A Blink of an Eye



Sagada is a small and tranquil town of Mountain Province. An outcast place, away from any kinds pollution. Covered with lush green surroundings, a cold breeze on your face and a unique blend of Western - Igorot dishes, Sagada is a must in your travel goals.

The main reason why I traverse to Mountain Province was to attend a wedding celebration of a friend in Bontoc and going to Sagada was just a side trip since the place was just an hour travel from Bontoc. After the wedding, my two friends and my younger brother decided to take a little journey.


We rode a jeep from Bontoc Market to Sagada town with a fare of 45php (if my memory serves me right). Along the way, I felt nauseated and sleepy,so I took a nap roughly 30 minutes. When I woke up, were almost there and a lady asked us if we had already a place to sleep for a night. She offered her guesthouse for 350 php per person which has two beds in a room, common toilet and water heater exclusive of any meals but we can cook on  their kitchen if we want to. And she also mentioned that her place was just five minutes away from the town proper so its not difficult for us to roam around the place. I thought for a while, and politely declined her offer.

At around four in the afternoon, at last, we arrived, indeed it was a quiet town and not congested with tourist. We first decided to hunt for a room to rest for a night. And we're fortunate, the hostel we rented was near the bus station and almost near to everything (I forgot the name of the hostel).   The facilities were basic, except for the water heater. It has a time limit and I was so dismayed.


After we fixed our stuff on our room, eventually we headed to the Sagada registration booth. It is a rule that every tourist who wish to experience the various activities and see the tourist spot, you are required to list your name on their logbook and pay a certain amount.

The first activity we did was to see the Hanging Coffin. It was literally hanging on the mountains of Sagada. We took us 30-45 minutes before reaching the coffin.According to our guide, some locals still practice this kind of ritual, but it is costly. 


Second, spelunking at the Sumaguing Cave. The most visited tourist attraction.During World War II, this cave was the refuge of the Filipino soldiers from Japanese guerrillas. As you explore the inside of the cave, you will be mesmerize with the stalagmite and stalactite formed naturally. Our tour guide, made us used our imagination and tremendous energy in climbing and sliding. However, the experience was worth it. 



And finally, we satisfied our taste buds by eating on a local restaurant for dinner. I observed that the cut of the vegetables were huge and the taste was salty. Also, coffee was a big thumbs up.Hooray! for coffee lover.

Generally, our trip to Sagada was just a blink of an eye. We just have an ample time to detoxify. There are a lot of  things to try and must-see places in Sagada which will be included on my second visit . Until next time!