Tour Guide, Manila, Philippines
| 4 mins read
Get High on the Stairways to Heaven-
Banaue: A stairway to heaven
Just like a song sung by Led Zeppelin. But this time, we won't be buying a stairway to heaven; it's not for sale. It's for keeps. Our country's premier is the Banaue Rice Terraces.
They are an iconic, astounding wonder moulded by the imagination, determination and perseverance of the Ifugao Tribe in the mountains of the Cordillera Region. The terraces were carved by hand blanketing the mountain slopes with mud and rocks as walls, designed to irrigate waters from atop to pass through the man-made canals flowing directly to the rice paddies. A 2000-year-old 8th wonder of the world is standing high and mighty true this time.
As I started my journey from Banaue town proper to Batad Saddle Point, I knew I was starting to breathe the fresh, cool, rice-scented air of the terraces that made me shiver. Starting trails are narrow pathways with few staircases, uneven slopes and slippery mud surrounded by luscious green forest. I am feeling hot even though the weather is quite cloudy. Sweats are flowing from my forehead down to my spine while trekking. Along the trails were clear areas that showcased portions of rice terraces that made me ache for more.
As I went closer, the immensity of the amphitheatre terraces began to reveal its unexplainable beauty. All I can say is WOW. The greatest engineered masterpiece I have ever seen. And I knew it was love at first sight. I fell in love with its greatness. I fell in love with the Ifugaos who made this for my eyes, and I am still falling in love with the people who continue to upbringing their culture and inheritance. I felt at Home. For a moment, I was just staring at it. Immovable.
A tap on my shoulder awakens my thoughts. It was my local guide. He said the greatness is just starting. Check your endurance. I really didn't get what he meant as I came to life.
Later, I understood what he had said. After a while of imagining, we went on an uphill, downhill terrain of the terraces. Slippery steps, foot-thick paddies we were about to cross, agonizing steep slopes we had to climb, and endless steps on staircases making me feel like giving up, plus the scorching heat of the sun envelopes our trek. All this energy-drained feeling is substituted by excitement. I have a purpose and duty to do. And I wanted to conquer this wonderful sight. Take hold of its beauty as long as I can. I was more of happy than tired.
Along the way, we mingled with the locals living in the village in the middle part of the terraces. We visited their traditional houses, weaved with them, and we were given a chance to pound rice for one family. Pounding was not simple. It took us almost an hour to clean and get the grains for cooking. After that, we were then offered brewed native coffee. Though it was as hot as the weather, I felt replenished. Not just my thirst, but I was replenished inside. A feeling that I could not totally explain.
I am on my comfort clothes and trekking sandals. I also brought litres of water. Beforehand, I had set my mind already on the activities that I would be doing and the exhaustion I had to face. For I will be climbing a more or less 5000 feet above sea level rice terraces.
Banaue Rice Terraces is an ancient landscape that needs total protection and support from each individual.
And as to the song Stairway to Heaven says:
And my spirit is crying for leaving
Your stairway lies in the whispering wind
Oooh, It makes me wonder.
I promise to come back again and again. Dear Home!