10 Day Road Trip Finished: Bayombong, Banaue, Tuguegarao, Pagudpud, Vigan, Manila
We are back in Manila from our 10 day road trip! Family road trip was fun. Nothing to be homesick about for me, I’m traveling with the family so wherever we are is home. Our route was from Manila to Bayombong, to Banaue Rice Terraces, then Tuguegarao, then Pagudpud beach, then back to Manila.
Our original plan was to sleep in a hotel in a town prior to Bayombong, but we couldn’t find it. We wound up in a town just after Bayombong in Balay Gloria. A recommended restaurant in Bayombong was Mrs. Bakers. I had a wonderful rare lamb. This restaurant was the restaurant food I liked in the entire trip.
We got to Banaue Rice Terraces and proceeded immediately to Native Inn in Uhaj. It was totally scary driving up the mountain to Uhaj as the road was a single lane slippery muddy road where a mistake will make you fall of the cliff. We arrived up to Native Inn after some “piss in your pants” scary driving. Our SUV did not have off road tires and was not a 4 wheel drive so I was scared to the point I said to the family to take off their seat belts and unlocked the doors and if we make a mistake and start to fall off the cliff, everyone jump out the doors.
Native Inn in Uhaj is what it claims to be, heaven. You live in the clouds, you have the most majestic view of the Uhaj rice terraces, you live in authentic Ifugao houses. Paleo dieters need to bring their own meats as the resort owner is of the belief system that fat is bad for you and the pork they serve has been trimmed of all fat.
We got a guide / driver to go up Uhaj and fetch us and guide us down the mountain back to Banaue town proper. We stayed at the Banaue Hotel grandest suite. There was a nice cultural presentation show in the evening. We went around several view points in Banaue. We also explored their market. We also went down to an authentic Tam An village. We bought more than 30 kilos of authentic Banaue rice terraces rice. Most of it red because it was cheaper. We had it bused to Manila along with some big handicrafts.
Banaue was cool, calming, relaxing. I vow to come back to Banaue. Next time by bus. No more driving.
We were supposed to go to Sagada from Banaue but 4 days prior, a landslide in Bontoc has made the roads impassable so we decided to abandon our original route of Banaue Sagada Cervantes Ilocos Sur and instead back tracked and went up to Tuguegarao.
In Tuguegarao we slept overnight at the Hotel Roma. Good hotel. In hotel parking which was important in Tuguegarao as lately carnapping was rampant.
We then drove on up to Pagudpud beach. Prior to that we saw the beached North Korean ship being torn apart piece by piece. Will probably be sold for metal scrap. Pagudpud beach we stayed at the Kapuluan. Pagudpud was windy, non-stop, great for surfers. We immediately found the time to check out the hillside for escape from possible tsunamis. Pagudpud is a nice, natural, alive beach. With living creatures on the beach, shells, and all, nothing fake. There is a small dynamic community. And best was I discovered where to buy fresh fish and other food so we can have our superior home made meals… which are always better than restaurant fair.
We drove down to Ilocos Sur to Vigan and stayed at our new friend Marsha of Marsha’s fame. Wow, her home was her castle, non stop improvements and artistic to boot, it’s her hobby. Super thank you to Marsha. Vigan was a nice historic place to visit. The Burgos museum made my day and the zoo visit was great too.
On the last day we drove from 7am to 6pm from Vigan to Manila. We had a lunch stop and a fruit buying stop.
Lots more stories and details to tell in more blog posts. This trip was just so good I want more trips.