✧ Series Note – Banaue–Buscalan–Sagada 2018 ✧
Some journeys carve deeper than the roads we travel.
This three-day escape reminded me that adventure isn’t just about places—it’s about the people we meet, the stories we gather, and the courage we carry.
📅 Travel Dates: Aug 25-27, 2018

“Each visit feels like touching an old song—I know the notes, but the feeling always changes.”

I vividly recall waking to the jarring rhythm of dusty, bumpy roads beneath us as we journeyed toward our first destination: Banaue. The sun was just rising, casting warm golden light across the terraced rice fields that curled gently along the mountainside.

The landscape did not disappoint. Banaue’s terrain unfolded slowly, its carved layers steeped in morning silence and shimmering green. I found myself rediscovering this timeless town, now joined by fellow mountaineers—Eric, Candice, and May—and our spirited tour coordinator, Ghie. Along with a lively group of strangers I’d met only hours earlier, we began navigating the scenic Banaue–Buscalan–Sagada route, the van climbing steadily as excitement bloomed.

🌿 Banaue Rice Terraces

That morning, after a simple breakfast of sweet bananas, nostalgia settled over me like a familiar blanket. I’ve returned to Banaue more times than I can count, yet each visit stirs something old and new. The rice terraces—staggered, vast, and humming with ancestral wisdom—are more than just a marvel; they’re a testament to resilience carved into stone and soil.

After last night’s nourishing rain, the terraces shimmered like woven emeralds beneath a low mist. The air was crisp, fragrant with earth and memory. As I stood overlooking this remarkable creation, awe returned with full force.

What struck me most this time wasn’t just the view—it was the quiet dignity behind it. The terraces speak of a community that thrives through harmony: with nature, with rhythm, and with heritage. Banaue is not just a destination—it is a keeper of stories, and this morning, I was lucky enough to listen once more.

“As the mist of Banaue settles into memory, the mountains whisper of other stories waiting to be heard.”