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February 13th 2006

Published: February 23rd 2006

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Munchkin

Banuae

Only the beginning...but we didn't know it yet. In fact, we had literally no conception whatsoever of what we were about to get ourselves into

"You don't spend a centavos when you smile." Mary, the wife of Emiliano, the owner of this lodging and carving studio, up here in this breathtaking scenary, is yet another reason I have fallen in love with the Philippines. She is intelligent, and she is able to present to us an authentic view of Filipino life up here in Ifugao country, high in the mountains. She has given us more reason to trust the people of this country.

I could write forever about how the people you meet while travelling colour yoru experience, and I will, no doubt, write about that very thing soon enough, but after what I have seen today it is necessary to acknowledge the physique of northern Luzon.

Our neighbour at Moreno's Place in Boracay told us Batad is the place to see the terraces, but it was fate that brought us here, not advice. Reynaldo, "world's greatest tour guide" (self proclaimed), trapped us on the bus last night at 4 a, and saved us from the rain. As Mary says, you learn to accept the way he is- talkative, repetitive, at times annoying and over bearing- but at heart a wonderful person. We wanted

Banuae hills

The view on our trike ride...what I got a chance to see when Reynaldo gave me a minute to look

to see the rice terraces, and he happened to be in the right place (the side of the road at the edge of Banaue) at the right time (4 am in the early morning downpour).

But, without a doubt, he brought us to the most stunning scenary I will ever experience in my life. The fact that Jen made it up what we traversed was no less than utterly astounding and besides the fact that my brain was concentrated on her welfare, my heart was aching with ecstasy at the experience of a lifetime. Who needs canyoning in Cebu when you can aerobatically maneuver along the edge of thousands of year old rice terrraces at the edge of the world. And, all my passionate personality aside, I had moments today where I looked around me and paused to acknowledge that I will never experience anything quite like that again in my life. Jen faced her greatest fear galiantly head on, and I had the absolute time of my life literally risking my life tip toeing the edge of oblivion, wishing the world that the people I know would appreciate it were there. At the very least I brought them

Reynaldo and I

Squished in the cab...awkward

with me in Spirit. It was an amazing day.

Now I have to figure out how I will get up at 7 tomorrow morning and hike, what I have been told, "might be a little tricky". In light of the fact that today was apparently easy, I'm not sure I will sleep tonight...or live tomorrow.....here's hoping.

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