5/18/12

Safari Lodge


Taking an overnight bus just after hiking down Mt. Pulag didn't appeal to me. I wanted to rest in Baguio City for the night. It's been a long day after all - a whole morning on the trail and some 3 hours on the jeepney. We arrived at the city's Victory Liner Terminal before 4 PM all tired and starving. I was the only one staying. Since the group's Manila-bound bus doesn't leave until 10 PM, we made plans for a farewell dinner at a restaurant on Session Road.

But first, I need a place to stay. I haven't booked any. Ed, one of the guys in the group, recommended Safari Lodge. It's on Leonard Wood Road, almost in front of Baguio Botanical Gardens. From outside, the lodge had this look of a grand ancestral home. In fact, as I would find out later, this used to be the old vacation house of the Tuasons (Don Celso Tuason founded Armscor, a firearms and ammunition company in the Philippines).


I went in and was swallowed by the sight of hunting trophies adorning the lobby - or what I suppose was the main living room back in the old days. There's this huge elephant head jutting out from a wall and a full-sized lion in its own glass enclosure. There were old pictures of the Tuason patriarch on his various hunting expeditions in Africa. If not for the pine trees outside, the lodge looked more Botswana than Baguio. I got so fascinated by the display I almost forgot the young woman who acknowledged my presence.

"Sir, mag-stay po kayo? Ilang gabi po?" (Sir, are you staying? How many nights?)

"I'm only here for a night", I told her.


Seeing that I'm alone, she offered me several options for a room with single beds. They had this "graduation time promo" rates that were all-inclusive. The first room I was given was actually not part of the old building but rather a newer extension called the "Bamboo Side". I didn't like it since it was close to their restaurant with all the associated noise. When I insisted on getting one on the "Main House", she had one of the housekeepers escort me up a flight of wooden stairs, all the way to the attic.

Up there, through a steep set of stairs, were 2 rooms, the cheapest on the house at PHP 700 (They have bigger, more expensive rooms costing between PHP 1000-3000). I chose the one facing the street as it had views of the pine trees outside. Traffic noise wasn't so terrible. The promo rate included free breakfast, free WiFi and basic toiletries. Bathroom was shared with the other room but then I was the only guest on that floor so I really felt alone.

Or was I really alone?

Am I alone here?

I showered quickly, noticing how eerily it felt to be up on an attic floor of an old house by myself. I was hurrying to meet my group for dinner. As soon as I made it back to the lobby, the front desk girl asked how long will I be gone.

"Why?", I asked.

"We close the door at 10 PM"

"Uh, I see, I'll be back before 10", I replied.

Our group shared a long table at Solibao, a restaurant specializing in Filipino dishes. Carlita, the German backpacker, was happy to try out everything we ordered. Over mouthfuls of tangy sinigang, greasy crispy pata, nutty kare kareng bagnet, to name a few, we reviewed our mountainous adventures together. Everyone agreed there's always something especial to do outdoors in the Philippines. We exchanged e-mails and hoped to hit the trail again someday.

Those eyes intimidate me

Back at the lodge, the trail to my own room felt so creepy. I felt uneasy as I walked up the wooden stairs, the walls of which had paintings of wild animals staring right at me. The old wooden floors almost creaked. There were no other guests in sight. It didn't help that hallway lights were not all turned on. What's going on with me? I've stayed several times in Baguio City before but this was the first time I actually felt a sense of dread.

I surveyed my room. I turned on the TV at a really loud volume. The A-frame ceiling has one part covered with clear glass that divides it from the hallway. This didn't sit well with me while lying on bed. It's like something was going to show up there. Who knows? I pushed my bed against the opposite wall so that I don't see it. Or whatever my imagination might feed me.

View from my room

Hiding under a blanket, I turned off the TV by remote, dreadful even at the thought of visiting the bathroom at midnight. Tired as I was after a really long day (which I think I should be thankful for), I managed to sleep through the entire cold night. A misty morning greeted me the next day.

At least, I didn't wake up looking like a zombie. That would have been scarier.

 

20 comments:

  1. I had the same experience 2 years ago. I stayed at the Burnham Hotel, off of Session Road. It definitely felt like I was the only guest, and I only stayed one night. The hotel was this large house, with an indoor winding staircase, and my room had old-fashioned fans, old curtains, old everything. And very dimly lit. Very conducive for thinking about scary thoughts.

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    1. Previous visits to Baguio never had me thinking about scary stuff although now I see what adds to the feeling - cold, misty, with lots of pine trees & those old houses, not to mention a huge number of earthquake fatalities some 2 decades ago.

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  2. Wow! Safari lodge, seeing the wild animal busts excite me. Might check in here next time (with group of friends definitely).

    Happy weekend. :)

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    1. I certainly agree staying with the barkada next time - scary nights would be fun, especially during Halloween. Wooooooo!

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  3. I'll be going to Baguio this june and after seeing your post I am planning to stay there. wanted to see those hanged on the walls although the rest of your post sounds scary.

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    1. I wouldn't mind staying there again as long as I'm in the company of some other souls...er I mean people haha! Seriously, I recommend this lodge.

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  4. Ill consider safari lodge next time ill get to baguio thanks for sharing this

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    1. You're welcome. Thanks for visiting bro.

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  5. I always believe that if you feel that someone is with you, then it must be true. Also, whenever kinikilabutan ako (i can't find the english term at the moment), i know that someone is with me. Eerie :)

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    1. I'm not one to be usually aware of anything spooky around me but this one was the first time ever that I felt there was one. I tried to focus my mind on something else - buti na lang at may maingay na TV!

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  6. your room looks very nice. but i'd be scared like you. i'm liking the fact that you can find room without advance reservations. good rooms too.

    where's the next destination?

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    1. The room was simply furnished, unlike the more expensive rooms of course. It wasn't so busy the time I was there ,in fact, I only saw 3 other guests (they were together).
      I'm traveling this Saturday - you'll find out soon!

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  7. I had to read the entire post to believe that this Safari Lodge is in Pinas. I thought you have gone trekking miles away from the Pearl of the Orient.
    You make everything classy and classic in your photos, dennis!
    Awe-inspiring!

    http://docgelo.com/

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    1. Awwws, thanks Doc! Cardiomegaly moment again with you. But yes, the lodge is truly something out of Africa :)

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  8. Mabuti hindi ka tinabihan nung multo...ok lang kung magandang babae, paano kung lalaki LOL. Just teasing.

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    1. I wouldn't know kung may tumabi kasi nakatabon sa akin ang blanket buong gabi. haha!

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  9. Hi Dennis,
    When I saw your post title I thought you were writing about your trip to Africa! Ha! Ha! Never thought that there would be a "Safari Lodge" in Baguio. Interesting. But wooo...that place sounds creepy. Must be the spirits of those hunting trophies. Thanks for writing about it. Now I know not to go near it. -Marisol

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    1. I actually like the lodge but I won't go back staying there alone - it's best and fun when you're with a group, perhaps during Halloween. LOL!

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  10. Very comfortable place..

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  11. Does anyone know the contact number of this Hotel? Their website reservation is not waorking. Thanks

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