Step one: get the heck out of Manila
Ok, ok in all fairness all that I really saw of Manila was through a bus and taxi window, and maybe there are some hidden gems. However, Manila gave me a very unsettling feeling and I really just wanted to leave. Lucy and I made it through customs, and headed to information to get directions to the taxis. I has spoken to the man at the desk for only a few seconds when he asked me who my travel companion was. When I pointed to Lucy he immediately got a very concerned fatherly look and tone of voice. He gave us very detailed information on how to get to the taxis and to the bus station, and kept repeating "be safe, please be careful." What a welcoming to Manila! In all honesty I never felt totally unsafe, just a little on edge. We made it to the bus station without a hitch. And the highlight of my first taxi ride in Manila was seeing a Seattle Sonics Jeepney.
Jeepneys are one of the many interesting and at times hilarious modes of transport in the Philippines. They were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II. Its basically a jeep in the front with an extended truck bed, enclosed with a metal roof and elaborately decorated with colorful paint and ornaments. You can sit on of the two bench seats that run along the inside, or on the side, or on the back, or if you are feeling adventurous you can even ride on top.
Step 2: rainy, flooded ride to Baguio
We bought our tickets, some snacks and boarded the bus for a 7 hour ride to Baguio. The ride was made especially interesting by the fact the we arrived the day after a typhoon hit the area. For about 80% of the trip we drove along roads that were flooded with almost a foot or more of water.
Unfortunately we didn't have time to explore Baguio. We arrived late Saturday night, were completely exhausted, and went straight to a hotel. The next bus adventure began at 6 am Sunday morning. We grabbed a quick breakfast at the bus station, eggs, toast and something resembling ham, and bought our tickets.
Step 3: nerve racking jungle journey from Baguio to Sagada
We were the first to buy our tickets, so we had seats 1 and 2. We soon found out that these were the best seats we could have gotten! The bus we were on had the door in the middle instead of in the front. So seats 1 and 2 were right behind the giant front windshield. Our bus ride from Baguio to Sagada was 6 hours straight up a, sometimes paved, winding mountain road through the Jungle. With our front row seats our entire trip was like watching the Jungle on IMAX. It was so unbelievably beautiful. At times were were so close to the edge that when you looked out the side window you couldn't even see the road, just steep green cliffs, and a huge raging river. It was still raining and sopping wet from the recent typhoon. There were many times that we drove over recent landslides or had to wait for new ones to be cleared. I took a really sweet video, but unfortunately my camera didn't make it back to Korea with me. Here are some pictures of the bus from Baguio to Sagada:
Sunday afternoon our bus finally rolled into Sagada............
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