My Sagada Adventure

I've been writing about really sad things lately. This time, I'm going to write about something fun for a change. :-)

 

I just got sentimental recently and remembered that it has been a year since my trip to Sagada in Mt. Province, Luzon. That trip was really fun and a major laugh and food trip! It was also exciting since my friends and I got to try caving.

I'll try to remember many details as possible. Hehehe...so please bear with me, may memory gap kasi ako ;-) Read on....

I went to Sagada with two good friends from SFC, Glo-Ann and Joe. I think dapat Bacolod kami but other friends backed out so we just decided to push through with this one. Glo-Ann had a friend who arranges tours and we availed of her set package. Almost all in na (almost kasi some of the meals were not included in the package) at P5k (or was it P4.5K?). Not bad di ba? ;-) You can click on the link to her site from my page (Tropical Paradise of Asia).

We left in the evening of Nov 1 and got to Bontoc at around 8 am the following day. That's where we had breakfast and made a quick stop at the Bontoc Museum.

[caption id="attachment_121" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Approaching Bonctoc"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_123" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Bontoc Museum"][/caption]

We arrived at Sagada around 11 am already. We checked in at our inn (I forgot its name). The three of us were assigned to a room together with our guide. That wasn't a problem for me or any of my friends. The only problem was that Glo-Ann and I didn't feel comfortable sharing the bathroom with other people. Yes, common CR siya! No offense to the others in our group but maarte lang kami siguro, hehehe. We decided to try and look for a place where we could transfer. But that would have to be during our free time. We had to go to lunch and proceed with our first hiking activity, which would prepare us dawfor the walking that we had to do the next day.

We had lunch at St. Jo's Restaurant(I think!). The food was ok. We didn't mind so much anymore since we were very hungry kaya lamon na lang, hehehe.

[caption id="attachment_125" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Socials during lunch"][/caption]

After lunch, we started with our hike to Echo Valley. We passed by St. Mary's Episcopal church and the Sagada cemetery.

[caption id="attachment_126" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Inside St. Mary's Church"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_130" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sagada Cemetery"][/caption]

It wasn't so cold at that time, though we were ready. :-) Glo-Ann was wearing long sleeves and we had our trusty jackets. Everything was so green and the air was so fresh and relaxing! Because of that, we didn't get really tired from the all the walking.

[caption id="attachment_131" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="With Glo-Ann"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_132" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Some hanging coffins"][/caption]

After our hike to Echo Valley, we had the rest of the afternoon and evening free. Before going back to our inn, we scouted for a new one where we could transfer. Luckily for us, we found this nice place near Masferre Country Inn and Resataurant. It's called the Igorot Inn. I think we paid P1.5K per night  for the room. Our room had its own bathroom equipped with hot and cold shower! We had to go back to the other inn to get our stuff. Walking distance naman but medyo malayo na rin if you have to carry stuff. Buti na lang, gentleman si Joe! ;-) He carried all the bags!

[caption id="attachment_133" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Hehehehe"][/caption]

Well, transferring was worth it. Look at the view from our room!

[caption id="attachment_135" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Wow!"][/caption]

When I knew that I was going to Sagada, I asked a friend who had been there for some tips. She specifically mentioned that we should try out Yoghurt House. Since it was already on the same street as Igorot Inn, we decided to have dinner there. I think we got sandwiches and pasta. We loved their Tomato and Basil Pasta! It was so yummy. And to think I'm not really into veggies. ;-)

[caption id="attachment_136" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Yummy pasta"][/caption]

Of course we tried out their yogurt. I think we ordered just the plain one and we didn't like it. :-( Maybe we should have gotten one that came with fruit toppings. We still decided to have it wrapped. I really don't know why but we were able to put it into good use that night. ;-) Sagada has curfew, which I think is 9pm. There was nothing to do anymore so we just decided to buy some wine and play truth or consequence (hey, there was no tv in our room!). Guess what was the consequence. ;-) Yup, eat a spoonful of yogurt! Hehehe :-D Hmmm...I think we almost finished the leftover yogurt. Guess who had to eat most of it. :-P

 

Our 2nd day there was jampacked! We went to see the Bomod-ok falls or the Big Falls in the morning. It tookus the whole morning to reach the falls, stay awhile for swimming and picture taking and then go back. Going to the falls was oksince we were mostly going down. Going back was harder! I should have excercised more! I really got so tired! Mahilo-hilo ako sa pagod! Grabe talaga! But the sights were worth it!

[caption id="attachment_137" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="On our way"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_138" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sunflowers!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_140" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Rice terraces"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_141" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Well it was cold that day"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_142" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Finally, the Bomod-ok Falls!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_145" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Kapuy na!"][/caption]

After a very tiring morning, we rested for a short time during lunch at Masferre Restaurant before we were off  for the real adventure.  We were exploring Sumaguing Cave.

I've read that Sumaguing Cave is also called the Big Cave and one should not leave Sagada without visiting this one. I didn't take a lot of pictures inside because we were very busy trying not to slip and fall off! Hehehehe... There were times that I really had to hug the rocks or sandstone so that I could pull myself up. Most of the time we didn't mind anymore what our hands were touching(mud or bat poop!). I also enjoyed crawling into this very small hole, experiencing a human ladder ( kawawa naman si Manong...pero suplado siya!) and rapelling. There was this time when we held on to a rope to cross to the other side since the stream below was kind of deep. Well, you'll get wet whatever you do becuase this activity invloves crossing a waist deep pool (well, it more like chest deep for me! :-D). It was really a very memorable adventure!!!

[caption id="attachment_143" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="At the entrance"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_144" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="In between rock formations"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_146" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Rest time"][/caption]

When we got out of the cave, all I could think of was taking a shower and getting a massage! Hahahaha :-D Members of our group envied us because our hot and cold shower was waiting for us.

To make up for the very tiring day, our guide brought us to this cool palce called Log Cabin. We had buffet dinner!!! We had pork chops, mashed potato and veggies. Food was great and so yummy. I think this place only offers buffet every Saturday and you have to reserve to ensure seats. By the way, Saturday is also the market day in Sagada. The chef, I think, buys ingredients from the market in the morning so food is guaranteed fresh.

[caption id="attachment_147" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photo c/o Glo-Ann"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_148" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Fireplace pix by Glo-Ann"][/caption]

On our last day there, we didn't go with the group to the pottery center. We decided to use the time to do some last minute pasalubong shopping. Glo-Ann and I hoarded these tea leaves which were really cheap at P10/pack!

Since we loved Yoghurt House so much, we dediced to have breakfast there. Nag take out pa kami ng sandwiches for lunch!

[caption id="attachment_149" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Last day"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_150" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Breakfast and take out...hehe"][/caption]

We stopped by Bontoc on our way home and had some shopping time there.

[caption id="attachment_155" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Bontoc Town Proper"][/caption]

I think 3 days and 2 nights were not enough. Maybe 4 days or more would be better so you can schedule some rest time in between all the physical activities. Plus I think there were other sights that we could have visited also. Well, maybe next time. ;-) I really want to go back and just take it easy. Sagada was peaceful and calming. :-D

* Thanks to Glo-Ann for the pictures! :-)