Hello again! How's everybody! Can't believe January is almost over again. Time surely flies so fast! And before we set foot into February, let me share another trip I had before the year 2019 ended.
Last December 28 my brother and his family were set to go back to the province to celebrate the new year there but wanted to do a side trip somewhere. Since Baguio City is a place we frequent, we looked for another place to visit that was somewhat in the middle, and Atok, Benguet came to mind.
We searched the net and Northern Blossom Flower Park came out in the searches, and we decided to go to this place. I was a bit hesitant about tagging along, because I was worried that I might not be able to secure a seat on the bus coming back to Manila, since they'd be staying in Ilocos for a few more days and I'd have to go back to work right after the new year.
They convinced me that since it was still a few days before new year's eve, I should still have a high chance of getting a seat. If not, they'd be forced to bring me back to Manila before they could go home to Ilocos again, ha ha!
We left Manila around 10 in the evening, set our Waze to the address and drove for hours. We arrived in Atok just before 5 AM, it was dark, it was 12 degrees, and the flower park was to open at 6:30 AM. The surprise was that there were already so many cars parked at the parking area.
The flower farm is several fields carved out on the mountain, and numbers are given out per group. Entrance fee is P250, and it is good for 2 hours. A guide is provided per group to let you know where to go around the farm, to facilitate a smooth flow of traffic.
So even if there are a lot of people, they go in one way and go out the other, which makes taking pictures and going around the place very orderly.
Since we arrived at during opening time, sunrise was supposed to be beautiful, but unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy when we were there, so the sunrise was not to be seen at all.
The flowers were in full bloom, and there were different kinds, so it was really a feast for the eyes, and cameras were clicking non-stop.
These snapdragons were looking so fresh and pretty in their pink color.
The farm can also be reached by public transportation if you are not driving. Buses passing there are located at the Dangwa Bus Terminal behind the Center Mall in Magsaysay Avenue. Buses bound for Sagada, Bontoc, or Besao all pass by Atok. Just ask the conductor to drop you off at Sayangan where the flower farm is located.
The flower farm first opened to the public April of last year, and it was not planned. Apparently people kept knocking on the door of the owner asking to see the gardens, and she always obliged. Then a couple of moms knocked on her door one day, asking if they could show their children what a flower farm looks like.
Of course she obliged, and after the children saw the fields, apparently one of the children said that when she gets married and have her own children, she would also take them there. That night, the owner talked to her husband, and came to a decision to open their farm to the public, and the rest is history.
The farm has an area of two hectares which is planted with different kinds of flowers and vegetables. It is said that the seedlings come all the way from Japan, and these flowers and veggies only grow in temperate climates.
The guides ask visitors to not leave any garbage, to not step or pick flowers so that the next visitors will get to see and enjoy the same things you enjoy as you visit. And I'm quite happy to say that people follow those rules 99 percent of the time.
These are rose cabbage patches, and this is the area to see the sunrise, but again, we were not so fortunate to witness the sunrise that day.
Mount Pulag is the background, as well as the blue skies, the beautiful flowers and the people taking pictures of course. Visitors take turns so as not to photobomb other visitors for the ultimate Instagrammable picture! :-)
See how nice it would have been if the clouds did not block the sunrise? Anyhow, it still was a sight to behold, and we were grateful the crowds were not that many yet. We were the fourth group to be ushered into the farm.
The clouds seem to be kissing the tip of the mountain. I believe this is Mt. Pulag, so it quite a sight to behold. Here you stand in awe at God's wonderful creation.
The guides are also wonderful photographers. They know that area or angle where to take pictures to show the magnificence of the background and the beauty of the flowers are highlighted.
We were quite shy to ask to have our photos taken but our guide offered to take pictures himself, taking us to several fields and telling us where to stand, how to pose and everything!
They say the best time to go is from December to April, and, FYI, this is also the same town where the Japanese cherry trees are planted, so come April, I bet there will even be more people visiting the town.
Look at the beautiful rose cabbages! They have different shades: purple, white, reddish, pinkish and I don't remember what else. Photo courtesy of our kind guide as well.
The fields are just so beautiful that you wish you can stay here for as long as you can, but the visit only lasts for 2 hours to give way to the next visitors, which I think is a very good system in place to not have the place overcrowded, and hence, visitors can really enjoy.
After going through the whole farm, you get to have a drink of coffee and cookie at the exit.So the fee is very reasonable, and you get to have free snack as well, not to mention the memories you created and the beauty you just witnessed.
Now, I think you'll agree with me that it is indeed a flower haven and that the flowers and the whole place is really beautiful. So if you're planning a trip to Baguio in the coming days, do include Atok, Benguet as a side trip.
You can also buy very cheap veggies and native delicacies at the nearby public market.
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