#mountainprovince

[innayan]

THE HANGING COFFINS OF SAGADA

"Here lies our ancestors, where the gods reside"

[aprildaaays]

Sagada: Day 2 | Apr 14

Yes, I know. This post is long overdue. Almost 6 months of being a lazy bum, eh? So here it is!

We woke up early and got ready for the day. We tried Rock Inn and Cafe's breakfast menu before heading to Sagada Tourist Information Center. We'd already been there on our first day to pay the tourism fee, but we hadn't asked the local guides for tips and recommendations on what to see and do during our stay. So now we had our itinerary arranged for the day (it was free, by the way), and we even met a group to join us (or the other way around) to reduce the total fee (guide and transportation fee) per person for the whole trip. We all agreed to visit 3 attractions that day.

First Stop | Go Spelunking in Sumaguing Cave (Short Course)

Since we arrived early in the morning, the cave wasn't crowded, and you know what that means? No crowd means no photobombers. Yay! So we had two guides, one guide for a group of four. We were briefed on what to expect and what to do and not to do during the activity. No one is allowed to enter without a guide, and you can't wander around. Your group needs to stick together since it's pitch black and slippery inside. Only the guides had gas lamps. They don't provide any safety gear, helmets, or even flashlights, but you can bring your own if you'd like.

It took us almost two hours to finish the caving experience. It was exhausting and physically demanding for me, but I enjoyed it. I just personally didn't expect it to be that hard. I even slipped a couple of times. But don't worry, the guides will keep you safe, entertain you with stories and whatnot, and even be your personal photographer throughout the whole caving adventure.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Wear sandals or flip-flops. You’ll have to remove any footwear at a certain point. And be prepared to get wet! You’ll be wading through knee-deep/waist-deep cold water.

Wear something light and comfortable.

Stay with your group and listen to your tour guides.

Do not litter.

Bring your own flashlight or even safety gear if you are that afraid.

Use a waterproof camera. Refrain from bringing DSLR or any heavy equipment. These will just slow you down or will make it hard for you to cross trails and obstacles.

Beware of Bat droppings and urine.

Second Stop | Chasing Waterfalls: Bomod-ok Falls

After spelunking, we headed to see the Big Falls, also known as Bomod-ok Falls. To reach Bomod-ok Falls, you must endure about an hour-long walk, and another hour back, depending on your stamina or the number of breaks and stopovers for photo ops. The trail takes you through a village, some slippery and rocky sections, rice terraces, and cliff edges, but don't worry because half of the trail is cemented.

Yes, it was another tiring activity that required strength and endurance, especially on the way back up, but none of that mattered when you witnessed such majestic views. It was definitely rewarding and a must-visit.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Same with number 1 - 4 from the previous list.

Bring a cap/hat and sunglasses or an umbrella to shield you from the scorching heat or unforeseeable rain. And apply sunscreen.

You can ask for a walking stick. It’s free!

Bring water to keep you hydrated.

Bring a towel and a dry set of clothing to change into.

Stop taking too much photos. Live in the moment.

Last Stop | Back to Rock Inn - Town Proper

Our last planned stop was supposed to be Lake Danum to watch the sunset. However, since we finished our activities around 1 pm and we were all sweaty, wet (it rained as we headed back up), and worn out, we decided to conclude our itinerary. We went back to the inn to rest and change, then returned to the town proper and tried various restaurants and cafes that we passed by. I'll create a separate post about the food and restaurants. So, that's about it. By the way, most of these photos were taken by my boyfriend. Okay, see you later! ♡

[yosibreak]

Morning at Buscalan 😇 #travel #buscalan #kalinga #mountainprovince (at Tinglayan, Buscalan Kalinga)

[aprildaaays]

Sagada: Day 1 | Apr 13

Sagada was one of the places I had been eager to visit ever since I saw it in the hit film, "That Thing Called Tadhana." SO FINALLY!!! We booked our roundtrip bus seats (P720/one-way, Coda Lines Deluxe) a month in advance via Biyaheroes. It was hassle-free! The booking process was fast, and Miss Virna (customer support) was very helpful and patient with me. Our seat requests were accommodated accordingly, and we even received freebies. Highly recommended! Anyway, I had no idea how far it was. I thought it was just near Baguio, but it would take another 6 hours to get there. A total of 12 hours or more depending on the traffic and stopovers. But as for us, we endured the 15-hour drive to Sagada’s town proper due to unforeseen circumstances. We got stranded for 3 hours somewhere in Mountain Province. It was around 6 am when our bus couldn’t get through this muddy road close to the cliff edge. The bus driver didn’t push through since our lives were at stake. One wrong maneuver could have gotten us all killed. Thankfully, we were all safe.

Anyway, since we arrived late, we decided not to follow the itinerary we copied from the internet. We headed straight for the Tourist Information Center to register and to pay P35.00 for the environmental fee. The receipt would be checked upon entering tourist spots/areas, so we needed to carry it with us at all times. Afterward, we ate lunch at Yoghurt House (I’m going to create a separate post about the foods), then asked for a shuttle to pick us up from town to Rock Inn. This is one of the perks of being an in-house guest of Rock Inn and Cafe – you get to have a free one-way trip per day from Town-Rock Inn and vice versa. If in excess, you will be charged P250/one-way trip, or if you want to be picked/dropped at a specific place, you will be charged depending on the distance. By the way, the inn is 2 kilometers away from the town proper. So yes, we got their Executive Room for P2100/night. The room has 2 queen-sized beds and a private restroom, complete with hot and cold shower. It also has a panoramic view of the rock garden and gazebos. It was such a beautiful, cozy room. Another highly recommended place to stay. We were supposed to book at Sagada Blue Mountain Cabins, but it was fully booked already. Well, almost all of the inns/cabins/lodges we inquired about were all unavailable. Glad we found Rock Inn.

We basically did nothing but lounge around on our first day. We just wanted to chill and rest and condition our bodies for the activities the next day. So, it was such a spontaneous trip. This is my kind of getaway. Enjoying and taking your time, not squeezing in everything into your itinerary or cramming too much into your travel plans. There's always a next time, you know. Asis and I have learned our lesson. We experienced a lot of stress from our past travels, and we just didn't want it to happen again. Getaways are supposed to be relaxing, not exhausting or stressful. So, if you have any questions regarding this trip, please message or comment down below. I'll be posting day 2 and 3 + where to eat posts soon. If I'm not too lazy to create an update. Okay, see you later! ♡

[bosstsuna]

Tara Sagada?

[onesteptrekkers]

Maligcong Twin Hike

MT. FATO & MT. KUPAPEY

Location: Bontoc, Mountain Province

Features:

🌿 Majestic Maligcong Rice Terraces

🌿 Sea of Clouds at Mt. Kupapey summit (seasonal)

🌿 Rock formations at Mt. Fato summit

🌿 Friendly and Cute Guide dogs

🌿 Scenic trails covered with rich Fauna and Pine trees

🌿 Fascinating bonfire and picnic spot

You can experience this for only:

3599 php/head

Package Inclusions

Round trip AC Van transfers (MNL-Bontoc-MNL)

Diesel and toll fees

1 night Homestay accommodation

Registration and Guide fees

3 full board meals

Wood for bonfire

Coffee and snacks for picnic

OST Staff service fee

For further inquiries, send us a message: m.me/2367177550221206

Facebook: One Step Trekkers

Instagram: @onesteptrekkers

Tiktok: @onesteptrekkers

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: [phone]

[archkdaquino]

What if Mountain Province became a pre-colonial empire? Visuals generated using Midjourney. #mountainprovince #midjourney #midjourneyai #midjourneyart #midjourneyartwork https://www.instagram.com/p/CnEercHPp0N/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jhonfourteen]

A bunch of photos taken during our 4km amateur hike, and a couple of selfies to prove I was there #sagada #mountainprovince #nature (at Bomod-Ok Falls, Sagada Mt. Province) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiH89DFpGitXoGWUQa-Fk8vjoCU4DUBTfMFO840/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=