Traveling to Banaue, Ifugao

Banaue Rice Terraces dubbed as the Eight Wonder of the World

Day O: Traveling from Manila to Banaue (April 2,2013)

Directions to Ohayami Bus Station

LRT1 (Light Rail Train) to Tayuman Station.Jeepney Ride (Terminal near Metrobank Tayuman) to Ohayami Station (Espana, Manila)

Left Ohayami Station (Manila) by 9pm (Estimate 9 Hours Travel) to Banaue, Ifugao
     -Had 3 Stopovers (One is in San Miguel Bulacan, the other two I didn't know (Half Awake?)

Tips and Info
     -Bus has no CR/ Freezing Cold/ Make sure you are wearing closed shoes,with socks and jackets preferably  with hood or wear bonnet.Bus Fare is P450
     - Ohayami Station is located along Lacson St corner Fajardo in Espana Manila (nearest landmarks are Metro Oil Gas Station, a Fire Station and Florida Bus Terminal).

Anyway, Here's our Itinerary (Me and My Friend, Cels )
    - Banaue,Ifugao to Sagada,Mt. Province to Baguio City, Benguet(3 Cordilleran Provinces)

Itinerary:
  Day I:Banaue, Ifugao (April 3,2013)

     Arrived at Ohayami Terminal (Banaue) around 6-630 AM.Cold Weather even it was Summer Season.Contacted our Local Guide, (made prior arrangements before the trip).

     Breakfast and Checked in at People's Lodge (for a Non-Aircon Room Good for 2/Common ToiletBath)


By 9AM, We started our Banaue Tour

     Our Itinerary (Sightseeing 3 ViewPoints, Hapao Rice Terraces)
     Transportation (Tricycle)
     Charge of the Tour with Transpo (P900)
     Duration (9-5pm)

1st Stop:Dayanara Viewpoint
     -According to our guide, just give any amount or tip to elder Ifugaos.

Dayanara Viewpoint (the 1st Viewpoint we visited)

2nd Stop:P1000 Bill-Viewpoint
     -Updated: featured at the Wakeboarding Video Controversy . Watch this!

At the P1000 bill

3rd Stop:P20 Bill- Viewpoint

At the P20 bill

 

"I'm sure you are checking your P20 and P1000 bills right now!" (Philippine Peso Bill)

After the 3 Viewpoints, we went straight to Hapao Rice Terraces which is located at the Municipality of Hungduan (Traveled 1.5 Hours from  our last stop in Banaue)

Other Rice Terraces in Banaue

The Bridge signifies the Border of Hungduan (Left Side) and Banaue (Right)

Hapao Rice Terraces (One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cordillera)


Had numerous photo sessions at Hapao Rice Terraces,time to eat our Lunch.Afterwards, our guide encouraged us to stroll around the area (We disagreed! "Kuya, Rice Terraces overload na kami!").

Hiwang Viewpoint

Back to Banaue, Our guide brought us to Hiwang Viewpoint as Bonus Tour. Hiwang Viewpoint was featured on "Dont Give up on Us" (Local Filipino Movie)

According to our guide, at Hiwang they accept Tourists if they want to feel,experience staying at traditional Ifugao Houses. (It is almost similar to the pictures below)

For my curiosity, I insisted our guide to teach me How to Chew "Moma"in Cordilleran ("Nganga in Tagalog, Betel Nut in English")

 

BonFire Area (Dont make any wrong move, Thats cliff already!)

Used to be the Residential and Artillery Houses of the tribes (Now a  Mini- Museum)

A necklace (with Animal Claw Pendants)

After the tour, they showed us How to cook  Pinikpikan (Cordilleran delicacy)

Downtown Banaue Proper

Back to Lodge, freshen up time. Wrong moved for checking in for a Budget Room( Common CR/No Hot Shower).The biggest challenge for us, To take a bath,with this freezing cold temperature. No choice,"Buhos Tubig kasama Sigaw, Shampoo then Sabon all in one, then after Buhos Tubig Sigaw . Banlaw! Bahala na!).Best in Nginig este Ngatog Pala (Mas OA na Nginig!)"

*People's Lodge is located near the Ohayami Bus Terminal (Banaue). Has budget rooms suited for Backpackers. They also have Rooms with Hot and Cold Shower (later we found out after the Bath Challenge).WIFI is only at their restaurant and they have no sockets/outlet in each room, Yes, if you need to charge your gadgets and etc. You have to go at their receptionist at Restaurant (which is very open to public) and let your stuff charge there without any claim tags who is the legit owner (Hmmm... Sayang! Inangkin ko sana yung Laptop at Iphone na nakacharge dun. Hahaha).And one more thing  they have curfew.

Dinner Time at this Restaurant(I forgot the name! Sorry!)
- Pinikpikan for Dinner (cooked by our Guide)- Had Bonfire, Chit Chat and Booze Session with them. 

Finished Product ("Pinikpikan -Tinolang Manok Style")

Tips:
    -  . Average meal at Peoples Lodge starts from P100.
    - There are Karaoke Bars at proper Banaue (Has curfew also)
    - No commercial Banks and ATM machines in Banaue 

Info:
    -Banaue Rice Terraces are made of ClayMud Wall, while in Hapao and Batad are made of Stonewall.
    -If you want to try, a Moma (Nganga) costs P10. Chewing Betel Nut ("Moma" in Cordilleran and "Nganga" in Tagalog is their local chewing gum)

    -Banaue is the capital of Ifugao Province, the people living in Ifugao are "Pugao" not "Igorot".Igorots are in Mt.Province and Benguet also in Cordillera Region.
    - If you're into Trekking and adventurous you can go to Batad Rice Terraces and visit Tappia Falls but if you just want to see Rice Terraces and has limited time and budget, just visit the 3 popular Viewpoints (the one at the new P20 bill and the old P1000 bill) and Hiwang Viewpoint.
    -For souvenirs, there are a lot of shops in each Viewpoint.
    -If you're familiar with the local movie "Mumbaki" they showcased the beauty,traditions of Ifugao.

Next: Traveling to Sagada, Mt. Province. Click here