Playground of the Gods: Bomod-ok Falls

Another popular destination in Sagada that local and foreign visitors flock is the Bomod-ok Falls. But unlike other tourist spot, you will have to endure a long trek before you can get a glimpse of the Big Falls' magnificence.

The Banga-an trail may be the easiest for its paved trail, but let it be known that the steep ascent on your way back is not your usual walk in the park. Be sure you have enough strength for the hike back.

Do not be disheartened by the 40-50 minute hike. Afterall, you will not only be awarded with a view of the majestic falls at the end of the trail, but also breathtaking views of the Aguid Rice Terraces along the way.

Half-way in the trail is a village called Fidelisan where you need to pay a minimal fee of Php 10 per person for the maintainance of the paved trail. This is also the last village that has provisions like bottled water for sale.

The people of Mt. Province are friendly. Do not be shy and say hello when you meet them along the way.

When swimming in the pool below the falls be careful as the water is very cold and the sudden drop might catch you by surprise. Do not stray far from the edge and look before you step.

It is not uncommon to rain in the afternoon. Do not miss the mist over the terraces. It is an enchanting scene.

Getting there:

There are no direct bus trips to Sagada. There are three routes that visitors can choose from: the Banaue route (9 hours from Manila to Banaue, 2.45 hours from Banaue to Sagada), the Baguio route (6-8 hours from Manila to Baguio, 6-7 hours from Baguio to Sagada), and the Bontoc route (12 hours from Manila to Bontoc, 45 minutes to Sagada).

Florida Bus Line has regular trips from Manila direct to Banaue. It leaves Sampaloc, Manila (Lacson St. cor. S. H. Loyola St.) at 9 p.m. From Baguio, KMS Bus Lines and Ohayami Trans leave for Banaue at least twice daily. Visitors can get transportation from Banaue to Bontoc then onward to Sagada via public transportation or hire a private vehicle from Banaue direct to Sagada.

Rates:
Tour Guide – Php 600/group of 10 pax or less
Visitor fee at Fidelisan - Php 10/pax

Must Haves ...
Guide (you can find them at the Sagada Visitor Center)
Comfortable and light clothing
Durable shoes/slippers (it's a long walk)
Cap/Sarong
Sunglasses
Sunblock
Plastic bag/Ziploc (for your valuables, in case it rains)
Bottled Water

Nice to Have ...
Change of clothes (you may want to change [no dressing rooms] or just let your clothes air dry on your back)
Walking stick (for those not good with balance)

Stairways to Heaven: Hungduan Rice Terraces

Some are put off by the thought of the long bus ride (9 hours from Manila to Banaue, 1.5hours from Banaue to Hungduan) and the tiring walk (approx. 2 hours from Hungduan poblacion to the hot spring), but those who have been there swear that all the sweat was all worth it. Afterall, the terraces look like stairways to heaven and the fog (especially in the afternoon) almost make it a walk in the clouds experience.

What makes it special is that the terraces were carved by hand and with little to no machinery into the mountains 2000 years ago. Water irrigation is not a problem in this mountains as water run from an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces.

For the safety of visitors, the local government recommend taking a guide before starting the hike. Expect an alternating flat and steep hike over cemented but often narrow path. Remember to fully stop when appreciating the magnificent views. It's a long way down, mind you.

 

Along the way, evidence of Ifugao life greet visitors. People hard at work, family travelling, and even death. They bury their dead in their backyards.

At the end of the trail is a hot spring to soothe those weary feet.

The tarraces do not stop. On the way back, the expanse of the terrace is more evident.

Hungduan Rice Terraces is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural Landscape. Right so, as it is magnificent and just breathtaking - literally and figuratively. What are you waiting for, the mountains are calling you.

Getting There:

Florida Bus Line has regular trips from Manila direct to Banaue. It leaves Sampaloc, Manila (Lacson St. cor. S. H. Loyola St.) at 9 p.m. From Baguio, KMS Bus Lines and Ohayami Trans leave for Banaue at least twice daily. You can get transportation to Hungduan from Banaue.

Contacts:

Accommodation in Banaue

Banaue View Inn (Php 900/night), read review here.
Barangay Poblacion, Banaue
• Lily Luglu
• (361) 161

Jeepney for hire

Manong Peter Ramos
• (63920) 2787558

Guide

Javes Beyer
• (63926) 2320243

Suggested Itinerary for Caramoan & CWC, Camarines Sur

 

Its isolation and its distance from "civilization" is the main reason why the international franchises of the reality game show "Survivor" choose the peninsula as a site for several of their show's season. It is also for those same reasons that the peninsula has preserved its beauty. Return to the wild and consider the ordeal of a 10-hour bus ride from Manila or even a one-hour plane ride to Naga plus a combination of land and sea travel that last for four hours a challenge à la Survivor. Read more and view pictures of Caramoan, here.

 

 

Day 1 (Gota Village)

AM
620am – flight to Naga
715am – arrive at Naga
730m – taxi from Naga to Sabang port (1.5 hours)
9am – arrive at Sabang Port
11am - boat from Sabang port to Guijalo Port (2 hours) – 1st trip start at 7am

PM
1pm – arrive at Guijalo Port
110pm– tricycle from Guijalo Port to Centro (30 min)
130pm – arrive at Centro
135pm – check-in at tourist inn
145pm – lunch
245pm – start tour
- Gota Village
530pm – Back to Centro
6pm - dinner

 

Day 2 (island hopping tour)

AM
6am – bfast & buy packed lunch
615am - tricycle to Bikal Port
635am - start of island hopping
- Lahos Island
- Matukad Island - hike
- Honongan Island/Resort
- Minalahos Island 
- Tagbalinat Island
- Cotivas Island - swim

PM
1pm -lunch at Manlawi Island
2pm - continue with Island Hopping
- Manlawi Island - lunch
- Sabitang Laya Island - swim
- Mt. Carmel Caglago - hike
5pm – end
530pm - dinner

 

Day 3 (CWC & Naga Tour)

AM
6am – tricycle to Guijalo Port (30min)
630am - arrive at Guijalo Port
7am – boat from Guijalo to Sabang Port (2 hours) – last trip is at 11am
9am – arrive at Sabang Port
10am – jeep from Sabang to Naga (2 hours)

PM
12nn – arrive Naga
12nn - check in at Pension house
1230pm - lunch at SM City Naga
130pm - jeep & tricycle to CWC
5pm - tricycle & jeep to Naga
530pm - Naga tour
- Basilica de Penafrancia
-
6pm - shop for souvenir & dinner
 

Day 4

AM
930am – Brunch
10am - last minute souvenir shopping
1130am – go to airport

PM
1pm – flight to Manila

 

Road Trippin' over at the Blue Ridge Parkway

 

 

 

Cited as one of America's scenic highways, the Blue Ridge Parkway stretches over North Carolina all the way to Virginia. Along the highway, there are several scenic points where motorists can stop and enjoy the  scenery. Ravens Roost is one such place. Located at milepost 10.7 on the Virginia side of the parkway, it is a great side trip prior to a wine tasting spree in the area.

 

 

 

 

Aside from the "official" viewing deck, there are other interesting spots not far from Ravens Roost that offer equally magnificent views of the highway as well as the mountains.

 

 

 

Just be careful while traversing the sharp and pointed rocks over the steep cliff. Be on the lookout also for poison ivies (at least there were some when we went there).

 

 

 Don't lean too far! It's a long way down.

 

 

If you do decide to go on looking for secret cliffs like we had, do it another day or prior to any wine tasting tours you have planned. The idea of danger is always fun, but one wrong step and it would be bye-bye world. Don't do it our way -- that is .. rock climbing after wine tasting.

 

What were we thinking, you ask. The truth is, we were not thinking at all. Our trainer took us wine tasting in the morning and rock climbing after. Maybe he thought his "secret" cliff is too good to pass up when it was just along the highway back to Charlottesville where we were staying.  The wine robbed us of reason for that brief period of time.

 

Looking back, maybe the idea that we had  just wine, were not wearing proper footwear, and that we were about to traverse a steep cliff sort of awakened senses we didn't  know we had.  (read: we were extra careful.) Our senses worked full-time that whole time that we were still full of energy at sun down. It was as if our bodies were recharged. lol

 

It may have been liberating to do something spontaneous and for once not think of the consequence, but we were just lucky nothing bad happened. Not everyone will be lucky so don't risk it. Don't drink and climb!

 

 

 

** Please excuse the morbid closing as I am now back to my lucid and over-analytical state. :)

 

 

Photo Wednesday: Capones beckons

 

 

Capones Island in Pundaquit in the province of Zambales offers a different landscape from the usual coconuts found in a tropical island. It has big boulders and desert-like scenery that is sure to amaze anyone. It is unlike any other island I have been to.

 

 

 

 (Photo: Capones Island, Zambales, 2009)

Hiking at Shenandoah National Park

The Shenandoah National Park is sprawled over eight Virginia counties. A large chunk of its 105 mile stretch also covers the Appalachian Trail.  Hence, there are over 500 miles (800 km) of trails within the park. One of the easier trails is the Whiteoak Canyon Trail in Albemarle County. It is 2.65 miles (4.26 km) of alternating flat and steep hike over smooth and rocky terrain.

 

 

 

There are six waterfalls along the trail.  The first waterfall is a welcome sight to hikers after the first mile. This is the first of the three Lower Whiteoak Falls and is the tallest of the six standing tall at 86 feet.

 

 

 

Just a few minutes from the first waterfall is the second Lower Whiteoak Fall. It is much smaller in comparison but creates a mini slide for the hikers.

 

 

Along the way, the scenery does not fail to disappoint. Wooden bridge, smooth and rough boulders, small ponds, interesting cliffs, and the Blue Ridge Mountain are just some of the views that you can see along the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We only completed approximately 2 miles before we called it a day. We didn't know that it was barely a mile more to the sixth falls. Had we known, it might have encouraged us to go on with the hike some more. Or not. Some enjoyed the hike more than the others. For a pack that consisted of one who is afraid of heights and another who was not into hiking, it was a great hike and a refreshing experience nonetheless. Another one for the books.

 

 

 

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenandoah_National_Park
http://backpacking-trips.suite101.com/article.cfm/day-hiking-at-whiteoak-canyon-shenandoah-national-park-va-usa