Showing posts with label Sagada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sagada. Show all posts

Sunday 8 June 2014

Sagada Walking Tour

On our last day in Sagada, we went for a walk around town. Just a few minutes walk away from the main road, we were able to reach the famous Echo Valley. People took turns shouting and waited for their echo to sound back. From here, you can already see some of the hanging coffins on the sides of the valley.

If you want a closer look, you can trek going down the valley to view the hanging coffins up close.

Just nearby, you can find the St. Mary's Escopal Church. There was an ongoing wedding celebration when we passed by so we were not able to take pictures of the church from the inside.

Behind the church, you can find a busy market set-up only during Saturdays. You can find goods from nearby provinces like Baguio being sold here.

While you're in Sagada, don't fail to try out their halo-halo (Php 25) which had a little of everything. Their halo-halo had macaroni, ube, corn kernels, coconut strips, melon strips, watermelon, avocado and an assortment of jellies. They even added a stick-o with no extra charge. Yummy!

If you still have energy, you can walk much further to reach the Sagada Weaving Center. When I got in their shop, I was quite disappointed to see that they don't sell much merchandise at all.

Behind the souvenir shop, there's a small house where locals do their weaving. You have to be quiet while you're in this area and be respectful to ask their permission first to take pictures. They don't like to have their pictures taken, they will only let you take pictures of their work but not with their face.

Just in front of the Sagada Weaving Center, you can find a souvenir shop, Sagada Collections where you can taste their Peanut Bars. I don't think these bars are sold anywhere else in Sagada and they are quite expensive - one pack costs Php 200. They are made of peanuts and white chocolate, they were really delicious. Everything in this store were expensive. If you are looking for affordably priced bags and wallets, you can buy them at the Indigenous Handicrafts & Inn.

The main road in Sagada has lots of souvenir shops so you have to do some canvassing if you want to find cheaper items. Their key chains and ref magnets range from Php 65 to 100. Coin purses in Indigenous Handicrafts & Inn range from Php 50 to 130 depending on size and design.


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Saturday 7 June 2014

Resto Review: Yoghurt House, Sagada

The Yoghurt House is one of the restaurants found on the main road of Sagada that you won't miss. They are popular for their yoghurt but we didn't ordered any because we heard from our fellow travelers that theirs were much sour.

My husband ordered Pork in Bechamel Sauce (Php 220) and Roasted Pork with Vegetable Salad (Php 200).

I commend them as their serving portions were big and their presentation was appealing and appetizing. Their vegetables were fresh and crunchy and their meat were cooked just right to be tender but their sauces were nothing extraordinary.

If you are looking forward to eating a heavy meal, we suggest the Yoghurt House given that money is not an issue. Oh! Before I forget, bring your own water as they don't serve house water.

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Resto Review: Bana's Cafe

For our last day in Sagada, we decided to dine at Bana's Cafe which was popular for their coffee. It is located in the basement of a souvenir shop so it may be quite hard to find.

We ordered Banana Pancake Plate (Php 150), Longganisa Meal (Php 100) and a cup of their Cafe Mocha (Php 80).

The Banana Pancake Plate had two fluffy banana-filled pancakes, two sunny side-up eggs, slices of bacon and fresh melon slices. This plate is actually good for sharing. Their pancakes and bacon were delicious.

Their Longganisa on the other hand was huge and so tender and juicy. I love how they add slices of fresh fruit on their plate as it makes the meal complete.

Finally, I tasted their Cafe Mocha but was not that impressed. For me it was just any ordinary coffee mocha but I'm not such a fan of coffee so maybe I'm just biased.

Our experience with Bana's Cafe  was a pleasant one and we recommend dining here as they had fast service, good tasty food, big portions and a nice view too.

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Sunday 1 June 2014

Sunrise at Kiltepan Viewpoint, Sagada

The best place to watch the sun rise in Sagada is at Kiltepan Viewpoint. Make sure to get there early to be able to find a good spot to see the sun rise.

It was really hard waking up so early but after seeing the picturesque scene of the sun ascending over the clouds - it was all worth it. Feeling this close to nature was such a fulfilling experience.


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Resto Review: Masferre Restaurant

On our last night in Sagada, we decided to dine out and bond together with our travel mates with Travel Factor. It was already quite late at night and it was also a Friday - so most of the restaurants were packed. So we chose to dine in Masferre Restaurant. It was also full so they then opened their rooms in their basement to accommodate incoming customers.

They offer American cuisine but we were really disappointed because most of the items that we wanted to order were no longer available. We then decided to just order their Bolognese Spaghetti (Php 170).

It took more than hour for them to start serving us our orders and as they placed our order in front of us - we were stunned. It didn't look anything Bolognese at all! As I started mixing the sauce into the pasta, I didn't find any traces of meat at all. Eating it just added to our disappointment because it was just plain spaghetti sauce from a pouch. It was absolutely not worth its price at all. This one's a definite FLOP.

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Lake Danum at Sagada

Lake Danum is the best place to be for sun set viewing in Sagada. Unfortunately, it was raining when we were there so we didn't have the chance to see the sun.

You can go kayaking or boating while you're there or simply enjoy the cool breeze and serene scenery.

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Thursday 29 May 2014

Resto Review: Sagada Lemon Pie House

The Sagada Lemon Pie House is located on the very far end of the main road. It is very well known for their Lemon Pie thus the name and it is said to be the best in Sagada so we wouldn't want to leave without having to taste one.

The interiors of the log house was oh so cozy, you can find really small tables and chairs and really low tables where you'll be sitting Japanese-style. They also have the normal tables and chairs if you're joints are too sore to sit on the floor.

They don't have waiters and waitresses here so you will have to make your order at the counter. When I got their menu, I am amazed at how affordable their food are.

Since it was raining that time, I ordered a hot Mountain Milk Tea (Php 20) while my husband got their Lemon Tea (Php 15). Notice how cheap these are, not to mention their pies also starts at Php30 per slice. So if you are on a tight budget, go to Lemon Pie House!

I so love my Mountain Milk Tea, it was delicious. Their mountain tea here in Sagada is a bit different from the usual tea, it had a ginger-y taste to it that gives just the right kick. Their lemon tea was as delicious as their milk tea. They provide brown sugar for you to be able to adjust to your liking.

They are also known for their Blueberry Pies but unfortunately they ran out so we ordered everything that they had available. hahahaha We ordered a slice each of their Orange (Php 35), Lemon (Php 30) and Egg (Php 30) pie. At first look, you can't actually tell them apart. They all look the same! You just have to taste them to be able to distinguish which is which.

As we take our first bite at the lemon pie, we didn't feel any spark. The crust was ok, the lemon portion was sour and sweet with a gelatin-like consistency, and meringue on top was light and fluffy. Overall, we didn't think that the meringue helped in improving the pie's taste. We were disappointed and believed that the pie was overrated. Same comment goes to the orange pie, it only differed in flavor. But we did loved the egg pie. The egg pie was the clear winner from them three.

Even though we were disappointed, we still highly recommend this place because their drinks and pies are really affordable and ambiance is so country-style home-y that it's all worth the experience.

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Sagada Cave Connections

Three weeks have already past since we went to Sagada yet my memories of Sagada is still vivid in me. It was our second day in Sagada and we are about to embark on the most challenging adventure one can ever do when in Sagada - the Cave Connections.

We were a very big group, I believe we were more than 50 and so we were accompanied by more than 10 guides for our spelunking. We started by trekking to the entrance of Lumiang Cave. On its entrance, we can see several wooden coffins of the natives there. Our guide started telling us of how old the coffins were and also gave us instructions on what to do when inside the cave. But the most important rule when inside the cave was "Always trust your guide".

As we started spelunking inside the cave, our flexibility was tested as we try to fit in every hole in the cave. It was a never ending maze inside. There was a lot of balancing, climbing, butt trekking throughout the process.

After an hour of trekking, we only managed to reach half way through the cave connection. We had a few minutes breather in a flat surface inside a cave where we can hear bats everywhere and not to mention the stink from their poops. hehehehe When the rest of the group caught up with is, we then started to trek going to Sumaguing Cave. I never thought that I had so much strength and courage in me to do all the climbing, walking and maneuvering while inside the cave.

And after two agonizing long hours, we finally reached Sumaguing Cave. Here you can find many rock formations, unfortunately our guide was not able to point out to us all of them. This is the disadvantage on going to a tour with lots of people, you won't have the guide exclusively to yourself. Below picture is the King's Curtain rock formation.

We had a fun time relaxing in the cold water that flows through the formations. After taking several pictures, it was time to trek out of the cave. It was definitely one heck of an adventure that I never imagined I could make it through. After this adventure, I can proudly say that I have definitely conquered and survived Sagada!

Important Tips: 
  • Bring a light snack (chocolates or energy bar) if you're planning to go the cave at around 9 or 10AM, because you'll definitely get hungry when you get in the end of the cave.
  • Wear comfortable, loose/flexible clothes. Use rash guard, quick dry or cotton shirts. Wear leggings for ladies who don't want to get scratched by the rocks.
  • Use rubber slippers, water shoes or slippers with grips.
  • ALWAYS trust your guide! They will be there for you all throughout the journey. (",)

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Sunday 25 May 2014

Resto Review: Sagada Brew

We just had our dinner at Salt & Pepper Restaurant but felt unsatisfied with our meal so we went to Sagada Brew Cafe for something sweet.

I ordered their Peppermint Chocolate (Php 100) while my husband opted for their Black Coffee Shake (Php 100).

The Peppermint Chocolate was so yummy and I love the idea that they added marshmallows which added to the drink's creaminess. A piece of peppermint leaf was added to give just the right kick of mint to it.

As for the Black Coffee Shake - there was nothing special to it. It was just black coffee with blended ice.

Sagada Brew also serves desserts. If you want to try out what they locally bake choose their cakes since the brownies and bars that are sold here came from a supermarket chain as admitted by one of their staff.

Out of all their cakes displayed that night, one caught our attention due to its surprising name or ingredients - the Peanut Butter Blueberry Butterscotch Cake (Php 150). As we tasted this cake, we can't seem to grasp the total essence of it. It really did had all the ingredients except for the butterscotch. But the peanut butter was the most powerful taste out of them all. It was not the sweet pleasant cake we were hoping for. After the experience, we finally dubbed this as the "Confused Cake" - once you try it, you'll definitely be confused. hehehehe

The Sagada Brew also offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their menu items may be pricier but the serving is big and the ambiance is nice - felt like chilling in Starbucks.

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Resto Review: Salt & Pepper Restaurant

On our first day in Sagada, we decided to have our dinner at Salt & Pepper Restaurant. The restaurant was really hard to find because it was located on the 2nd floor of a souvenir shop along the main road. Plus their sign was really small and unnoticeable. Tip when you're Sagada, look up because some of the restaurants are located on the 2nd floor. heheheh

Anyways, I suggested this place because I read good things about them through other blogs. Most of the blogs, recommend ordering Dinakiw (Php 160) but I opted on ordering their Sinarabasab (Php 170) which was pork viand cooked in vinegar since I just love sour food. My husband ordered the Salt & Pepper Diner Plate (Php 250) which had both pork and chicken in a plate.

The Sinarabasab was really sour - at first it was appetizing but after several bites it was just too much sourness. It was served together with pickled red cabbage which was sour too and did not compliment the pork at all.

As for the Diner Plate, it had a serving of Sinarabasab and a roasted chicken. The chicken's skin was tasty but the meat didn't have any flavor to it.

Obviously, it was not that pleasant of an experience for us but we have tasted their Stir-fried Vegetables and it was really good. Their vegetables are really fresh, crispy and flavorful. This dish is definitely one reason to come back to their restaurant.

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Trek to the Scenic Pongas Falls of Sagada

On our first day in Sagada, we were scheduled to go to the famous Bomod-ok Falls but unfortunately there was an ongoing tribal ritual happening on that day that lead us to go to the less visited Pongas Falls. The local tour guide said that Pongas Falls  is their back-up in cases like ours but assured us that it is as beautiful as the Bomod-ok Falls.

It was raining hard when we reached the site so we had to wait for some time for the rain to subside. Just as the rain became a drizzle, we then started our trek. We walked through the rice terraces. I was always fascinated on how they go about these terraces and now I finally see that there were actually path ways in them that were not visible from afar.

On the way to the falls, you will be walking through slim cemented pathways along the terraces, passing through a rusty bridge, and trekking through some steep muddy edges.

After 30 minutes of walking, I felt exhausted. But after looking at my surroundings, I instantly feel revitalized and at awe at how beautiful and green nature around me was.

After an hour, we can now hear the sound of water flowing. It was a relieve to know that we were almost there.

After several more hikes and turns, we finally arrive at our destination - behold the Pongas Falls.

The water flowing from the falls was refreshingly ice-cold. The falls was so high and had 3 to 4 levels of it - I'm not quite sure. We only managed to climb up to the 2nd level. Sadly, you can't have a swim here since there's no basin. We rested awhile then went back to town when we're all ready to go.

If you're planning to go to a falls in Sagada, make sure to reserve one full day for it because you will definitely need your rest after the long walk.

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Saturday 10 May 2014

Resto Review: Strawberry Cafe, Sagada

While in Sagada, I can't help notice that there are lots of cafe and restaurants serving yoghurts. My husband's  not fond of yoghurts because he doesn't like it being a sour dessert. But one can't help but be curious about it so I just had to try at least once.

We ordered a serving of Strawberry Yoghurt (Php 70) at the Strawberry Cafe. The yoghurt itself was plain and was not that sour as expected from a yoghurt. Combining the fresh strawberry and the sweet strawberry jam on it neutralizes the yoghurt's sourness. I love it and I just wished their serving was bigger.

The Strawberry Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their pancakes are priced at Php 100 and their meals start at Php 120.

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Resto Review: Pinikpikan Haus, Sagada

The Pinikpikan Haus is located just below Alibama Inn along the main road. The Pinikpikan Haus is the official restaurant of Travel Factor where our daily breakfast and lunch are served.

On our first day at Sagada, we were served Chicken Curry for lunch. The chicken meat was really tender but the sauce was quite bland that I'm not sure if it was really curry. I only assumed it to be curry because it was yellow.

On our 2nd day, we had Longganisa  for breakfast. Their longganisa were small but were tasty.

For lunch, we were served with Daing Bangus with vegetables. Thankfully the bangus was boneless and their vegetables were fresh and cooked just right. What's weird about our meal was it came with a single piece of liempo. hehehehe

And since we were really hungry on our 2nd day, we ordered their local specialty Pinikpikan (Php 130). I was expecting its soup to taste like tinola but it was not, it has a distinct taste that I can't describe. The soup really warms up our grumbling tummies. Their pinikpikan had several chicken meat and a piece of etag. Etag is smoked and salted slab of pork meat but it was not for me, I don't like its consistency. As for the chicken meat, it was tender but tasted bitter because of the blood clot on the chicken which is normal for pinikpikans.

Pinikpikan Haus serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with meals starting at Php130 - which is the usual price of meals of restaurants found along the main road. But on the plus side, every meal here comes with unlimited mountain rice. So if you are heavy on rice then this is the place for you.



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