Going extreme

Day 5 Pongas Falls, Twin Falls, Tap-ew’s Seven Falls, Sagada Lemon Pie House

Our day5 was solely scheduled for a whole day extreme adventure of exploring the relatively unexplored Tap-ew’s Seven Falls.  This Tap-ew’s trail to Seven Falls was opened about three years ago in the southern part of Sagada.  I did not make any research or visit any reviews about this activity beforehand, maybe because I am thrilled to actually witness and execute this activity or just that I do not at all done my researches for this whole trip. 🙂 Nevertheless, let me just share what we have experienced regardless of these trail and waterfalls researches and reviews have been told.

The first two cascades of Pongas Falls

Early about 10 in the morning, we started the river-trek going up to the Pongas Falls and took us about an hour to get there.  Captivated by the triple cascades of Pongas Falls, we took our pictures in this very stunning three separate falls in one spot.

It really felt fantastic to see waters to go closer, navigate through the rocks and create majestic layers of falls.

How it really fascinates me to be with falls

Majestic layers of falls

To give justice to the title of the activity – which is Pongas Extreme, we satisfied it by being the extremist rappelling upward the Pongas Falls.  This is necessary in order to get us and start the trail to the main Tap-ew’s Seven Falls.

Considering that rappelling is not within our normal day-to-day activities, we consumed a great quality time to ascend.  Choi followed by Jheng effortlessly surpassed the climb.  It is a good thing that this couple has emerged to be adventurous that really contribute to boost my confidence to also carry out whatever drills this vacation would ask for.

Chad’s (with Choi and Jheng) version of Michaelangelo’s “The Creation of Man”

Next to Jheng, I crawled up, tightly holding a no-grip rope and without any body support in case I slipped down.  To narrate my experience up there, with the only rope as my hope, I felt alive! I can feel the rush of my blood and breath for every drag I make. I felt the excitement on reaching the top. The fear was only triggered when I reached the slippery cluster of rocks – with no other grasp to anchor your core upward aside from pulling yourself with the use of the no-grip rope. My fear rooted from the mere thought of not trusting the rope! But since I cannot surface any grip along the rocks, it left me with no choice to put all my weight on the rope supported by my knees crawling up.

View of third cascade of Pongas Falls

I am already on the top, when our very adventurous pal conquered the rappelling via rescue of our both guides. In a way, I felt relief that I got to climb first before him, because seeing him being rescued might only add agony for me to take the climb. Arnel deserved a salute for conquering his fear and being renowned as the true extremist of this whole activity.

It’s almost lunch when we all finished the rappelling. After that, we shared a boodle packed-lunch and the very primitive prepared lunch by our guides. I’ve lost track of count with these seven falls. I believe the falls we have stopped over for our lunch and to rest was the second of the seven falls.

One of the seven falls

Our boodle lunch

As we continue, we get nearer to the next falls and the view gets better and better.

Since this Tap-ew’s trail is starting to be explored, we ourselves can testify the wilderness of the trail being it remained unclean, tricky-narrow paths.  These are all evidence by several bruises we obtained along the trek.

Of course, here is to Chad’s catch of the third, fourth and fifth (which is also known as the Twin Falls) falls of Tap-ew.

The Third, Fourth and Fifth (which is also known as the Twin Falls) falls of Tap-ew

We finally get closer to the Twin Falls. Being that we (I, Jheng, Joriel and Arnel) do not crossed down to the other trail where you can completely see the pouring of this Twin Falls, my experience of getting closer would meant being on the tip of this pouring twin falls.

Our perfect group shot on Twin Falls

Being on the cliff

It is only on the pictures that Chad and Choi have taken that I came to appreciate the remarkable meeting of these two falls upon touching their basin.

Twin Falls with its dramatic pour almost converging before it reaches it basin – Ironwolf

Due to its late afternoon already and bad weather condition, we were not able to reach the 6th and 7th waterfalls. We made our way back with different trail this time – not passing through the Pongas Falls. We also needed to get back in the village as early as before 7pm, for we had our dinner reservation in the Sagada Lemon Pie house.

At Sagada Lemon Pie House

Enough time for cleansing and dress-up, we feast our dinner trying the must-try “Pinikpikan” dish in Sagada. As I have told, I can’t be a foodie critic. With this regard, I will just share that this dish was famous and made special because of its main ingredient which is the chicken, that is being beaten by stick until it dies. The dish worth Phpo650 is good for 3-4 person. But six of us were well-served of this dish. We also tried the best of the house – the Sagada Lemon Pie.

The made special Pinikpikan dish of Sagada

Lemon Pie of the House

I can’t remember how this day really ends. What I can remember is that, there was a typhoon that day in Mountain Province, and the hard rain falls right after we ate our dinner.

I have mentioned early the feeling of being alive.  This is not only a matter of YOLO or YODO! It’s a realization about nature – mountains, waterfalls, climbing, trekking that urges my human body to explore. The felt of burning body under the near rays of sun at the top of mountains or cliffs; the touch of water-dust and cold breeze coming from waterfalls; the rush of blood for every breathtaking climb, trek or walk; the fulfillment of every conquered fears and of completing bucket lists; the awakening sore of every muscles as an aftermath – these are all magnified thoughts of knowing your alive.

Side shot of Pongas Falls – the view of Pongas Extreme!

Soon, who knows, I might be conquering the fear of death! – I’m not referring to the death that it may cause having these kinds of activities, but as not to waste time fearing death for it is everything to cherish every chances of feeling alive.

True colors

Day 4 Kiltepan Peak, Cave Connection – Sumaguing and Lumiang Cave, Lake Danum, Yoghurt House, Sagada Pines

After a sip of hot choco – or just milo, we started chasing the freezing dawn at around 4:30 am to witness the one of the highlights and most sought-after activity in Sagada – the sunrise watching in Kiltepan Peak.

What greeted us when we reach the peak was a stunner ocean of clouds that slowly gives way to the radiant sun.  For my thoughts would be if I will be blessed with a palm of photography, ‘Sunrise and Sunset’ will be my top 2 subject (as to the no.1 – that’s something I would like to figure out if I will learn photography, hehe).

Within the calmness of waiting, the comforting warmth and the illuminating ray of light upon the peeking of the sun – would absolutely define life and existence.  And if you want to be reminded by God’s grace, experienced the morning’s breathtaking display of radiant colors – bright mixed-streaks of red, yellow, and orange.  In all fairness, I am starting to like orange as my fave color – next to green.

Stunner ocean of clouds that slowly gives way to the radiant sun

It’s nice to know someone who really has the guts to be different – and I envy him (at times) being self-controlled, unconcerned, but calm and undoubtedly adventurous living soul.  This is all he was – kicking-off farther.  I believe – I have said this several times in our travels together – “Hayaan mo na si Chad, kaya nya na yan!”  But as he would say – “embrace change”; appreciating this blog thing, down to my affection of exploring things beyond my expectations, beyond my belief of capacity  – I will challenge myself to go farther – in my ways (hihihi smiling).

Challenge yourself to go farther

Sharing with you the “Buwis-Buhay” unceasing caption of Chad’s definition of sunrise in Kiltepan Peak, Sagada.

Chad’s definition of sunrise in Kiltepan Peak

We have reunited with the new friends we met in Banaue  – Marlon and Zenky, who were also there in Sagada.  These folks have much crazier itinerary than us – with their Banaue-Sagada-Baguio-La Union-Ilocos tour.  When we met them in the peak, they have introduced us with Jeffrey, their co-teacher wearing a furry wolf-like hat.  That legendary hat – which tested the sociability of Arnel for he deliberately tease Jeffrey just to be able to borrow it.  And after all is said and done, Tada! – Arnel, with his furry wolf look.

The furry wolf-look of Arnel.

We headed back to our hotel for breakfast and prepared for the day’s scheduled trek to Aguid Rice Terraces and Bomod-ok Falls.  But, unfortunately that day there was a ritual happening along the course to Bomod-ok Falls.  Since pathways heading there was temporarily closed, we just proceed with the Cave Connection activity.

Now that I am starting to overcome being on top of the Earth (conquering fear of heights), here we are about to go in the web of caves lying beneath 2,500 feet underground in Sagada.  The famous spelunking in the Cave Connection would take 3-4 hours journey along the Lumiang and Sumaguing Caves.

Caves lying beneath 2,500 feet underground

The Lumiang Cave was filled with stacked coffins as its scenery entrance.  These coffins were placed in the entrance of the cave for the belief that death still needs light to guide and/ or protect their souls from bad spirits.

Entrance of Lumiang Cave

Here are the series of drills on stretching, balancing, and contortioning of our body parts.  It’s not bad doing caving/ spelunking activities.  It is the perfect activity where there is an equal distribution of engaging your core and body parts’ muscles.

When we have reached the smooth, ‘clay-looked’ type of rock formation – I just knew that we already entered the connection cave of Sumaguing.  It was composed of lofty limestones formation that feels like sandstone.  There are numerous fine formations like King’s Curtain, Queen, Prince, Princess, Rice Granary, or Cauliflower that our guide was talking and showing to us.

Smooth rock formation in Sumaguing Cave

Another one of my Chad’s favorite shot in the so-called spacious Dancing Hall

Everytime I’ve googled Cave Connection in Sagada, there will always this historical kerosene lamp shot.  The shade of the impressive rocks formation inside and under the dark abyss of the cave was masked by the mere light of this kerosene lamp.  Thus, we never missed our opportunity to execute this historical shot.

And here’s for Chad’s own candid shot of kerosene lamp capturing the impossibility of the resistance in having the thirst to see the unknown, especially since it is the only way to see what only the imagination can supply.

Alas, no matter how we have saved our camera’s lives, we still failed to have our final shots of reaching and more of on our survival in that spelunking/ caving activity.

It took us almost more than three hours inside the cave and we’ve already missed our lunch.  We’ve just managed to cleaned ourselves and have crossed our hunger with an instant meal in the Soimai King.  This soimai house would deserved a well-tag in our overall trip in Sagada.  Aside that it taste fairly the same like other siomais sold in a foodcart, it is cheap and mostly – it never failed us in bridging our hunger and filling our stomachs.

The legendary Siomai King

We then proceed to Lake Danum – now to catch and witness the sunset.

At Lake Danum

I loved the idea that opened to me upon witnessing both the sunrise and sunset that day.  I loved the conclusion and cycle of the light and dark, the beginning and end, the hope and pain.  And maybe when the times become boring to me, I would never become tried or annoyed on looking forward for sunrise and waiting for sunset.

To another of my favorite Chad’s capture of the redness that had seeped from the day – arranging itself around us, cooling things down and dyeing the evening purple. (If visitors of my page would pay-off for your pics – don’t you dare forget to give me just compensation).

Unfortunately I don’t have my own story to tell with the bloody sunset occurred in the Lake Dannum, first because of epic-fail of not having a picture behind this scene; second was I have my own fall of sun below the horizon that time. But I was there watching it slowly fade as my emotions burst.

Nevertheless, let me share these captivating shots of the long-time lovers of Bubus – Choi and Jheng.  If I remember it right, they have been together for almost eight years.  What I am thinking is that they have already surpassed all the rumored or labeled stages of a relationship – even the deadly 7th year. It is when odd belief that lovers usually separated because of sudden falling out of love.

Choi and Jheng

In the couple or third times that I have been with them, it was strange there was no “kilig” in them anymore. Their comfortableness, their being independent with each other but with promising togetherness.  It made me realize that maybe they have decided to start becoming friends permanently. It’s inspiring to know their relationship really endure and last for they are lucky to find each other as their other half’s and started a long-lasting relationship through friendship.

I guess (*wild guess perhaps, for I never been in a long or even in a successful relationships) through realizations, observations, researches – that successful relationship may come from a long, full of love, passion, intimacy even lust type of relationship between lovers.  Then eventually, they will realize that their togetherness is the mere existence of each other – that is why they will decide to start becoming friends.  When you get old – isn’t it more foreseeable that you would be joking around with your long-old friend than having intimacy lust with a lover? (or maybe both possible, hehe)

Sustaining love is not a spontaneous experience.  You have to work on it on a daily basis. It will require a demanding time, effort, energy and wisdom to always know what and how to make it work and worthy.  Therefore, love is a decision not just a feeling.

We dine for supper in the one of the sought-after restaurant in Sagada – the Yoghurt house.  Definitely, we don’t miss trying their yoghurt.  It’s mouth-watering full of real fruits flavor.  I am not a foodie type of person, that is why I can’t fully disclose and critic the food we ate.  I just love eating and I ate everything.

House Special – Strawberries & Bananas Yoghurt

Java Chicken with Salad and Brown Rice, Yoghurt House

Spicy Chicken Curry with Salad and Brown Rice, Yoghurt House

This is where I would not forget thanking the two noble teachers we have met back then in Banaue.  We have joined and shared with their last night in Sagada Pines, one of the lounge bars there.

Reggae ambiance at Sagada Pines

Finding love at Sagada Pines

At Sagada Pines while waiting for our ‘dudes’

Words from Sir Zenky that marked in me was that – we are young, we can manage and we must enjoy.  Besides, the best and free things in life are wild, pretty out of there – everywhere.  And what is important and true, is that we have a plenty of time being wild, to go everywhere, to commit mistake and still have time to correct ones.  These are all the perks of being no.1-Single, no.2-Young, and no.3-with time and money.  Poor that I laughed on lacking no.3.

These all would be a lengthy Day 4 would conclude.

Different views

Day 3 Banaue viewpoint, Cordillera Sculpture Museum, Enroute to Bontoc-Sagada

After two days of walkathon, we indulged our third day pampering our whole day of pure sight-seeing and consumed the rest of the time via en route to Sagada.  No to muscular activities for that day!

We took a glimpse of the wide-ranging and far-reaching view of the layers of rice paddies at the Banaue viewpoint.

At the Banaue Viewpoint

We spend a while to take snapshots, found elderly Igorots and took photos of them and canvassed for souvenirs.

Afterwards, we visited the Cordillera Sculpture Museum where Ifugao and Cordilleran heritage welcomes visitors upon entering for its overwhelming and massive wood-craved collections. There are several carved rice deities called “Bul-ul” which plays essential part in Ifugao’s agriculture and mythical culture.

Stairs of Bul-uls

At the Cordillera Sculpture Museum

We have part-ways and left Banaue, for a nearly two hours travel to Bontoc, Mountain Province.  When we arrived in Bontoc, we ate our cheapest meal (lunch) for the rest of our meals over the whole trip on the first cafeteria we have stopped.  We also bought groceries for the succeeding days stay in the hotel at Sagada.  Afterwards, a mere 45 minutes’ jeepney ride brought us from Bontoc to Sagada.  Upon arrival, we get directly in the Sagada Genuine Guides Association’s (SAGGAS) office to fix our activities and negotiate related fees for the next four days.

Because we have embodied the indulgence of this day as our rest day, we decided to rest early in preparation also for tomorrow’s hike to witness the sunrise in Kiltepan Peak.

I entitled this as different views – first, for the entirety of the Banaue viewpoint that provides a panoramic perspective of the known stairway to the sky – the rice terraces; second, would be historical scene of the ancient Ifugao and Cordilleran relics in the museum; third was our sendoff from Banaue to the welcoming sight of Sagada, Mountain Province; and finally – what really wrapped up my 3rd day of this one-week trip and my 1st day in Sagada, was that phone call I received that surely will change my outlook and views in life.

For the life-changing view