FOOD TRIP IN SAGADA

When in Sagada, it is almost impossible not to do the one thing that every human in this world needs to do; to EAT. And Sagada is the perfect place to just chill and unwind and strip that "DIET" out of you. With all the physical activities one has to do in a day while in Sagada, eating is such a sweet reward.

Let me guide you of the places you may want to visit while staying in Sagada.

1.) LEMON PIE HOUSE. The name itself you'll understand why. But it's not only all about Lemon Pies. They also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at a very affordable prices.

A pie slice (Lemon Pie/Egg Pie and their seasonal pies) costs P35. While main courses which includes rice starts at P100-150. Affordable?! Oh wait till the food arrives at your table. Then you can say that at the portioning that they're serving you, the price is way too affordable. It is cheap!

The atmosphere is so warm and cozy. The interiors were well lit but not too bright. Just nice for the theme. Rustic, country house theme with traditional spears and gongs and such as decorations. Once you step inside you will feel that you've been transported to another country.

For take home pies, please be advised to order 1 day prior departure. This ensures that you pie(s) are freshly made. They open at 6am, just nice for you to grab those pies before heading to your bus going back home.

For more information please check: http://sagadalemonpiehouse.blogspot.sg

2.) THE YOGHURT HOUSE. And by the name of this joint I should say you'll understand why and know what's the special of the house. Yes! Yoghurt! But they also serve other varieties of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner although the variety is not so much.

Recommendation?! Try their HIKERS BREAKFAST & TAPSILOG. They also serve traditional chocolate drink from the cacao and not just "MILO" as hot choco which made me so happy. Portions size, again, it's super size. Don't ask. I was beginning to think that in Sagada, this is their "REGULAR" portioning. Quite disappointed with the egg though. I've always like my sunny side up eggs runny. Mine was cooked to well done. Sigh.

Thumbs up for the laid back, rustic, country look of the house. Cozy & very homey. At first we thought that the place was an inn coz there were so many people the night before when we passed by trying to find a place to eat. It turned out not. The place was just that "popular" I guess with all the mentions it got from all over the blogs.

Price ranges from P80-P180. Very affordable price for such delicious grub. Treat yourself once in a while and let go of those "diet" woes.

Service however was not so great. I don't know. Probably because we're locals and not foreigners?

3.) SAGADA PINE CAFÉ. The perfect place to chill after a long day's activities. Relax and unwind. They however only served drinks.

The place has this really unique sense of decorations. Very Rasta/Reggae vibe. Makes you just want to chill.

Drinks averages from P50 for beers to P180 for hard liquors. Plus you can smoke inside and play poker. Whatever floats your boat. But don't pick a fight guys!

4.) VINCENT'S RESTOBAR. Another Reggae inspired. The food were great! Again, portions were huge leaving you so stuffed. I love the way they decorated the restaurant. So simple and yet very eye catching.

Prices are very affordable. Ranges from P60 - P180.

5.) KIMCHI RESTOBAR. Talk about recycling, Kimchi resto bar made sure that they're one example to follow. The mosaic walls were all decorated with the tins from soft drink/beer lids. Empty sake bottles for display. And a whole lot more. You've just gotta visit to see it.

From it's name, one can tell that yes! They cook Korean Cuisine. The owner had worked in a korean kitchen in Korea thus mastering the art of Korean cuisine. They also offer Filipino Cuisine too.

The ambience was very cool and reggae feel. It's also one of those chill out place to eat and drink.

Prices are from P100 - P180. Affordable isn't it.?!

ENJOY!!!

SAGADA ITINERARY

If by any chance you are planning a trip to Sagada and with so many things to do, you don't know what to do first, maybe this guide can help you plan your trip.

The gateway to Sagada is Baguio. It all starts from Baguio. So let me start from there.

This is a 4D3N itinerary.

Day 1.
6:30am - ETD to Sagada (Dangwa Bus Station)
12:30 pm - ETA Sagada. Check in at any inns.
1:30pm - lunch.
2:30pm - Walk around Sagada. Register at SAGGAS for your preferred tour and guide. Visit the church. Ganduyan Museum.
3:30pm - you must be super tired from the trip. take a nap.
7:00pm - Dinner.

Day2.
7:00am - Wake up and prep up for the day.
8:00am - Breakfast.
9:30am - Spelunking @ Sumaguing. (Sumaguing Cave 3hrs. Cave Connection 5hrs.)
12:30nn - Snack (Lunch if you want to take your time. We didn't.)
1:00pm - Start hike to the drop-off point going to Ponggas Falls. It's a long way. Alternatively, you can take a jeep that rarely pass by (if you're lucky) or hire a van (at a costly price). We were lucky!!!
1:30pm - Start trekking going to the falls.
2:30pm - PONGGAS FALLS
3:30pm - Trek back to the jump off point.
4:30pm - Reached our jump off point another trek/ride back to the town center.
7:00pm - Dinner.

Day3.
7:00am - Rise and Shine! Prep up for the day's hike.
8:00am - Breakfast.
9:00am - Trek to Echo Valley. Hanging coffins. Underground River entrance. Sagada Weaving House.
12:30nn - Lunch. Rest.
3:00pm - Off to Mt. Ampacao for sunset. Bonfire at Lake Danum.
7:00pm - back to town. Dinner.

Day4. 
3:00am - Meet up for Kiltepan Peak trek for sunrise.
6:00am - Rock Inn for breakfast and Orange Picking.
8:00am - Start descend to town.
9:00am - Prep up.
10:00am - Goodbye Sagada.
4:00pm - ETA Baguio City.

For more information please visit http://www.saggas.org

GUIDE TO SAGADA

SAGADA.. The perfect place to chill and relax and buzz away the stress of the city life.  Pack lightly, prep up those hiking shoes and submit yourself to Gaia. Tuck away those 21st century gadgets, and gear up for an ultimate adventure with Mother Nature.

Located at Mountain Province, it is the 5th class of the municipality. 575km north of Manila and 140km from Baguio and just 45min away from Bontoc.

Here are some of the things that you shouldn't miss while in Sagada...

1.) Spelunking. Be it in Sumaguing cave or Sumaguing-Lumiang (cave connection), be sure to try at least once in your life spelunking. Sagada has more than just 2 caves, they have a lot! But only this 2 are open to public.

2.) ECHO VALLEY. Probably the best place to "scream & shout & let it all out".. A short distance from town. The name itself doesn't need explanation as to why it has been named as it is.

3.) HANGING COFFINS. I asked our guide "Why hang?" And he threw me back a question of "If you die, would you rather be buried 6ft under and not to see the world or be free and be one with nature?" I was stunned for a while. He has a point. And so this is the belief of their ancestors thus the hanging coffin exists.

4.) PONGGAS FALLS. Hold and behold! Going to and from the falls is one long trek with narrow walkway and dangerous cliffs that you'd better watch where you're going or else. But the reward once you reach the falls is such a WOW moment. There are 2 ways going to the falls, one is the moderate but safe way and the other is the extreme and difficult way. You can choose which way you want to go, but listen to your guide. On the day we went to Ponggas Falls, we took the moderate but safe route because Kuya John told us the the extreme & difficult way was dangerous as the water level from the river has gone up and the dark clouds was catching up. Weather in Sagada can be sometimes unpredictable. Either way, please remember that though you are in an "adventure", your safety is your number 1 priority. What is an adventure to remember if you can't wake up to even remember it??

5.) SUNRISE @ KILTEPAN PEAK. You can never watch sunrise in the bustling city. Never. So, wake up early and get a good warm up as you ascend to Kiltepan Peak. But going to the peak is not an assurance of a perfect sunrise. This all depends on Mother Nature. If she favors you, you might be lucky. If not, perhaps the bed of clouds will be at least a sight of compensation. But I guess that day was not for us. It was too foggy. We waited until 6:30am before giving up the idea of a perfect sunrise. We hoped for at least a consolation to at least get a view of the "bed of clouds" but sadly, it was just all fogs. Probably next time when we will go back to Sagada.

6.) SUNSET @ MT. AMPACAO. If Kiltepan Peak is for sunrise, then Mt. Ampacao is for sunset. A very long trek from town but the rewards of a dramatic sunset is such a glorious moment. This is also depending on Mother Nature of course. As they say "if weather permits". Good thing we did have that sunset and it was beautiful though we totally didn't have not even a single picture perfect.

7.) BONFIRE. Leaving Sagada without the experience of bonfire is nuts! This is a must try too even if it's just a simple bonfire. And perhaps because we had our bonfire at Lake Danum and it was freezing cold.

8.) LAKE DANUM. Dare to swim if you can. It looks serene and tranquil but BF spoiled it with his stories of snakes and vile crawling creatures. LOL. But seriously, it was too damn cold to even take off my jacket.

9.) POTTERY. Yes. Yes. reminds you of Demi Moore & the late Patric Swayze's movie GHOST. When you look at it, it seems quite easy to do. Damn. Try doing it! That's all I can say. See that arm power??

10.) SAGADA RICE TERRACES. Yes!!! They also have. Actually, the Mountain Province is abundant in rice terraces and not just the famous Banaue.

11.) SAGADA WEAVING HOUSE. Do not ever question why products made from weaving are bloody expensive. Products as such are made by hand and not by mass producing machines. It is made by hard labor and love. Weaved to perfection. And every detail is delicate.

12.) ORANGE PICKING. Usually done after watching sunrise from Kiltepan Peak. Admit it, how many times in your city life have you picked an orange by yourself? Let alone see an Orange tree??? When in Sagada, give it a go!! You have no idea how many types of oranges there are and they sure tastes different that I can say.

13.) WALK THE WALK.. The primitives survived life even before 21st century gadgets were made and that includes transportation. So, when in Sagada, you'll just have to walk. Jeepneys are not common there. Cmon! Sagada is just a small town.

14.) LUMIANG CAVE. The entrance to Lumiang Cave is an ancient burial site similar to the hanging coffins. Lumiang cave is connected to Sumaguing cave. Kuya John says that all the caves in Sagada is connected to Sumaguing Cave thus they hail Sumaguing cave as the Mother Cave of Sagada. Throughout the century of this traditional burial system, the wooden coffins had somehow matched with the stone walls of the cave that you wouldn't think that there are coffins. But there is no coffin inside the cave. The coffin ends to where the last rays of the sun hits. As Kuya John says, "there should be light to guide the way" and that is the belief of the elders. It is just a sad sight that the people of Sagada had to leave a sign saying "PLEASE DO NOT GET ANYTHING INSIDE. DON'T OPEN THE COFFINS." Apparently, in one of the slightly open coffin (due to wood deterioration thus the coffin had exposed the bones) the skull once lying there had been stolen. So please do RESPECT the dead.

15.) FOOD TRIP. Oh Sagada!! You're not just an adventure land, you're also a food paradise! The best gastronomical place in such affordable price and the plating portion is "big size"! Go on and indulge on what Sagada has to offer you. I ended up "RESTO-HOPPING" eating from one restaurant to the next.

There you go. 15 things not to miss in Sagada. There are other things that you shouldn't miss in Sagada but frankly my time in Sagada was kinda short that I've not experienced them myself thus I can't share it with you coz I've got nothing to share. But I believe the internet is open to all inquiries about Sagada. I just hope that maybe I've enlightened you about Sagada.

If ever you plan to go to Sagada, how to reach Sagada is all written HERE. You don't even need a big budget honestly. Everything in Sagada is so affordable. And please do tip your guide. I know they have a guide fee, but a guide fee for example: Spelunking P500/4 pax is ridiculously cheap for a "buwis buhay" tour. I am so thankful that Kuya John has a powerful grip with all my weight. I am not kidding. At the end of my trip in Sagada, I gave Kuya John a generous tip. Probably more that he could think of on top of his guide fee for the entire 3 days. Because going on an adventure trip to Sagada is no joke.

So I am thankful that I've found Kuya John Justo. He's an excellent guide! Till next time SAGADA!!!

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN TO LATELY?!?!