Sagada Day 1: On the Mountain's Bosom

Sagada Journey and Impressions Series

The bus trip from Manila to Banaue entailed 10 hours of cold intermittent sleep. We woke up amidst fogged mountains, unveiled slowly by the sun's fresh lights.

In Banaue, we boarded an ordinary shuttle that journeys direct to Sagada. It was a tourist's ride, replete with stopovers: one at a nearby cafe for breakfast, another at the Banaue viewpoint, and the last one near Batad. Although we were child-like in our delight to wander, little time was spent in these places; they seemed only a taste of things to come, and so we were off to the roads once again.

The roads were rocky, and travel was dusty and grueling, but it was brightened-up by surprising glimpses of small-scale rice terraces, freely nurtured by mountain springs.

I could just picture it: rain water percolating inside the mountains, prying its way, coursing, then trickling out like a bleed from the side. It's all natural and bound to happen. But for me, it's still a marvel.

The shuttle's journey ended at the St. Joseph's resthouse, which was at a slightly-high vantage point...

and there was Sagada in a sweep of the eye....

A trickle of pleasure washed over me. I was glad: Sagada was in no way like industrialized Baguio. The greens were vividly present; the air was fresh, cool, and inviting. It was a clean and small town, nestled ardently on the mountain's bosom.

" majestic fences to the comely rice terraces below "

Lodged at Traveller's Inn and weary from the ride, we all felt the temptation to snooze. But it was lunch time, so we pushed ourselves towards Yogurt House. After a hefty lunch and a little rest, we aimed doggedly towards Bokong, the slightly-famed small waterfall. The locals directed us to a path that led to an assembly of tall pines -- majestic fences to the comely rice terraces below.

We stumbled upon a vacationing family, with a guide who led us through perilously high rip-raps, through a brook, and right in front of the splashing waters of Bokong. The waterfall is indeed small. Its collected water, however, was deep. And it was enticing enough for a swim...

Bokong

Superbly refreshed afterwards, we took the long route back. And here's why I'm proud to have Aidz and Alda as my friends: we noticed the little things and bid our time to appreciate them, like those plants with spires that looked like alien towers, other varieties of plants not normally seen in Manila, curious burns on the barks of pine trees, even monumental stones resembling the ones we saw in a postcard.

Our exploration continued with a visit to Sagada Collections Souvenir Shop and ended with a dinner at Masferre's. Back at the Inn, we spent our time conversing lightheartedly, playing cards repeatedly, and swigging earnestly tapey and bugnay, the local rice and cherry wine. Then we felt it was time for bed.

reverberations of faintly-sensed decrescendos...

I snucked comfortably between the sheets, re-playing contentedly the events of the day and wondering expectantly what surprises tomorrow may bring.

I pleasantly thought myself to sleep.