jeepneyjinggoy

CONVERSATION

Sagada Mountain Dew. You want?

The body has a limit, particularly this body of a middle-aged man. It was up early and flew from Bangkok to Manila, met up with another group of travel bodies and hit the road for another 12-hour drive sans the chance to doze off (no thanks to the driver from hell), went spelunking and rappelling, trekked the mountainside for hours and did more touristy chores as a first timer in Sagada. It can only take so much beating, with or without an energy drink like Red Bull. It was screaming for sleep and lots of it.

But sleep was elusive, not on a night when seven others were having a drinking spree and playing Pinoy Henyo on the balcony by your appointed sleeping corner, and not on coldest night forecasted in the week. The layered clothing plus blanket and prayers were not enough to warm the body and get the rest it needed. One soul bothered to try to light the fireplace to no avail.

Not helping at all is the thought of having to rise early to catch another must-see in a tourist’s itinerary- sunrise at Kiltepan viewpoint.

This is precisely why I am a sunset person, preferably by the beach with a Mojito on hand making for a perfect way to end a day. Catching sunrise means getting up and rushing out before the break of dawn and rushing out. I don’t like sounding like an ingrate to Mother Nature’s astounding phenomenon, I know it’s beautiful, I have caught lots of it stepping out of the dance clubs in my discofied day.

But I don’t mind catching of the first day’s light breaking the deep blue hue of the night sky -- through the picture windows of a bed in some vacation place I am in. It’s effortless and will let me visit slumberland again in a snap of a finger. Spoiled bitch.

Since I missed the sunset at Lake Danum the day before (it was gorgeous I was told, the horizon was tinted red-orange; and me green, with envy), I wasn’t about to miss the sunrise on the last day of this Sagada sojourn.

Like I said forty winks was hard to catch, so I rose way ahead of the others and took the role of the rooster. Cock-a-doodle-do! Soon after, heavily wrapped bodies were on the (almost) zero visibility road to Kitelpan.

The road to Kitelpan viewpoint

Surprise! There was already a huge crowd gathered in the area, some by the bonfire and the others establishing their posts by the hillside.

We found our spot and waited for the much talked about sunrise.

Light!

Snap, snap, click, click.

The paparazzi mode is on.

Yes, light brightened the horizon until the entire valley was visible but the sun hid behind thick clouds. Hmmp!

If there was any consolation, the view of the Sagada valley from the Kitelpan point of view was beautiful. I am blessed. I am grateful.

It’s time to head to Baguio. I am looking forward to seeing the place again, it’s been ages since the most recent visit.

Ang tanong, will the body get the sleep it so badly needs in the Pine City?

For more travel & lifestyle stories, visit http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com/ and http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com/

Published in Sun.Star newspaper on July 19, 2012.

CONVERSATION

When traveling, one must embrace the essence of an adage - to focus on the journey and find joy in the activity, it’s what really matters most.

Well, to get to this popular destination in Sagada, the dictum is “in your face” the truth. If your tour itinerary mentions of a visit to the Bomod-ok Falls with an option to go swimming, be prepared to trek for kilometers. So make the journey matter and don’t forget your bathing gear.

Bomod-ok falls

Worry not, the long walk will afford you of a picturesque mountainside with the province’s trademark terraced rice paddies. Passing through the charming barrio with smiling residents promises a pleasant trip ahead and having a frame of mind open to wonderful possibilities will help. (Chant this- “I have to immerse in the joy of the passage to fully appreciate the destination.”)

The journey starts here.

Join ka?

That's the close-up. Here's the macro shot.

The Bomod-ok Falls information center.

Here's our pretty, young guide... who moved faster than a speeding bullet and didn't even break a sweat.

The zigzag path down to the barangay is a prelude of things to come....

Barangay scenes that can make you smile.

And help can also come in the form of a cane and, believe or not, a camera. The cane to aid you on the zigzag descent along the (sad to say) dried up rice paddies that seemed to be abandoned and now serves as pathway to the falls, and the Kodak moments to take your minds off from the far away destination. You’ll be welcoming the numerous photo-op breaks for sure.

Well, I did. It was a wonderful opportunity for a trigger-happy photo opportunist and it made the trip to the falls less arduous. The drawback, which I didn’t mind at all, is it made the supposedly 1½-hour trek longer with everyone wanting to have a perfect shot of the scenery with us in the frame.

The lengthy hike under the heat of the Sagada almost-noon sun made the destination truly sweet. The sight and sound of the rushing water of the Bomod-ok falls offered a very relaxing and cooling effect on us, and the pool it fills is just irresistible. This oasis is spectacular.

Judging from the shrieks of the few wet bodies among a multitude of visitors, we already knew the water was cold. After a long scorching trek, a dip in this waterhole in the middle of nowhere is what our hot (read: sun-burnt and perspiring) bodies needed.

Hypothermis!

Freezing was more like it. A quick plunge and a few seconds in the water did the trick. Our bodies got accustomed to the low temperature. We thought the rest would follow our trailblazing move. But no, it was too cold for them to handle.

So before we even experience hypothermia, we got out of the water. Feeling light-headed and smiling (blame the low temperature of the water, we’re weed-free), we conditioned ourselves for the long walk back – across the terraces, ascending this time.

The cane, don’t forget the cane!

The passage through hyperthermia (again) starts here...

Uphill across this.... (only seen in part)

You are allowed to rest, of course...

And enjoy more photo-ops... thanks Sheila Paul!

And when you get to this landmark, you've made it back.

For more travel & lifestyle stories, visit http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com/ and http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com/

Published in Sun.Star newspaper on July 12, 2012.

CONVERSATION

Woooot! It ranks number one on the list of the most popular activities in Sagada – the visit to the Porn Cave aka the Sumaguing Cave. The catchy sobriquet (with photos at the information center to match) will make even the claustrophobic, acrophobic and achluophobic to give the trek inside the cave a shot. And mind you, it’s worth the trip. If it’s not the search for the phallic natural formations, it’s the entire experience of caving that’ll thrill you.

Edited shot of Sumaguing Cave huge interior.

The unedited shot.

Just like this visit to Sagada, it’s also my first time to go spelunking with rappelling to match. Not having done either activity individually, the combination sounded intense. But with seven other friends along, I’m up to the adventure, a three-hour adventure.

Yes, three hours to get to the bosom of the cave and back. It’s two hours longer if we opted for the Lumiang- Sumaguing caves connection route. Too long, we thought.

The butt crawl down.

It’s impossible to navigate the Sumaguing Cave without a guide (who quadruples as a torch bearer to light the trail, a porter so as not to get your stuff wet and a photographer - which they have totally mastered like paparazzi in a wedding ceremony). This is actually a journey for the señoritos and señoritas as the guides make it (a lot) easier. All you have to do is mind your footstep, your grip and the (vicious) bat poop where you may lay your hands on while grasping for support.

Guide, torch bearer, porter, photographer

With the gas lamps lighted, we made our way down the concrete path to the cave’s mouth. Contrary to the photos you see on this page (edited for clarity), the cave’s interior is dark, it’s cold and wet, and the terrain steep and slippery thus the need to leave footwear by the “doorstep” and go barefoot.

Rest stop #1, A pool shaped like a dinausor's footprint

The snail’s pace (for safety) was made slower by the heavy foot traffic (the long weekend afforded a lot of the out-of-towners the chance to getaway) and creating a waiting time for a turn at the amazing photo-op spots (where there were lots, aside from the royal organs).

Meeting the King, the Queen, the Prince & the Princess

That's a giant turtle we're sitting on. Sorry, Erika blocking the "head shot".

And the curtain rock formation. Behind it is where the King & Queen are said to meet up and...

The amusement park vibe was fine. Besides, the pause gave us the chance to catch our breaths after an ass-busting crawl downwards. Maybe “The BUTT Cave” is another catchy name to call this place.

We duck crawled the craggy trails, squeezed through crevices to deeper caverns, stripped, waded and swam underground pools and emerged at (drumroll, please)….rest stop #1.

To reach the exit, we have to traverse the steep trail all over again. Ascending this time. It was the thighs’ turn to take the beating. It was still a long way to the top.

Heavy traffic. Our turn to rappel in reverse.

Three hours after we emerged triumphant into the night. Totally thrilled and honored in the presence of the Porn Cave royalty (and more), we vowed to visit again soon. Next time, it will be the five-hour adventure of the connecting caves. That’s a good reason to come back to Sagada.