Cave Connection

It's a coffin in Lumiang Cave. The coffins there are very simple and were just carved from pine logs. The guide points out that caves are for common people and cliffs (hangging coffins) are for the rich.

Wild Berries

Wild berries I saw on my way to Lake Danom.

Lost

This photo is very memorable. I took this when I got lost on my way to Mt. Ampacao via Lake Danom. The white things in the middle are the houses in Besao, the next town after Sagada.

Haddeku

I asked the owner what Haddeku means. She replied that she doesn't know, it is just a combination of the names of her three kids.

Hut

This photo was taken on my way to Lake Danom. The hut looks deserted and possibly just a storage for harvested crops.

Rooster

A rooster vocalizing on my way to Lake Danom.

Reservoir in Aguid

I think the people in the photo are fishing. This was taken on our way to Bangaan from Aguid.

Aguid Rice Terraces

Bomod-ok

Aka Big Waterfall.

Fidelisan

This photo was taken while I'm descending the loooong stairs that lead to Fidelisan. The terraces here are made of rocks unlike those in Banaue which are made of soil.

Calvary Hill

Sagada Fire House

The white building is the hospital, next to it is the small fire house, and the Sagada Community Consumer's Cooperative.

Second Day Dawn

Back to Town Proper from Kiltepan

Kiltepan

I went to Kiltepan via a shortcut indicated in the map but not frequently used. The trail is via the road going to Mapiyaaw Sagada Pension. I nearly got lost (again!) because the trail is not well defined.

I didn't see a tower there but the view of the rice terraces are very good and is worth the long walk.

Welcome Billboard

Registration is required because they collect a 10 peso environment fee and so that they'll know if anything untoward happens. There's a curfew too, although it's not strictly enforced. Mrs Green House quips that some of her foreign guests come in as late as 2 in the morning.

Cemetery

This is the cemetery of Sagada. A few steps up is the Calvary Hill. This is where I saw the tomb stone of John Yamashita.

St. Mary's Church, Bell

It's located in front (or is it the back?) of the church. By the way, although established much later than Roman Catholism, the Episcopal Church of the Philippines owns the following:


-- Theological Seminary
St. Andrew's Theological Seminary, Quezon City
-- Colleges
Trinity College of Quezon City
Easter College, Baguio City
Brent Hospital School of Midwifery, Zamboanga City
-- High Schools
St. Andrew, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
St. Francis, Upi, Maguindanao
Good Shepherd, Calarian, Zamboanga
St. Stephen, Binondo, Manila
Trinity, Quezon City
Easter School, Baguio City
St. Paul, Balbalan, Kalinga
St. Mary, Sagada, Mountain Province
St. James, Besao, Mountain Province
St. Alfred, Besao, Mountain Province
6 Elementary Schools 54 Preparatory Schools
4 International Schools (Brent Schools -- Baguio, Laguna, Manila, Subic)
-- Hospitals
St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City
Brent Hospital, Zamboanga City
St. Theodore's, Sagada, Mountain Province

(lifted from: http://www.geocities.com/maochiph/Episcopal_Church_Phils.html)

Sagada Coop Canteen

After the Echo Valley hike, I had snacks in Coop Canteen. Their banana cake is nice and cheap. The cake plus sofdrinks is only 30 something pesos. And a serving is very big for one person.

John Yamashita

This is John Yamashita's tomb stone in the cemetery behind St. Mary's School. Yamashita is a Japanese general during WWII who hid in Ifugao. Is he related to this John Yamashita?

Hanging Coffins

After having lunch and a quick nap, I went to SMS (that's what they call St. Mary's School), the church, the cemetery, Calvary Hill, Echo Valley and the hanging coffins.

I didn't follow the map well enough and I ended at the back of the school where the soccer field is. (This unfortunate event will be repeated several times.) So I have to walk back again to the front of the school and find the faceless markers which I suppose were stations of the cross.

With the help of local children I met in the cemetery, I was able to find the way down to the Echo valley and the hanging coffins.

Yoghurt House

I was very hungry when I arrived so upon check in in The Green House, I immediately looked for Yoghurt House, with "h" syempre. It was indicated on the map I printed from the Internet but I didn't see it and I ended up near the Residential Lodge.

I only saw it on my way back.

The restaurant is very small and only has five tables. I ordered vegetables and yogurt with mixed fruits. The first was very spicy, but the yogurt is unforgettable. I even quipped to the cook that "pwede na akong mamatay!" (now I could die!) .

The Green House

This is probably the cheapest place to stay while in Sagada. I am so glad that Mr. Kimchi pointed me to this inn.

The Green House Inn is located a few steps down the road from the Municipal Hall. It's on the right side of the road and is behind Persimmon Cafe. On the other side of the road is the Igorot Inn.

Of course, Lola Green House was there to welcome me! My room was on the second floor near the rest rooms.

Cooking is allowed for 10 pesos per head. Hot water for bathing is also available, you should see their giant pot!

Arrival

I arrived via Cable Tours in Bontoc as scheduled but I was very tired. The seat of the bus was very small and the one seated in front of me reclined his seat. So for more than 8 hours I only had about 2 inches of space to move my knees.

When we were nearing Bontoc, I asked the man seated beside me where to find the jeepney to Sagada. It turned out that he owns Kimchi, a Korean restaurant inside the building of Igorot Inn in Sagada. We rode the jeepney together which left at around 9:30. Upon arrival he advised me to look for Green House. I registered with the Tourism Office, paid 10.00 and proceeded to the Green House.

Lola Green House...is Alive

I've read somewhere in peyups.com that Lola Green House is dead. It's not true! I stayed in The Green House throughout my stay in Sagada and she's always there. I even watched American Idol with her.