Batad Dec 1,2,3 2006

3-day holidays are hard to come by. I had originally wanted to spend it in my dad's hometown, Anda, where i could catch some sea breeze. We have a place there, a fishing village but we do more of coconut plantations for copra. When i'm there, i like to have my coconuts fresh and cool.

Wait, wait, wait. We're going to Batad! and i thought i was going to have some hammock time. Batad is a nice, quiet place i could get used to to run away from the city living hassles. Cool weather, fresh air, slow pace and clean mountains.

It was me, za, nette and ai (aileen). We met a loner at the bus station, and since he was going our way, we kind of intruded in his solitude. I dont think he minded though. Also on their way to Batad were four other friends. yes, we were to stay in the same Inn but had a diferent itinerary. Jette, Cat, cynthia and Haiya were on a photo safari of some sorts.

Our day one was the waterfalls. a good two-hour trek down the valley through rice paddies from Simon's Inn. Back in the Inn, we got to know Axle more by sharing all the wine and liquor we had.

Day two was a long trek to Cambulo. Took us almost 3hrs to get there. Axle was trailing because he brought his pack and had planned to stay there overnight. We would meet him the next day in Banaue for the bus ride back to Manila. We had our Lunch at the inn in Cambulo. Rested a bit before returning to Batad.

From Batad, there is a 2hr trail to Bangaan. We left early morning on day 3 to catch a ride to banaue from bangaan. Turned out this trail had a really nice clean view of the mountains. The locals had estimated that it would take us 3hours, Ntte proved them wrong. That was after she was complaining to me consistently about the pace i led on the trail.

When we get to Bangaan, i said, we'd wait for a bus or jeep to bring us to Banaue. On Sundays, there are no buses or jeeps that pass through there. I was wrong. But just like in the movies, the group of jette were topload on a rented jeep going to Mayuyao. We were on the same bus to Manila so, we figured, we'd join them to Mayuyao.

Mayuyao, A place i had biked to from banaue three years ago with a stranger. Now, I see and compete against Robert a lot at adventure races and marathons. It took us the whole day to bike there and back to Banaue.

I remember the rice paddies were so green then. We were not as lucky this time. It was not planting season yet. Jette tried the local chew tobacco though, and made a video of it.

Going back to Banaue, we caught up with axle at the 5pm bus. Just enough time to do a little souvenir shopping and a quick meal before heading back to Manila.