as required for anyone wanting to go to Lumiang and Sumaguing caves. We wanted to try caving, going inside Lumiang cave and exiting through Sumaguing. At Lumiang, it’s were we can find dew old coffins. Managing inside the cave was difficult, since we had to descent and the pathways were slippery. We had to rappel to reach the bottom of the cave. There were pools of cold water and towering limestone formations around. We walked for about 30 minutes to reach the Sumaguing cave exit. The temperature got even colder, I wore a long-sleeve shirt, but I still felt cold. For taking pictures, a waterproof camera or one designed for an extreme action and adventure is advisable. The whole cave tour cost us 500 pesos or more or less $10, plus a tip of 100 pesos or $2 for the tour guide. The next day, we went on for the Hanging Coffins of the Echo Valley. Going down the valley was hard as it rained on our way there. Travelers were allowed to get as close just meters away from the site. A belief that the higher the body is placed, the closer that deceased persons with his dead ancestors and even to God. The coffins were suspended on the face of the cliff with iron wires or ropes.
three of us sharing a room. The guest house had a Wi-Fi connection, a laundry service, and offered tour packages. It was hard to find a budget restaurant in the morning and we wanted to veer away from fancy One nice thing about Sagada is that almost everything is at walking distance— from the hotel to souvenir shops, restaurants, and
Sagada from 6am to 1pm. The fare was around 400 pesos or $8 per person. The ride felt longer than the one we had from Manila, but the mountain ranges along the way made it fun and bearable, seems like those in “The Lord of the Rings” movie. Another sight for tourists to marvel is at the Philippine Pali, the highest highway system in the country located in Atok, Benguet, at 7,400 feet above sea level. Further up towards Sagada, the ambient temperature gets colder as the ride go on slopes and curves. Shortly, at around the middle of the trip, there’s a quick stopover for those who want to grab something to assuage the stomach. Upon our arrival in the town proper, tourists are asked to register for a record of the volume of people coming in. Accommodation is not a problem; there are nearby inns, hotels, and guest houses from the town hall. A short stroll ushers in a line of street cafes. One nice thing about Sagada is that almost everything is at walking distance—from the hotel to souvenir shops, restaurants, and of course the attractions. At George Guest House, where we stayed for three nights, the rate was at 300 pesos per person or at $6, with
of course the attractions.
breakfasts. So we went to a small store we found at the local market. They served “silog” that loosely means garlic rice with meat and egg. And we cap it with the town’s famous coffee Arabica. We got a tour guide from the Sagada Genuine Guides Association
27 EC Magazine | World Tourism Day Edition 2020
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