Sweet and me decided to conquer Sagada as our Valentine’s date. The following is a journal on what had happened during our trip.
DAY 1
6:00 am
We arrived Banaue after an over night trip from Sampaloc via Florida Bus. The weather was colder than you think. The sun is up already but its still cold. We had breakfast at some local resto. And we were able to taste again the red rice we had tasted at Tam-awan Village on our trip to Baguio last Valentines. Banaue was just a small town with very few establishments. From the poblacion you can already see some parts of the famous rice terraces. There’s nothing especial about Banaue except for the rice terraces.
8:30am
We left Banaue for Bontoc aboard a jeepney. I keep joking to Sweet about how star-studded we were on the jeep. We have the look-alikes of Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Ashley Tisdale and Winona Ryder on board with us on the jeep. Yeah, most of the passengers were foreigners, mostly from France. I listened when they talk and they sounded French. Even during our night trip to Banaue, on board with us were the Backstreet Boys. And when we had the short stop at Sta. Fe, when I stepped out of the bus to pee, they were everywhere. Am I still in the Philippines? I just thought.
We got lucky we have taken the front seats of the jeep. On the way to Bontoc, you can take a glimpse of the rice terraces of Banaue. The way to Bontoc via Banaue was not nice. Going there was a never ending, long and winding dangerous curves you have never seen in your entire life. It’s an endless cliff ahead of us. The good thing was the road was concreted infact, some parts of the concreting is still on going.
11am
Thirty minutes away from Bontoc, we stopped in a village because the road was closed. There was a landslide and big rocks fell and covered the road making for us difficult to cross. Thanks to the military, they were there to help us. They get us somewhere safe to cross and get another jeepney to Bontoc.
12nn
We arrived at Bontoc and took immediately the jeep to Sagada. It was a smaller jeep and there were many of us so I decided to take the top load. It was nice to be on top I thought and I was right. I was able to look at the scenery in full view. Right after taking Dantoy turn, the road to Sagada was no longer concreted. As we rise by levels towards the top of the mountains, the road became rougher and more dangerous. We had a bumpy ride towards Sagada but it’s all worth it especially for me who was seated on the top load. I never missed a beautiful scene.
1pm
And the wind blew colder and colder. It was the sign. We were in Sagada. Sagada has such beautiful scenery. The people are warm and friendly. The place is just a small village. We looked immediately for a place to stay. Looking for a place to stay in Sagada would be a little disappointing. Most of the hotels have to private bath and has no TV. So we settled for Sagada Igorot Inn. We thought that was the most expensive hotel in Sagada. There was no aircon for you won’t need it anymore. But there was no TV. We didn’t look further for another hotel because aside from we were already eager to take the tour, we have to walk around in order to go to the next hotel, yes, there are no means for short distance ride like trike or pedicab in Sagada.
230pm
After we had settled, we began the tour by going to the tourism office. Because we only have to stay overnight, we chose the best spot we can go. We’ve chosen Sumaguing Cave and Keltipan Peak.
Before we went to Sumaguing, we visited the St. Mary’s Church. It is one of the most beautiful churches we have here in our country. And then, we proceed to Echo Valley by asking some friendly local and then spot on some hanging coffins nearby. Since we don’t have a guide, we only listen to a guide by another group explaining about the hanging coffin.
4pm
We went back to the tourism office where our guide Mr. Awen and the driver of the van, Mr. Rey waited for us for the spelunking in the caves. On our way, Mr. Awen showed us a hanging coffin you can spot on the street. We went to Lumiang Cave first. Stacked in pile are small sized coffins you might think there were kids inside. But as Mr. Awen had told us, it was there belief as Igorots that since you had came to earth as newborn child so you must go as child also, hence, the fetal position in burying.
And I must tell you that Mr. Awen explained that to me in good English.
And then we proceed to Sumaguing Cave. Sweet didn’t brave the cave. While were outside, she told me she wouldn’t dare anymore. So, it’s just my guide and me. I was a bit excited because the cave has been featured on TV a lot of the times. And seeing it for yourself would be very exciting.
The descent was longer than I thought. It was easy though because they have stairs. Before we get inside, Awen oriented me of the rules to be followed while inside the cave and then he lighted the “petromax”. We decent further and then there were no more lights, just the glow of our “petro”. The entrance was difficult. I had to walk through slippery rocks that I decided to walk on foot. The bats on the cave ceiling are creating noises. Even if it’s dark, you can actually see them. Then the texture of the rocks changed. Awen told me it’s calcite. Whatever that is, it means good. It’s not slippery at all. When I look at it, it looks like lava flowing out of a volcano.
There are a lot of formations inside the cave. I was really amazed by the sceneries inside. The decent was not at all easy and I thought of sweet. She should have enjoyed it here.
5pm
I was as exhausted as a dog but felt joy inside after we went out of the cave. We passed some other cavers. We went back to the hotel to rest.
630pm
It was already dark outside. We decided to have dinner at Yughort House.
Yughort House is my most favorite place in Sagada. They have the best food.
8pm
We went back to the hotel to rest for the early trip to Keltipan the following day.
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