Just because a destination is a well-trodden ground, featured a million times and shot to infinity, does not mean it does not have anything new or exciting to offer. You just have to know when to go there. Timing is key.

To say that Baguio is touristy destination would be an understatement. There is nothing wrong with it. But expect to see hordes flocking to all  attractions within the city. You could not turn a corner without seeing someone having their posterity photos taken. Factor in a long weekend or holiday and the number of visitors quadruples. Accommodations become scarce and buying a simple bus ticket turns into a challenge.

So imagine this: Chinese New Year, long weekend, and single-digit temperatures (a rarity in a tropical country). Everyone now has 3 excuses to head up to Baguio. Including me of course. Luckily I was able to secure a ticket for a midnight trip and was in Baguio before dawn with plenty of time to spare for shooting the sunrise. I headed straight to the place I knew I would get a good view of the rising sun: Mines View Park.

An unimaginable number  of visitors go to Mines View Park for the view. Ironically, hardly no one goes there during the time of the day when you can see the best view: dawn. I practically had the whole place to myself when I got there.

Mines View twilight

Soon a couple of groups arrived, a couple of minutes later after the colors were bursting, but still in time for sunrise nonetheless.

the lucky few



And what's really nice about twilight is that no two are the same. So you can keep going to the same well-trodden ground and see something different each time.