Improving our English and beautifying our apartment in Baguio, Philippines

Details

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  Description

  LGBTQ+ friendly🏳️‍🌈
  
  Hi, we are family of 3:
  I'm Kate, 47yo, quality assurance engineer
  my partner Anna 40yo, designer,
  and our son Fedor, 12yo,
  and we'd like to invite you to spend time with us.
  
  We just moved in beautiful neighbourhood Green Valley village in the coldest area of Philippines - Baguio. We rented big apartment with great view but it need to be a bit renovated.
  
  In my life I am/was:
  Business lady
  Tour guide
  Singer
  Vocal teacher
  Eco volunteer
  Organizer and provider of a cuddle party and vocal training;
  Ambassador of couchsurfing (I’ve hosted more then 400 persons in my home);
  Head of autosport club;
  mom of three sons.
  
  Anna is:
  singer and song writer
  yacht skipper,
  UI/UX designer,
  yoga and bike lover.
  
  We both like walking, hiking, cycling, travelling.
  
  I've got also experience as volunteer here on workaway.
  I've visited 35 countries.
  
  We have small dog Parsonn Russel terrier, so be sure you havn't dog allergy
  her name Elba — we got it after hiking on Elbrus — the biggest mountain in Europe.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Events & social

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Fashion or beauty

  

  Self development

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  Art & design

  

  Photography

  

  Architecture

  

  Performing arts

  

  Hitchhiking

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Astronomy

  

  Animals

  

  Nature

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Mountain

  

  Dancing

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I can teach you singing
  We can sing duet
  We can make reels if you are instagram person

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  Help

  You will have two type of tasks:
  
  The most important is to renovate our apartment:
  to remove old paint from the glass of windows
  to paint some part that needs to be repainted
  to clean some parts that needs to be cleaned
  to clean some common area of building
  
  
  The second — cleaning, cooking and spend time with our son. He is 7-class kid, easy going and you can be the best friends very soon: to play, to do sport, to listen music, to draw, to walk outside together.
  5 days per week at early morning he goes to school and back around 3 pm.
  Also our goal is to improve our English, but we are not looking for native speaker, if you have not lower than advanced level without hard accent — it’s enough for us.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Russian: Fluent
  English: Intermediate
  Italian: Beginner
  Polish: Beginner
  Serbo-Croatian: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  we provide a separate room with bed with private bathroom, with great view for neighbourhood.
  
  About food:
  When you cook for all of us — you can eat our food
  but any case I'm asking you to buy your own food too
  important: we prefer easy food without too much cooking like skimmed chicken and vegetables (onion and garlic in home is not allowed)
  
  we are not smokers, but I don't care if you are. I just ask not to smoke when you are with my son. One beer or glass of wine in a day is ok.
  
  ♻️ We sort out our waste
  I dream to do vermifarm and make compost

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  What else ...

  Why Visit Baguio?
  Baguio is a charming mountain city in Northern Luzon, just about 5 hours from Manila. Its name comes from the Ibaloi word bagiw, meaning "moss" — and it truly feels like a refreshing escape from the lowlands.
  
  Why people love it here:
  Located at 1,500 meters above sea level, Baguio has clean, crisp mountain air — a welcome contrast to Manila’s pollution.
  
  It’s usually 8–10°C cooler than the capital, making it a perfect retreat from the summer heat.
  
  Finally, you can wear your stylish jackets, boots, light coats, scarves, and even hats — and not just for fashion!
  
  Nature is all around: pine trees outside your window, many walkable parks (and yes, dogs are welcome — no diapers required, unlike in Manila).
  
  If you have a car, a 15-minute drive gets you to scenic hiking trails with great coffee and amazing views at the top.
  
  And your skin? It will be thrilled with the humidity — people often notice a visible glow in just a week.
  
  Good to know:
  On long weekends and public holidays, the city gets packed. Expect traffic jams, a shortage of taxis, and higher rent rates.
  
  Baguio is built in the mountains, so many streets are narrow and steep. If you're renting a car, go for 1.5L engine or higher — smaller cars struggle on hills.
  
  The UV index is strong, even on cloudy days. Locals often carry umbrellas for sun protection. Bring high SPF sunscreen (50 or even 100).
  
  It rains frequently from May to October — usually in the afternoons — so plan outdoor activities for the morning.
  
  Due to the clean air, jeepney exhaust can feel extra harsh.
  
  Indoor humidity is very high (75–85%).
  
  Homes usually don’t have heaters or AC. You won’t need AC even in the hottest months (it rarely goes above 26°C), but it can feel chilly after rain or in the cool season.
  
  Fun facts:
  Baguio was ranked as one of the safest cities in Southeast Asia in 2018 by Numbeo.
  
  The 1978 World Chess Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi took place here — there’s even a movie about it (Champion of the World, 2021).
  
  The world’s largest engraved Ten Commandments tablet is located here, certified by the Guinness World Records — check it out at Dominican Hill!
  
  
  What to Do in Baguio
  Baguio is full of things to explore — whether you're into nature, art, food, or just relaxing with mountain views. Here are some favorite activities and local experiences:
  
  🌲 Nature & Outdoors
  Walk through pine forests at Camp John Hay or Burnham Park.
  
  Hike to mountain viewpoints like Mt. Kalugong or Mt. Yangbew — easy trails with rewarding views.
  
  Visit Botanical Garden for native plants and peaceful walking paths.
  
  Horseback riding at Wright Park (especially fun for kids).
  
  🎨 Arts & Culture
  Discover local art at the BenCab Museum — set on a hillside with a lovely view.
  
  Stroll through Ili-Likha Artists Village — a quirky eco-art space with treehouses, murals, and local cafés.
  
  Join a Cordilleran weaving or handicraft workshop to learn about Indigenous traditions.
  
  🥟 Food & Markets
  Try local favorites like strawberry taho, ube jam, and sinigang at the public market.
  
  Enjoy fresh veggies from nearby farms — Baguio is famous for its produce.
  
  Explore cozy cafés and restaurants with fireplaces, books, or mountain views.
  
  🧘‍♀️ Slow Living & Day Trips
  Take a yoga class or enjoy a coffee with a view on a misty morning.
  
  Visit nearby towns like La Trinidad (strawberry farms), Sagada (hanging coffins), or Atok (flower gardens and highland farms).
  
  Watch fog roll in through the trees — it’s part of the charm!
  
  Whether you're active or prefer to relax, Baguio is the kind of place where you can slow down, breathe deeper, and enjoy simple mountain life.
  
  
  How to Get to Baguio
  There are several ways to reach Baguio, depending on your budget and comfort preferences:
  
  🚗 By Car (5–6 hours)
  You can drive from Manila via NLEX (North Luzon Expressway). It’s a toll road with a 100 km/h speed limit.
  
  From Manila to Rosario (the end of the expressway) is about 233 km — expect 1 hour to get out of the city plus 2–3 hours on the highway.
  
  From Rosario to Baguio is only 40 km, but it’s a winding mountain road with slow traffic (30–40 km/h, no overtaking), so it takes at least another hour.
  
  Total travel time: approx. 5–6 hours depending on traffic and weather.
  
  🚌 By Bus (6–7 hours, cheaper at night)
  Several bus companies operate comfortable trips from Manila to Baguio, including Victory Liner, Genesis (JoyBus), and Partas.
  
  Tickets cost around PHP 500–1500 depending on the class.
  
  Royal Class or Premier Class offer reclining or sleeper seats (~₱1500).
  
  Night buses are usually faster.
  
  Online booking available through:
  
  Victory Liner
  
  Genesis / JoyBus
  
  Partas
  
  Aggregators like:
  
  PinoyTravel
  
  Sakay.ph.
  
  Bookaway
  
  🐾 Traveling with Pets (check first!)
  Victory Liner: reportedly allows small dogs in carriers, with advance notice.
  
  Genesis JoyBus: does not allow pets in premium classes.
  
  Partas: may allow pets in carriers onboard. Please check directly in advance.
  
  ✈️ By Plane?
  There’s a small airport in Baguio (Loakan Airport), but as of May 2025, it has no regular commercial flights — only charters or private planes. (Fun fact: a road crosses the runway — it's a quirky local experience to drive across it!)
  
  Getting Around Baguio
  You can use Grab (the local ride-hailing app) or regular taxis, but during holidays or weekends, it's often faster to just walk — or hop on a jeepney, the local minibuses.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  Elba

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