Day 2: Banaue, Rice Terraces, Hot Springs, and So Much Hiking

On our second day of the trip we woke up early thank to the roosters that live beside, below and above our hotel. We had breakfast at the hotel and watched the mist rise over the terraces. We headed out on a hike to this area with hot springs and beautiful views. Our trusty guide Denwil assured us that it was an easy hike, however there were several part on the inclines where I found myself out of breath, and wondering what he considered strenuous. 

Here's our first stop, this man is prepping the field for planing. The rice plants are first grown in clumps and then they are spread throughout the field evenly to promote optimum rice production. The man moved throughout the field evening out the mud with a two by four. 

Then we had to stop while they cleared away the landslide. It is apparently a common occurrence here. 

View from the top. Looking down on the valley with the rice fields.

Starting the hike through the fields.

After we crossed the valley we came across a small "village" if you can call it that. It was a collection of no more than 7 houses. 

Waterfall! We opted for the spring-fed river instead of the hot springs. 

Hiking back out.

Lauren fully enjoying herself, and taking full advantage of the local way to carry rice. Trust me that bag was not light. 

Hiking back out, we decided that the place with the green roof would make an excellent country home. 

The view from the top.

Inside a traditional Neepa Hut. Our guide Denwil kept telling us that when we get married that we should come back with our husbands for our honeymoons in a Neepa Hut. Apparently its a surefire way to get pregnant. 

Went to the look out on our way back, and even though its dry season, it rained and we were stuck in a little souvenir shop while we waited for the worst of the rain to pass. I managed to get this photo before the heavens unleashed on us. 

This young girl was trying to hide form the rain as well. 

Off We Go! Road Trip Day 1

Here we are off to start the trip. In the early planning stages leaving times like 4am were thrown around so we could get to Banaue by noon. Those ideas were later dismissed for a more reasonable start time of 6, the 6:30, then 7. Have our actual departure at 7:30am.

This is our mini van. On Friday we got a call from the rental car company. We had reserved a car a month in advance, not wanting to get stuck with something super tiny and couldn't deal with mountain road. There was also the fact that neither of us could drive stick, so we need to insure the we would have an automatic vehicle. So on this wonderful Friday phone call they asked us if we would be willing to take a standard vehicle, to which there was a lot of anger and a lesson given on what the definition of a reservation means. To which he said we could pick our car up on Monday then which was 3 days into our trip. So after more anger and a lesson on professionalism they told us they would find something and deliver it to us that night. When the van pulled into our drive way I couldn't help but laugh. So we embraced our inner soccer moms and headed out. We named the van the bat cave, because the tint on the windows was so dark that at night you had to role down the windows in order to see out. Safety first in the Philippines!

At time through our journey we were left wondering, is this a real road? I thought it was supposed to be a national highway? We dodged rice being dried on the roads, trikes, carabao, goats, potholes and people. Here you can see the wonderful tinted window, which only had a small strip at on the front window which you could see out and experience daylight. 

Stopped for construction, this became a common occurrence. 

And yes I drove.

Starting to get into the mountains. The roads at time were very narrow, steep and windy. Our van's engine wasn't very big so as I was driving up the hills you would be flooring the gas and still you would see the gauge slowly drop down below 20, 15 10 km an hour. Luckily we never went backwards, but there was always that concern. 

We made it! The view from our hotel. 

We set out to explore the town, there's not much, but the weather is cool and it was nice to stretch our legs after an 8 hour car ride. This rickety bridge connects one half of the city to the other. The part that you walk are metal pieces just laid down on a frame work, not really attached to the bridge. I wouldn't exactly call it safe, but we didn't see anyone die, and we were both up to date with our tetanus shots, so why not?

Rice terrace! The first of many that would be explored on this trip. 

 After we explored, we went back to our hotel for dinner, in the mountains everything shuts down early. Example the only bar closes at 9 pm, and that's considered staying open late. So the evening wasn't eventful, we had dinner, showered and then we met with our guide and planned the next 3 days of hiking. The power kept going out around 8 pm. We were told that this was common during dry season because the increased use of electricity of the air cons and the water levels drop so the hydro-electric dam doesn't work as efficiently. So we were in bed by 9 pm.

Why International Teaching Is Great!

So I just got back from a week long vacation (yes I know I'm a horrible blogger in not posting the updates on the trip yet) But the Philippino government has decided that we need more holidays. So this weekend has become a 4 day weekend! Because of this I'll be going to Boracay, an hour plan ride from our local airport, which also happens to be rated one of the top beach destinations in the world, and really the only tourist destination for travelers. Which means Westerners, service that make a little more sense and good food!

In case you weren't jealous enough yet, this is where I'll be. Yet another reason to come and visit!

Road Trip!

For our Easter Break my colleague Lauren and I decided to take a road trip up north to the mountains and Rice Terraces. The week leading up to Easter here is called Holy Week, and Filippinos are very serious about Holy Week. Around us there are lots of people, Easter processions, Crucifixions and other stuff we generally wanted to avoid. So we went north where people are less likely to show their love of Jesus by whipping themselves and nailing people to a cross. 

The Plan:

Day 1. Leave Subic (A), drive a ? amount of time until we reach Banaue (D), check into our hotel, explore (if time) eat.

Day 2. Next day explore the rice terraces around there, hike and buy stuff. 

Day 3. Hike to Batad(C) (There are no roads to this town) where the rice terraces are supposed to be the best and are a UNESCO world heritage site. Hike rice terraces to waterfall. Sleep. 

Day 4. Hike out of Batad back to Banaue(D). Drive to Sagada(E) check into hotel, eat at famous(ish) restaurant "Yogurt House"

Day 5. Hike Sagada, explore caves, see pottery and weaving, sleep.

Day 6. Drive to Baguio (F). Relax, get a massage ect...

Day 7. Do tourist stuff in Baguio, and this is where our trip got cut a day short, so in the afternoon, we drove back to subic arrive around 8pm. 

Day 8 Paint my bedroom

Day 9. Go to the beach. 

Then back to school.

HAPPY EASTER!

Early morning beach trip. 

Then I embraced my inner DIYer and repainted my bedroom. 

Its getting there. 

Not a bad way to spend an Easter Sunday. We're back to school tomorrow after our week vacation. I'm not ready for it to be over yet! Oh well, Production, IB exams, and yearbook deadlines await. I think I'm supposed to teach classes in there too....

More to come on my travels of the past week.

My Wednesday

So back in January I agreed to host the March book club meeting. If I had consulted my calendar I would have realized that March was the worst possible month to host it for me. But never the less I spent all day teaching and running around trying to get stuff organized for the IB exams and working out the technical glitches with the uploading. Then I ran the set painting for the school play, which was as usual was a mess and a lot of hand holding. After which I ran home stuffed and baked 10 chicken breasts, clean the house and hosted an successful book club meeting.  

I can't wait for Friday!

Next Week!

Over our Easter break I'll be visiting the rice terraces of Banaue. This vacation couldn't come soon enough, with IB exams, yearbook deadlines and the set for the play all being due at the same time, I feel like my head is about to explode.