Conquer Sagada

I've long waited for the day.. Finally, last week, I was able to visit Sagada!

25 January, Manila 9pm, Ohayami Transit, Lacson

Lumarga ang bus namin papuntang Banaue. The trip was 9 hours long and I almost had butt sore!

January 26, Day 1, 6am, Banaue

Ta-daa!!

Banaue Rice Terraces

Breakfast, konting photo op sa View Deck and off we went to Bontoc and from there, another ride to Sagada.

Napilit ko ang mga kasama ko na mag-top load! Kamusta naman ang hilo at view ng bangin?! Hahaha

2 hours ang byahe from Banaue- Bontoc. From Bontoc, another ride to Sagada for one hour. Kalahating araw na biyahe, spell paguran?! Pero ayos lang. Pag may tyaga, may Sagada. :)

Mabilisang lunch and konting freshen up then larga na kami sa unang destination!

We were accompanied by the most accommodating tour guides in the whole of Sagada- Kuya Fred and Kuya Sito. Nag-trek kami ng mga kalahating oras at hiningal ng bongga sa taas- baba na trail to Lumiang Burial Cave.

Lumiang Burial cave

And then off we went to Sumaguing Cave! I've been wanting to get inside to see it's majesty. It wasn't an easy trek. The slippery stones and the mud and the cold water spell struggle. Pag maswerte ka, baka mahulugan ka din o mahawakan mo ang dumi ng mga paniki.

Inside Sumaguing Cave

Beautiful (and weird) rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites, freezing cold water-- my jaw dropped in awe! Sobrang ganda! The trek tested my endurance and agility- I even tried the hard water tunnel trail but it was worth it! 

January 27, Day 2, 4am, Kiltepan Peak

It's a 4km walk to Kiltepan. Yes, inakala namin na kami ay kamag-anak ni Iron Man kaya naisipan namin na lakarin na lang ang Kiltepan Peak to watch the sunrise.

Ngunit, 6.30 na at di pa din bumababa ang fog at umuwi kaming luhaan. Walang sunrise na nagpakita..Ahahaha

Paano ba naman magpapakita si Haring Pebo sa napakakapal na fog na iyan? :))

9am

Isang malalang trek na naman to reach the hanging coffins at the Echo Valley

Nakaka-amaze how the people of Sagada are able to hang these coffins. Some are at the super top! Our guide told us that the last coffin to be buried there was during 2010. Hulaan mo nga kung anung coffin yun? :)

Isang malalang lakaran na naman na may halong buwis-buhay moves to go to the Underwater River.

Sa loob din ito ng isang napakagandang cave.

A little after lunch, we were able to reach Bokong Falls!

Bokong Falls. I would have wanted to dip- but the water is ice cold! At saka malalim daw..di ako swimmer-afraid! :)

We went to the Yoghurt House to have lunch. A little pricey but the food is super great. You must try the strawberry yoghurt too. Delicioso!

Around 4pm, we went to Lake Danum to watch the sunset and have bonfire.

It was cloudy pa din..And we were not able to catch the sunset.

Lake Danum

We had a bonfire at lake Danum during the night at bago natapos ang gabi, our tour guides surprised us and handed us our certificates! Yes, we conquered Sagada!

Maluha-luha pa ako nung inaabot sa aking yung certificate ko..ahihihi

I had a very wonderful experience at Sagada. There are many physical activities to do and so many great sights to see. I didnt know I had an adventurer in me.

Sagada exposes another side of the Philippines. Yes, I have been to the best beaches of the archipelago, but this majestic haven up North boasts of beauty that one must explore.

Definitely, a place I will visit again.