This trip is pretty special to me for 2 reasons: 1.) This is my first time going past Baguio and 2.) This is the first trip that I fully funded myself. I wasn’t able to go up last December due to my work schedule, but I promised myself that I’d make time this February.
There were 5 of us in the pickup truck – Addie, Jill, and I sat in the back while Ryan and Gino taking turns with driver duties. With all our bags and food stored safely in the cargo area, we left Manila around 3 PM. 12 hours and 407 kilometres later, we arrived in the beautiful municipality of Sagada in the Mountain Province.
...Buuuuuuuut not before stopping over San Juan Surf Resort for some coffee. Since we decided that the La Union route is safer than the Baguio route, it was perfect! We were energized once again and ready to overcome the remaining 6-hour drive. I would highly suggest taking this route, especially if you’ll be still be on the road when night falls.
I told my friends I wasn’t gonna post any of our jologs photos on my blog.
Plot twist: I lied
When I awoke at 4 AM, a freezing sensation instantly came over me. Once my eyes adjusted to my dark surroundings, I realised we were finally in Sagada! TIP: make sure to have a stopover before heading up the mountains so you can wear your layers. All of our bodies went into shock when we got out of the truck to get our sweaters and jackets from the back because it was SO COLD! It was 14ºC and the drizzling only made it colder.
Our original plan was to go up Marlboro County Peak and enjoy the sunrise until we can check-in our accommodations. BAD IDEA. Apparently, you can only bring a car so far up the trail and you’d have to hike the rest of the way. None of us knew this so we continued to drive up the trail until we reached a pretty wide and deep muddy puddle. Considering we had a 4x4, no one protested against the idea of going through that puddle. After a few attempts of passing through, we decided (a little too late, might I add) that it wasn’t the smartest idea and we should just back up and go back down. Let me just reiterate – BAD IDEA! Our first 30 minutes in Sagada and we had already managed to get ourselves stuck! We all admitted that during our little mishap, we were all praying for our lives and thinking about what our families would say if we weren’t able to get out. Luckily for us, Gino is an excellent driver and we eventually got out of that puddle. We erupted in nervous laughter as we drove back down, at the same time feeling relieved that we got ourselves out of that sticky situation.
The aftermath
After our unlucky brush with possibly near death, we instead went up to Kiltepan View (they shot a scene in That Thing Called Tadhana here! HAHA) for the sunrise and some breakfast. We all got a bowl of organic champorado and honestly, it was heaven; it was the perfect thing to keep our bodies warm. Sadly, we weren’t able to see the sunrise because of how foggy it was. :-(
TBH I was completely unprepared for the weather
Freezing and exhausted, I took a nap and woke up in the Sagada town proper. Jill, Gino, and I downed another cup of coffee in Sagada Lemon Pie House to get through the next couple hours.
After jolting ourselves awake, we paid Addie and Ry a visit in Clay Haus Inn. The coolest part about Clay Haus Inn is that their rooms are actually mud houses! Kuya Egbert, the owner, also built a small mud house with a fire pit and a chimney for his guests.
YES TO BEING ECO-FRIENDLY!
Addie and Ry inside the fire pit mud house
SB & Jill outside the fire pit mud house
After waking up from a well-deserved nap in Addie and Ry’s room, we checked-in at Kanip-Aw Pines Lodge in the afternoon. The room we were placed in was so beautiful! We had a balcony overlooking a stunning mountain view, 2 queen sized beds, and the shower had hot water (thank God)! The owner, Kuya Oscar, knows my friends since they stayed there before and he was kind enough to give us the last room. TIP: Book your lodging early and make sure to double check if there are any festivals in Sagada during your stay. Don’t make the same mistake as we did; we’re just thankful Kuya Oscar had 1 more room!
I already miss waking up to this view in the morning
After saying hello to him, we took a 2-minute walk to Sagada Happy House for late lunch. The temperature was starting to drop once again, so I figured arrozcaldo (congee) would hit the spot.
Since Sagada is a walking town, we left the truck in Kanip-Aw and walked up to the city proper. If you’re from a megacity like Metro Manila, being able to walk through an area without the sun and smog slapping your face is a blessing. Walking uphill is a struggle for most city folks, but it’s nothing short of enjoyable in a place like Sagada. My favourite part about our walk is that they have a wine refilling station!
The wine is homemade by Kuya Egbert himself, and a 1L bottle falls at Php250. We all got a full shot and continued exploring the town.
Don’t think we’d be the type of people to say no to wine
The Etag Festival celebrates Sagada’s very own raw smoked pork, called etag. The town proper was buzzing; there was a huge crowd doing different things: selling items, joining in the program, and even playing basketball. Strangely enough, as we walked from stall after stall, the vendors were selling random items like children’s toys, thick blankets, and cellphones. We didn’t catch any street parades, dancing, or stalls that actually sold etag which made me a little disappointed since I really wanted to try it and maybe bring some home!
We continued on the path to Sagada Weaving. Considered as the pioneer of weaving in the area, they set up shop in 1968. It’s probably the most famous brand of Sagada-made bags, and you can be sure that their items are made in Sagada because they have an area where the weavers actually do their thing. Photo taking isn’t allowed inside, but it was such a mind-blowing experience to see the perfection and effort weavers put into creating these beautiful items. It’s a tedious and intricate process, and I’m sure it’s not a job for just anyone. It definitely made me appreciate my Sagada bag more (even from it’s from a different brand). I don’t fully understand the process of weaving, and trying to explain it would be completely useless so I’m just going to tell you all to visit Sagada Weaving when you’re there.
Some bag designs from the main shop. They also have duffle bags and pouches!
All that walking got us spent, so we went to have dinner in Ramyun. The greatest part about this restaurant is that it’s Korean but the vibe is very Jamaican! You have the green, yellow, and red colours plus pictures of Bob Marley hanging around.
“There’s no sweeter combination than peace and love.”
A very psychedelic feel
They offer ramyun noodles, veggie bowls, Filipino dishes (I got bangus, hehe), and Korean BBQ! Their Kimchi was especially good though, and we all have this theory that it’s homemade and organic like most of the food in Sagada. I honestly fell in love with their Kimchi and I’m still craving for it. :-(
We retired around a fire back in Clay Haus Inn, sharing stories and passing a bottle of Kuya Egbert’s rice wine. Definitely the best way to end day 1.
P.S. Special thanks to Jill for letting me use her photos!
