Last stops at Sagada (Log Cabin, Lemon Pie House, Weaving House, Pottery) and off to Banawe Rice Terraces (Day 5)

• Log Cabin in Sagada

We packed our bags, loaded them all in our van and checked out.  It was 7:00 a.m. and every shop/restaurant were still closed.  According to the stores they usually open at around 7:30 Am when there are only a few tourists nearby.  We then headed to the Log Cabin which was located uphill in another road separated from all other restaurants and shops.  We reserved there the night before.  It was still closed but we were allowed to enter.  The place looked westernized except that it had woodworks of Ifugaos.  In each table was a vase of fresh beautiful flowers which we initially thought was plastic.

Their breakfast menu was limited.  It was either omelette's or home-made sausages.  Since we already had omelette's the day before, we opted for sausages.  There were two options:

1. Two home-made sausages, fried egg, wheat bread and native coffee - 160 php
2. One home-made sausage with potato rosti - 160 php

with double egg

with single egg

          Naturally, all the ladies being practical ordered option one.  But all the guys ordered option two because of the potato rosti.  But unfortunately, Log Cabin was running out of sausages that we were all forced to shift to option two.  The orders, despite the advance reservation, took some time before they came.  Perhaps they were tired from the Holy Week rush.  Also, we noticed that our orders were variable.  We think it was compensation for the option 1 orders which were given with only 1 sausage. Nevertheless, they were delicious.  But it was too bad we couldn't eat lunch there. 

• Sagada Lemon Pie House

Lemon pie (left) Blueberry pie (right)

We previously read a blog about the lemon pie of Sagada.  So we went to the lemon pie house to purchase lemon pies.  This was my first time to enter into a pie house.  Only pies where displayed in their shelves.  Their table set up reminded me of the Japanese culture where they sat on the floor with pillows as cushion.  We tried a slice of the lemon pie (worth 25 php) and blueberry pie (worth 35 php).  It was delicious.  The lemon pie was jelly-like and was not too sour especially when complimented by the meringue like filling on top.  As expected, the blueberrie pie were made from locally picked blueberries and not the preserved ones.  It was very flavorful since it was packed with blueberries and apple bits to enhance the sweetness.  We were told that if the pies were still whole the lemon pie (worth 180 php) could last for five days while the blueberry pie (worth 260 php) could last for one week.  We wanted to purchase as many whole pies as we can to bring back to manila.  Unfortunately, only few stocks were left and it would take them three hours to bake one.  

•  Sagada Weaving House

                     We passed by the Sagada weaving house, where my cousin bought a weaved all wet (worth 160 php).  The owner was very friendly and hospitable.  He showed us to their weaving area.  He also asked about our trip.  We told him about our 4-hour caving adventure and he said we were lucky that we were able to do it fully and that we had the caves to ourselves.  He said that during the peak of the holy week season, the caves were packed with people and that some had to cut short their spelunking just to accommodate the rest of the tourists.

• Sagada Pottery

                  We went to the Sagada Pottery hoping to purchase tea cups but no one was there.  The place was just left out in the open so we just took some pictures.  Then a passer by told us that the potters will be back in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, we had a tight schedule to follow and had to leave.  

4-car convoy to Banawe

Roads sill being developed

Overall, the Sagada experience was worth it.  One thing that's good there aside from the cold climate, harmonious ambiance and adventure experience, is that the you can expect your food to always be delicious and fresh.

• Banawe Rice Terraces (8th wonder of the world)

Banawe Rice Terraces (8th wonder of the world)

After 2 hours of driving through dirt, rocks and curvy roads from our departure from Sagada, we arrived at the Banawe viewpoint.  We took pictures with the Ifugao elderly (asks for donations).  We bought T-shirts (worth 100 php), bonnets (worth 35 php), headbands (worth 20 php), ref magnets (worth 150 php), wooden toys (worth 100-140 php) and chocolate crispies (worth 3 for 100) at the nearby souvenir shops and left.  We didn't pursue the 4-hour trek to Banawe Rice terraces because we were still exhausted from our caving adventure in Sagada.

• Gorio's Restaurant in Nueva Viscaya

Adobong pato

We soon realized that it was 3:00 p.m. and we hadn't had lunch.  So we stopped over at Gorio's Restaurant at Nueva Viscaya (glad to see it was a smoke-free zone).  It looked like a typical carinderia or fast food turo-turo type restaurant.  We pointed to everything we wanted and it was served in small saucers.  The food was nothing to rave about despite some of the dishes being unique like "dinuguang pato", "adobong pato" and "pritong pugo".  They were delicasies you'd be curious to try but not come back for.  Before leaving, my aunts also bought dwarf coconut plants (worth 300 php) displayed at the back of the restaurant.  It was stated in its advertisement that it would grow at a height of a child and would bear coconut within 3-5 years. (Can't wait to see if that's true!)

Lechon Kawali

Chopsuey

Beef Steak

Menudo

Dinuguang Pato

• Brooms in Neuva Ecija

                   Most people think that the best brooms are made in Baguio City but the real makers of brooms are the locals of Nueva Ecija.  The highways of Nueva Ecija are filled with stores selling brooms and weaved items.  We also noticed trucks loaded with rice coming from Nueva Ecija.  

• Arrival in Manila

                  After Nueva Ecija, we entered the SCTEX and then NLEX.  At around 9:00 p.m., we decided to have our dinner at KFC near the Petron Station along NLEX. We finally reached Manila at around 10:30PM                        

*photos by Krizia Tan