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With the threat of storm Marce still upon us last Thursday, ironwulf and I decided to call off the trip at 6.30pm. So, imagine my surprise while relaxing at home on a Thursday night and getting a call at 8 saying we proceed. I'm a light packer so assembling everything comes second nature though it's kind of a 180 degree spin, mentally, to grasp that a do-not-much weekend is going to be a travel-far-north-weekend. The previous three times I went to Sagada, I was alone, so this trip is special as I have my best buddy in tow (or shall I say, he towed me) with no real itinerary in mind other than to chill out and slack off.
Not that I needed much prodding. I enjoy going there, especially when I need to introspect. the almost half-day road travel alone is sort of a treat to me, enabling me to meet new people, interact with the locals, be an observer, learn new things. Even the stopovers are a treat - to stretch one's back and limbs after hours of traveling alternately on smooth then rough, then rougher roads; to have a sip of steaming coffee to heat the gut and warm the heart; and to goof off by exhaling then watching your breath disperse like smoke in the cool air.
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Riding the 11pm Victory Liner Bus trip, we arrived in Baguio by 4.30am, had a leisurely breakfast of steaming ma mi and coffee before catching the earliest Rising Sun Bus to Bontoc at 6. we perused the interesting displays at the Bontoc Museum post-lunch before riding a jeep enroute to Sagada.
It was nice to see this Shangri-la has not changed much from the last time we visited, save for a new municipal hall being constructed in its old location as well as a few new inns and eating places. Even old reliable st. jo's inn got a really impressive renovation. It was like coming home again.
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Bontoc, 1 way – P1,500 • Banaue, 1 way – P4,000 • Mainit Hot Spring, waiting – P3,000 • Maligcong Rice Rerraces, waiting – P2,500 • Baguio, 1 way – P8,000 • Bagabag, 1 way – P7,000 • Lagaue, 1 way – P5,500 • Manila, 1 way – P16,000 • Vigan, 1 way – P14,000 • Santiago, 1 way – P8,000
STANDARD GUIDE RATES: CAVE CONNECTION – (1 – 2 pax) P800 • (3 pax) P1,200 • (4 or more pax) P400/pax • CAVING – (1 – 4 pax) P400 • (5 pax) P500 • (6 – 9 pax) P800 • (10 pax) p900 • (11 – 14 pax) p1,200 • TREKKING/BIG FALLS OR MT. AMPACAO -(1 – 10 pax) P600 • (11 – 15 pax) P800 • (16 – 20 pax) P1,200 • TREKKING MT. POLIS – (1 – 10 pax) P1,200 • (11 – 15 pax) P1,500 • SIGHTSEEING(3 sights) – (1 – 10 pax) P400 • (11 – 15 pax) P600 • (16 – 20 pax) P800 (choose from any of the ff. spots: Lumiang Burial Caves, Kiltepan Viewpoint, Echo Valley, Bokong Falls, Underground River, Lake Danum) • ESCORT – Sugong Hanging Coffins and Burial Cave – P200
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TRIPS TO BANAUE: (JEEPNEY) (Bontoc – Banaue) 7am • 10am • last trip – 1pm • (BUS) 7am • 7.30am • last trip – 8.30am
Schedule of trips are subject to change without notice. passengers are requested to be at the waiting area at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of transport. • GL Lizardo buses from Baguio emanate from the old Dangwa station • Rising Sun buses bound for bontoc emanate from the Baguio slaughterhouse • Cable Tours ply the Manila-Bontoc-Sagada route. contact them at 0928.6267293 (Sagada) • 0918.5216790 / 0928.2305330 (Manila)