo. To think that the distance from Cafe by the Ruins to the Strawberry field is maybe even farther than the distance of our home in Tandang Sora, Quezon City to Mall of Asia in Pasay City. 
Tadaah! My much awaited strawberry field which is currently a lettuce field.

Strawberry harvest season in La Trinidad is from December to May. No wonder we didn't see fresh strawberries being sold anywhere when we went there. Excited pa naman ako kasi nahihilig ako sa strawberries recently. A reason to be back! hahaha. Ngayon pa ba Baguio na madali ka lang pala puntahan?? Bwahaha. 
Saan galing ang lettuce mo? 

It started drizzling so we left the field.


Tapos si Kuya na nagbebenta ng taho na nadaanan namin papuntang field,
"Ayan Mam ah. Hinintay namin kayo talaga kasi sinabi niyo bibili kayo pagbalik niyo."

So we ordered two taho (P 40.00 each) tapos dalawa sila Kuya na nagtitinda at tig-isa sila na nagbigay sa'min para parehong may benta. Hinahati talaga nila 'yung customers. Bakit ako nata-touch sa mga ganung bagay? Pinabait ata talaga ko ng Baguio. hehehehehehe. 
Nakakatawa rin ng marketing strategy nila Kuya na nagbebenta ng strawberry taho saka strawberry ice cream kasi ang main selling point nila ay may libreng Wi-Fi para ma-Instagram daw 'yung products nila na ginawa ko naman kahit napeke ako dahil walang Wi-Fi. hahahaha. Okay, obvious naman walang wi-fi pero "nagpaloko" pa rin kame kasi ginusto rin. Haha! Make sure to buy strawberry taho when you're in Baguio not only for a delicious experience but also to help the locals with their livelihood. You may also upload photos in your social media sites to spread the word na ang taho at ice cream sa Baguio, hinaluan na ng Wi-fi connection para hindi hassle sa mahilig mag-IG at para mas hi-tech.

We rode a taxi back to Baguio City only this time the driver passed through the Halsema Hiway route which is also okay and was a bit faster. Pero I think dependent 'yun sa traffic kasi mas maraming kotse sa area na 'yun. I suggest that when you go there, you also take the routes we took just so you can see more places.

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