Time Travelling
This week it felt like we went back in time.
We went to the Rice Terraces twice this week. On Monday we went on an exploratory mission to see the Rice Terraces of Batad, because we were unhappy with the hike we had been taking the departing missionaries to. We were up early on Monday, and headed out. It was a completely different route, and we hoped that it would work out.
The Batad Terraces are only 67 km away from Cauayan, but it takes 3 hours to get there. I am resigned to it taking ridiculously long times to get places, but still not a fan of spending so much time in the car. I feel like it is wasted time, and it is always an adventure on the roads.
The road was narrow and windy, but for the most part, paved. I compare it to a bad carnival ride. There were a few spots where there was only one lane, because of small mudslides, but all in all, not that bad. The good news is that it is road that isn't traveled by the big rice trucks, and we only saw one jeepney and one bus. The scenery was beautiful. The air was cool and not muggy. All good.
We arrived at the parking area 3 hours and 15 minutes after leaving Cauayan, and headed out on foot for the 20 minute hike to the terraces. They are breathtaking! I can't believe that they have all been made by hand, they estimate about 2000 years ago!
It was like we had travelled back in time. The little village is not accessible by any sort of motorised vehicle. Anything they need must be brought in by foot. When we came back on Friday with our departing missionaries, we saw numerous men (and one boy, I think he looked about 11 or 12) carrying in bags of cement on their heads, and others bringing in rebar. Someone must have been building. All of the terrace work is also done by hand. No carabaos or harvesters here. They are just getting reading to plant, so the paddies are flooded, and we watched a few women preparing for planting. The bright green seedlings are nearly ready to be transplanted.
There is no cell service, and the GPS on my phone also stopped working. It was refreshing to be totally unplugged.
On Monday we had to figure out a good route for the time we would have available with the departing missionaries. We finally found a good route across the terraces, then hiked up to the viewpoints. After being at the top of the terraces, we hiked down to the bottom of the valley to Tappiya Falls.
Although the falls were lovely, I thought that hike back up to the terraces was going to kill me. Luckily the rest of the hike once back up from the falls was basically flat, with only a little climbing. On Friday we hiked across the terraces, (remembering exactly where to go!), then down to the village. This was a mistake! Then we had to climb up all the way from the bottom to the very top, on seemingly never-ending steep staircases. I think in the future we will go to the viewpoints, then come back the way we came.
After the hike at Batad, we continued on to Banaue to see the viewpoints and to shop for souvenirs. I think the young missionaries look forward to the shopping more than the sites. The prices are much better in Banaue, and so is the selection, so it makes sense to go there. We came back our regular route, through Lagawe and Bagabag, then back home. It is about a 13 hour day.
Our legs were so sore after hiking on Monday! We hobbled around all the way to Thursday, and I was worried about heading out again so soon. My legs were fine on Friday morning, but Kipp's were still sore. But he experienced a little miracle, as when he stepped out of the car at Batad, his legs no longer hurt. And, I am happy to say, neither of us had sore quads yesterday or today, even with all those stairs to climb at the end.
This weekend was District Conference in Cauayan. We are hoping that it will be the last District Conference for Cauayan, and that next time there is a conference here it will be to form a Stake. It is a great blessing to see the growth of the Church here in the Philippines. These are people who have so very little in material things, but they have a thirst for spiritual things. They are excited to learn of the gospel and live by its precepts. Really, they are very rich.
We went to the Rice Terraces twice this week. On Monday we went on an exploratory mission to see the Rice Terraces of Batad, because we were unhappy with the hike we had been taking the departing missionaries to. We were up early on Monday, and headed out. It was a completely different route, and we hoped that it would work out.
The Batad Terraces are only 67 km away from Cauayan, but it takes 3 hours to get there. I am resigned to it taking ridiculously long times to get places, but still not a fan of spending so much time in the car. I feel like it is wasted time, and it is always an adventure on the roads.
The road was narrow and windy, but for the most part, paved. I compare it to a bad carnival ride. There were a few spots where there was only one lane, because of small mudslides, but all in all, not that bad. The good news is that it is road that isn't traveled by the big rice trucks, and we only saw one jeepney and one bus. The scenery was beautiful. The air was cool and not muggy. All good.
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| Native Philippines deer we spotted just off the highway |
It was like we had travelled back in time. The little village is not accessible by any sort of motorised vehicle. Anything they need must be brought in by foot. When we came back on Friday with our departing missionaries, we saw numerous men (and one boy, I think he looked about 11 or 12) carrying in bags of cement on their heads, and others bringing in rebar. Someone must have been building. All of the terrace work is also done by hand. No carabaos or harvesters here. They are just getting reading to plant, so the paddies are flooded, and we watched a few women preparing for planting. The bright green seedlings are nearly ready to be transplanted.
There is no cell service, and the GPS on my phone also stopped working. It was refreshing to be totally unplugged.
On Monday we had to figure out a good route for the time we would have available with the departing missionaries. We finally found a good route across the terraces, then hiked up to the viewpoints. After being at the top of the terraces, we hiked down to the bottom of the valley to Tappiya Falls.
Although the falls were lovely, I thought that hike back up to the terraces was going to kill me. Luckily the rest of the hike once back up from the falls was basically flat, with only a little climbing. On Friday we hiked across the terraces, (remembering exactly where to go!), then down to the village. This was a mistake! Then we had to climb up all the way from the bottom to the very top, on seemingly never-ending steep staircases. I think in the future we will go to the viewpoints, then come back the way we came.
After the hike at Batad, we continued on to Banaue to see the viewpoints and to shop for souvenirs. I think the young missionaries look forward to the shopping more than the sites. The prices are much better in Banaue, and so is the selection, so it makes sense to go there. We came back our regular route, through Lagawe and Bagabag, then back home. It is about a 13 hour day.
Our legs were so sore after hiking on Monday! We hobbled around all the way to Thursday, and I was worried about heading out again so soon. My legs were fine on Friday morning, but Kipp's were still sore. But he experienced a little miracle, as when he stepped out of the car at Batad, his legs no longer hurt. And, I am happy to say, neither of us had sore quads yesterday or today, even with all those stairs to climb at the end.
This weekend was District Conference in Cauayan. We are hoping that it will be the last District Conference for Cauayan, and that next time there is a conference here it will be to form a Stake. It is a great blessing to see the growth of the Church here in the Philippines. These are people who have so very little in material things, but they have a thirst for spiritual things. They are excited to learn of the gospel and live by its precepts. Really, they are very rich.
Too beautiful! 😊❤️ Pictures wonder!
ReplyDeleteWow - you two really are wonders! Thanks for sharing your adventures ... love it!
ReplyDelete