Guess where we celebrated Mother's Day. Yep, as you may have guessed in the above photo, in a resort. But would you believe this resort is only half an hour's drive away from Baguio?
Asin Hot Springs has been a popular destination for the locals to warm up from the cool Baguio weather. Once upon a time, there was only one establishment taking advantage of the hot springs this area offers guests. Now, quite a number of resorts had sprung off.
It is said that it takes three days and two nights to get to Asin Hot Springs. This is so because you have to pass through two tunnels. When we were in high school, our adventurous spirits brought us to this place on foot. We hiked all the way here, and we have some photos along the way to prove it. I don't have scans to show here, unfortunately, but we have returned to the lone resort way back in college by jeepney.
Into the second tunnel then turn left
Last week, I was amazed at how the place has changed. Luckily, it's for the better. The once bumpy ride has been replaced by smooth, cemented roads. The rickety, wooden bridge where we had our photo taken way back in high school has been replaced by a steel bridge. But the free-flowing river beyond is still there, as merry as ever.
Last weekend, I was expecting that we were going to the resort we were familiar with way down the road after the second tunnel. Instead, we made a sharp left turn right after this tunnel. And it led us to modern swimming pool facilities. Thank goodness. The old one I was accustomed to had a pool that was green in some parts due to algae growth and it was quite slippery. And that was over ten year ago.
This resort (whose name eludes me right now) is as modern as you can get. Shower rooms and pools with heated water, small pools with deliciously warm water, slides. Large crowds gather here especially on weekends for family gatherings.
The irony of it is, no matter how many times I have visited Asin Hot Springs, I have never experienced taking a dip in the hot springs. I would plan to, then take my time in the pool, and before I know it, the day is done.
Baby Jo-Lo can't wait to try the pool
What fun!
My sister made the trip happen. Thank you, Ate Catz!
[Cross-posted in Jo-Lo's blog]
er... salt water ba sya kaya asin hot springs? ^ ^;
ReplyDeletei've seen this place in television. didn't pay much to it though. there is no sense in visiting baguio if you will just swim. i'm sure the locals from baguio are so happy about the resort though. but of course, it would be so nice to have alternatives for visitors like us. and i mean that in a good way. :) nice pictures.
ReplyDeletedjklump http://biyahengpinoy.blogspot.com/
ps. i also use a mac, but not really a fan of it. hehehe.
sarap mag-swimming ;)
ReplyDeletemaasin nga ba yan? :D
It looks like everybody enjoyed the swim.
ReplyDeleteWow! Seems like a wonderful place to check out. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteit was featured in mel and joey a couple of weeks already. is it really in baguio or just nearby baguio?
ReplyDeletemalamig pa rin ba ang klima dyan? masarap nga yang hot spring kung ganon.... :)
ReplyDeleteMeowok: hindi ko pa na-try talaga yung hot spring so di ko alam hehe
ReplyDeletedjklump: talaga nasa tv pala ito?
racky: ewan ko nga ba kung bakit asin hot springs ang tawag. this resort has another name though. parang general name nung place yung asin.
Sidney: yes we all did!
Senor Enrique: thanks for dropping by too!
zherwin: it's in the outskirts of Baguio. I forgot to mention that along the way are woodcarvers and they sell their products too. So I'm sure you can get a better price there than in the market.
Lino: Hindi na kasing-laming ng December... pero medyo malamig pa rin. Umuulan na kasi araw-araw.
naku kuya, minsan pala e magpunta ka sa Laguna para naman maranasan mo ang paglangoy sa hot spring! hehehe!!
ReplyDeleteang cute ng anak mo... sa picture e parang nagmamakaawa na syang palanguyin sa pool pero naku.. sobrang happy naman ng naliligo na! hehe!
Lovely pics as usual. Last time I was there, I dove flat on my belly and wow! it hurt. Also, the water in the swimming was green at that time. Goodhealth....
ReplyDeleteNakita ni kd tong post mo, ang laki raw nang pinagbago ng Asin. Hindi naman daw ganyan dati yan noong mapunta sya. (kelan kaya yun..hehehe)
ReplyDeleteis this riverview?
ReplyDeletehi Nick,
ReplyDeleteI remember this place we used to hike then in our Boy Scouts days at SLU. One big pool and one kiddie pool. Will check this out someday. Is the hanging bridge still there? Thanks.
Wow, that place has since changed! It slipped my mind to visit Asin when we were in baguio last month.. i remember that tunnel - my friends and i got stranded because jeeps leave for the city only when they're full.. mahabang kwento... what adventures!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I met up with Mr. LeoT (of Kurio)... he doesn't know your blog identity ("Sino si watson??" LOL) Sorry i did not know too your real name XD
The first time I went, the roads were bad and when we got there the pools were being cleaned! I think your resort is called Riverside. Although located just outside Baguio (15km) Asin considered a city resource, and the hot springs therapeutic. Next time try going a little further and take a dip at Nangalisan river. That should be fun.
ReplyDeletemaganda siguro sa hotspring.. we are planning to go there by august mainit pa rn ba ang hotspring til now? sa camiguin kasi hindi na gaanong mainit coz of comercialization. ayun.. worth it ang trip pag may hotspring hehe
ReplyDelete