October 21, 2013 just recently, my friends and I decided to take a trip to Sagada, Mountain Province. This trip was a special once for me, because it was my first major trip with my friends/travel buddies. We first met at McDonalds, Philcoa before going to Yana’s place along Craig St. Sampaloc Manila. When we arrived at her place, we first prepared our dinner. Jojo volunteered to cook for us since it’s one of his specialties. While waiting me and Arah, took pictures for documentation. After preparing the food, we took pictures of the food and ate our dinner. At around 9:45 pm we waited for a taxi to bring us to Ohayami Bus Terminal and left Sampaloc Manila at around 10 pm. The trip to Banaue was quite long. We arrived in Banaue at around 7 am the following day.
When we have arrived we first paid the environmental fee and took our breakfast at the People’s inn.
Arah and Yana ordering their breakfast at the People’s inn restaurant
While waiting for our orders, we took different pictures of the Banaue Rice Terraces for documentation.
Arah and Yana taking pictures for documentation
The waitress served our coffee first. Since we are bored, and for vanity purposes my friends modeled as if they are endorsers of a famous coffee brand.
Jojo, Arah and Yana enjoying their cup of coffee
Jojo drinking his cup coffee while enjoying the view.
As I viewed the scenery, I have reminisced my past trip to Banaue. I haven’t imagined that after 2 years I will be able to return to this place. After our breakfast, we rented a van going to Sagada, Mountain Province. The kuya in charge told us that the fee that we must pay was 800, since they haven’t found any passengers travelling to Sagada to accompany us during the trip. He explained to us since it is off season, there are only a few passengers travelling to Sagada from Banaue. So we are given three options — (1) to wait for a vehicle from Isabela to reach Bontoc, Mountain Province (this option is not recommended because of the possibility that the vehicle may be full with passengers already); (2) to wait for another day. (this option is also not recommended since it would cost us much if we stayed for a day in Banaue); and (3) to rent the whole van. Since the two options are highly not recommended, the possible option we can choose is to rent the van. So we chose the third option, but before paying, we first have a bargain with the kuya in charge to lower the price we must pay. In the end we have agreed to pay 700 Php. After paying, we rode the van, and to our surprise a Japanese National in his thirties also rode the van. In short we are cheated by the kuya in charge, we should only have paid 600 Php. Since the total rent for the van is 3000 Php and we are 5 (including the Japanese national) who rented the van, therefore the individual payment should only be 600 Php.
After paying, we departed Banaue at around 8:30 in the morning. During the trip we were allowed to have three stopovers to view the rice terraces and to take pictures. Few minutes after our departure from the town proper we arrived at the first stop over.
Me, Jojo and Arah poses in front of the rice terraces.
Yana, posing in front of the rice terraces
Japanese national accompanying us on our way to Sagada
After taking pictures and enjoying the view, we rode our van and after a few minutes of road trip we arrived at the next stop over. The view was really magnificent here especially when we saw the rice terraces that are found in the old one thousand peso bill.
These are the rice terraces found in the old one thousand peso bill
Another view of the rice terraces found in the old one thousand peso bill
In the last stop over, we met some Ifugao folks and took pictures with them. After taking pictures with them, they told us that we need to give them some donation so we gave 40 Php.
Me, Jhonard and Yana posing with the Ifugao natives
Arah and Yana posing with the Ifugao natives
View of the rice terraces at the third stop over
Another view of the rice terraces at the third stop over
After enjoying the view we went inside the souvenir shop to look for some souvenirs. Since we don’t have much budget we didn’t buy anything and returned to our van. Along the trip to Sagada, we took pictures for documentation.
Along the trip to Sagada, we saw alot more beautiful sceneries. We also saw pine trees, along the way.
After a long trip we have arrived at Sagada, Mountain Province. First thing when we arrived, I took a picture of a map of Sagada.
Map of Sagada, Mountain Province
We then checked in at the Traveler’s Inn, and rested for a while. After resting we look avail for a tour guide and paid the environmental fee. After which we took our lunch at Dalinan restaurant. While waiting for the food to be served we took the opportunity to take pictures.
Me, Jojo, Arah and Yana posing for a “teleserye shot”. Go!! yellow team!!
After having our lunch at Dalinan restaurant, we returned to our inn to prepare for our things that we will bring for our first tour in Sagada. After preparing our stuffs, we then met our tour guide and we begun our trek to Sumaguing cave. It was 2 pm in the afternoon when we have started our trek. During our trek we took pictures of the scenery.
Entrance of Sumaguing Cave
The entrance of the cave was marvelous. It was jaw dropping! After taking some pictures we then entered the cave. The pathway was so slippery. With only a lamp as our light source, it gives me chills and excitement. Since I have fear of heights and I have a hard time balancing myself, I resorted to crawling as means of movement during our spelunking. Unfortunately the pathways we passed are full of bath droppings, but I have no choice but to hold onto those dung-covered rocks in order to continue my journey down the cave. In the cave we saw huge limestone formations which are really beautiful.
Sumaguing Cave Lime Stone formation: Turtle
Sumaguing Cave Lime Stone formation: King's Curtain
Sumaguing Cave Lime Stone formation: Dinosaur
Sumaguing Cave Lime Stone formation: Censored
Sumaguing Cave Lime Stone formation: Chocolate Marble Cake
Me and Jojo inside Sumaguing Cave
As we descend down the chambers of the cave, we arrived at a steep pathway. Since it is steep, Arah and Yana waited for us at the top as Jojo and Me continue to descend with our tour guide. At the end of our journey which was only a few meters from the girls, we took the opportunity to bath in the ice cold waters of Sumaguing cave.
Me and Jojo bathing in the ice cold waters of Sumaguing Cave (I love the smoke effects)
The water was so chilling and yet refreshing. After a few minutes of soaking in the waters, we ascended up to the mouth of the cave.
The whole spelunking activity took us 2 hours. After spelunking we then went to the Lumiang Cemetery.
After visiting the cemetery, we then trek back to the town proper. At the town proper we asked our tour guide for possible tours we can avail the following day. When we have decided what to do the next day we then returned to our inn. We rested for a while and took a bath to wash off the dirt from our spelunking activity. After bathing we then proceed to Sagada Lemon Pie House to have our dinner. TO BE CONTINUED!
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