Philippines Travel Exploring Sagada On A Shoe String Budget

U rban dwellers would                                                 normally prefer to rove         In Banaue, travelers have the      around the metropolis and       option to take the day off and     explore every side-street in          trek along the well-engineered     search for ideal refuge, more         Banaur Rice Terraces or take a     than traveling to remote              jeepney ride to Bontoc and from    provinces. However, there are         there, one can catch a bus ride    more than 7,000 reasons to            to a more tranquil region, Sagada  explore the parameters of this        in Mt. Province.                   archipelago, taking into account                                         its profuse land and marine           Sagada has economical lodging      resources and myriad sanctuaries.     houses and hotels to spend the                                           night over. For as low as P200, a                                        traveler can avail of a bedroom    Among the many interesting            for two and a well-scrubbed        regions in the Philippines is the     common bathroom with sufficient    mountainous terrain and savanna       amount of water—for an overnight   in northern Luzon as inscribed in     abode. Even though electricity     the UNESCO World Heritage List.       and water are accessible in these  Part of this region is Sagada.        highland regions, one of the       With a measly P2,500, a               guidelines in immersing to remote  determined explorer can take a        areas is not to expect for urban   fulfilling jaunt to Sagada—a          amenities.                         serene mountain community in Mt.                                         Province. The adventurous             However, the lack of adequate      travelers would customarily take      necessities is not an hindrance    the 10-hour bus ride from Manila      to any devoted backpacker.         to Banaue, Ifugao (via Solano,        Indeed, the remarkable view of     Nueva Ecija route) that costs not     the mountains, sight of abundant   more than P300.                       natural resources, and exposure    to mountain community are enough      during the hours of hike.          reasons to enjoy the trip.            Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring                                             endpoint is an antidote to muscle  Trekking along the narrow             pain.                              mountain trails of Batad and                                             Bangaan Villages in Banaue is one     Batad is comparable to realizing   of the many leisure options where     the pot of gold at the other end   panoramic views of the terraces       of the rainbow. It boasts of       can be enjoyed. To keep track of      scenic and unspoiled layers of     the trail, a number of villagers      rice fields forming a colossal     can be hired for hours as tour        amphitheater, where native         guides.                               Ifugaos mostly dwell. The                                                terraces is still a functional     The trip is truly breathtaking        source of livelihood and personal  and for an amateur trekker, the       sustenance for Ifugaos, except     long hours of walk should not         for some where irrigation systems  impede them to reach the other        have been destroyed through        side of the trail. There are a        seepage, landslides, prolonged     number of brooks along the curvy      drought, erosion, and other        mountain range that are               inevitable natural calamities.     guaranteed to quench one’s thirst      About the Author: John Grant has been living in the Philippines for 5 years and has travelled the country extensively. His online Philippines Travel Guide covers major destinations like Sagada, Puerto Galera and Palawan. Source: www.isnare.com