Trip to the Ifugao: A 2014 Yearender

Around mid November, Leli and I planned of visiting Baguio as our yearend trip for this year, same as last year, but just last week, we changed our minds and opted to visit the rice terraces instead. And so the rolling began. We purchased our tickets Monday last week at the Ohayami Bus Terminal in Fajardo, Sampaloc, Manila. After securing our seats, we scouted hotels online and searched for blogs about Hungduan. We ended up booking the Banaue Hotel and so the trip began. 👍

We left at 9 in the evening, onboard Bus number One. After ten hours on the road with few stopovers spent on eating chips and other junks, we finally arrived.

Above was the view that welcomed us in our room. We arranged our tour with the front desk of the hotel. The tour they offered was more expensive than other online travel guides, but we still booked with them for the sake of convenience. 

At around seven in the morning, the rolling started. We had our first stop at the Ohayami Bus Terminal to claim our return ticket, then followed by a 30 minute ride to Banaue view decks.

We went back to our ride after few minutes of taking pictures for another one hour and a half drive to the town of Hungduan. Below is the Happao Village.

After registration of 100 pesos per vehicle, we started our trek.

The trek was easy compared to Batad. The roads are paved at the first part of the trek, followed by muddy rice path and cemented stairs. We passed by the rice fields on our way to the village. 

We had our first stop at the nipa hut after one hour of walk. 

After another 30 minutes of walk, we reached the hot spring.

The water, as expected, is hot, haha, and relaxing. We soaked for a few minutes and had a cold dip at the ice cold river nearby.

The water is so cold. Your body will numb for a few seconds.

We took a different route on our way back. We took the mountain trail. There was also a view of the terraces, but less, and is 100% safer, as roads are concrete and wider.

After an hour and and a half drive, we arrived our hotel and rewarded ourselves with a heavy lunch. 

We had our afternoon nap after our after-trek bath. We woke up for dinner and cultural show at the hotel's lobby.

The show was followed by a massage in the room.

Lights off: 2200H

Lights on: 0800H

Breakfast: 😍

After breakfast, we checked out the hotel's amenities. One of them is a 12-ft pool with a view of the mountains.

At first, i wanted to swim but when we went back to our room to change our clothes, we passed by a road sign, which changed our minds.

And so the trek started. ☀️

Wild flowers and fruits welcomed us on our way down to the village.

On our way down, a lady offered us a guided tour to the village.

Our first stop was a house with human skeleton. They said that those are from their ancestors passed from generation to generation.

They charge a mandatory "donation" to see the skeletons. They also have souvenir shops in the village.

After a short village trek, paddling to the muddy rice fields, we decided to go back to the hotel, as it already started to rain.

The trek upwards was shorter but exhausting. We paid the guide 200php as she requested.

At the hotel's lobby, we had our last minute pasalubong shopping until check out.

Bus left Banaue at 7 in the evening and we arrived MNL after 10 hours.

This again is another fun-filled trip.

Until our next trip. 👍