it begins with a step

Banaue – Batad

Every once in a while we get the opportunity to go on life changing trips, the ones that make you have a greater appreciation of life, the ones that make you realise that in spite of all the negativity around you there’s a place that can give you peace. This time it was Batad, I’ve always believed that our country is so blessed with natural resources, the best of what nature can offer and this trip made me realise it even more.

Who:
I joined Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s CSR activity, other volunteers have signed up as well and the tour was co-facilitated by Culture Shock.

Group photo! ❤
Nakakapagod but I’ve never felt more fulfilled in recent years. I carried my back papunta but acquired the assistance of a porter pabalik. I’m looking at this photo and I can’t believe I walked that path.
This was the morning after in Batad
Stopping over after we hiked from Batad, on our way back to Banaue/Manila. We may be all smiling but it was so taxing! See the cold water bottle in my hand? LOL
Medyo nakapahinga na, time for a group shot (or groufie as people call it nowadays -_-)
Last group shot for the day in Banaue before we boarded our bus back to Manila.

What:
It wasn’t a vacation but an immersion program with the Ifugaos. We left Manila on a drizzling Friday night, arrived in Banaue at 7am, had breakfast, and started our immersion by visiting Tam-an Elementary School. After lunch we took a short ride to Saddle Point before starting our hike to Batad. I’m not a very active person, I can’t even commit going to the gym on a regular basis but I can walk for miles, at a slow pace of course. As I write this I’m going over our itinerary and it surprises me that the trek was supposed to take an hour, I felt like it took hours! My legs and my knees were shaking as I made my descent, even more so when we went back the following day. I could even remember almost giving up but realised there’s nothing I can do about it, there’s truly nowhere else to go but up (isn’t that the case in life).

Putik! I almost fell out of balance buti na lang paa lang yung lumubog LOL! Incidentally, the mud felt cool and not kadiri at all (except when I was trying to clean it off)

As I’m going over my pictures, picking out which ones to edit and post, my heart becomes full as I remember the time I spent in Batad. I can’t explain it but the place has touched me, my spirit, my wanderlust, and I’m in love. I can’t wait to go back.

Ang ganda ng terraces. Nakaka speechless, this was en route to Batad.
Malayo ‘to actually, I used telephoto lens lang but it’s beautiful nonetheless.

PS. My most favourite shot was the one I took of the night sky, I was already in bed about to go to sleep when I felt cold and stood up to close the windows when I noticed the stars twinkling. I thought I’d take a photo just to see if I can take a good shot, I could never get one up to this point. So I took out my camera, turned on my flash and fired a shot. It was blurry at first but good enough to capture the shimmering stars. I took another one, and another, and another until I got this;

Where:
Batad, Banaue