May 2010

Thailand Day 4 – Sanctuary of Truth & Golden Buddha – Saturday, May 22, 2010

by dlcasas on May 31, 2010

5-22-10 Chicken and pork kebabs on a motor food stand

Friends:

On our fourth day in Pattaya, we decided to tour the city. First, we toured on foot for a while. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate Harry Potter…

5-22-10 I guess Harry will take you around town on his broom... Does J.K. Rowling know about his sideline?

Then I hired a cab to take us around the city. That was when the real tour began. Our first stop was The Sanctuary of Truth, a palace carved entirely out of wood.

5-22-10 The incredible Sanctuary of Truth, a palace carved entirely of wood

First, a horse and carriage came to pick us up to take us to the place where we had to climb down a huge flight of stairs to get to the Sanctuary area.

5-22-10 The horse and carriage that took us to The Sanctuary of Truth

Construction on the Sanctuary of Truth began in 1981 and is still 20 years from completion!

5-22-10 Katrin, Nicole & Dianne pose in front of the Sanctuary of Truth, Pattaya, Thailand

Prior to trekking down to the Sanctuary, we had to take this photo op. It was too fun to resist!

5-22-10 Katrin, Nicole & Dianne being silly in Thai caricature cut-outs

Before we entered the structure, we were treated to a sword-fighting demonstration. I felt very powerful holding those swords! LOL

5-22-10 Yes, I was involved in a sword fight (and won...)

Master wood sculptors from Thailand, Burma, and Laos painstakingly hand-carve every piece of the structure.

5-22-10 Wood sculptors hard at work carving more of the palace

The result is a breathtaking structure that moved me to tears.

5-22-10 The entrance to the Sanctuary of Truth, Pattaya, Thailand

The Sanctuary depicts deities of different religions all representing various cultures’ search of the truth.

5-22-10 Mermaids, elephants, and deities adorn the structure inside and out

Though the place is not a temple, it certainly has an air of holiness about it. For me, it was like seeing The Sisteen Chapel for the first time. It demonstrates man’s ability to rise above himself to create something extraordinary, something heavenly. I feel privileged to have seen this incredible structure in person!

5-22-10 Just WOW!

As Nicole was ascending the stairs leaving the area of the Sanctuary of Truth, I caught this cool picture…

5-22-10 Nicole is intwined in the lovely landscape

Our next stop was the Pattaya City overlook. Our cab driver, Mr. Suwan, suggested it. It it like the massive Hollywood sign in California.

5-22-10 Our cab driver took us up to the Pattaya City sign overlook

The sign has an observation “deck” that overlooks the beautiful, panoramic scene of Pattaya City’s bay.

5-22-10 My big head in front of the view of Pattaya Bay, Thailand

Next, we headed to Buddha Hill, where a colossal statue of Buddha sits. It was dusk so my pictures weren’t all that great… Still it was beautiful to behold!

5-22-10 The Golden Buddha on Buddha Hill, Pattaya, Thailand

When you enter a Buddhist temple or any sacred area, you must remove your shoes. All of the sacred areas we toured were outdoors. Look at my feet! My feet have never been dirtier!! LOL It took me twenty minutes of hard scrubbing to get the bottom of my feet pink again!

5-22-10 My feet have never been so dirty... You have to remove your shoes to visit any of the sacred Buddha altars.

Finally, we went back to the hotel. It was Saturday night and the curfew had been lifted. We wanted to see the nightlife in Pattaya so we headed to Walking Street, a street of music-pumping, light-pulsing clubs. After a couple of hours, we were exhausted so we decided to head back. We ended up walking over 2 miles along the beach back to our hotel!

5-22-10 Ready for a night on the town!

It was a good full day in Pattaya. Nicole, Katrin and I had a great time!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Thailand Day 3, Pattaya Floating Market – Friday, May 21, 2010

by dlcasas on May 31, 2010

5-21-10 Day 3 in Pattaya. Love my amazing balcony view!

Friends:

On our third day in Thailand, we decided to visit the Floating Market in Pattaya. It was built to replicate the floating markets in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand. This floating market represented four different regions of Thailand with handicrafts from all of the regions.

5-21-10 Pattaya Floating Market

I love to shop but the Floating Market was much more than just a bunch of touristy shops. It was a cultural experience!

5-21-10 In front of a typical shop at the floating market with a handpainted parasol

The Thai people are a people of great humor. Everywhere we went, they were smiling, laughing, and making jokes.

5-21-10 Two Thai guys being silly riding a wooden rocking horse. LOL

We tasted local cuisine and ate fare that I’ve never seen on any Thai menu in the United States. I really love the “street” food of Thailand.

5-21-10 Grilled sausage from a floating market boat. Oh the food in Thailand!

I totally fell in love with their watermelon shakes. Nicole and Katrin loved drinking and eating young coconut.

5-21-10 Katrin and Nicole eat the soft meat inside the young coconut. In the Philippines, we call it buko.

We even watched artists at work. This gentleman is putting the finishing touches on an elephant painting that Nicole purchased as a gift for her mother.

5-21-10 An artist adds finishing touches to Nicole's elephant painting

I was really wowed by all the different kinds of food. I wanted to try everything! The hot coconut cakes were awesome.

5-21-10 Cooking sweet coconut cakes on the boat.

They were crispy on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside. They were slightly sweet and highly fragrant, served in a banana leaf bowl.

5-21-10 Sweet, hot coconut cakes inside a banana leaf bowl. Mmmmm!

Another food I fell in love with was Rice Flowers. They are crunchy, delicate flowers fashioned out of rice flour and flavored with poppy seed. They are fried and not overly sweet. They tasted great plain but they were so pretty, we didn’t want to eat them. Once we broke off the first piece, we got over that quickly!

5-21-10 Rice flowers are sweet, delicate and crispy. They are fried and made with poppy seed. One of my favorite snacks!

I watched a Thai dance show. The Thai culture is so fascinating and beautiful. They are a storytelling people. You can see it in their art, in their architecture, and in their dances.

5-21-10 Traditional Thai dancing at the Pattaya Floating Market

We stopped and got a 2 hour traditional Thai massage for a mere US$8.50!! It was amazing. I didn’t know my body could contort in that many positions… I felt like the little woman doing my massage was dancing on my back! Still, it felt so good afterward!

5-21-10 Nothing can beat a 2 hour Thai massage for $8.50!

After the massage and loading up on tons of great art and handicrafts, it was time to head back to the hotel. It was sooo hot at the market and we were dying to take a cold shower before dinner. It was an awesome day at the Pattaya Floating Market! I loved all the sights, sounds and smells… Okay, maybe not ALL the smells!

5-21-10 The big spiky fruit is durian. I can't get past the smell to eat it.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Thailand Day 2 – Thursday, May 20, 2010

by dlcasas on May 31, 2010

5-20-10 The amazing view from my top floor room at Discovery Beach Hotel, Pattaya, Thailand

Friends:

On our second day in Thailand, Nicole, Katrin and I decided to stay close to the hotel and chill out on the beach. There was still a lot of political turmoil in Bangkok and the red shirts were seen in other provinces in Thailand. The weather was perfect for a day at the beach. All over Thailand, there are shrines venerating Buddha. The beach was no exception.

5-20-10 A Buddhist shrine at the beach in front of our hotel

I was anxious to dip into Thailand’s water. The sand was a golden brown and the water was a pretty blue green but it was not clear. The water was quite cloudy. Fortunately, I had my beach shoes so I could avoid stepping on anything foreign.

5-20-10 Getting ready to dip into Thailand's warm waters

The water was also warm, like bath water. It was also shallow quite a ways from the shore.

5-20-10 Pattaya Beach, Thailand

Because it is a public beach, vendors of all sorts come by trying tempt tourists. There was all sorts of interesting food….

5-20-10 A food vendor with his baskets balancing on his shoulders

…and jewelry! No, I could not resist!

5-20-10 Vendors come by selling everything from food to jewelry to henna tattoos and massages

We made friends with both the young and the old alike. Look at this little Thai boy. Isn’t he a cutie?!

5-20-10 The little Thai boy who kept hanging around us

After beaching for a while, we decided to chill out at the hotel’s gorgeous large pool. There, I met a couple from Estonia with their 4 year old daughter, Katrina (named after the 2005 storm!). I used her mother’s beach scarf and made “Bandana Man,” telling my story. The little girl loved it!

Later that night, Nicole, Katrin and I decided to explore the city before the 9pm curfew. The street next to our hotel was a street full of clubs with ladyboys and working girls! It was quite a site to see. We ended up taking a tuk tuk to another area of the city to eat Pad Thai (Thai fried noodles). There is no Thai food by the beach for some reason but you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables almost anywhere at any time!

5-20-10 A truck loaded with exotic tropical fruits

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Thailand Day 1 – Wednesday, May 19, 2010

by dlcasas on May 31, 2010

5-19-10 The fresh orchid corsage given to us by Thai Airways before we landed

Friends:

I am “back-blogging” now. While on holiday in Thailand, I chose not to blog because writing is part of my job so I am now catching up with my blog. I did mobile uploads to my Facebook and wrote captions to go with each picture so you could keep up with me on Facebook.

I left Bohol early and landed in Manila around 8:30am. I was traveling to Thailand with my friend, Nicole, and my cousin, Katrin. We left for Thailand mid-afternoon. I was so impressed by Thai Airways. The service, even in coach, was superb! We were constantly served drinks (sodas, juice, coffee, tea and wine – all free). We were given a hot towel to refresh ourselves and the hot meal was delicious, served with real silverware and in real dishes, not plastic or paperware.

5-19-10 Thai Airways Meal with real dishes and silverware

When we landed in Bangkok, the airport was eerily empty, devoid of any life whatsoever. I was supposed to work in Bangkok but it was cancelled because of the political turmoil. Since I had already booked my flight, I chose to move further south to the beach resort area of Pattaya, Thailand, turning lemons into lemonade and parlaying my Thailand tour into a holiday.

5-19-10 The Bangkok Airport

I arranged for car service and my driver was waiting for me when we arrived. Sweet!

5-19-10 My driver awaits...

Nicole and I bought pre-paid sim cards at the airport and were able to use our phones in Thailand. In fact, I was able to call home several times! Pattaya is about 1.5 hours south of Bangkok in the Chonburi province. There is no speed limit on their highways. Our driver flew! We arrived at our hotel, Discovery Beach Hotel in Pattaya. Our top floor hotel room was very nice with two double beds, a small sofa, TV, a bathroom with a HUGE tub and a separate shower. It’s best feature was the amazing balcony with a view of the beach and the entire city of Pattaya. After watching the news, we found out that riots broke out in Bangkok, several buildings were burned down, there were shootings, and an 8pm curfew was instituted in most provinces. I called the front desk to find out if this was true and it was. No one could be outside past 8pm.

5-19-10 Hotel room at Discovery Beach Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand

Since we couldn’t go anywhere, we decided to eat at the hotel restaurant overlooking the beach. While we were eating, police drove through the streets with a loudspeaker ordering people to go inside. It was pretty scary and I thought I had made a terrible mistake in coming to Thailand. Thankfully, the next few days proved me wrong…

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Bohol, Philippines Chocolate Hills Tour, Day 3 – Monday, May 17, 2010

by dlcasas on May 18, 2010

5-17-10 Me with Tarsier Monkeys in Bohol, Philippines

Friends:

On Day 3 of my Bohol Tour, Zarah Gagatiga and I visited Chocolate Hills, saw the rare Tarsier Monkeys, ate on a floating restaurant on the Loboc River, and visited the second oldest church in the Philippines. First on the day-long tour, a stop near Baranguay Corella to see the Tarsier Monkeys. They are the world’s smallest primate and reside only in Southeast Asian countries such as Sumatra, Borneo and Bohol in the Philippines. They are nocturnal animals and although their eyes are big, they are nearly blind during the day. They were very calm creatures and I was able to get really close to them! Amazing!

5-17-10 Tarsier Monkeys, the world's smallest primate, in Bohol, Philippines

Next, our guide took us to Chocolate Hills in Carmen on Bohol, Philippines. On our way to the hills, we saw a sea snake in the middle of the road. Local boys had it attached to a string on a pole and were trying to get it run over. It was sport for them. The snake was long and gray with a black patter on its body. It had a very small head and flat tale. It was quite ugly in my opinion.

5-17-10 On our way to Chocolate Hills, we see a sea snake on the road

Chocolate Hills are a geologic anomaly, named not for any relation to chocolate but because of its brown color. We had to trek up 214 stone steps to reach the top viewing deck. It felt like nothing compared to the trekking and caving I did in Sagada!

5-17-10 Chocolate Hills, Bohol Philippines

The hills dot the landscape like little drops of chocolate kisses. It was quite a sight to behold.

5-17-10 Dianne and Zarah in Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines

I met the cutest little girl in Chocolate Hills. Her name is Wershi.

5-17-10 Wershi, a 4 year old native from Bohol, Philippines

Following Chocolate Hills, we stopped at a Butterfly Sanctuary in Baranguay Bilar. The butterflies were so beautiful, fed by the nectar of the beautiful Lentana flower. It is a common flower in Bohol.

5-17-10 The Lentana flower in Chocolate Hills, Philippines

There were all kinds of butterflies fluttering in the garden. Some even stopped for more important things than flying…

5-17-10 Two butterflies mating at the Butterfly Sanctuary in Bilar, Bohol, Philippines

For the first time, I willingly let an insect crawl on me!!! But at least it was a gorgeous butterfly.

5-17-10 My butterfly bracelet at the Butterfly santuary in Baranguay Bilar, Bohol, Philippines

At the Butterfly Sanctuary cafe, I saw a sight that made me laugh. It definitely represents the Philippines: a juxtaposition of modern life against a backdrop of traditional ways.

5-17-10 Traditional turon next to modern pizza rolls, Bohol, Philippines

After the Butterfly Conservation Center, we drove through a lush manmade forest. For forty years, students from the local university, Holy Name, have been planting mahogany trees in Bohol, creating a stunning forest canopy that welcomes visitors and shades them from the heat.

5-17-10 A man-made forest in Bohol, Philippines

From there, we went to the Loboc River port to eat lunch on a floating restaurant. A buffet lunch is served on a floating bamboo raft pushed down the river by a boat. There was even live music on the “Floating Resto.”

5-17-10 A snapshot of another floating resto on Loboc River, Bohol, Philippines

Zarah and I sat at a table with three other people from Korea. They were so nice. We had a language barrier but we joked and laughed anyway. I love making new friends!

5-17-10 New friends from Seoul, Korea I met on the Loboc River Floating Restaurant in Bohol, Philippines

At one point in the cruise, we were treated to a performance by local people from Baranguay Gotozon. From small children to teens to old people, everyone in the community greeted us with a welcome dance. It was a part of their effort to boost tourism and give the community a way to improve their livelihoods. The singing, guitar playing, and dancing was so beautiful! They wore traditional Patadyong costumes of the Visayas. They even danced Tinikling, an intricate and difficult dance where the dancers jumped in and out of moving bamboo. I was moved to tears.

5-17-10 Children from Baranguay Gotozon on the Loboc River dance Tinikling with bamboo sticks

I loved floating on the Loboc River. It was my favorite part of the day!

5-17-10 Small waterfalls on the Loboc River, Bohol, Philippines

What really impressed me about all the tourist destinations in Bohol was not just the friendliness of the people but they had the cleanest restrooms I have ever seen in the Philippines! When you travel abroad, the “comfort room” can be a big issue. The Bohol Tourism Department put a lot of thought into this to make visitors feel as comfortable as possible.

5-17-10 A type of Sampaguita (jasmine) in Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines

Our next stop was the Immaculate Conception church in Baclayon. It is the second oldest church in the Philippines. It sits on a bay with the ocean breeze blowing through this non air-conditioned church. Zarah and I toured the church and attached museum. What concerned me was preservation of the church and its artifacts. There is no temperature control and its proximity to the sea contributes to its demise.

5-17-10 A display of feast saints next the main altar in the Baclayon Church, Bohol, Philippines

But the old Catholic church is beautiful and its antiquity gives it an air of regalness.

5-17-10 Baclayon Church, the second oldest church in the Philippines, Bohol, Philippines

Our last stop on our very full day tour of Bohol was the Blood Compact Shrine at Barangay Bool, a few kilometers from Tagbilaran City. It is said to be approximate spot where Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Rajah Sikatuna made a ritual to enter a pact of friendship and end the hostilities between them. The shrine was created by the national artist Napoleon Abueva. It overlooks breathtaking Bohol Sea.

5-17-10 The Blood Compact in Bohol, Philippines

Zarah and I had an enormously full day. Bohol is an amazing island and I loved the people and its landscape.

5-17-10 Sunset on Alona Kew White Sand Beach, Bohol, Philippines

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Bohol, Philippines Island Hopping, Day 2 – Sunday, May 16, 2010

by dlcasas on May 18, 2010

5-16-10 Morning on Alona Kew White Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

Friends:

Zarah Gagatiga (my co-author for Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories) and I went island hopping on our second day in Bohol, Philippines. We rented a bangka boat for the day. A bangka is a canoe with a bamboo outrigger. Our bangka was also motorized.

5-16-10 The bangka boat we used to go island hopping in Bohol, Philippines

We had to leave very early: 6:00 am! First, our bangka driver, Ren Ren, took us to dolphin watch. There were so many other bangka boats out too. Despite the crowded sea, we were still able to view large schools of dolphins jumping in and out of the water.

5-16-10 Caught a dolphin jumping when we went island hopping in Bohol, Philippines

After dolphin watching, we went snorkeling on a coral barrier reef near Balicasag Island. I saw so many gorgeous fish I had never seen up close! There were clown fish, blue devil fish, angelfish, parrot fish, and other colorful sea creatures. It was like going to an aquarium. I loved swimming like a mermaid through Poseidon’s garden! After snorkeling for an hour and a half, we stopped at Balicasag Island to rest.

5-16-10 Zarah, on the right, posing with Balicasag Island jewelry merchants

The people on the island were so sweet and friendly, especially Manang Trudes, from whom I bought tons of jewelry. I taught a little island girl, Hannah, how to make a star from string.

5-16-10 I taught, Hannah, a 5 year old Balicasag Island girl, how to make a star out of string

On Balicasag, I spotted a new nipa hut. This “bahay kubo” reminded me of my mom’s island of Marinduque, where I actually stayed in one for some time. It is constructed of bamboo, rattan, and leaves of local plants such as banana and palm. It is built on stilts so that it can avoid flash floods from the sea or nearby rivers.

5-16-10 A traditional nipa hut (bahay kubo) on Balicasag Island, Bohol, Philippines

After Balicasag, we headed to a tiny island called Putod for some swimming. There I met a couple from Poland and some warm Filipinos from Dumaguete City in Negros, Visayas, Philippines.

5-16-10 I made new friends from Dumaguete City in Negros, Visayas, Philippines

While Zarah and I were swimming, I found this gorgeous starfish. I named him “Spike.” hahaha

5-16-10 I found a starfish on the small swimming island of Putod and named him Spike

After a lovely day of island hopping, Zarah and I were pooped but we ended up working beachside, writing as the waves lapped the shore. Such a wonderful life!

5-16-10 Native Bohol boys play in the sand

Night fell on the beach and I sighed with contentment…

5-16-10 The beachside restaurant lights at our resort, Alona Pyramid

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Trip to Bohol, Philippines, Day 1 – Saturday, May 15, 2010

by dlcasas on May 18, 2010

5-15-10 View of Bohol from above as we approach to land

Friends:

On Saturday, May 15, Zarah Gagatiga, my co-author for Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories, traveled to Bohol, an island in the Visayas region of the Philippines. The purpose of the trip was to collect stories for the book and tour parts of the Philippines I had not yet seen.

5-15-10 Zarah and I arrive at Tagbilaran Airport, Bohol, Philippines

After claiming our luggage, we headed out of the airport, where we were greeted by our driver from the resort’s car service. Nice!

5-15-10 Alona Pyramid Resort car service welcomes me to Bohol

I booked us at Alona Pyramid Resort because of their Filipiniana style beach bungalows.

5-15-10 Our beach bungalow at Alona Pyramid Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

Our little cottage is like an apartment. It is two stories with a living room and bathroom downstairs, and the bedroom upstairs. It has a refrigerator, cable TV, air conditioning, and free WiFi.

5-15-10 Our room at the Alona Pyramid Resort

The bungalow also has a beautiful front porch that overlooks the pool. The beach is just steps away.

5-15-10 Alona Kew White Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

We decided to rest and scheduled an island hopping tour for the next day so that night, we had dinner at the resort’s restaurant. They serve an array of fresh seafood every day. You pick what you want and they grill it for you.

5-15-10 The vast array of fresh seafood available for grilling at the hotel's restaurant

The beach is lovely and not crowded like Boracay. It is quiet and a good place to take a working, writing vacation. Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Sumaging Caves & Sacred Coffins, Sagada Philippines, Day 3 – May 13, 2010

by dlcasas on May 16, 2010

5-13-10 Standing in front of the Sumaging Caves unaware of the perilous journey ahead

Friends:

On our third and final day in Sagada, we decided to visit Sumaging Caves. We started early, meeting our guide at 7:30am. We had to leave that day and the last bus for Baguio City leaves at 1:00pm so an early start was necessary. Again, there were steep stone stairs to descend. But that was nothing compared to what was to come!

5-13-10 Are there ancient spirits in the cave?

We descended deep into the bowels of the earth, climbing down steep and slippery rocks. While my tennis shoes were adequate for trekking the rice terraces the day before, they were wholly inadequate for caving. My shoes were constantly sleeping and there were many times I prayed for my life! Not only was it slippery and muddy, it was also dark! Fortunately, we had two able guides, Jimmy (again) and Inug-Ay, both native Igorots. They carried Kerosene lamps to light the way.

5-12-10 An underground river creates pools of water in the rock formations

Our group stayed together and we helped each other over, up, and down jagged and slippery rocks. Yumi Pitargue dubbed us “Team Sagada!”

5-12-10 Team Sagada in the bowels of the earth - Sumaging Caves

At one point, we were instructed to remove our shoes. The remainder of the trek into “Middle Earth” had to be done barefoot!

There was even a point where we had to scale a rock by using a rope to descend to the next level.

5-13-10 Zarah scales the cave wall to venture farther into the depths of Mother Earth

The caves and the underground river were breathtakingly beautiful. It’s certainly worth the treacherous trek… The funny thing is that both of our guides did the entire trek in FLIP FLOPS. It was totally no big deal to them! In fact, Zarah and several members of our group did much of the caving with flip flops on! I was the only one who wore a bathing suit and I am so glad I did. We got soaking wet and muddy too!

When we neared the end of the trek, I was never so glad to see natural light in my life!

5-13-10 Light at the end of the tunnel. It's the way out!

Exploring Sumaging Caves is one adventure I will never forget. It was scary, thrilling, and breathtaking at the same time. It was also another physical challenge I overcame! After caving, our guides took us to see sacred burial coffins. Some were in caves while others were hanging.

5-13-10 The Burial Caves of Sagada

The coffins are small because the ancient Igorots buried their deceased in the fetal position, believing that they should exit the world the way they entered. Coffins were hung because they believed that hanging them on the mountainside would bring them closer to heaven. These hanging coffins inadvertently form a face! Look carefully…

5-13-10 Hanging Coffins - Look carefully. It looks like an Igorot face on the side of the mountain!

After viewing the coffins, it was time to head back to Manila. Another 6 hour bus ride down the perilous mountain to Baguio, then another long ride to Manila. It was great to leave the city but it was also great to return! I spent one day in Manila before leaving for Bohol. I was able to see my good friend, Jay Menes, my client, Meinard Cruz, and my family again.

5-14-10 Me with mom's family - my cousin, my mom's sister, Jovie, and her brother, Kuya Boy

A special thank you to Zarah Gagatiga for coordinating the trip, to Roderick for creating our itinerary and giving suggestions, and to Yumi Pitargue and her friends, Ailen, Jovel, Lucky, and Jerome, for being such an awesome group to travel with!

In the next few days, I will try to blog about Bohol. My internet connection has been slow and spotty. I am unable to do mobile uploads with my iPhone via the resort’s free Wifi connection so we’ll see how it goes…

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Fidelisan Rice Terraces & Bomod-Oc Falls, Sagada, Philippines, Day 2 – May 12, 2010

by dlcasas on May 16, 2010

5-12-10 Team Sagada at the beginning of the Fidelisan Rice Terrace trek to Bomod-Oc Falls in Sagada, Philippines

Friends:

On day 2 in Sagada, Zarah booked us a tour guide to take us through the Fidelisan Rice Terraces to Bomod-Oc Falls. First, a hearty breakfast of ham, eggs, and native red rice.

5-12-10 Native red rice from Sagada, Philippines

This city girl bought tennis shoes. I wore my bathing suit under my dress but it was clear to our guide, Jimmy, that I was not an outdoor girl! He kept asking me if I wanted to turn back, that the trek would become progressively more difficult. He was right but I wasn’t giving up!

5-12-10 At the start of our trek through the Fidelisan Rice Terraces, Zarah follows Jimmy, our guide

At the beginning of our trek, I saw an old Igorot woman. She wore a basket on her back for carrying rice. Though she was stooped and frail-looking, she was a sturdy woman, able to traverse up a down the rice terraces. What was a phenomenal feat for me is just a daily routine in her life!

5-12-10 An old Igorot woman carries a basket into the rice fields

The beauty of the rice terraces astounded me. Rice is hand-planted, plowed by carabao (water buffalo), and still hand-ground. I will never look at rice in the same way again. After hearing the rice whisper in the breeze, it now feels like a sacred food, fit for Gods but made for man’s consumption.

5-12-10 Rice, known, as palay, grows abundantly. The top of the plant is what is harvested for the grains.

I bought a walking stick in town and it came in handy during the challenging trek through the Fidelisan Rice Terraces. There were steep stairs to ascend and descend, narrow paths, and rocky terrain.

5-12-10 Our guide leads the way down a narrow path on a mountain with a sheer drop off, near the Bomod-Oc Falls

We had to climb over large, slippery stones to reach Bomod-Oc Falls but oh, was it worth it! The water from the falls collected in an ample pool below. The water was very cold but I had to swim in that amazing pool! It was a nice respite from the heat of the sun bearing down on us in the rice terraces.

5-12-10 Swimming in the pool below Bomod-Oc Falls. An Igorot boy enjoys the water in his birthday suit

We met some Igorot boys on the way to the Falls and they accompanied us through the rice terraces. They bounded up and down the stony stairs and mountainous terrain like little goats. Those amazing kids! (Pun intended.) LOL After my swim in the shockingly cold water, they gave me a massage! In return, I gave them each 25 pesos and a bag of chips to share. The boys were so happy. What I observed was that although the Igorot children are poor, they are happy and delight in the simple things life has to offer.

5-12-10 Igorot children are eager to give me a massage

Just look at the splendor of this waterfall! Mother Nature in one of her best dresses…

5-12-10 The Bomod-Oc Falls are breathtaking!

I took this great shot of a carabao (water buffalo). Carabao are used to plow the rice terraces. To this day, the Igarot people do most of the hard labor of cultivating rice by hand!

5-12-10 A carabao or water buffalo is used to plow the rice fields

The 10K trek to and from the Bomod-Oc Falls was very challenging for me. I huffed and puffed and had to stop and rest, especially when climbing back up the steep stone stairs. But I made it and at the end of the journey, I had a sense of accomplishment I have never felt before. It was one of the most physically challenging things I have ever done in my life.

5-12-10 A picturesque view of the rice terraces we traversed

When we got back to town, we ate a hearty lunch. All that trekking built our appetites! We met Lola Lillian, an Igarot woman, who was traveling down the road balancing kamote (sweet potato) tops on her head for planting. I invited her to join us for lunch. She was so sweet. Lola (meaning “grandma” in Tagalog) Lillian told me she had nine children and 50 grandchildren! Wow!

5-12-10 Posing with an Igorot woman with sweet potato tops balanced on her head

I am in love with rice terraces and the people of Sagada. They were all so friendly and helpful. The caretakers of the local Episcopal church allowed me to use their Wifi so that I could do mobile uploads from my iPhone to Facebook. Our guide, Jimmy, totally took care of us. There is no way we could have made that trek alone. Manang Julia, the owner of St. Joseph Rest House, was a sweetheart and attended to our every need. It is a remote piece of “Peace on Earth.” Sagada, the mountain place where you can “touch the sky…”

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Trip to Sagada, Philippines, Day 1 – May 10-11, 2010

by dlcasas on May 16, 2010

5-11-10 A circular nipa hut gives shade and offers a stunning view of the mountains in the Mountain Province, Philippines

Friends:

I am in still in the midst of my Asia tour. From May 10-13, 2010, I visited Sagada, Philippines. Sagada is a good 12 hour bus ride from Manila. I traveled with Zarah Gagatiga, my co-author for Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories, which will be published by ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited. We also had 5 other travel companions: Yumi, Ailen, Jovel, Lucky and Gerome.

5-10-10 My Sagada travel companions L-R- Zarah Gagatiga, Yumi Pitargue, Jovel Lopez, Lucky Galvez, Jerome Ramirez, Ailen Claudio & me!

Our ride started at the Cubao bus station in Manila, where we took a deluxe Victory Liner bus, complete with a CR (comfort room). After five hours of traveling in the middle of the night, we arrived in Baguio City in the wee hours of the morning.

5-10-10 A driver and his jeepney in Baguio City, Philippines

We ate breakfast at Chow King and headed to the terminal to catch our next bus, a not so deluxe bus that would take us to Sagada. The weather in Baguio was chilly, a drastic contrast to the hot, muggy weather of Manila.

5-10-10 Me in front of the bus taking us to Sagada, Philippines

Leaving Baguio, I marveled at all the houses and apartments built right into the side of the mountain.

5-10-10 Houses built into the side of the mountain in Baguio City, Philippines

We sat at the front of the bus, which gave us a prime view of the road ahead. This was both an advantage and disadvantage! I could see where we were headed but I could also see how treacherous the roads were, often full of dangerous obstacles.

5-11-10 Dangerous obstacles like big boulders litter the windy road to Sagada

We rode along windy, often unpaved roads, with sheer drop-offs. While the views were spectacular, the ride was incredibly turbulent.

5-11-10 An unpaved road with sheer drop-offs

We rode through the Mountain Province and I was in awe of the vegetable and rice terraces that graced all the mountains. The terraces are definitely a man-made marvel!

5-11-10 The vegetable and rice terrace of the Mountain Province, Philippines

As we neared Sagada, I could really see the beauty of the rice terraces.

5-11-10 Rice Terraces irrigated by the Chico River in Benguet, Philippines

We crossed over rickety bridges and drove up roads that could only fit one vehicle at a time. I held my breath often.

5-11-10 A rickety bridge we crossed on the way to Sagada

We made a couple of pit stops. As soon as the bus stopped, street vendors came running up to the bus window, selling fresh vegetables, chicharrones, peanuts and other snacks to weary travelers. The CR (comfort room or bathroom) left a lot to be desired. I had to squat over a bowl in the ground and use a tabo (bowl with handle) to “flush.” It was a challenge for this Western city girl!

5-11-10 Street merchants sell fresh vegetables, chicharrones and other snacks when we stop for a 15 minute break on the way to Sagada

After chugging up the mountainside for six hours, it seemed as though we would never arrive in Sagada. Like a child, I wondering, “Are we there yet?” Finally, after enduring hours of bumps and snaking mountain roads, we arrived!

5-11-10 After 12 hours of bus riding, we finally arrive in Sagada, Philippines

We stayed at St. Joseph’s Rest House, a lodge at the top of a small mountainside. Just getting to our room was a trek! It should have clued me in as to what was ahead for me!

5-11-10 The stony stairs that lead to St. Joseph's Rest House in Sagada, Philippines

After the long journey to Sagada, we decided to take it easy and tour the poblacion (town).

5-11-10 A mother slings her baby on her back, thus enabling her to work and sell goods

Zarah and I had a modest, simple room with a private bathroom. Unfortunately, the hot water never worked but I soon became accustomed to the cool showers. Later in the afternoon after our arrival, the skies opened up and a thunderous rain beat upon our little cottage. A good rest was in order. We needed it for the next day’s adventure!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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