Saturday, November 15, 2008

Bangga-an Rice Terraces and Bomod-Ok Falls

We were amazed by the beauty of the place surrounded by too many rice terraces, so we took pictures from afar and awed how natives did it in the first place. The road were ziggy again as we headed towards the where-is Bangga-an Rice Terraces.

And we stopped to a bus station-like covered stop over where we can have a nice view of the place. Kuya Andrew gave us a brief description of the place with these statements:

“Welcome to Bangga-an Rice Terraces. Pupuntahan natin ang Big falls, Bomod-Ok Falls . Maitanung ko lang, lahat ba dito ay physically fit?”

Upon hearing these words, I was kinda hesitant if I have to raise my hands and suggest not to go anymore. But then again, go pa rin ako. Then hearing the next statements from our guide made me refused again.

“Mula dito, andun ang falls (pointing to the farthest that my eyes could reach) at dadaan tayo sa mga rice terraces na ito para makarating dun” Napalunok na lang ako. And we started the trek.

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At first we were all having fun taking pictures and such until my legs hurt a lil bit, I started to feel the pain already. Whoo, I realized we still had a long way to go upon seeing the huge rice fields in front of me. First time I had experience in my life walking in a man-made terraces!

We passed a village and my heavy breathing started already. I started feeling an asthma attack is about to grow. The village is kinda small and you will wonder how these people stayed too far from many when for an instance, there’s someone to be hospitalized, you have to pass the pilapil before getting to the main street! Geez, soo amazing!

..And we started to walk again. We passed this very steep dirt and I slipped. I was really afraid cuz the next thing in front of me is bangin. OMG, I don’t wanna die. Not yet!. Bawal ang pahinga so even though my feet really hurts and my muscles started to snap.

We heard water flowing nearby and thought that we were near the falls. No! we were wrong! Oh boy, a long walk again.. And finally, tired, exhausted and find another word in the dictionary to describe how TIRED we were, we have reached a beautiful spot – the falls.

I haven’t seen such a beauty in my life. We were awed by God’s creature hidden by the mountains. You see, we were walking 3 kilometers and any signs of the falls weren’t obvious while we were hiking. It was just there. I was sitting on the rocks feeling the cold moist of the place. Damn, it was all soo good. My guests were all enjoying the water. Tita’s were having their foot massage by the native kid who knew everything about acupressure, and me, I was just feeling everything.

After 30 minutes, we started walking again. Another 3 kilometers of stress and my legs were really hurting. My classmate Noreen (classmate sa pagod), were hiking on my back while the rest were heading up. I wanna see the bus station. But we were really far from there. Until we reached the village, woohooooooooo. Onti na lang.

I almost cried to see we almost made it. As I have seen the bus station, we rested many times and though my ankle wasn’t helping me at all, I just need to follow what others were doing. Walk forever.. Cuz I won’t walk that far ANYMORE.

check out how we walked hard just to get there.



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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Sagada Scene

The last time I didn't join my family on All Saint’s day was when I got pregnant. I had a major reason since they said it’s bawal daw. And this year, I didn’t join my family again. Why? Destination: Sagada.


I posted a Sagada tour on my travel page for October 17-20 but Ira emailed me and wanted to have a schedule for October 31-November 3. OMG! This is business, how can I say No? I arranged the tour.

October 31

After persuading a 1 day leave at work, well I was still on training as a PAS at that time so I wasn't allowed to take any absences, finally he said YES. But it will be considered an absent. That’s fine, as long as I can take a day leave from the office.

I woke up early as usual, 3pm, packed my things and got ready to go. I brought 2 green bags full of clothes and travel from Sucat all the way to Cubao. It was traffic since the most were going to the bus stations for the holiday break. I was kinda scared cuz I haven’t paid yet, baka maubusan kami ng ticket, although I have made my reservations already.

As early as 6pm, I was surprised arriving soo early seeing only 2 people on the Cable Bus Station aside from the drivers and a so-called cashier. I went straight to Jollibee to have dinner and kill time as well.

7:30pm – went to the station to make payment.

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The bus station. It's kinda small, you'll miss it. The only description that you'll make to see it -- It's in front of Trinity University of Asia.


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the bus that we took going to Sagada. Kinda dark tho :)


8:00pm – met Ira’s group. All of them were related except for the 2 guys which are Ira’s officemates


8:30pm – rode the bus, expecting that we will leave the station on time, however, we left the station at 9:03pm. My seatmate was a native and I asked too much questions re Sagada. Well, he was too informative but soon, transferred to the other bus for some reason.

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traffic @ NLEX. What can you expect during holidays?

Waking up as early as 5:30am at the bus is better when you get a good view. We were at Banaue at that time and I was kinda hesitant which from the terraces that I saw is the infamous Banaue Rice Terraces.

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banaue rice terraces, not a good view to see houses all over

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mejo malabo, I was on seated on the other side of the bus :D

and before we knew it, we passed through sooper daming bangin and zigzag roads

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few more steps, laglag ka. :(

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one rocky road


9:30am – arrived in Bontoc. Bontoc is like a city next to Sagada. Streets were modernized and there were hotels all over the place.

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bontoc town proper.

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and their first pic on this tour :)


10:00am – as we waited for the other Cable Bus because two of the boxes were mistakenly transferred to the other bus. We rode a jeep, which didn’t look like a jeep bound to Sagada.

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bangin ulit going to Sagada


11:00am – arrived in Sagada. The jeep took us straight to George Guest House. It was Saturday and a market day in Sagada and we were soo crazy seeing some people wearing their bahags. (unfortunately since we had limited time, I wasnt able to take pics of them :()

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we stayed at the penthouse which is kinda roomy and fit everyone. THe two straight boys stayed at the 3rd floor.

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picture taken before going down Bangga-an terraces


As I have talked to my contact persons in Sagada, I finally met my guide, Kuya Andrew. We had our lunch buffet which was prepared by Bana’s coffee and filled our starving stomachs with great food.

We rested for a while cuz at 1:30pm, we will start our adventure.

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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Heaven and Eggs

Last week, we had our dinner at Heaven and Eggs in Trinoma. The restaurant stored its classic looks, a purple with a yolk in the middle unlike the one in Glorrieta which changes its color to a formal black and H&E logo.


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While we were checking on the menu outside the restaurant, a crew was just there to introduce some of their specialty with “Dito na lang kayo mam, may free iced tea po kami!” statement. So we went in.

The store has its New York streets and building style with cab-looking lines of seats to accommodate any hungry pangs.


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the nyc wall

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taxiiii

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menu pls..

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hard to choose from these mouth watering food

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My two sisters orders the grilled pepper pork chop, which they said delicious. Compared to the H&E branch in Glorietta, they don’t offer it there.

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My mom ordered their t-bone steak with which she exchanged it with my sister’s food. “Matigas!” my mom exclaimed. We proved it too. Theirs is not the usual steak that melts in your mouth .

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I ordered salt and pepper pork steak which I shared with Amber. I liked it and had a repeat at their Glorietta branch when I craved after 2 days. Unfortunately, I shared my food with Amber and since it’s spicy, my daughter doesn’t like it.

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and oh, we have this pancakes in exchange of their mashed potato. My pinoexchange friends commented that it looks like a crab. LOL

Overall, I gave 6 out of 10 rating with heaven and eggs. The ambience is good. It’s a bit pricey but it’s worth the price since you’ll definitely exit the restaurant with a full stomach. Crew is friendly, however, they almost forget their advertisement regarding free iced tea :)


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Holloween costume party

It will be my first time to dress up for holloween in the office. In the past, I didn’t even care whether I dress up or not, I just showed up at work and that’s it. I just didn’t get it, IM NOT INTO COSTUME.

There were holloween parties held in the office but then again, I don’t give a damn. But since I joined the company anew, I need to follow what they asked me to.

Almost all holloween events have their themes, most of the time, the scariest, the winner. But this time, just like what other themes bars in the metro, anime costume is in.

We all came up to a Bleach anime’ costume, which I don’t have a darn idea how it looks like. It’s easy to turn Japanese but following a theme is hard.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to join the costume party since I had to take my leave on the 31st for Sagada. Unfortunately, the party was moved on the 30th and damn, I’m in the office. Right now I am wearing a blue jogging pants and a big black jacket with blue belt. I had my hair braided in two and since I don’t need to fix my eyes, I look like a Japanese bento :P.

Whew… With all the Japanese papers, lanterns and walls all over, first time is always fun! :D

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