collect jumps not things

Banaue - Sagada - Benguet - Baguio Adventure!!!

Sagada has been at the top of my bucket list for years since college but we couldn't find the perfect timing so it remained at the bottom until na baon na lang pero nabuhay din ulit dahil sa hanging coffins.yuck corny!hehe.My friends have been planning it for quite sometime and it should have been 10 of us but due to the recent earthquake last week they all backed out except for me and Cha.mga taksil kayoooooo friends!HAHA!

Anyways,we left last January 14,the day before the long holiday started.I could say that it was really meant for us to go because the odds were definitely in our favor that time.We arrived at the Sampaloc station and our hearts dropped when the konduktor told us that all the bus going to Benguet are fully booked and maghintay na lang daw as 'chance passengers'.I was in guffaw when seconds later,another guy approached saying that 2 passengers backed out and we could get their seats provided that we pay them in return and kung okay lang sa middle of the bus kami mauupo (i forgot the term,basta parang extension) hello okay lang??cyempre okay na okay lang po.HAHA!we left the bus station a little over 9 and the amazing journey started.

We were definitely tired but I didn't feel uncomfortable or whatsoever during our long trip to Benguet.I used to get impatient with long hours of travel but going up there is some sort of a miracle that I wasn't bored nor cranky.There's no head rest or reclining chair but tulogers gd kami ni Cha.HAHA!Among our road trip,this is the only time that i didn't get to feel the looong journey.I was even enjoying the winding road,the chilly air and the old songs!seryoso.HAHA.i don't even understand my feeling but I was some sort of in euphoria dash tranquil state.

We arrived early in Benguet.mga 5am and it was soooo chilly!And there near the bus drop off station was a newly lit bonfire.ang galingggg!HAHA!sorry namanol lng ko.

Look there's the moon! :))

We then went down and walk passed through their market.

And found ourselves sipping coffee and having a quick battery charge at People's Lodge and Restaurant.Look at that nice view at their terraza!

A house at the middle of the river..so cute!

 

After that quick stopover,we were on our way to the beautiful road of Mountain Province!For a moment,i was reminding myself that surreal im at the top of a mountain and the fear inducing cliffs!Blinking even reminded me that there are far more wonders as we go along.And suddenly,the lush view of the terraces greeted us!

Hello rice terraces!!!ang ganda ganda!!!im a sibika at kultura person and im soooo happy after seeing these majestic hagdang handang palayan!

I've only seen these at my elementary books and paper money!gandaaaa!

 

cyempre na manol gd ko ya.HAHA!excuse the OAness!

the sosyhal lola igorots na nag eenglish.spokening dollars po sila at dapat may tip daw ang pagpa picture.HAHA.

 After a while we continued our journey.

Another stop over.

this!this is my HAPPY face! :p

With Kuya Igorot who gamely told us to have a picture with him!

I couldn't get a decent shot of the pine trees and I wanted to try the top load kaninang kanina pa so even if Charry told me not to dahil mainit at super lamig,i didn't let go of the chance. (eww Cha,you so boring!HAHA)

It feels so different at the top!I love how both the sun and cold kissed my face.If sa baba feeling ko the jeep is moving so fast but during the time when I'm at the top,it felt so slow!Of all the road travels we had, the view up there was one of the best.

I even met new friends!that's Bianca and she's so kalog.We're screaming every Uturns and shouting how great the tall pine trees, cliffs, rice fields, limestone mountains and terraces.

Here's R and Kuya Idk who's been to Sagada for 5 times already!five times!!!

Aaaaand here we are at the Bontoc.We were asked to go down coz they dont allow topload when passing this town and it's only 45mins away from Sagada.This is also where the ATMs are located.

Halaaaaaa were here naaaaaa!*jumps up and down

HAHA.so the first number of our program is to pay the registration fee (one time) for 35 pesos per head and make trip arrangements or join the group packages.

Ate Lilet in my previous dorm got a brother in law na tourist guide so we just contacted him directly and he's the best tourguide.ever!I'll tell you why.later.

So after dropping our things at Uncle Jo's house (as per Shelay's referral.sobrang layo sa kabihasnan pero sobrang ganda ng bahay) we went down again to have our brunch.

They normally serve red rice and it tastes okay naman.The bulalo was sarapest!panalong panalo.too bad we couldn't wait for the pinikpikan. (igorot dish na must try daw)

Etooo na!The great walkathon finally started!!!

First stop: St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Diri ko gusto mag wedding.HAHA jk!

mejo nakakaiyak ang walkathon pero keribels lang.One good thing about the Sagadans is that they wanted to preserve the tranquility of their place so they protested and opted not to have trics near their vicinity.It would be crowded daw and hindi na buhay bukid if people will have convenient transpo so it's better to walk walk and walk!

Oo nga naman.sino may gusto mag tric sa ganyan kagandang walkway.Going to far tourist spots would require renting a van that would usually cost 450 to 550 roundtrip.

Peace.Serenity.Tranquil Moments.

Sad coz we dont want to leave this place!

One unique libingan.A priest was buried there and you could see the bones upon peeping at the crystal window.It was now covered with ferns.

Pines and Sun.

And we're now approaching the Sagada Cemetery.

It wasn't creepy.para ka lang naglalakad sa park.sa park ng mga bangkay.hehe.

Funny realization: I wanted to retire here and mailibing din dito.HAHA chos locos.

limestone mountain.

pine trees in oblique line.

tobatobatobatobato (Kuya Ganga's joke)

rayuma here we go.HAHA. 

YAY!!!

Echooooo Valley!we wanted to do a video shouting 'mga talkshit kayo friends' but changed our minds coz we're excited to go to the coffins na.

pa cute pa Cha,more emote pa.HAHA.

The cherry to the cake este the atauls to the bukid!!!Sagada Hanging Coffins!

I looove this picture.napaka vain e!kamusta ka naman Cha?HAHA.

 Hanging Coffins are bizarre yet fascinating reminder of Igorot tribe's rich history.When the person dies, he/she is placed in the coffin in a foetal position. This is due to the belief that a person should exit the world in the same position that he/she entered it. They also hang it so that it's near the heaven and the soul will be blessed eternally.

Nag hang na din ako.Hang Pagoood.HAHA!

 Embracing the Death Adventure of walking and trekking!

The going part was the hardest of all.I am a seasonal asthmatic and I felt the need for oxygen right then and there.HAHA.akala ko katapusan ko na.But after a decent rest and cold air,we  continuesd to climb again.kapooooy!

Saw sunflowers while going down!Kuya Ganga took this picture,uyyyy magaling!

Push mo yan Cha.

We're s tired and thirsty and wanted to drink yogurt but it will take some time so we decided to just skip it.

But we didn't miss the Lemon Pie House!

Ngarag face.hehe.

Yumyum!maasim na matamis. :))

must try.

We just walked going to the cave as per Kuya Ganga's suggestion.to save and appreciate the view.They call this SUGONG.

Look closely.You can see the hanging coffins.

At the mouth of Lumiang Cave.

In Sagada, you definitely need to try the cave connection.this will be the highlight of all your trekking and adventure endurance.HAHA.

We passed through narrow holes and challenging rocks.

Waiting for the upper groups to descend.

The boundary between Lumiang and Sumaguing Cave.Some reverts back and doesn't finish the cave connection coz it's really quite tiring and challenging.Pero kung dun ka na sa Sagada,e iSagad mo na!sayang pamasahe.HAHA.you only live once.you also die once.wala pa naman daw may namatay sa caving,may na extreme fracture lang.so okay na dba?hihi

heh.im tired :P

Chill faces.

Pa cute faces. (pero look at hands,kapit na kapit.HAHA)

reklamo faces.aaaHAHA.

the cold water!ayaaan na!one of the most challenging part is the inevitable summon to get wet by the freezing water.

Enjoy sa sliding.some parts if the cave got smooth limestones with little roughness,ayun libre footscrub!

There were built-in ropes when there's nothing you can step on or hold.

Some parts would even require you to step on the tour guide's legs,mostly on vertical climb-downs.

Thumbs up even if the water is coooold!

Definitely an Adventure Junkie :) 

hey!what is that?!HAHA.

I was never scared of heights nor extreme adventures but during the descending part,I was so scared that I might fall coz the rocks are too rough and high.I almost feared looking down coz all i see are sharp stones and deep water.I begun to feel clingy to our tourguide and he just laughed.They're really expert in navigating the cave.thankyouuuu really!akala ko katapusan ko na.HAHA.

YESSS!we Survived Sagada!

we survived the almost 4 hours cave

connection!the end part was the tiring one coz it was so steep and high.daw asthmahon naman ko liwat!

And there it is!!!the light after the long and sacrificial darkness!

It was past 6:30 when we finished the caving.of course walkathon ulit back to the town proper!our legs are aching.we ate dinner with Kuya Ganga and tasted the best sinigang ever.no photos coz super gutomers and kapoyers na gd kami.

Freezing cold evening!we should have enjoyed the bonfire but decided to skip it coz drained na tlaga kami sa energy.went back to our inn and did the ice bucket challenge na panibin!HAHA.if you want to experience the best bath you could ever have in your life,you should definitely take a bath at night in Sagada without the heater.freeze pati mga buling mo,i swear.HAHA!

KO gid kami.I personally thought I couldn't sleep early pero I just felt my laway and aching bod when my phone rang the next morning with the driver-tourguid confirming our reservation for the Kiltepan sunrise viewing.ahhhh kuya!soooo aga!5am it is and our groupmates are already there at the van.we hurriedly prepared and went down for the early adventure.(yes,we didn't take a bath.i caaaaant!we really caaaaant!12 degrees yun!!!)

Good morning bonfire!haiii this is one very great thing i love about Sagada,there's bonfire anywhere!everywhere!

hit or miss: we definitely missed the Kiltepan sunrise coz it wag too foggy and rainy!boooo! :(

yes,wearing shorts under 12 degrees coz my leggings are all wet.brrrr!

we were scheduled to visit the Bomod-ok falls that day but we decided to cancel it coz of the rain.we went to eat at Strawberry cafe instead.

Perfect resort!their food are amazingly yummy!

FTW strawberry pancakes!really melts in the mouth!!!you have to try this!

I am sooo happy and busog from our breakfast.the bakasyon were i truly enjoyed the agahan.and I therefore conclude that Igorots are great cooks.as in!they really cook delish meal!might as well marry one to compensate for my lack of culinary skills.hehe jk

Last stop:Ganduyan Museum!no pictures allowed inside but definitely learned a lot in here.thumbs up to the old and antique things.

sana next time may topload eroplano para shortcut ang travel.hihi

im out of words now.HAHA.all I know is that i love Sagada and t'was worth checking in my bucketlist.the experience, the people, the food, the place, the culture and so on are all nostalgic! <3

I fell in love with you,Sagada!and i promised to come back. <3