If I needed a more persuasive reminder that the world is one huuuuuuuuge place, it would be the realization that I still don’t know everything there is to know (and see) about the place I am currently living in or working at. There’s still a lot I haven’t seen or don’t know of La Trinidad and Baguio City, and that’s a crying shame. But, it’s those little discoveries – or rediscoveries – that spice things up a little.
Whenever I could, I’d try to post a little about where I’m currently at. This is also a motivation for me to discover more. Or rediscover more.
#wheninBaguio, there are the usual things. places and activities that you can think of: riding a swan boat at Burnham Park, climbing the steps to the Lourdes Grotto, having a picnic at Camp John Hay, horseback-riding at Wright Park, photo-taking at Mines View Park, posing with old native ladies at Botanical Gardens, strolling up and down Session Road….
What else? Food-tripping at the multitude of restos and coffeeshops. Ukay-ukay. Buying pasalubong at the Baguio Public Market. Driving to the nearby Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad…
There’s never a shortage of things to do when you’re in Baguio and its nearby towns. But there’s a lot more to this area, and that’s what my co-workers and I resolved to try to rediscover together, bit by bit.
(Disclaimer: All photos taken by me, unless otherwise indicated in the captions.)
It’s The Climb
Middle of December last year, we were looking for something to do on a rare free weekend, and one of our co-workers had this brilliant idea of us doing something we haven’t tried before: wall/rock climbing. I only tried this once before, and it was a much shorter and easier version (the one at Winaca, a couple of years ago), but I remember not having an easy time of it. So I never tried it again. Until now.
Kalay-at Adventures is a “rock-climbing gym”, which pretty much doubles as a rock-climbing event/activity organizer. I’ve seen some of their posters around, advertising rock-climbing activities at Mt. Sto. Tomas. During our visit, we were told that they also host such activities at the Ambongdolan Caves (remember, I talked about visiting those caves before here and here). That rang bells in our head. Hmmm, maybe we should try that in the future~~
But, at the back of Casa Vallejo, they have this wall set up. It’s 36 feet, and has two sides. The straightforward, ergo easy one, and the one that poses more challenge, since it curves outward in the middle.
Php100.00 will give you two climbs. If you want to wear rock shoes, there’s a rental of Php25.00 per pair. I tried on those shoes and boy, they have amazing grip!!! Definitely try it so you’d appreciate the experience even more. There are staff members on hand to help you out and guide you, so even if it’s your first time, you’re taken care of.
Look at Josell and Ron going up, with Ron taking on the more challenging side. It took him longer than how he literally sped up the easy side, but he still finished it.
When I tried it, it confirmed what I learned about it on my first climb: it’s quite difficult if you’re not used to it. Oh, and here’s another confirmation: I’m heavy! Haha!
Not even halfway through, and I just yelled out, “Bakit ang bigat ko?!” (“Why am I heavy!?”)
The first climb, I think, took me around 15 minutes. (Waaah, so long~! Haha!) It was relatively faster the second time, I feel like, mostly because I had the feel of it now, and there was better guidance and more detailed instruction (more like goading on) from the staff.
I didn’t even have any thoughts of trying the other side. No, sirreee~
When we were done, our hands were trembling. I had to write my contact number down on the registration, and the pen just flew across the page, not even a single number written legibly. XDD
They have a fee of Php250.00, which grants you unli-climb. Which, uh…. ok, wow, if you try that. That time, two was my (arms’) limit. Maybe if we do this more often, it’ll be more manageable, but until then…
Oh, and by the way, here’s a video of one of the staff doing a demo on how it should have been done. He was kind enough to do it after we requested him.
Curiouser and curiouser…
I first found out about this place from another colleague, Jen, who happens to be a friend of one of the owners. So she was one of the first ones to try it for the dry-run. This is relatively new in Baguio, having started its run only at the end of November 27 2016. We finally got time to try it out and booked a slot for December 18..
Locked In is “Baguio’s First and Only Live Escape Room Game”. Check out their official photo below.
I don’t really have an investigative nature. My “sleuthing” experience was limited to those Nancy Drew and (some) Hardy Boys books I’ve read when I was younger. But I was curious, and so were my companions, so that’s where we went right after our climbing sesh.
We basically just walked from Casa Vallejo to Nevada Square.
First things first: HOW MUCH? Rates are in the photo below. (Click photo to view larger image.)
The place is open every day of the week, but you have to book your schedule in advance. If you’re a Sherlock in the making, you can go at it alone. If not, get 6 of your friends to put their thinking caps on with you.
Also, it’s cheaper if there are 5 to 7 of you, since you’ll pay Php 250 per person. Less than 5, and the fee per person will be higher.
How does it work?
There is a room with a unique backstory and a mystery that needs to be solved. You will be locked inside that room, and your mission is to solve the mystery within 60 minutes so you can get out (to freedom~!). There are clues strategically placed around the room, and you’d have to piece them all together to get to the solution or answer.
You’ll have to find these clues, and also keys hidden around the room, so you can escape it. Or be locked in forever.
Kidding. You’d still get out, but your photo will be included in their FB page’s Wall of Shame. Solve it, and you’ll be in their Wall of Fame.
What will you get at the end of it?
Not cash, not a medal, not even a certificate.
Better: FREEDOM. Oh, and bragging rights. LOL.
Locked In has three rooms available for solving.
ANTIDOTE puts you and your group of scientists in a room set in the year 2020, where a zombie attack is spreading because of a virus. The doctor who was able to discover an antidote to the virus was killed before he can go back to the headquarters to report about it. The antidote sample and formula is hidden somewhere inside his laboratory, and you have to figure out where they are before the laboratory self-destructs in 60 minutes, and Zombie Apocalypse is here. They put the level of difficulty at 3/5.
THE PSYCHO’S LAIR turns you and your team of special investigators to be locked inside the empty hideout of an unidentified serial killer. Your mission is to figure out the identity of the killer and find out who the next target is before he can make the kill. You have 60 minutes. The level of difficulty is pegged at 4/5.
THE HOUSE ON THE MISTY ROAD: BAGUIO URBAN LEGENDS uses the famous Baguio Laperal White House as backdrop. Five students had the brilliant idea to go up to Baguio and do some ghost-hunting at the Laperal White House. Suddenly, one of them disappeared right after a scream was heard. You and your team of paranormal experts will be locked inside a room full of clues, and you have to find where the missing student is in 60 minutes, or else she’ll be gone forever. Level of difficulty is 5/5.
I’m not a fan of horror movies, but it was the most convenient schedule on the date that we were planning on trying out Locked In, so we went for The House on the Misty Road. Without giving too much away, there were lots of clues inside the eerie room, and you’d have to find them while listening to creepy music interspersed with sobbing and screaming. *shudder*
There were also a lot of red herrings, and they were good at making you think they meant something when really they were just there to mislead you. If you’re stumped, you have three chances to call the staff for a hint. (They have cameras where they’ll monitor how you’re going about inside the room). But your time of 60 minutes will be shortened with every hint you ask for.
To cut the story short…. we weren’t able to solve it. Haha! If only we had a liiiiittle bit more time, maybe even 5 minutes or 3, we would’ve been able to do it. We were soooo close, just one clue short.
BUT! It was fun nonetheless. We were actually tempted to go back the next day. Or even right after. But it was not “budgeted”. 🙂
According to the staff of Locked In, there’s one person who was able to solve the “The House on the Misty Road” room, but it took her 3 tries to do it. A lot of money to burn there, sweetheart, but good for you. Yay~!!
The “bestseller” is actually the “Psycho’s Lair”. And even if the Misty Road was supposed to be the one with the highest level of difficulty, its solve rate was actually higher than Misty Road.
The rooms are planned to be changed around March, to keep the concepts fresh and new. Right now, I hear there are plans for an upgrade, with Locked In doing it in a HOUSE, not just a ROOM. Wow. I don’t think an hour will be enough if we’re talking about an entire house here! 🙂
To cap off our eventful day, we had a hearty lunch of pizza and pasta at Zio’s, one of the no-fail pizza-pasta places in Baguio.
Kalay-at Adventures is located at the back of Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, Baguio City. Check their Facebook Page.
Locked In Baguio is located at Nevada Square, Loakan Road, Baguio City. Book with them now through Facebook or through SMS via 0919 410 6208 (SMART) or 0956 374 1680 (Globe). I think they also accept bookings via Gmail. Personally, though, I think booking through their FB page, or directly in this online scheduling site is more convenient, since you can see all the available schedules and slots at once. Check their Facebook Page here.
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