Monday, December 03, 2007

Nueva Vizcaya: We're off to Banaue

Today, the delegates of the ICOMOS-CIAV Scientific Conference 2007 proceeded to Banaue where we will be staying for the next few days. The scientific conference is an annual meeting of vernacular heritage experts from around the globe. I was asleep for most of the trip since I did not get enough sleep the previous nights. We stopped by Balete Pass along the way. More popularly known as Dalton Pass, this marks the boundary between Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, and therefore Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley as well.

We had a sumptuous lunch at the Governor's Hotel in Solano town. As we arrived, we were welcomed by a marching band from the local elementary school. After lunch, we were off to Banaue. Again, I was fast asleep so there's nothing much I could say. And the next thing I knew, we had arrived.

The view from my room in the Banaue Hotel was great. Imagine waking up in the morning and the first thing you'll see are rice terraces and tree-covered mountains. Dinner was superb too! It looks like I'll be gaining more pounds if they keep dishing up this great selection of dishes.

How to get to Banaue, Ifugao
Florida Bus has a regular trip from Manila direct to Banaue. It leaves Sampaloc, Manila (Lacson St. cor. S. H. Loyola St.) at 10:45 p.m. Or you can take any bus that goes to Cagayan Valley and get off at Solano, Nueva Vizcaya where you can catch regular trips to Banaue and other towns in Ifugao. From Baguio, KMS Bus Lines and Ohayami Trans leave for Banaue at least twice daily.

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous26.12.07

    Brod, looks like you enjoyed your trip again... Sana nagkita tayo, i'm just bumming around that day in solano... ha ha ha...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oo nga brod eh. Pero tight schedule. I'll be in Dupax for lunch on Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous26.12.07

    masarap ang food sa banaue hotel... pag trip kame sa sagada or batad, last day namin sa hotel, so food galore talaga!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yup, the food was really great! We had several meals there. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Brod, that's a great trip. Can I have your permission to share your nice and terrific photos to our forum : http://www.mybesthomes.net

    We have also Pampanga and Angeles City thread in that forum.

    from good shepherd aka TheAvenger of SSC

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous30.12.07

    wow, this is great! I'm going to banaue this feb... won free accommodations at the banaue hotel :) btw, is it better to bring a car or ride the bus?

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  7. I'd have to say ride the bus. Your car will be useful only up to the vantage point in Banaue. If you plan to go to the UNESCO inscribed areas such as Batad or Hungduan, you'll need a 4x4 since the roads are bad. It's best to rent a jeep. Anyway, the jeep rental rates are conveniently posted in Banaue Hotel.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous30.12.07

    thanks a lot :) will keep that in mind.

    ReplyDelete

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