Manila - Banaue - Sagada

Manila-Banaue-Sagada

I’ve been wanted to visit this place since I started reading travel blogs, Sagada is always on my bucket list. As much as I want to set my foot on this place finances and my work schedules forbid me, but I promised myself that 2014 as a gift for myself I will be travelling Sagada even I’m alone.

I called the Ohayami Bus 3 weeks before the trip and asked them to reserve a seat for me and will pay it a week before the date of my departure. But unfortunately, when I visited them to pay for my ticket it was fully booked and they said I had no reservation, I had no choice but to adjust my date of departure.

A month before the trip, I texted and e_mail some of my chosen accommodation but did not received any reply from them, I did not worry about it, I just thought that I just acquire it once I get there and that was the  worst move that I’ve done on this trip.

Day 1 

I was kinda excited about this trip, I will be alone and finally I can say Hello to SAGADA and say my “HI” to Banawe, I left home 1 ½ hours before my schedule trip in Sampaloc, I was surprised when I learned that most of the passengers are foreigners, you can count the Filipinos on this bus.

At 10:00pm, the bus left Manila, my seat mate is a Filipino and she’s going home to Lagawe, we had a little chit chat and when I woke up, it’s already 5:45am, I didn’t know how many bus stops we had and when did my seat mate left, my eyes was hurting because of the sunrise, but I forced myself to wake up to have a sightseeing along the way.

Arrival In Banawe

6:45am, the Ohayami bus park near the Tourism Office in Banawe, I asked some locals the exact location of Peoples Lodge to have my breakfast.

Scenic View from People's Lodge Viewpoint

Peoples Lodge offered a breakfast Meal ranges from P100.00 to P150.00, they also have free wi-fi and had a scenic view at their back and feast your eyes on this spot while waiting for your breakfast.

 The food was blunt for my taste maybe because it was too early and I don’t usually eat my breakfast at 7:00am

P120.00 Meal

Being alone in this unfamiliar territory was not really scary, why? because this is still Philippines, and people can communicate in English and Tagalog aside from their dialect, and I read in some forum and blogs that Banawe and Sagada has a low crime rate, I just observed my surroundings, smile and I didn’t  hesitate to ask some locals.

While having my breakfast, someone approach me if I am going to SAGADA, and I said yes, so he asked for P300.00 and wrote my name in a yellow pad and informed me that they will call us once we leave.

At 8:30pm, we left Banawe going to SAGADA, again, most passengers are foreigner, the jeepney will make a stopover to some Tourist Spot to take some pictures (this is the advantage of taking this route). I met a French guy, we had a good conversation while on road, together with his 2 companions they are roaming around the Philippines and he asked me if I already travelled abroad, I said NO because I wanted to explore my own country first before I go out in my neighboring country so I can boast how beautiful it is, and I don’t want to be ignorant in my native land and he agreed with me, he even asked for some recommendation where to explore because they are planning to extend their vacation here.

I met also a Filipino Priest from China and his assistant from Poland together with a soon to be priest, a native from Banawe serves as their guide, I asked them if I can tag on their sumaguing cave and agreed to divide all the expenses (sumaguing cave and van rental).

My Sumaguing Cave Companion

11:45pm Arrived in Sagada. After our registration at Tourism Office (P35.00) we get also guides and van for our activity on that afternoon. As I said, I don’t have any confirmed accommodation and I was shocked to know that all the Lodges and Inns were fully book till Monday, they can only accommodate me for a day, and I need to check out next day, after scouting 10 lodges I finally gave up and check inn at George Guest House, I immediately change my clothes, I just leave my worries about my next day accommodation, I don’t want to ruined my vacation, I just Prayed  and ask God’s favor to give me another one night in Sagada.

And now… Let me take you inside Sumaguing cave…

 The tour guide will give a briefing about the caving and will tell you the do’s and don’ts so listened very carefully.

The cave was quite slippery, I know I had no practice on this activity but I just keep on praying for God’s protection upon us, Our light from the Lamp died when we reached the Curtains, and so, my companion from Poland doesn’t want to continue, but the Priest encourage me to go on and they will just wait for me and I nodded and I didn’t regret because I wouldn’t be able to see this one.

The Caving was very tiring and we are all famished the moment we went back to the “light” ;)

Going up is much easier than going down, the cave was been packed when we headed back to our entry point. We bought food to feed our stomach and relax our sore feet before we proceeded on our next destination, our other companion bid his goodbye to us because he need to catch the last Jeepney back to Bontoc.

I didn’t bother to climbed down because my feet is already shaking and I’m not sure if I still can make it to go back if I dare to climbed down, so I just took some shot from above.

Last Destination..

I really don’t have a good shot on those hanging coffin so I just waited for my two companions.

We shared 267.00 each (for 3 person) for this activity and as we parted ways, the priest says something like this “Ella, if you will encounter some problems or troubles, don’t hesitate to go with us, you know where we are staying right?, I said “Yes po, thank you!” (po, means giving respect) See, God gave me good people on this trip.

I run to the guesthouse and took a quick bath, the heater was not working properly so I just suffer from the freezing  water  L

At that moment, I was thanking God for giving me such people like them and gave me a safe trip from Manila to Sagada and for giving me strength to finish my “extreme activity” (for me!) on that day and again for providing even a one night accommodation and pleaded again to give me another one night.

The Guesthouse provide a free wi-fi and good thing the signal in my room is good, I scouted some accommodation in Baguio but unfortunately it was also fully booked because of the long Holiday and the forthcoming festival, as I mentioned, I don’t want to worry that much, after a few calls and negative feedback accommodation in Baguio, I took a little nap and pray.

At 5:30pm I decided to have my early dinner at Salt and Pepper

 

Salt and Pepper - P280.00 Meal (Missed it already)

 And because my whole body is aching and the temperature was getting cold I ended up getting back to my room and rest instead of roaming around the community, I packed my things again and prepared myself for check out next day, but I was hoping for an opportunity and that I leave it to God.

Lesson Learn No 1. Make an advance reservation for you accommodation and make sure you call them not text or e_mail to confirm your permanent home. J because as I inquire some locals there that SAGADA right now is one of the most visited place in North.

Lesson Learn No 2. Do not panic, just pray to God to give you peace of mind and wisdom on what to do. Panic will not relieve the situation, it will just ruin everything as the

Proverbs 6:3 “Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding and he shall direct your path” and Another Verse is “Commit to the Lord all and all your plans will succeed”

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MOTTO: DO NOT WORRY ON THE THINGS THAT IS OUT OF YOUR CONTROL

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March 2, 2013: Baguio City: A Crazy Trip

I was home when boredome attacked me while watching docu t.v. news 11. Suddenly my itchy feet wants to go somewhere. I dont know where to go when I saw the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio.

I used to live in Baguio decades ago, so I'm quiete familiar to the place and my last visit was year 2008. Tagal na diba?

I brought this matter to my friend in the office. Called her local and talk about this plan, after a long discussion she decided to tag along with me, we mentioned this plans to my other friend whom I know has a dream to visit baguio for so long (she's been there when shes 9 years old) getting there would also a dream come true to her, because filing a V.L to our company is so hard, we agreed to have this trip short. 

We made our reservation from Cubao to Baguio via Victory Liner Cubao Station for March 2, 2013 at 11:00pm estimated travel time is 5 - 6 hours, and our E.T.A in the city of pines would be around 5:00am of March 3, 2013.

After the booking I decided to monitor the weather and made a little research. Search for the places that we can visit. I know this is going to be like an amazing race, we cannot visit all the tourist spot in a day specially when i added the visit of Ukay-Ukay. I did draft an itinerary too.

We waited for one week and everyone is full of adrenaline rush, everyone is excited, we even had our dress rehearsal, the bags that we will use and clothes that we need to used. (as if naman magtatagal kami) and that is our biggest mistakes to bring at least 3 kinds of clothes that we cannot use.. hahahaha..

And for the Budget Challenge: P1,500.00 per head - mmmm lets see if we made this.. 

After office hour of March 2 (saturday) we agreed to meet at Victory Liner cubao station at 10:00pm, my two companions was early (di naman sila excited) ehe..

AVA - at Victory Liner Cubao Station while wating for our ETD

We left Cubao Station at exactly 11:00pm, I was hoping that I can sleep on the bus so that I can gain strenght once we arrived but no avail.

It was 3:30am when we arrived in baguio.. too early right? Grabe, it was freezing cold, our clothes are not enough to make us warm. Upon entering at Victory Liner Baguio Terminal we proceed second floor ticketing office to book our return ticket on the same date, but unfortunately there is no available seat for March 3 so we decided to get a 12:40am of March 4, 2013. After we purchased our return ticket we went to comfort room to freshen up and had to wait more hours for the sunrise.

Ava and I at Victory Liner Baguio (this is a sleep friendly terminal)

Me - taking some nap while waiting for sunrise

Exactly 5:30am we hailed taxi going to Session Road to have our breakfast at any fastfood, then I forgot that Session Road was closed to all kinds of transport. We paid P45.00 from Victory liner to Upper Session Road Jollibee, we just shell out P15.00 each.

Ava - waiting for her turn 

Our breakfast

After our breakfast we start our City tour it was still dark then when we left the fast food. Headed down to Session Road and look for some posible pasalubong but most of the store are still closed. From session road we cross the Harizon Plaza to take a glimpse of Burnham Park. After Burnham Park, we went back to H.P to ride a jeep going to Botanical Garden 

Welcome to Botanical Garden (No entrance Fee)

The New Look of Botanical Garden 

We did explore the place change clothes and made a calls to our love ones informing them that we are in Baguio some of them are shock.. Di naman daw kami gala. ahahaha

calling his son -informing shes in baguio. hahaha

stairways to nowhere.. feeling lang

Botanical Garden 

We just walk from Botanical Garden to Wright Park, besides its healthy to walk.... right?! then I just did this pose (para sa wala lang) 15 minutes walk is not that bad huh!

Hitch !!!

Wright Park - You can have a horse back riding in this site so many horses to choose from.

Wright Park (No entrance fee too)

and because we dont have any intentions to have a horse back riding we proceed to take this 100 plus steps of stairs going to the Mansion, yes folks, you can take this one if you want some tiring hiking going to "The Mansion" hehehehe.. mabubuhay dugo mo dito sa pagod.. promise!

the Stairways to "The Mansion" 

We were sore tired when we reach the top, we had a little rest when a taho vendor offer a strawbery taho for P20.00 each. the taste is okey.

Strawberry Taho P20.00 each

sige lakad lang

"The Mansion" (No entrance fee)

After "The Mansion" we took taxi going to Minesview, we paid P50.00 for this ride. Mababait ang mga taxi driver sa baguio they are giving sukli.

our Taxi going to Minesveiw

dapat ako din...

Minesview - Photo Opts with Doughlas - the working dog - P50.00 for 3 shots, a bit pricey but I just love dog..

Welcome to Minesview - 

 opcorrsss.. minesview viewdeck - you should not miss this area, agawan kaya ng pwesto dito because this a picturesque site. Before you reach this area you will pass a colorful horses where you can have a pictures i think its P10.00-20.00 per shot.

minesview viewdeck

after "Picture Taking" time go buy pasalubong, we haggle on this store for varieties of jams, brittle and lengua de gato etc. I bought strawberry jam, lengua de gato each cost 25.00 per piece not bad right? then proceeded to Good sheperd to buy also the UBE Jam - I heard that they have a very delicious jam.

Minesview stall 

Took 7 - 10 minutes walk from minesview going to Good Sheperd, I know medyo matagal na lakaran ang nangyari, but you cant blamed us, we carry heavy load of bags on our way from minesview (remember, we already bought pasalubong there) I don't have any plans to buy another jam because of budget, I need to keep a few buck coz we are still on tour, upon arrival tourist flocks on each counter buying boxes of jams, then decided to join my friend to get jams too, and in fairness, the ube jam and strawberry jam are delicious, you can use your credit card for 11 pcs above purchases and thats what we did (that if you dont have enough cash like us)

Good Sheperd

After good sheperd we ride taxi again going to Philippine Military Academy (P.M.A) the taxi did passed at John Hay from Minesview, the driver says that, that is the fastest way, along the way we took some shots of this parade display, paid only 120.00 for this ride 40.00 each.

Camp John Hay

Upon entering you need to leave your I.D at the guard and they will not allowed anyone to wear sandals like fliptops so better bring extra with you.

Philippine Military Academy (P.M.A)

The Famous Tree House in P.M.A

another tree but not house =)

Behind is the Tree House

look how clean each streets

Feeling maglakad talaga

wala lang

sa sobrang tuwa ko sa linis ng PMA I took a lot of Pictures on each street na madaanan namin. It was a tiring walk in PMA and we are hungry and we agreed to end the tour, so we waited for about 15 minutes for Jeepney back to Plaza. P18.00 each, I forgot how many minutes travel basta ang alam ko naka idlip kami sa biyahe heheheh

We ate at KFC SM Baguio, yun lang kasi ang may mauupuan sa sobrang dami ng tao remember its the end of Panagbenga beside where tired and hungry and we need to hurry for our next spot, we left our baggage to SM Supermarket para light lang diba?

Our next stop: Tam-awan village instead Lourdes and Dominican Hill, coz 2 of us already visited the Lourdes and Dominican and we are already tired. Fall in line at SM Baguio taxi lane, grabe ang haba ng pila teh, as in, and we can feel the breeze again. As usual mabait ulit ang nasakyan naming taxi driver, sabi sa inyo mababait ang mga taxi driver sa baguio eh, he gave us some information about tam-awan, how far it is from lourdes and dominican and he also gave me an ideas where to buy ukay and that is in the Bayanihan daw, so knowing the place we agreed that after our tam-awan village tour we will go straight to bayanihan.

Tam-awan Village entrance is P50.00 per head you they will give you some maps which is going to be your guide, you are on your own, so for us this, is going to be a bit of fun, reading maps hahahahaa.. It was getting cold by the time we started our tour.

welcome Tam-awan Village

The camera battery run out by the time we get on the second level of Tam-awan, so most of the shots came from my phone. Tara, lets start the tour...

Entrance to Tam-Awan Village

stick to your map and you wont be lost, the place is quite confusing but we learned it easily though. My other travel buddy felt the coldness of weather already besides its already past 3:00pm when we get there and theres a little rain shower already, So i told her we need to walk further so that our body can produce some heat, but she felt that she cant make it anymore. We left her at the third level, ava and i continued our trek until we reach the summit of Tam-awan

Second level - really did enjoy this one

 The trek will start on easy and as you reach each level is it getting harder and harder, beside our feet is already sores from lots of walking, and tam-awan village was quiete slippery that time because of a rainshower but Ava and I enjoyed the moment of trekking besides this will determined if she can make it to El Nido (anong connection ng baguio sa el Nido?) . I enjoy the scenery really. I love nature, and walk and pass this road refresh me from tiredness.

We went confused by the time we reached the middle part of the "jungle" (jungle daw oh) hahaha. we dont know which road we should take until we met some "hikers" going down and pointed to us the right directions. (feeling mountainer kami eh) and they said "goodluck nalang sa inyo" and then they laugh. mmmm we stared at each others eyes and ask "what do they mean?" but then we chose to take that as a joke and proceed to our trek. Finally we reached the summit.. I was wondering then. "where is the summit, Where is the dream catcher here?" because according to the map thats already the end of the trek, then Ava pointed out something to me sorry guys forgot to take some shot of the "dream catcher" we just laugh together and realized yun pala ang sinasabi nilang "good luck" sa amin nung mga kasalubong naming tourist..

The summit - Where it is?

 Anyways, ang mahalaga narating namin ang summit, fulfillment na din naman yon it took us one hour of trek back and forth

going down

 We did enjoy the view and the fog at the top

took noticed of this site while coming down, its creepy once you stared this one inside and I didnt dare to do it second time (takutin daw ang sarili.. haaha)

quiete creepy eh

 Before we went down we visited the tam-awan colesium again, forgot to take some shots and made a little chat to the employees, after the trek we cleaned up, ikaw ba naman ang pagpawisan despite of the fog, they have a nice rest room, continous water on the faucets.

waiting for taxi

While waiting for the taxi the fog came down and we shiverred on the coldness, when finally after 10 years of waiting nakasakay din kami ng taxi.

ginaw ...  grrrrr

Ask the driver to drop us at Bayanihan paid P78.00 for this ride. We bought jackets at ukay -ukay, mura lang kasi and good quality ang mga products, unexpected things happened, the rain poured out that evening.

Sa dami ba naman nang bit-bit namin namin from ukay plus tomguts na din kami, my travel buddies doesnt want to ride a taxi, mahal daw, but ending up riding on a jeepney and walk so far... tawa nalang ang ginawa namin kesa mainis diba. Ate our dinner at SM chowking, sa labas kami kumain daming tao sa loob, and it was a wrong decision coz its freezing cold already after dinner we get our things at sm baggage counter, from here we took taxi again, paid P45.00 we are sore tired and so sleepy by the time we reach the victory liner terminal, freshen up change our clothes pack our things and waited for our time of departure, the rain didnt stop and we can feel the coldness in our bone that very moment.

Back home at 7:00am of March 4, 2013, and have no energy to report for work, took my leave for that day and slept all day.

Authors Note:
1. Bring extra sweater aside from jacket with you if your planning to visit on those seasons, you cannot feel the breeze while the sun is rising, but if you want to avoid pnuemonia better take an extra cautions.
2. Don't dare the explore Baguio City for a day like what we did, one day is not enough to visit each spots two days and one night will do.

Thank you God for your provisions and your protection on this baguio trip, glory to you Jesus that I able to write and share my experienced and thought about this trip, Thank you Holy Spirit for helping me to create this post.

Happy reading....