[overnight train car before conversion][Bagio City Lake at
night][Philippine countryside from the bus][The view from the
Greenview in Banaue][a Semi loaded Trike (they can add more people,
just watch them!)][Viewpoint in Banaue][View from Simon's in
Batad][The waterfall, yes it was worth it][a village below Batad in
the rice terraces][A cute kid][More rice terraces with clouds
reflected][A full jeepenie.. or is it?][I would NOT want to live
here][.. that same Jeepenie.. one (or more) more!]
Sad leaving Koh Lanta. :( But off to the next adventure!
Minivan to train station, overnight train to Bangkok. It had narrow
bunks, converted from seats that are about 3ft wide, facing each
other on either side of the isle. The guy comes around and converts
them around 8:30pm. Interesting to watch.The trip was really bumpy and
there were lots of stops. It was freezing with the air con but I was
ok, having anticipated and slept in my fleece.
Public Bus->SkyTrain->Airport. The International terminal is pretty
insane with shops. Plane->Clark International Airport, Philippines!
Thankfully I met some people on the plane, Angeles (the city where
Clark is, just north of Manila) is NASTY. Was really glad for the
company. A Philipino girl from a diferent island and I shared a room
for the night in a pretty iffy hotel that was recomended?? WTF. HUGE
angled mirror facing the double beds. Glad I have my sleep sheet.
There are soooo many strip clubs and hookers here I lost count. Many
hotels charge by the hour. Ugh.
[JOKE] How many Philippinos fit in a Jeepenie? (answer at end)
Next morning walked to jeepenie (fantastically decorated vehicles
converted from old jeeps abandoned when the US left the Philippines)
station and caught one to bus terminal. Bus to Bagio City. Met really
nice montrealians on the bus. Sandra and Robert. Arrived at BC at 3pm.
Expensive hotel, not that nice. Went and walked into "town" past a
really nice park with a boating lake in it. Walked a bit more just to
look, then dinner at Cafe by the Ruins. Salad! Then ckicken pitikipan?
Chicken in a sour soup, not too tasty. Then delicious strawberries and
cream and a demitase of hot bittersweet chcolate with cinnamon. More
walking and night photography then taxi back to hotel.
Bus. 9 long (but pretty, it's green here) hrs later arrived in Banuae.
The bus constantly stops to pick up passengers and drop them off.
Checked in to the Greenview, which was recomended. The view from the
balcony area and resturant is pretty spectacular. Pork Adobo for
dinner (a bit too salty for my taste, but ok). Bed.
Woke, rooster started at 4am!! We walked to "viewpoint" up the road,
watching the villagers and local kids, it was hot but fun. Took
pictures, lots of pictures. Lunch was Pancit Canton, square spagetti
sized noodles and vegies. I tried a red horse beer, it's ok. Nothing
much the rest of the day, it's raining.
Woke (4am again with the rooster, bloody bird!!), took a Jeepenie to
the saddle (you can take a trike to the junction, 3km below the saddle
on a reallllly bad road for cheaper, but oh wow I wouldn't want to!)
We then had to walk down from saddle to Batad. It was Gorgeous and
while steep, not as bad as I was expecting. Lunch was a pita (homemade
flatbread) with salad and cheese and egg, second really tasty food I
have had here, and it's hard to mess up strawberries!
Split with S&R at this point and checked into Simon's lodge to spend
the night. Met up with some american/canadians. Jenna, Gina, Jennifer,
Alison, Jeremy and hiked with them to the waterfall. Down and across
the rice terraces, then down a million uneven steps. Goregous though.
Then back. Oh god the stairs, ow. Dinner was Noodles with vegtables,
absolutly delish, with carrots, cabbage and greenbeans and some other
veggies.. squash?
The power was out for 1hr or so. Bucket shower! They boiled me water
and I "showered" by candle light, it was a interesting experience.
Then card games and hanging out. Bed early.
Woke, mellow, breakfast pita with cheese, egg, and tomato. Hanging
out. Massage!! For 350P plus tip = 400= 10$. Bought a gatorade for
$1.50. Then hike back up to the saddle, took about 45 minutes, oh ow
again. Thank goodness it was cloudy. The last bit is 417 steep but
thankfully not tall steps to the top.
Bumpy jeepeny back to Banaue. Lunch of Pork Adodb and another fruit
salad. Wandered through the souvineer shops. Bought a box and a few
neckalaces. Fruit. Night bus to Manila. (oh my F*&^ing god was it
cold. I was freezing in a long sleeve top AND my fleece, my NOSE was
cold.)
[JOKE - ANSWER] How many Philippinos can you fit in a Jeepenie?
One more! (or 6, who's counting :P)
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