Friday, 24 October 2008
Our first stop was in Poitan, the first village that is passed by along the road to Batad. We really had to stop here anyway. Brutus had to fix our gear.
Although the more popular of Banaue’s rice terraces can be found in Batad, as well as those that can be seen along the Banaue-Bontoc road in Barangay Viewpoint, all the other villages have land allotted for rice culture.
This is how the paddies in the rice terraces look like when viewed closer. This cluster is just off the road in Poitan.
Our next stop was at Guihob, a place where locals and visitors go for picnics and for a cool refreshing swim (especially during summer) in natural spring water coming from a small waterfall.
Waterfalls are a precious resource in the Cordilleras. It is amazing to know how the natives have been harnessing the power of the falls to irrigate their farmlands since ancient times.
A dam is usually built to constrain the water flow, and the spillover, ingeniously regulated by some primitive but effective form of a flood gate, is diverted into dikes and ditches that feed water to the crops.
Our next stop was in Kinakin, another of the villages along the road to Batad. Notice that most of the farmland are built along or near the banks of a river.
A church atop a hill in Kinakin, reminiscent of the Anglican mission churches established at or near the villages of the Cordilleras in the early 1900s. Although the Spaniards were able to Christianize most of lowland Luzon during colonial times, they met stiff resistance and so had limited presence in the mountains of the north.
After Kinakin, we encountered portions of the road under construction that time. If you are planning to bring your own wheels, make sure it will be ready for something like these.
Our next stop was at this curio shop perched atop the edge of a hill. Not sure which area this is. The sign says Dalican view deck, but on further research, there is no barangay or village named Dalican in Banaue.
And this is the view deck, overlooking the valley below.
Now this is one case where having your own wheels is a big plus. I wanted to buy some awesome wood-carved panels I found at the shop, but how am I going to carry all that stuff along?
Anyway, after about an hour and a half on the road, we finally reached Bangaan. This heritage site is an alternative for those who cannot make the two hour trek to Batad.
A 20-minute hike takes you down to the village, which showcases a typical Ifugao community with livelihood activities within the surroundings, such as weaving and woodcarving.
I figured it would take me about an hour or so if I trekked down to the village and back. By this time, it was getting a bit uncomfortable having other people, like the Osmonds, seemingly growing impatient, understandably eager to reach their own destination early. (Hello, I’m paying part of the rent, remember?)
Anyway, I was a bit tired, having had little sleep the night before, I felt I wouldn’t be able to hack the hike in a hurry as they might expect me to, and I didn’t really want any more discussions so I just dropped the idea.
But if you have the time and the energy, I suggest you take the hike. Everyone I met in town who’s been there tells me it’s all worth it.
LESSON: If you will be sharing a ride with others, choose the people you will be sharing with wisely. As much as possible, share a ride only with people who will be going to the same destinations as yours. If not, better make sure everyone understands what everyone is entitled to at the onset. 
Shortly before 11.30am, we reached the junction. The Batad rice terraces cluster, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a nine-kilometer hike away from this juncrion.
As Brutus and the Osmonds were finalizing their pick-up arrangements, I saw this curio shop. Again, how I wished I could bring some of these home.
To be continued . . .
), especially after a very tiring day of photo-sightseeing. Prices are just about average, from P80 to P120 per meal.
