During my summer vacation, my family and I traveled to Sagada, a remote town found near the Banaue Rice Terraces.
It was a fun and exciting trip but very dangerous and scary too. The road going to Sagada was so narrow that only one and a half cars could pass through for both incoming and outgoing traffic. The road was also very steep and had a deep ravine beside it. The unevenness and roughness of the road made me uncomfortable because the car kept going up and down the potholes which made me jump from my seat.
The chilly air coupled with the magnificent view of the mountains and the greenery ended the dizzying drive. I was captivated by the breathtaking scenery and for a while, I thought about God because He is the only one capable of such a creation. My thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Igorots in colorful clothing mingling with Filipinos in the usual attire worn by the city dwellers.
First in our list of places to explore was the “Big Falls”, a waterfall with a height equivalent to ten mountains placed on top of each other. The walk to the “Big Falls” was long and dangerous as we had to pass through some narrow footpath of the rice terraces. To avoid falling into the muddy plot with rice seedlings, we had to concentrate as we balanced our body on the narrow footpath and walked placing our feet alternately on a single file. At the basin of the “Big Falls”, we saw a lot of children with their families swimming. The water at the basin of the “Big Falls” was very cold, clear, and transparent that we even saw some leeches on the rocks. Because of the potential danger of the leeches, we only had a quick dip and immediately left. The walk back to the car took a huge amount of time. The return was such an effort that I was like a grandfather with a cane stick walking up the stairs.
Another tourist attraction was the underground cave, which was very dark and filled with numerous hanging bats that formed a curtain by the entrance. Because of the presence of bats, the rocks were filled with bat stool or guano. We were fortunate to have hired an experienced guide because there were certain ways or techniques to get down and up the cave. As we went deeper into the cave, the surroundings became darker, and the ground had some cold but clean water covering our feet. At the end of the trek, I had a difficult time climbing back to the entrance. The cave experience was revealing because it was during the difficult ascent and the trek inside the dark cave that I experienced and appreciated the loving presence of each family member.
In my short sojourn, I was able to see the beauty of the Philippines, experience God’s creation and do some reflection. Unlike in urban Manila, people in rural areas live simple and happy lives. Sometimes, we need to be uprooted from our comfort zone to appreciate the surroundings and people around us.
Life is Good! Life is very sweet! 