Unplanned Banaue trip

It was an unplanned trip for Banaue because of my mom. Mom was expecting to see the Banaue Rice Terraces in our Baguio trip which unfortunately you cannot see. So, we went to Banaue to let my mom see the famous Banaue Rice Terraces.

The trip was seven (7) hours from Baguio. We took the van instead of the bus because of the time. Bus will leave at around 4am but it will take awhile because they need more passengers before they will go. That is why we took the van because they leave every two hours even if they have limited passengers. So, as expected we were the only passengers in the van going to Banaue. We did not pay for the whole travel, we pay as per head. 

This was taken while we are on our way to Benguet Province. Before reaching Banaue we need to pass by at Benguet, Mountain Province and Bontoc. This is the view of the road we took going to Banaue. 

 We had our stop over in one of the restaurant in Benguet and I took this picture from there. The same also

with this picture. In this picture, you can see already the terraces style but its not rice plants. Its vegetables that they plant in that terraces. After we ate, we left and continue to our travel. We were still in the half part of the journey.

 We stop over again at Bauko because the driver bought something to the stalls installed in here and I took this picture on the other side of the road. In here, as you can see are the list of what we can see along the road. I was curious about the Mt. Clitoris and was hoping to see it but along the way I did not see it because there were no labels along the road.

I took this picture of the direction while we were in Bauko, stil part of the Mountain Province. Since we are heading to Banaue Rice Terraces, we turn right going to Sabangan and Bontoc. The driver said that we are getting closer when we see Sabangan. Below are pictures that I took when we already left the place named Bauko. 

 I was really looking for that Mt. Clitoris because I got curious what it really looks like but I haven't found it.

When you travel on this side, you can really say WOW because of the beauty of the nature. Very green and there were no houses along the road and even "talyer." So if you will have to bring your own car, make sure to check your car and prepare it for a long trip before leaving.

It was around 3pm when we reached the Mt. Polis and next to it is the Banaue Rice Terraces. Banaue Rice Terraces was awarded as one of UNESCO World Heritage for how many years. My pictures was not that 

Finally reach at the entrance of Banaue Rice Terraces

 really good because when we reach Banaue Rice Terraces, the fogs were covering the view. I got my phone

 only to took this pictures because my battery was drained and my other phone with a good pixel was drained also.

We stayed overnight at Green View Lodge. Green View is near at the Police Station and the Market. Don't be surprise if you will see foreigners in this lodge and in their streets. There are many foreigners visits  Banaue. We stayed their because it was highly recommended in the Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor.com. We check-in at room for two (2) for Php250.00 each.  When we reached the lodge, there were locals who approached us and offer a hiking trip, taking them as our guide. They charged as Php2,500.00 but since I find it expensive and we are just there for a night, we decline there offer.

Also, the local offered me a map where you can see trail to other rice terraces of the villages. I was interested with the map and asked him how much, he said it was Php50.00. I doubt if it was really Php 50.00 because it was a mere paper with a sketch and its not even colored. So, I did not bought it and when I asked the receptionist in the restaurant (picture shown below)  if they have a copy of the map being showed to us. The receptionist showed it to me and said it Php10.00 if I'm interested. What a big difference from the price of the guide.

Taken at the terrace of Green View Lodge
Those buildings there are houses in the village, church and  school.

Green View Restaurant

The pictures below were taken early in the morning at around 6am. We were taking a short pictures because we will leave at 10:00 in the morning. The same van that we took but now it is a bit different because the van was full because there were other passengers coming from Banaue that will go home to Sabangan and Benguet.

Taken at Aguiyan Rice Terraces, the one that you can see in the Php 1,000.00 bill.

The view up there was very nice and magnificent. I can't imagine how the ancestors of Ifugao built this. According to Mr.Aguiyan, they have no land title for this. It is inherited from their forefathers and same thing will happen in the next generation. Although, the trip was so long, we enjoyed it very much. We reached Baguio City at around 4PM and preparing for our the next day for our trip to Manila.

So try to visit our own wonders of the world instead of looking it only at the books.