day one brings me to banawe where we take a 2-3 hour jeepney ride to our jump-off at barlig. its actually my first time in banawe, so i took some snapshots of the view (only to realize these would not compare to what i would see later on in the trip)
because its the holiday season, there were some delays in our road trip which delayed our trek start to 3pm.
7 wet, muddy, steep, ladder-like uphill hours later, we reach the peak of mt. amuyao - cold and tired....but the 360 degree view in the morning was definitely worth it....
the next day brings us into a mossy forest trail ALL the way down the mountain.... parts of the trail are so narrow (even for my very small feet!), you could easily fall off the side of the mountain with a misstep. i had to "wall climb" down a pile of rocks at some point too. and if that wasn't enough, there was an erosion in the usual trail to Pat-yay village - which meant we had to go around through rice terraces and rocky rivers, IN THE DARK. at least we were able to stay in one of the family homes for the night. it was warm and cozy :)
mossy forest trail
our hosts for the night
sunrise at pat-yay
the third day is another intense uphill and then downhill trek, through rice terraces, to the next village of cambulo.... my legs have died at this point and each step was beginning to be a struggle, but i make it (barely!)... and i get to enjoy the fresh veggies, ifugao rice and an assortment of canned goods. and i whip up my usual dessert (oreo cream pie this time) to cap the night off.
views leading to cambulo...
cambulo...
the trek officially ends in cambulo but i decide to push on to batad (a place i've been wanting to see), which is just about 3 hours away. half of the group trekked up to kinakin road all the way to banawe, while some of us go on to batad. i slowly make my way, taking my time, now officially a tourist (and not a mountaineer! hehe).
and the place is as magical as everyone claims it to be.
first stop, tappia waterfalls - i took a dip in the "invigorating waters" with my 4-day-old pants hoping to wash away some of the seemingly permanent mud stains and to ease some of my aching muscles... before the uphill trek to the inn where i'll be spending the night.
needless to say, the view from the rita's inn was breathtaking....
all in all, i don't think i have ever felt as spent and exhausted as i have in the past week ... but it's an experience i would never trade. i probably would never do it again (haha! - at least not in the near future!) but am super glad i did it!!!
1 comment:
it was a really great trip! i really regret not joining you guys. booo
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