The Rice Terraces Of Batad
So, we fully survived the overnight bus. Can’t say there was all that much sleep to be had. But we did survive and are surprisingly awake for the adventure ahead — must be the excitement!
We got off the bus and a man from our accommodation in Batad was waiting with a sign with our name on it. We paid our environmental fee for the area and he brought us to a little place for breakfast. Had Filipino breakfast again with rice — which from the crew at Tao we now will always call… FILIPINO POWER!!
He sat with us and mapped out our options of things to do with guides and whatnot over the next two days. We came up with a plan, checked in our big bags and took our daypacks with us on our mountain adventure in Batad.
We took a jeepney for a little over 30 minutes to a drop off spot — and then it would be a downhill hike ahead into the Batad rice field area. Signs welcoming us to the area soon appeared and then we turned a corner to find this hidden village amongst the mountains and rice terraces — Batad, we have arrived!
We spent the majority of the day on a pretty major hike up to the top viewpoint and down to a beautiful waterfall. We hiked with our guide Ronaldo and our fellow hiker Andrew, the 18 year old solo traveller from Australia. I must say, we’ve met a lot of backpackers on this trip so far and I have such respect for them. Sure we are backpacking too, but not like these people at all — shared accommodations, stretching the few pennies they have to see as much of the world as they can. It’s an amazing thing. And something I wish was more a part of the American culture as it is in so many other areas of the world. I would have set off on a world journey at a young age I think. But I felt it wasn’t right — we were groomed to get to college, get the degree and get going in the “real world". This young man wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to do and wanted to see some of the world first, so off he went.
We trekked along the terraces and saw the area from many different angles. These hikes were not easy, but we prevailed.
We got this!
We did a massive hike from the top lookout point down to this fantastic waterfall — Tappiya Falls. It was a looooooong, long way down from the top to the falls. So much so that we considered buying the t-shirt "I survived the hike to Tappiya Falls". That would have been right after buying the t-shirt that said "I survived the overnight bus ride to Banaue". Anyways, we were so hot, so we got in for a dip to cool our bodies and ease our weary muscles.
After we got back to our haven for the night, we had a few drinks with some people at the Hillside Inn, where we were staying, and then dinner with Clement and Lillian from Paris. After our night on the overnight bus, we were tired and called it an early night — and then proceeded to sleep THIRTEEN HOURS.
Goodnight Batad, goodnight Philippines, goodnight Asia, goodnight world!
