Baguio

The busride up to Banaue, a small "town" (population of 1100) up in the mountains. was fairly easy and non-traumatic (only  8hrs) although we didn't get much sleep. The aircon was blasting away and it was freezing. In Banaue, we were packed into a jeepney (free shuttle service:)) with a bunch of other tourists and taken to a guest house which were eager to sell trekking tours etc. We wanted to get some food and if against all odds maybe find a diet coke (which we didn't) before we made any decisions one way or another. We managed to hook up with two Swiss people and an English guy for a two day rice terrace/trekking stint. First day was more jeepney ride than walking on a VERY bumpy road. We first saw the rice terraces in Banaue and then spent the night in a guest house overlooking the rice terraces in Batad. Both absolutely stunning. (see flickr photos....I think Dan is trying to upload some now www.flickr.com/photos/dpp_emye/). Next day (after a light breakfast that we waited for for 2 hrs and after our guide showed up late and hung over) we started trekking. First up to get an overview of the terraces and then to a waterfall. Honestly I could've skipped the waterfall if I had known that there were that many steps (sometimes almost waist high) involved. Anyway we did it even if my legs were screaming in protest (not sure where my fitness went after all that running and muay thai boxing). We then hiked for another 2 hrs through some amazing scenery but it was muddy since it had rained during the night. I slipped and almost went over the side  but was luckily caught in the vegetation. Lesson learnt: stay away from the edge. We all got back to the rainy Banaue in one piece and then looked forward to a at least tepid shower. No luck there it was ice cold!! Never shivered that much in my life.
Next day we and the swiss people went to Bontoc. There was supposed be a cool market. Ran into another English guy and spent the day walking around the town. The market was not what we expected but despite that I kind of liked Bontoc. Next day we were off to Sagada. Got there early and went to some caves. Pretty nice and all was good until my foot slipped under a rock and split my big toenail into two. Can seriously say that it was quite painful. It didn't help that Dan had said earlier how this guy from New Zealand had gone caving a lot and got some bat poo in a cut and almost died. Pretty much soaked my toe in betadine after that !! We also had time to see the hanging coffins. This is a tradition which is slowly dying out. Only the elders which have not been baptised are buried this way. They pretty much hang the coffins off the mountain wall. Pretty interesting and looked quite cool.
In the evening since there was a 9 pm curfew we sat on the balcony of the guesthouse and drank some horrendous Blueberry rice wine and played Yatzy with the Swiss and the English bloke. Can't say that either Dan or I excelled this time around but there's plenty more time left to improve.
Today we left Sagada and made it to Baguio. It's not really a place we want to spend any lenght of time so are getting the night bus back to Manila. Since we are not that keen on spending time in Manila either we are planning on getting on yet another bus after that to take us to Legazpi.