Ifugao weaving

The party is complete

The Wheel weaves as the Wheel turns. After about 5 hours of trekking in the dark from Batad, or about 12 hours of trekking for the day (we started our trek at 9:30 AM), we finally reached Bangaan at 10 PM.

As usual, the advance party were already having some beers when we got there. The "tinola" (chicken soup with vegetables) was about the most delicious meal we had for a long time. Our host at the Family Inn prepared hot baths for us. The inn is highly recommended. Besides, you don't have a choice. It's the only inn you can find in Bangaan, anyway. It's a pleasant surprise to be able to sleep in an authentic Ifugao hut! Each hut accomodated two to four people among us. Poor Stuart, he forgot to bring his toothbrush. There's no toothbrush for sale in all the villages we passed. It was only in Banaue, the following day, that he'd be able to brush his teeth again since we left Manila.

For tourists who have no inkling to do the treks we did, don't despair. Bangaan is just about 3 hours travel by minibus or jeep from Banaue . You can enjoy its rice terraces right there from the highway. Add another 1 or 2 hours travel and you can reach the town of Mayoyao where we started.

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