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This last week has pretty much been a brief, round trip of North Luzon, with the eventual destination of the famous Batad Rice Terraces. However, the adventure on this trip has definitely been in the journey as much as the final destination. Some of the individual jaunts have been epic to say the least, making Batad feel that slightly bit more special.

In search of rice.

Simon Wadsworth
2006-09-04 17:03:29

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quite funny when the 30th person you meet starts off with 'hello' and through a 5-minute conversations, steers it to the inevitable question of whether you want a companion. Even the young children were at it for some extra pocket money. But, that aside, there's something fitting about not being able to get any sort of vehicle into Batad, besides the old classic of one's feet.

As soon as you arrive, you are treated to a full-fronted view of the Amphitheatre-layout of the spectacular rice terraces. They're everywhere and look so abstract, free-flowing out of the mountains, and to think that they're over 2000 years old, and still used with full-working irrigation. There isn't much that can boast that. Over the course of the day I must've taken nearly 50 photos: the terraces, the terraces again 10metres later from a 1 degree angle change, reflections in the water of the terraces, the workers, the village, terraces from the village, the best view I've ever had from my bedroom window, more terraces etc - you get the idea.

Karina, John and I spent a day and a half exploring these structures, the village and getting lost along the way (maybe a guide wouldn't been handy? hmm..), relaxing in the evening at the great hostel name, if I do say so myself, of Simon's Guesthouse, complete with huge open-covered terrace and dining area with panoramic views over the terraces. Batad itself, is a surreal little village - with no roads, or even a pathway, getting from one place to the other involves basically walking through yards and over fences, dodging chickens and pigs. very cosy, and everyone welcomes you with a smile, most asking if we wanted a guide, a belt, a drink, a knife etc. But alas, wanting to stay longer, we had to leave the Machu Picchu-style landscape behind to make our way back to the crazyness of Manila.

I should also wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year, year of the dog as became known to me during a parade in Baguio, complete with dragons, bands, MacDonald's promotions, screaming kids clamouring at thrown sweets, and lots and lots of dogs. I realise I haven't really mentioned anything about what I've done this last week, as the journeys themselves were so interesting, but it's been fascinating experiencing Filipino mountain life: the wonderful, colourful market in Baguio that ebbs of Fes' medina in Morocco, the amazing food and ornate clothing, and the strange but infamous hanging coffins and rock pinnacles around Sagada, which we spent a day exploring. It's a lovely, calmer pace of life up in the mountains, and everything is so cheap! Travellers have often remarked to me how I have done this trip the right way round - starting with expensive NZ, cheaper Borneo, then cheaper Philippines, then even cheaper Thailand/Cambodia, before one even thinks of India or Africa. I can predict spending sprees beginning soon and lots of trips to the Post Office...

Tomorrow I fly out of Manila to Cebu City in the central Philippines, having spent today leisurely going south on a day trip to the picturesque Lake Taal and Taal Volcano, described in one book as an "island inside a crater-lake, on an island inside a crater-lake, on an island". Then came back this evening for some random exploring of little bustling side-streets, with a classic S.E.Asian feel to them - the sort of feeling that makes you feel alive, and loving Asia...

Thanks for reading once again - it means a lot.
Simon x