sagada the shangri-la!

12-14 of April year 2010 marked my second visit in Sagada, one of my favorite places here in the Philippines. Me and my new found friends took the MNL-Banaue route to take sight of the famous Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao. Indeed, the spectacular “hagdang-hagdang palayan” is a wonderful panorama.

banaue, rice terraces

After the 10-hours rollercoaster ride, we finally reached our destination, Sagada!

 

First day, 1300H when the adventure started. Even it was my second time to do the Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave Connection; I still felt the excitement of the spelunking thrill. I am very proud with my first-timer friends who showed enthusiasm despite of the pain and muscle ache they’ve been feeling all throughout the spelunking. Of course, with the help of our super saggas guides, Lester, kuya Janu, kuya Kevin and kuya Rod, we all finished the obstacle safely. 

 

rice granary

rock curtain

kuya kevin, in action

kuya rod, in action

Second day, Kiltepan Peak sunrise was not very astonishing for me. It’s my second time, and yet, sea of clouds didn’t appear. Lester teased me that I have to come back for the third time to see the sea of clouds. Ano yan, parang Pulag lang ha! Kelangan tatlong balik! 

kiltepan peak, sunrise

Then there’s the Bomod-Ok Big Falls. I was stunned when I saw the ‘big’ falls. Although Lester already gave me an advance warning that the falls is already ‘false’, I was still shocked and felt bad. Is this really El Niño? Water from the falls is the now being used for the irrigation in the Aguid Rice terraces, that’s the reason why the falls is not a falls anymore, but droplets of water. Even so, we did enjoy the cold water of the falls basin.

 bomod-ok big falls (then)

bomod-ok big 'false' (now)

As we headed back to the Traveler’s Inn, rain poured heavily. Okay, so we are a blessing. Hurray! We almost missed the Lake Danum Bonfire, thanks Bro for stopping the rain for a while. But when we reached Lake Danum, rain poured down again! Argh, may kinakasal na tikbalang! But that didn’t stop us. Lester and kuya Kevin made a bonfire which Aya enjoyed the most --- playing with the fire.

lake danum

bonfire

st. mary's anglican church
(kuya alex, lyn, aya, L.A, ate anette, lei, jepoy)

The last day was the saddest part of this trip. We left Sagada with a heavy heart. I promised myself to come back really soon and climb Mt. Ampacao. Maybe there, I could see sea of clouds that Kiltepan Peak never showed me.  Sabi ni Lester, I should try in September. But I’m decided, I’ll come back on January, that will be my birthday climb. I hope there’s some people who would want to join me. We’ll cook spaghetti and party in the summit. Can’t wait!

Note: I hope that Kuya whom I met from Bontoc-Baguio ride will give some time to contemplate on what we have discussed. ;-P I hope to meet you somewhere and admit, tell me that I am right.

thanks to my friends and sponsors who made this trip a memorable one.  (saggas/mountainhardwear/lafuma/adidas/joy/ateannette/atela/atelyn/lei/kuyaalex/jepoy)

*visit R.O.X for your outdoor gears located at the following branches** 

Bonifacio Histreet, Ayala Mall Cebu, Marquee Mall Pampanga

or visit their FB and Twitter accounts:

http://www.facebook.com/roxphilippines

http://twitter.com/rox_philippines

Feel the earth – The SAGADA adventure

Spelunking at SAGADA was an experience I never thought I would enjoy. It was a different venture that pushed my feet to its limits, so to speak. Kumapal ang mga talampakan ko! But oh dear, it was really really fun kahit super nakakapagod. Its all worth it!


We started at LUMIANG BURIAL CAVE around 1500H and got out of SUMAGUING CAVE around 1930H. Mejo traffic when we got to sumaguing, daming tourists eh. If not with the best guides of SAGGAS, we won’t get through it all unharmed. Hehehehe Thanks to our shy but superb and patient guide LESTER TAO-EY and his apprentice MANONG DANIEL aka BOY (I hope I got his name right) for keeping us safe and securing our cameras. They also lend us their legs, shoulders and arms as our ladder whenever we encounter difficulty through the hurdles of the cave.

BTW, Lester just turned 22yo last dec 2, the day we left sagada. We called him MANONG or KUYA only to find out that he is so much younger than us! wah!!! He started his career when he was 16 and he is knowledgeable about sagada's history. Every single detail, name, date and event, you bet, he knows it. Highly recommended!! Galing mag take ng pictures!! sabi nga ni Manong Boy "SMELL" ehehehe.. if you want to contact him, nasa contacts ko sha dito sa multiply slash friendster account. or better visit their group site http://sagadagenuineguides.blogspot.com/

 
Hay, kahit all I got was a wind-burned face and throbbing soles, I’ll definitely go back here. I enjoyed the food (especially @ MASFERRE’S and BANA’S CAFÉ). I love the people kasi rosey cheeks sila hehehe. I like their skin, walang pimples!!! wah inggit ako

Sabi nga ni Manong Boy, “Are you okay? This is what you call FEEL THE EARTH!! Feeling the earth, you feel the hurt after…masakit na katawan at paa mo!” Panalo ka Manong!!! Very Clever huh! hehehe

DAY 1 – Nov 29 – Lumiang Burial – Sumaguing cave connection




























DAY 2 – Nov 30 – St. Mary’s Anglican Church



 
















Sight Seeing @ Echo Valley / Rock climbing / Hanging Coffins,












 
 





Underground river, Bokong Small Falls















DAY 3 – Dec 1 – Kiltepan Peak,
 

Rock-Inn Orange Picking,
 


Bomod-ok Big Falls