Blogs from Mountain Province, Philippines, Asia

This is my niece's maiden attempt to go solo. I could have joined her but family matters and traditions got in the way. Sagada has always been in my bucket list; but no worries. When I do go, Sarah, my niece, would be my tour guide. This is her story. Late Evening Departure for Sagada Sarah took the 9 pm bus for Bontoc via Banaue. Many advised about the ice-cold airconditioning in Manila-Banaue buses, but Sarah claims this was not the case. Not with the bus she took. It was a pleasant ride and the journey gained for her quite a number of travel buddies. In all, they formed a group of 10 or so. Arriving in Banaue at 6am, she and her new friends spent the next hour stretching their limbs and enjoying a breakfast ... read more

Perched on a remote mountain top, Sagada has a reputation for being an idyllic back packer haven. From Banaue we took a 2 hour jeepney ride to Bontoc (the provicial capital) from there it was another hour to Sagada. This jeepney ride will likely be the most memorable of our trip to the Philippines. We decided to do as the locals do and ride on the roof of the vehicle. Sitting on our backpacks and gripping tightly on the roof rack we were treated to a magnificent view of rice terraces/ fields, mountain valleys and the Chico river.We also saw recent landslides which is a reminder that this is a very trecherous road. As we got closer to our destination we noticed more pine trees, cooler temperatures and an almost Alpine sorroundings. The town is indeed ... read more

Ahhh.... the Philippines, we're reminiscing already - our 3 weeks in this wonderful country went by far too quickly, and plans are already being drawn up for a return trip. After more than 4 months in predominantly Buddhist and Hindu countries, it was a refreshing change to visit somewhere with a majority Catholic population. One thing we've observed during our travels is the huge extent to which a Nations main religion shapes that country and its people; influencing everything from the architecture, to the cuisine, to the inhabitants dress, and also their attitude towards us. In this respect, the Philippines is a godsend (excuse the pun); the people are so friendly and hospitable, there were no occasions or occurrences in which we felt at all uncomfortable. Its not that all the other countries have been unwelcoming, ... read more

I shivered below the layers of blankets piled on top of me. For the first time in six months I was waking up in a room full of really chilly air. It reminded me of a feeling so familiar as to be instantly recognisable but at the same time one that had not been felt in such a long time as to be quite exciting: that of waking up in my room on a winter morning in Oxford. As consciousness trickled into my mind and the first blurry images of my surroundings filtered through the slits of my eyes, I was overcome by the certainty that if I stood up and looked out of the window everything would be covered in snow. Wrapping a blanket around me and testing out my idea I was, of course, ... read more

I set off towards Banaue from Bontoc early in the morning and as with most roads in the Mountain Province it simply descended into rock and mud and water after a few kilometres. The road was awful! Rocks everywhere, deep mud, huge deep puddles stretching right across the “road”, crazy!! Very quickly the road ascended right up into the cloud layer and was very cold! But by now I was getting used to this! I spent about 4 hours up in the cloud layer, then suddenly the road actually became a proper concrete road and I descended out of the cloud layer and into Banaue. The views from the lookouts north of the village were stunning. Wow, finally in Banaue! Checked into the Fairview Hotel which had a balcony with views over the whole village and ... read more

Anything outside my comfort zone never fail to amaze me. I so so love traveling, the outdoor activities and meeting new and interesting people. If there’s one thing I don’t like much is the goodbyes. So here’s a tip, never ever let yourself be attached deeply with the place and its people, else, going back to your normal life would not be easy. You’ll end up nursing a hang-over for a week or two! It is not healthy you know. Oct 18, 2008 *Off to Sagada Most travelers advise you to always check or surf the net before visiting a place. Crap, it’s no fun! The excitement will drop. (Photos over the net are just not enough). If you will see the place the first time, it’s perfect because you don’t know what to expect and ... read more