When my friend asked me if I wanted to visit the Banaue Rice Terraces, I could hardly believe my ears. I had always been my dream to be able to visit these world famous terraces, but I really had no idea how to go there. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for to see this UNESCO listed World Heritage Site.
The Banaue Rice Terraces is located in the provincial capital of Banaue in Ifugao Province in the Philippines. There are a couple of overnight buses from Manila going to the town of Banaue. The bus we took was the unimaginatively named bus company, Autobus. From the bus station near Espana Ave in Manila, near the University of Sto. Tomas, we would travel nine hours to Banaue including two stopovers.
Although I knew that the town of Banaue was in a mountain, I didn’t really come prepared as I was in my shorts and didn’t bring any long pants. The bus ride to Banaue was a nightmare. Not because the ride was dangerous, but rather it was freezing in the bus. Despite repeated passenger requests for the driver to turn down the airconditioning, the driver declined for one reason or another. I ended up using my towel to keep myself warm.
By daybreak we arrived at Banaue. The town looked like a less modern Manila, it had the ubiquitous tricycles all ready to ferry passengers from one point to another. This was the scene at the bus terminal where we got off. We were met by the tricycle drivers waiting to take us to see the famed rice terraces. My friend had other ideas though. We got a tricycle and made off into the town, into the popular backpacker’s place called People’s Inn.
Although we didn’t check in to People’s Inn. We had breakfast there but most importantly, I got a chance to freshen up there. Not really getting any sleep from the freezing bus, I was really eager to freshen myself. To my dismay, People’s Inn only had ordinary tap water for freshening up. Being up on the moutain, the water was cold. I wasn’t really used to bathing in cold water but this leaves me little choice. The cold water woke me up and sharpened my senses. After the bath, I was ready to take on my new adventure.
It turns out, People’s Inn has an excellent view of the Banaue Rice Terraces. In fact it is right smack in the middle of it all. Just outside the dining area, visitors get a great view of the famed terraces. To my dismay though, the valley in between the mountains has been overrun by houses and buildings. However, despite the houses, the terraces are still an amazing sight. I was impressed by their size, since all the while I was thinking that the terraces are small enough to step on.
People’s Inn was a great starting point to our journey through rice terraces country in Ifugao province. However, our first destination in Banaue is not the famous rice terraces but we will be proceeding to another town also known for its terraces – Batad. If you however, have no intention of going to Batad, the road won’t be easy, staying at the People’s Inn will be perfect for you.
[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/Banaue.kmz} zoom=14]