We just got back from another vacation and figured it was time to update the blog. Nothing too exciting happens in Manila--hence the lack of posts. We went up north this time to a non-beach destination with our friends Mike and Sara. It was a long 13 hour bus ride but worth the trip. It was a little like New England with cool weather, pine trees and camp fires. The highlight of our trip was a trek through some caves. Matt had some brushes with death while dangling from the rock face but the guides helped carry him through the rough patches and he survived. It required a lot of scrambling on all fours. Luckily it wasn't until the last ten minutes that we realized the mud all over our hands was actually bat poop.
Another highlight of our trip was a dinner buffet at the Log Cabin. Once a week the french chef prepares a wholesome buffet and invites us into his kitchen to serve ourselves. The kitchen was beautifully rustic as was the dining room. It was kind of like a dinner party where no one knows each other.
Our first destination was Sagada where we did the aforementioned things. Sagada is known for its hikes and atm
osphere of relaxation. Also the area has lots of traditional Filipino tribes people and those people sometimes bury their dead in coffins in caves. We saw a bunch of coffins and it was eerie because when you look through the cracks in the coffins you could see the bones.
It was also amazing how many beautiful rice terraces there are to see in that area. For the last two days of our trip we went to Banaue and Bataad where the most striking rice terraces are. To get to Bataad, we hired a private jeepney and a guide and then balanced along the terraces to visit a waterfall. We ended the day with a nice lunch in Bataad that featured fried dough.
It was a cool trip that showed us that the beauty of the Philippines doesn't just lie in its coastline.
Another highlight of our trip was a dinner buffet at the Log Cabin. Once a week the french chef prepares a wholesome buffet and invites us into his kitchen to serve ourselves. The kitchen was beautifully rustic as was the dining room. It was kind of like a dinner party where no one knows each other.
Our first destination was Sagada where we did the aforementioned things. Sagada is known for its hikes and atm
osphere of relaxation. Also the area has lots of traditional Filipino tribes people and those people sometimes bury their dead in coffins in caves. We saw a bunch of coffins and it was eerie because when you look through the cracks in the coffins you could see the bones.It was also amazing how many beautiful rice terraces there are to see in that area. For the last two days of our trip we went to Banaue and Bataad where the most striking rice terraces are. To get to Bataad, we hired a private jeepney and a guide and then balanced along the terraces to visit a waterfall. We ended the day with a nice lunch in Bataad that featured fried dough.
It was a cool trip that showed us that the beauty of the Philippines doesn't just lie in its coastline.
