I guess I've been pretty busy, because shortly after going to Viet Nam, we went to the rice terraces near Banaue and Batad, as well as seeing Sagada. It was arranged through the AWCP, and there were about a dozen of us who went on the trip. It was described as a long bus ride one the way there--which it was, although we were in minibuses or oversized vans, not a big bus. We collected at 4am to leave from Manila, 
and arrived in Banaue somewhere in time for lunch. Along the way we got to see some of the effects of last year's Typhoons.
We also saw many terraces which had been washed down by the torrential rains, but more of those were in Batad than on the way up. Anyways when we arrived, we checked into the hotel, and then went to see around the town a bit. Rice Terraces, and rice terraces, and more rice terraces.
We also saw a traditional village museum, where there were skulls of Japanese WW2 soldiers on the wall. Yes there used to be headhunters in this region. 
And we met this guy who was wearing a Chico jacket along with his G-String and other traditional clothing. 
We also got to see the colors of the rice being planted and growing, but not getting ripe yet. We were just at the end of the planting season. Each of these terraces is owned by a family or person. In some of the terraces you can see a bright green spot in the middle of the water or mud. That is the rice nursery, where they have planted the seeds, and will pull them out and spread into the terraces to grow more.
The second day we took a ride up the hill. First by bus, then we switched to Jeepney.
Here you can see most of us inside the Jeepney, but some of us rode on top part of the way. 
The fresh air and tossing jeepney made for an exhilirating ride. Some of the locals would catch a ride for free. Somewhere along the way, we stopped at "hanging house" which looked like it was just hanging over the cliff. There was a toilet with a view.
Then it was a long hike down into Batad from the 'saddle' where the jeepney dropped us off. It took us about an hour to get down.
The path down was the only way to get things into the village, so we encountered people carrying all sorts of things up and down. The village is in a bowl, and very picturesque. From there some of us went on around the bowl to see different views, and two of the ladies went down to the river to see a waterfall.
At the start of the walk, Jane dropped her walking stick off the trail down into the mud in the terrace below. Our guide, Darwin, was kind enough to climb down and retrieve it for her. Here are a few more photos from the walk around to the other side of the bowl.
Russ and some of the others walking along the edge of the terrace. We had to be careful not to damage the wall, but also not to fall in or off, down the hill.
We even noticed some pineapples growing out between the rocks, here you see the water flowing into one of the terraces to water the rice. The terraces were alive with many different things, not just organic rice.
The third day we drove to Sagada via Bontoc. There we intended to visit a limestone cave, and the hanging coffins. We also enjoyed the cool air and pine forest around the town of Sagada. Going through Bontoc, we stopped at a small museum. There we learned about the peoples of the area, saw a small native village, and pictures from early last century, including one of a person slung off a pole, missing his head. Yes, they were headhunting as late as 1905 in this region.
There were many beautiful vistas and sights on the way to Sagada, and we did have to go around/over a couple of landslides which had covered the road.
Traveling towards Bontoc, going over the pass.
Green countryside along the way. Rice in full growth, but not yet ready for harvest.
We arrived in Sagada, had lunch at the yoghurt cafe, which was really good. Then we proceeded on to the limestone caves.
A couple of people went into the caves, while the rest of us explored more of the area, including one site where there were coffins stacked in the cave.
This area was used for burials up until not too long ago, when there was an earthquake and many of them fell into the cave. Now other sites are used for burials. Not everyone is buried this way, there are catholic and protestant cemeteries as well, but those who hold the old beliefs are 'buried' this way.
From there we went on to the actual hanging coffin site. We had to walk through the protestant cemetery, and on down the hill to get to this site. There are coffins from as late as a couple of years ago.
At the end of the day, we had a lovely dinner at the Log Cabin.
The last day, we had to drive all the way back home--more than 10 hours. Fortunately we didn't have to ride the way these people did, sitting on top of the bus. Our van was more like the one on the right side of the picture. As always, more photos here.
and arrived in Banaue somewhere in time for lunch. Along the way we got to see some of the effects of last year's Typhoons.We also saw many terraces which had been washed down by the torrential rains, but more of those were in Batad than on the way up. Anyways when we arrived, we checked into the hotel, and then went to see around the town a bit. Rice Terraces, and rice terraces, and more rice terraces.
We also saw a traditional village museum, where there were skulls of Japanese WW2 soldiers on the wall. Yes there used to be headhunters in this region. And we met this guy who was wearing a Chico jacket along with his G-String and other traditional clothing. We also got to see the colors of the rice being planted and growing, but not getting ripe yet. We were just at the end of the planting season. Each of these terraces is owned by a family or person. In some of the terraces you can see a bright green spot in the middle of the water or mud. That is the rice nursery, where they have planted the seeds, and will pull them out and spread into the terraces to grow more.
The second day we took a ride up the hill. First by bus, then we switched to Jeepney.
Here you can see most of us inside the Jeepney, but some of us rode on top part of the way. The fresh air and tossing jeepney made for an exhilirating ride. Some of the locals would catch a ride for free. Somewhere along the way, we stopped at "hanging house" which looked like it was just hanging over the cliff. There was a toilet with a view.
Then it was a long hike down into Batad from the 'saddle' where the jeepney dropped us off. It took us about an hour to get down.
The path down was the only way to get things into the village, so we encountered people carrying all sorts of things up and down. The village is in a bowl, and very picturesque. From there some of us went on around the bowl to see different views, and two of the ladies went down to the river to see a waterfall. At the start of the walk, Jane dropped her walking stick off the trail down into the mud in the terrace below. Our guide, Darwin, was kind enough to climb down and retrieve it for her. Here are a few more photos from the walk around to the other side of the bowl.
Russ and some of the others walking along the edge of the terrace. We had to be careful not to damage the wall, but also not to fall in or off, down the hill.We even noticed some pineapples growing out between the rocks, here you see the water flowing into one of the terraces to water the rice. The terraces were alive with many different things, not just organic rice.The third day we drove to Sagada via Bontoc. There we intended to visit a limestone cave, and the hanging coffins. We also enjoyed the cool air and pine forest around the town of Sagada. Going through Bontoc, we stopped at a small museum. There we learned about the peoples of the area, saw a small native village, and pictures from early last century, including one of a person slung off a pole, missing his head. Yes, they were headhunting as late as 1905 in this region.
There were many beautiful vistas and sights on the way to Sagada, and we did have to go around/over a couple of landslides which had covered the road.
Traveling towards Bontoc, going over the pass. Green countryside along the way. Rice in full growth, but not yet ready for harvest.We arrived in Sagada, had lunch at the yoghurt cafe, which was really good. Then we proceeded on to the limestone caves.
A couple of people went into the caves, while the rest of us explored more of the area, including one site where there were coffins stacked in the cave. This area was used for burials up until not too long ago, when there was an earthquake and many of them fell into the cave. Now other sites are used for burials. Not everyone is buried this way, there are catholic and protestant cemeteries as well, but those who hold the old beliefs are 'buried' this way. From there we went on to the actual hanging coffin site. We had to walk through the protestant cemetery, and on down the hill to get to this site. There are coffins from as late as a couple of years ago.At the end of the day, we had a lovely dinner at the Log Cabin.
The last day, we had to drive all the way back home--more than 10 hours. Fortunately we didn't have to ride the way these people did, sitting on top of the bus. Our van was more like the one on the right side of the picture. As always, more photos here.
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