We have been in the northern provinces for 4 days, with very limit internet access (yes they have internet access even in the back of beyond) but can't cope with uploading pictures.
It was an early start for the first morning, setting off at 6.30am, with a couple of guides (Arnold & Englebert)
Arnold is quite quiet, but Englebert is a bit of a character.
(watch out, Interpol are after you !!!)
Once out of Manila centre it is quite rural. Lots of villages on route with rice fields.
It took 10 hours to get to Banaue, where we viewed the Banaue rice Terraces, which stretch out over a very large area. Apparently, the ancestors of this area were headhunters. Thankfully, this is not practised anymore although we did see some heads mounted on a wall.
Then stayed over night, with a meal & had a few too many drinks with the guides. The deal with the guides is that we have to buy all the food & drinks, but this wasn't a worry as the food for 4 & drinks all night only came to £25.
Day 2 was going to Sagada. This took a few hours as we stopped at various view points to see the vast mountain ranges.
In Sagada, we visited the hanging coffins which is an ancient burial ground with coffins perched on the edge of rock faces. Still practiced today. They prefer this so the soul can rise to heaven.
We also visited a cave, with coffins at the entrance & a sign 'please don't open'. As if anyone would want to !!!
Then we went to another cave where we needed another guide, which involved quite a bit of trecking & climbing over slippy stones & wading through water. All in the pitch black with a tilly lamp, to see various rock formations.
After that it was back to our lodgings for yet another meal & too many drinks with the guides.
It was then an early start (5.00am) to see a sunrise. Well it was too hot to sleep anyway :-)
Unfortunately, it wasn't a magnificent sunrise, so it was back to the lodgings for breakfast & then off to the next destination, Baguio.
This is a little like Manila & called the summer capital of the Philippines. Stayed overnight at a nice colonial style hotel & then back to Manila.
