on to batad

We had decided that we weren't gonna do anything on April 3 except stay at the inn. For the first couple of mornings that we had been there, we weren't able to use the back view deck for breakfast as other guests got there first. So, on this third morning, we wanted to make sure we got there first so we could stay there all day. We got up very early and staked our claim to the view deck.

However, in the middle of the morning, the inn caretaker told us that the jeepney was going back to Saddle Point in Batad to pick up the guests that had gone there the day before. Though we were supposed to stay at the inn for a third night and were set on doing nothing for the day, we decided to ride with the jeepney. Why you might ask? Well, there is public transportation to Batad, but only to the junction. There is only one trip a day that goes to Saddle Point, the closest point to Batad itself to which vehicles could get. Saddle Point is at least an hour's walk from the junction, and is Batad is at least a 45-minute walk from Saddle Point. As we had stuff to carry, we definitely wanted to avoid that hour walk from the junction to Saddle Point. Fortunately, the inn allowed us to leave most of our stuff there so we only took the stuff we needed.

After quickly packing our stuff (the stuff we were bringing with us and those we were leaving), we waited for a jeepney to take us to Banaue town center, which is where the jeepney going to Batad would be waiting. The jeepney that we saw coming towards the inn from the other side of the mountain actually wasn't for passengers; it had already been hired by a group of Filipino tourists. We and a couple who were also guests at the inn still hailed it anyway; we asked if we could hitch a ride as close to town as possible. They agreed (we did have to give some money to the driver). We were dropped off close enough to town so we could easily take a tricycle the rest of the way.

It was a bumpy ride to Batad, much bumpier than in Banaue. The roads were even less paved than in Banaue, and they were closer to the cliffs. I could barely stay on my seat--how do people stay seated on the roof?

When I saw how far Saddle Point really is from the junction, I was glad we didn't have to do that walk. At Saddle Point, it turns out there were porters who could help us carry our stuff. Thank goodness. I rented a walking stick, and we began the hot and tiring walk to the inn.

I was glad when we got to the inn. Not that there was anything fancy waiting for us. The accommodations were very basic--no electric fans, toilets and showers outside. But look at our view from our bed!

After having lunch, we had cold showers (very cold--must be mountain water) and took a nap. When we woke up to have dinner, there was a brown out. So we had dinner in the dark (save for a couple of lamps), but it gave us an opportunity to enjoy the fireflies. Afterwards, there really wasn't much to do but sleep.

During dinner, we also saw the stars. When we woke up in the middle of the night, the stars were even more numerable. And they seemed close enough to touch. That was cool.