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You have to go to Baguio right now

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Baguio does not have much entertainment…?

“Cebu” and “Baguio” are definitely the two major places to study in the Philippines. When you look at websites that compare these two places, you will surely see the following

I don’t completely agree with this. I do not completely agree with this. Since I have only studied in Baguio, I cannot compare it to Cebu or other areas, but there are many places to play.

Baguio is compact, but I have the impression that it has everything. I enjoyed just walking around the city and discovering new things every day. It is also fun to experience the local way of life by visiting local supermarkets and buying fruits at the market.

The Only Thing Baguio Lacks

The only thing missing, however, is a store for Japanese products. No matter who I asked, I could not find any information about such stores, and even I could not find any after I went around the city to some extent. I think this is a great business opportunity.

If you are a fan of “miso,” “sauce,” or “mentsuyu” flavors, I recommend you bring something with you. However, you can order them from places like Manila through the online shopping site (app) “Lazada“.

Baguio’s Atmosphere and People

The atmosphere of the city as a whole and the personalities of the local people are factors that influence the desire for entertainment in Baguio.

Perhaps this is due in large part to the fact that smoking is strictly regulated and drinking is only allowed in permitted areas. Somehow, smoking and drinking seem to be connected to entertainment, don’t they? It’s not that you can’t do it at all, but it’s more difficult than in other places.

It is a well-known story that cabs in Baguio do not rip you off, and I have not seen many business-minded people in the stores around town. It may be true to say that there is a lack of energy, but the people are quiet.

In downtown Asian cities, people often imagine that bars, pubs, and other places where you can drink alcohol cater to Westerners with money, but in Baguio, you rarely see Westerners. However, you rarely see Westerners in Baguio, so there may be a lack of such lively stores.

People tend to go out at night because it is safe.

I have talked about the city of Baguio and the personalities of the local people, but it can be said that Baguio is safe because of this environment. Therefore, nightlife is relatively safe. There are surprisingly many spots for drinking and karaoke.

The school where I stayed is a so-called “semi-Spartan” style, with a curfew of 10 p.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends. I would not say until 3 am, but it was no problem to walk on the street near the center of town at around midnight.

The famous drinking spots are a bit far from the city center, so a cab is necessary, but it is easy to get there as a 15-minute ride costs about 200 pesos (about 540 yen). Therefore, enjoying drinking alcohol is one of the entertainment supported by the safety of the city.

The range of entertainment varies depending on the season.

When considering studying abroad, you should take into account the season. My recommended season to stay in Baguio is from November to March. This is the dry season and it rarely rains. I feel that it rains only one day a month or so.

When I arrived at the end of August, it rained all the time. It is said that the so-called rainy season begins in May and lasts until October. August and September are also typhoon season in Japan, and typhoons come from the southern part of the country. The Philippines is directly affected by typhoons.

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You have to go to Baguio right now

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In Baguio, where there are many nature-oriented activities, it is better to have many sunny days. Going to the mountains or the sea during the rainy season is not an option. If that is the case, you will have more of an advantage in terms of entertainment during those seasons in facilities where you can play indoors in a more urban setting.

However, during the rainy season, not only do you not have the motivation to go out in the first place, but there are many places where you will have a hard time in your daily life. It is true that you can divide the time you can’t go out and concentrate on your studies by staying in school, but the risk of power outages increases, so you must be prepared for a certain amount of inconvenience.

From here, I would like to make an independent evaluation of the recommendations for entertainment and activities in Baguio. However, I am not very proficient in this area, so this is just for reference….

Mountain Climbing: Recommendation [★★★★★]

Baguio is a mountainous city, so mountain-related activities are abundant. Some mountains can be climbed in as little as 45 minutes, while others require an overnight stay at the foot of the mountain and 8 hours of climbing each way. It is nice to be able to choose a destination that suits your level.

【Day84 in Baguio】Mt. Kalugong, a rocky peak of trembling height and the sunset from the summit café

This article will continue with sightseeing in La Trinidad, a neighboring city of Baguio. This time, I climbed a mountai

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The moderate exercise and the sense of accomplishment of reaching the summit is a nice break from what would have been a day full of studying. Baguio is at a high altitude to begin with, so it is relatively easy to get a great view of the city. Even though I had not had much experience in mountain climbing in Japan, it made me think that occasional mountain climbing was a good idea.

The Full Story of Mountain Climbing and Why We Do Not Recommend Mt. Pulag for Beginners

Continuing from the previous article, I would like to introduce Mt. Pulag, the third highest mountain in the Philippines

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And there are many ways to enjoy the mountains. Not only just climbing, but also going to see the sunrise and sunset, taking pictures with illuminations, archery, spending time at a cafe at the top of the mountain, horseback riding, etc… You will never get bored of these challenges because they will entertain you in such and such a way.

Beaches: Recommendation [★★★★★]

The beach takes about 2 hours at the closest point, but it is a distance that can be planned as a day trip at all. I think in many cases you rent out a van, but when I planned it, a 10-passenger van will pick you up and drop you off at the designated location for 4,000 pesos (about 10,600 yen) round trip.

And it still reminds me that the Philippines is all about marine activities. It is refreshing to feel the everlasting summer temperature of over 30 degrees Celsius, which you cannot feel in Baguio, and you will be reminded of the comfort of Baguio’s temperature.

San Juan, on the west side of Baguio, is said to be a sacred place for surfing. I have heard that it is not a great place for professional surfers, but it is just right for beginners. Many people who surf for the first time often say, “I want to go back!” I have often seen people who surfed here for the first time become captivated by the place.

Walking around town: Recommendation [★★★★☆]

Walking around a foreign city is also a good experience. If we talk only about Baguio, it is easy to go out because the temperature is relatively calm. And the city is compact, so major shopping facilities are densely located. Cabs are also inexpensive.

However, what stands in the way is Baguio’s steep hills. Because of the city’s structure, it is said that tricycles cannot run in Baguio, and you will run into hills wherever you go. For those who are healthy and have no problems, it may be a good exercise, but for those who have a hard time, it may be a tough scene.

Visiting cafes: Recommendation [★★★☆☆☆].

It is often said that Baguio has wonderful cafes. It is true, and there are cafes of various concepts. There are cafes with spectacular views, cafes built like something out of Ghibli, cafes on top of mountains, and many other unique and photo-worthy cafes.

However, as someone who was never really into them, I can say that you could have the same experience in Japan…? I am afraid I can’t help but give you my opinion that you can have the same experience in Japan. Moreover, famous cafes are located on the outskirts of the city and are sometimes hard to get to…. However, if you like it, there are many spots that will satisfy you!

Tourist Attractions in Baguio: Recommendation [★★★☆☆☆].

There are several famous tourist spots in the center of Baguio. Stone temple-like things, flower parks, beautifully colored streets, ghost hotels, etc…. However, none of them lack impact! That is my honest impression. Of course, it is fun, but….

I once saw an English page that introduced a “Baguio Sightseeing Model Course,” and it said that after breakfast, we should go to XX area in the suburbs. I remember thinking, “What? It is true that there are many attractive tourist attractions in Baguio’s surrounding areas. So, tourist attractions in Baguio are like “hmmm.

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You have to go to Baguio right now

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The city is full of English

First of all, the Philippines is a great place to learn English. Walking around the city, you will be surrounded by English signs and products, and if you know a certain amount of words, you will have no difficulty. Besides, when you see the English you have learned being used in real life and you can understand it, you can feel your growth.

In my case, I was impressed when I saw the word “garment” in a thrift store in town and understood it. I had never heard of it before, and I felt that “cloth” was sufficient for everyday use. However, when you connect it to real-life experiences, it sticks in your memory and improves the efficiency of your studies.

Also, because English permeates our daily lives, we can communicate with local people in English.

This is an environment that is hard to imagine in Japan, where you can communicate with café clerks, cab drivers, and even local tourists. Although it is a challenge, it is the best part of studying abroad, isn’t it?

However, they try to understand me in a way that I can’t speak, so it’s not a problem. I can even translate into Tagalog using my smartphone.

Why does everyone speak English?

This is a bit off topic, but I once had a discussion with my teacher about why Filipinos are so familiar with English. According to the teacher, it is partly because they have been doing all subjects in English from the period of compulsory education, except for the Japanese language classes in Japan.

I guess it is advantageous to learn a language from an early age, isn’t it? I am sure it is not only an advantage in the educational process, but I am envious of it. Incidentally, my teacher, who is fluent in English, told me that she only uses Tagalog in her daily conversation outside of school.

Net Flix is cheap!

The advantage of studying in the Philippines, where there are no native English speakers, is the cost. I have actually experienced it and still feel that tuition fees and living costs are low. I think that each study abroad agency introduces the features of this area, so I will not go into details.

Another advantage is the low monthly fee for Net Flix. While you often see people using a VPN to subscribe to a subscription plan in another country while in Japan, here you can subscribe to a regular subscription plan with impunity.

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926/ph

When you are in an English environment to some extent, you may encounter situations where you need to correct your pronunciation. “Shadowing” is said to be effective in such situations, and it is also useful for daily study.

One thing to note about subscription services is that

School] Comprehensive course of 8 lessons a day

I took a comprehensive course called “ESL Course,” which included not only daily conversation but also reading, writing, and pronunciation. There are eight 45-minute classes each day, five of which are one-on-one classes and three are group classes. The first class starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM.

At first, in the one-on-one course, five classes were allocated for reading, speaking, writing, vocabulary, and grammar.

After that, I retained three speaking classes for the remaining less than four months. Also, the teacher can be changed to a new teacher depending on the reason, but I was not particularly dissatisfied with the teacher, so I did not change. As a result, I spent 6 months with the same teacher.

Six months sounds like a long time, 180 days, but this is the number of days I stayed, and the number of lessons was about 120 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays.

Teachers are not amateurs.

Teachers are not just amateurs. They are professionals who have a teaching license and have gone through the school’s selection process. However, there are still some teachers out there who have different ideas and have their own unique style. So, having gone through the whole process, I can tell you what the classes are like for each teacher.

Teacher 1: Female: around 25 years old

Basically faithful to the progression of the textbook, calmly teaching the class. Gives homework at a reasonable frequency depending on the progress. From the middle of the course, she was willing to correct my self-studies outside of class. He answered kindly no matter what I asked him at any point and was very positive about the class.

Teacher 2: Female: around 25 years old

She has a perfect balance between the progress of the class and chit-chatting during breaks. She is good at keeping up with students of all ages, from children to middle-aged, so that they don’t get bored and can concentrate. She teaches advanced topics and tips as needed as we go through the textbook.

Teacher 3: Female: around 25 years old

She may or may not use the textbook, and may bring games or assignments that can be completed in one session. He conducts the class with his own method and with a sense of urgency. Although there were times in the beginning when I could not say what I wanted to say at all and almost got left behind, it was useful as a special training to be aware of the speed of daily conversation.

Teacher 4: Female: around 25 years old

She talks a lot and is made to talk a lot. Even when the topic was difficult, such as philosophy or euthanasia, I never felt even a second of silence. Her character can be best described as “confident,” and she always teaches with a lot of confidence, but she sometimes reveals too much of herself and becomes whiny. We sometimes talked about quite deep topics.

Teacher 5: Female: around 25 years old

Bright and innocent, she is a mood maker for both teacher and students. During class, she has a good balance between ice-breaker chats and lectures, and often points out minor pronunciation and grammar mistakes. She follows the progression of the textbook, but is flexible to change the content of the class according to the mood of the students.

Teacher 6:Female: Early 30’s

She is soft and laid-back, and her personality oozes as natural. For the first 3 months or so, she seemed to go through the textbooks thoroughly and gave frequent homework assignments. Gradually, we began to chat more and more, and we often talked about travel and weekend plans.

Teacher 7: Female: 30s-40s?

She seemed calm and steadily worked through the textbook every day. It is hard to get used to the class because the focus is on output, but she gives us feedback on points we need to pay attention to from time to time, so it is very practical. Sometimes we are assigned homework such as “Tomorrow, you will give a 2-minute speech on the topic of __,” which was also a good learning experience.

Teacher 8: male: around 25 years old

The class is mainly discussion-based without textbooks, so it is a good way to practice my quick thinking skills. Since he is a native speaker, I was able to train my ear by feeling live the everyday pronunciation method called “linking. He has knowledge in various fields and I can respect him as an individual.

Looking back on my study abroad experience

As for how my English skills have improved, I feel that they have improved to the point where I can admit it to myself and others. I pull out the dictionary less frequently in class, and I am no longer afraid of using relative pronouns and the like to form sentences.

It is often said that it is important to express what you want to say using simple English rather than directly translating Japanese. This is certainly true.

However, there are still times when I just can’t come up with that paraphrase. I hear that a certain amount of experience is necessary for speaking ability, but for me, 6 months was still too short a period of time.

My goal is to be at a level where I can deal with foreigners at ticket booths in tourist spots. Right now I am still at the level where I can speak in class, so if I have the opportunity, I would like to reach out for another chance to study abroad again. I’ll report back then, so I’ll see you next time in the “entertainment” section!

【脱毛レポ】ブラジリアンワックスしてみた【バギオ留学】

美容やおしゃれに無頓着な私ですが、海外に行く際のこだわりが1つだけあります。それは足の脱毛を行うことです。アジアの国々は暑いので足周りを快適にするためですね。今回はバギオにて、現地の脱毛サロンに行ってブラジリアンワックスを行ってみたレポにな

はふたぶろぐ | バギオの情報リアルタイム発信

Comparison of prices and services at three stores

All of the services I performed were “Full Leg” services. First, I will compare the services and prices of the three salons I visited, including the salon I introduced last time plus the two new local salons I visited and saw. After that, I will introduce the details of my experience at each store.

(1) Hey Sugar! (a well-known store in SM Mall that I introduced in my previous article)

Price: Full Leg (HOT course): 970 pesos (about 2,425 yen) for men, 800 pesos (about 2,000 yen) for women

Overview: Hot wax is directly dripped and peeled off in small amounts with paper.

(2) Beauty Lounge Hair and Nail Salon Legarda (on Legarta Road, near City Hall)

Fee: 800 pesos (about 2,080 yen) for a full leg

Outline: Drip wax directly from a bottle and peel off a small amount with a paper.

(3)Beauty room (at the end of Mabini Road, near the University of Baguio)

Fee: Full Leg 700 pesos (about 1,820 yen)

Overview: Dripping hot wax directly on the skin and peeling off the hardened part by hand.

(2)Beauty Lounge Hair and Nail Salon Legarda

This store was not listed on Google Map, and I could not find it when I first arrived. However, I happened to pass by it near the school and noticed some kind of salon. If I am not mistaken, it seems to have recently moved to a new location.

The “Hey Sugar!” I went before was a specialty store, but this one seems to be mainly a hair and nail salon, and is built like a beauty salon. According to the official Facebook page, it is open 24 hours a day, but I am not sure. However, it is open relatively late at night.

I went there without a reservation, but I was allowed to pop in on the day. Basically, the room is rather full-fledged, with hair care machines lined up in various places. After waiting about 20 minutes for preparation, we were shown to a private room. Shorts for the treatment are provided here, which were not available at the previous store.

A unique feature of this store is that the melted wax is put into a bottle and applied to the legs. In the past, the melted wax was applied by dripping it in a kind of metal pot with a shallow bottom and wide mouth, which was sometimes hot, but here the temperature is lukewarm.

In the beginning, the treatment went well, but as the wax cooled, it became harder to remove from the container. This not only made the treatment less effective, but it was painful in a different way as they tried to apply it by forcing it onto my legs.

Not only that, it took about 20 minutes to warm up the wax again. During that time, the treatment cannot be done and you have to wait. After repeating the process of removing and warming the wax several times, I was told that the machine that heats the wax had gone bad, so I only had to have one leg done that day. As a result, I had to visit again the next day.

The total time it took for the two days was less than four hours, and I was exhausted beyond enduring the pain. The normal state of the waxing was not the best, and there was definitely a problem with the quality of service.

Naturally, we offered them a discount for the various mishaps, but they insisted that they couldn’t do it, and we ended up paying the full price. And even though the first day was incomplete, they offered to pay half of the price as a matter of course. I didn’t want to get into any trouble, so I agreed to do as they said.

The menu of this store is as follows.

(3)Beauty Room S&Z Salon

The next store is located on an easily accessible street and is also mainly a beauty salon. This one is also not registered on Google Map, but it is a store in a mall near the University of Baguio called UB Square. I found it while searching on Facebook.

It is a small store in an old mall, but inside it is quite clean and there are a few customers inside for hair care. There was also a decent Free Wifi setup. Hours of operation are from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM according to their official Facebook page.

I thought that maybe the problem with my last visit was that I had not made a reservation, so on reflection, I made a reservation in advance. However, when I went there on the day, to my surprise, the reservation was not communicated to the treatment staff, and only the receptionist knew about it.

I was told to wait for a while, and I waited for about 40 minutes until they were ready. I learned for the first time at this store that the wax before melting seemed to be in a solid state like beads, and it took quite some time to melt it down.

The treatment finally started, and the freshly melted wax was so hot that it almost burned me. Normally, the temperature would be adjusted after melting until it reaches the proper temperature, but since it was taking so long to melt, the treatment was rushed, and as a result, I ended up receiving the treatment with hot wax.

The bony parts of my legs could still tolerate it, but the calves and other fatty areas felt the heat easily and felt like they were going to burn. The staff was somewhat attentive and used a fan to cool me down, but I was still in agony from the intense heat that came every now and then.

Also, this store uses a method where the wax is dripped over a wide area, hardened, and then peeled off by hand. I don’t have a professional opinion as to which method is more effective, but in terms of the degree of pain, I think that removing the wax by paper is more painful. In other words, this one is more painful.

And this store is also not completed in one day…. As with the previous store, we had to split the treatment into two days, and as a result, it took a total of 4 hours…. Naturally, there is no discount on payment as well, and the regular price is split between the two days.

However, the owner of this store was very apologetic and the staff was trying to do the best they could. They explained that they had run out of their regular wax and used an older type that was not of good quality, but again, no discount was given.

The menu for this restaurant is below.

Summary

When it comes to hair removal, choose a well-known specialty store! This is all I have to say. This time, I went on many adventures, but next time I will go to the first place I visited, Hey Sugar! It’s not an establishment I frequent often, and the difference in price is only a few hundred yen.

【脱毛レポ】ブラジリアンワックスしてみた【バギオ留学】

美容やおしゃれに無頓着な私ですが、海外に行く際のこだわりが1つだけあります。それは足の脱毛を行うことです。アジアの国々は暑いので足周りを快適にするためですね。今回はバギオにて、現地の脱毛サロンに行ってブラジリアンワックスを行ってみたレポにな

はふたぶろぐ | バギオの情報リアルタイム発信

After having experienced many different stores, I found the quality to be high, the time to be short, and the pain to be mild. The first time should be the hardest, not only for hair removal, but this time, the more I got used to it, the more painful it became.

I myself will refrain from exploring new salons for a while. This is my report of my three Brazilian waxing experiences in Baguio! I hope it was helpful.