It was the 3rd week of February in 2011 when our group of travel buddies packed up our bags and got ready to traverse the mountainous Benguet province. Our chosen path: Manila-Banawe-Bontoc-Sagada-Baguio and we squeezed it in just four (4) days, 1 day is already allotted to the travel hours from/to Manila ..trip monsters huwaaww!
We left via Florida bus in Sampaloc, Manila terminal by 8:30pm..t'was a long and long trip but we had a such good night sleep while feeling the sudden change of temperature getting soooo cold!
Waiting for our bus bound to Bontoc at Florida terminal in Sampaloc, Manila
Arrival at Bontoc at about 6 in the morning..you know your in the mountains because the air you breath is so fresh you can even smell the pines and it's super cold and foggy..and I'm really loving it! Our tour guide named Kevin welcomed us and lead us to our pick-up vehicle transporting us to Sagada proper via Banawe. Travel time is 2 hours, ate snacks during the drive while enjoying the mountain view and the long vast of rice terraces along the way.
We asked our tour guide for a stop in the middle of the road to take a good shot of this wonderful view.
My first time to really see rice terraces like these..I only see these on our history books before haha!
A statue that signifies Banawe as a UNESCO heritage area..It's more fun in the Philippines!
Upon arrival, immediately we took our brunch at a near eatery and got ready for our day spelunking adventure! The SAGGAs managed our trip and accomodation and they let us stay at Canaway Resthouse.
There's no luxury hotel in Sagada..just resthouses and inns..take it or leave it..but it's more decent and affordable and of course air cons are not needed you'll see for yourself when you're there.
Our first destination is the Sumaging Cave and we're gonna go spelunking for the very first time! Here are our pics:
The views we saw along the way are extraordinarily magnificent! I never realized there such heaven here on earth as scenic as this place! I was so amazed!! haha!
Inside the Lumiang Burial Cave..which houses about 200 wooden coffins that have been there for more than 500 years. Old beliefs say that the old Igorots bury their loved ones in the caves and take turns in passing the coffins until they reach the cave believing that the one carrying it will have lasting fortunes and blessings in life. Presently, only very few natives practice said tradition and they turn the cave instead into a tourist destination.
Now we're about to start our exciting spelunking adventure..entering the Sumaging Cave, it's dark and the rocks are wet and slippery
One of our tour guide carries a lamp, imagine how hard it is to carry it amidst the wet and slippery surroundings
Overcoming claustrophobia..Thanks to God!
OMG!! This is my dreadest part..rapelling on a very slippery surface! We all managed to cross anyway, thanks to Kevin who made every difficult challenges possible for all of us.
I actually fit in the portal..amazing!
Going down..using the HUMAN LADDER..our tour guide haha!
and that's our HUMAN LADDER..Kevin the Great! and I managed to even make a peace sign! ; )
the travel buddies feasting inside the cave..we're almost at the finish line!
And there it goes..our first spelunking adventure at day 1. It was a different kind of an exhausting experience, a little bit dangerous but exciting, and you'll get dirt and wet all over your body but the day went on leaving us recharged spirits...the wonders of God are really wonderful. And we couldn't miss this once in a lifetime experience to see the richness of our Mother Earth.
We finished at sunset 5:30pm then head back to our lodge to clean ourselves, find something to eat and sleep early for the next day's more exhausting adventure.
Day 2
Day 3
No comments:
Post a Comment