Hi Shiners! Welcome back to my humble online abode where I share my experiences and life adventures. I am overwhelmed by the support you have shown in my previous writing blog which was also one of my adventures in Baguio, City. I am thrilled to know that you guys have appreciated the photos and my story by showing them in your support in my blog.
Just like what I promised, I will be sharing another adventure which was also from my Baguio trip. This time, it is in Igorot Stone Kingdom – a famous theme park that was made out of stone that shows Igorot culture.
To give you a short background. Igorots are indigenous people from the Philippines, and they are known for their rich culture and resistance to Spanish colonization. Igorot means mountain people. According to my research, the theme park was built to honor the Igorot and also as a way to preserve the culture and to showcase it in public.
I went here on our day 2 trip with my boyfriend and his family. It was near to our transient house and it was just five minutes away from it. The entrance was packed with a lot of people even though it was quite early in the morning. We waited for some time before we finally went inside. Considering that it was the holiday season, you can surely understand how long the lines were. Many tourists were waiting not just Filipinos but also many foreigners from different countries.
As expected, since it’s one of the most famous places in Baguio, there were lots of tourists. Everyone was busy taking pictures, and videos, and roaming around the place. It was high and you can see perfectly aligned stone walls. There were also traditional Igorot clothes where you can rent them to have the full experience of the place. Unfortunately, since it was December and it was the holidays, we weren’t able to rent the clothes, since the line was long. The clothes varied in different colors and designs. The sizes also varied from kids up to adults. There were also many people inside who would take your family pictures and they were so accommodating. There was also a special number given by the locals there and it showcased their dance and they were wearing their traditional clothing. Many people watched and gave their attention to the amazing performance.
Aside from the perfectly aligned stones, there were also many big statues of Igorots wearing their traditional clothing and also their armor. There were also horses that you could try to ride for a few minutes so you could take good pictures, but of course, you have to pay for it. In my opinion, I didn’t find it amusing, since I could see that the animals were not enjoying it. It was just painful for me since I am an animal lover. Well, I didn’t have a choice, since people were doing that to raise a living. The kids looked happy since they interacted with real animals but I think there should be more than that.
If you plan to visit the Igorot Stone Kingdom, I would recommend wearing comfortable footwear since you will be roaming around. Being fashionable is understandable but you should also consider comfort if you would like to enjoy the amazing views. Another tip to bear in mind is to make sure that your phone has enough memory and battery charge since you will surely take many photos since all parts of the place are very good to look at.
I was so mesmerized by how creative the Filipinos are. I felt blessed to witness the amazing man-made theme park in the Philippines. I feel so proud that I belong in this country. Aside from that, I also felt great knowing that I was exploring one of the best tourist spots in my country with the person that I love. Of course, I won’t just be sharing all the positive side of our tour, there were also downsides to it. First, was being tired from walking, as someone who was not sporty, I found it difficult to walk a lot, especially high and long stairs. Second, you have to be patient if you want to take good pictures since many people are also busy taking their own. Third, you have to be considerate to others, especially when cutting lines, for those who were considered to be in priority lanes like kids, pregnant women, Persons with Disabilities, and even the elderly.
To sum it up, it was a solid adventure to be in one of the most famous places in my country. It felt surreal to witness how amazing it looks when you get to see it in person. Many realizations came up to me in this adventure and I look forward to more upcoming adventures.
I hope you, Shiners, could also experience a solid escapade in the Igorot Stone Kingdom. It may not be for now, but I’m sure the right timing will come. When that time comes, I hope you could also share your adventures and I would surely love to know about it. 😊
Note: These photos are all mine and no applications are used to edit them.