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Banaue

Banaue

Banaue is a good base for exploring the rice terraces in the mountain province. The biggest terraces in the Philippines are within view of the restaurant balconies in town.
Some say that other villages have more beautiful ones but it is hard not to appreciate the beauty and magnitude of these terraces, representing hundreds of years [...]

Batad

Batad

Batad rice terraces
I have made numerous trips to Batad without a guide but this little rascal intrigued me with his offer of 50 pesos for a tour of his village.
His mother, Lillian Lahhin, is one of the regular guides and her sons desire to joining the ranks of the other guides was kind of inspiring.
These [...]

Batad Rice Terraces

Batad Rice Terraces

Batad Rice Terraces
Batad is one of the most photographed villages in the Philippines.
It is an easy day trip from Banaue and well worth the effort to get there. Jeepneys can be hired in Banaue to take you most of the way there.
These jeepneys stop at the top of the hill and you have 30 – [...]

Banaue Rice Terraces

Banaue Rice Terraces

Banaue rice terraces
Banaue is surrounded by rice terraces that were notched into the rugged mountains thousands of years ago.
They require constant maintenance to keep them in shape producing mountain rice.
The most popular view point is a few kilometers out of town heading to Sagada but I decided not to take any pictures over there.
There [...]

Bontoc to Banaue

Bontoc to Banaue

Bus to Banaue
The Emanuel bus lines run between Bontoc and Banaue for 100 peso.
It is a pleasant trip over the mountain stopping at some vegetable dealers at the top of the mountain.
The cabbages are only 5 to 10 peso each so most of the passengers buy a dozen or so. Mountain grown sweet peas are [...]

Blue Plant on Batad Trail

Blue Plant on Batad Trail

Beautiful blue flower
Here are some photos of an unusual blue flower that was hanging over the trail on the short cut to Batad near Banaue in the Philippines.
This flower was hanging from a long vine around 2 meters from the ground.
If you are walking from the Batad junction over the saddle to Batad you can [...]

Banaue and Batad

Banaue and Batad

Mountain villages and rice terraces

Banaue is a great little town up in the mountains where many people base to explore the rice terraces of northern Luzon.
You can catch the Autobus in Manilla at night and you will arrive the next day. Its a bit of a drive but the spectacular view makes it well worth [...]