Banaue, Ifugao..backpackers haven

I’m not sure how and why I missed out posting this story. I drafted this in MS word since day1 but forgot to post.

Banaue tops the list among foreign backpackers and lately become very popular among the locals too. During long weekends, most travelers make this as a side trip to Sagada or vice versa but venturing to Banaue requires longer period of time, even a lifetime isn’t enough.

The town of Banaue in Ifugao province has been home to a thriving ancient culture and very popular because of the Banaue Rice Terraces which is sometimes tagged as the 8th Wonder of the world. Officially the Banaue Rice Terraces is part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordillera is listed as UNESCO World’s Heritage Site – a continuing cultural landscape- in 1995. It has also been recognized as an engineering marvel built by unschooled and free Ifugao men. Ifugaos’ (people of Ifugao province) ingenuity is evident everywhere, a typical native Ifugao hut does not use a single nail or metal and it is even rat-proof but not to be fooled the Ifugaos’ are known to be fierce hunters and warriors , they command utmost respect.

The town center hasn’t much of a view, except for a small portion of unutilized rice terraces on the backdrop. One has to hike up the main road for a few minutes and stop at Viewpoint to glance at the real image of the terrace we normally see in the postcards. Image of green terraces with Ifugao (people of Ifugao province) people wearing their native costumes and houses in the far left –Banaue Town, Yes! that postcard.

Banaue is serviced by several bus company (Night trip - Autobus Transport and Florida Bus in Sampaloc, Manila and Victory Liner in Kamias Station, Quezon City) with a usual 10 hour run, a day trip however will take a longer time and you have to get off in Solano to take the jeepney bound for Banaue or Lagawe, ahh! better yet, just take the night trip otherwise take the Baguio City route. There are plenty of accommodations in Banaue, it really depends on your budget, no 5 stars facilities though.

To get around Banaue, you can walk around the town center and go to the hanging bridge where kids play and run while the bridge wobbles. You may plummet down straight to the river if it collapses. Better yet, take the rare jeep or hire a triclycle to Batad and spend a night or two in Batad.A Banaue village famous for it's best preserved amphitheater like rice terraces. Let me emphasize that the place is not for the tourist, Batad is a traveler’s haven.

My next post will be about Batad, Banaue.

Note: The posted pictures were taken way back in 1996.