Sagada Mountain Province - A special place
me at the bomodok falls (aka the BIG falls)
Sagada is described as a special place. The caves, rice terreces,cool weather,hanging coffins,the falls - these are just some of the interesting places that you can visit once you are there. Not to forget the yoggurt,their version of spaghetti and their mountian tea which will surely fill your stomach with much gusto.
There are two ways to go to Sagada: via Banaue or via Baguio. I chose the first option as I have never been to Banaue before. If you intend to commmute, there is only one bus company who offers the trip on a daily basis. Since its just limited, you are required to have a reservation 3 to 4 days in advance to be guaranteed of a seat. The bus normally leaves manila at 10:00 PM and expect to arrive in Banaue at 6:00 AM (if everything went smoothly). Once in Banaue, there is again on jeepney to Bontok which normally leaves at 8:00 AM or can be earlier if the jeep is already full of passengers. From Bontok, you can take a jeepney going to Sagada which leaves on an hourly interval. During this trip, make sure to position yourself on the right side of the jeepney facing the left side. Along the way to Sagada, you will already
see nepenthes growing along the road. You may actually experience some stiff neck as you try to focus on one plant. However, the jeepney normally travels very fast that you cant stay focus to any Nepenthes that you see along the way. But dont worry, what you see are only a teaser. There will be more once you are already in Sagada especially if you start trekking some mountains or even on your way to the falls. Nepenthes grows in Sagada like grass and the people there doesnt seem to be facinated with this plant. Well maybe because it is very common to them and as what Ive said its just like an ordinary grass. The locals call this plant "kawew" if I got it right. Kawew or pitcher plant or whatever name it is being called, I still consider this as one of the most interesting plant in the planet. Ive seen different variations of this plant that Im beginning to think if all of these are merely alata. Some are speckled. Others are green and there were some that are green with some patches of red. Unfortunately, I was not alone and so I was not able to spend a longer time with the neps as our schedule is quite tight. But the third time I went there ill make sure that Ill spend the whole day just taking pictures of these insect trapping plants.
Wow Kawew in bloom !!!
Truly Sagada is one place worth a visit. BTW, Ive been to sagada twice this year and im planning for one more trip but this time, i'd like to trek that other mountain called Polis. Who knows I might find other specie other that the alata that Ive been seeing on my past two visits to the place. Hopefully, a new one so I can name it N.Pinoyensis. That is sound good to your ear?