The day after Christmas we took a bus ride back up to Banaue. We were there exactly one year ago, but decided to go again because many other senior couples were going, and we didn't want to be left alone for the holidays.
Banaue is north of Manila. It only took us 12 hours by bus. (Elder Roundy explained that this way: When you have one bus loaded with old grandmas and grandpas, you won't do anything quickly.) We stayed two nights. The ride back only took 11 hours, not counting the two hours we spent attending Church services in a branch. (Nearly scared the branch president to death, seeing 25 "white people" all at once.)
Banaue is an ancient site. Over 2000 years ago settlers came into these mountains, probably from China, and began terracing the mountainside. The Banaue Rice Terraces are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The whole side of the hill is terraced, from near the top way down into the bottom of the valley. It was explained that the terraces were built on the mountain were water sources were available to drain from one paddy to another. Where there are not terraces there is no natural water running down. It rains a lot, so the mountains have plenty of water to shed.
The children grow up living right on the side of the road. This little girl walks along the narrow wall between the roadway and a 1000 foot plunge into the river below, seemingly unfazed.
Our guide said this was the hanging "coffin." People actually live in this house. While this is a unique view, many of the houses along the road are of similar construction. Be sure not to send your kids out in the backyard to play.
Sister Roundy decided to adopt this kid.
The caribao is the beast of burden in the Philippines. This man is plow up his terrace getting it ready for planting.
1 comment:
My spine is crawling from jitters seeing those heights and that house right there and THAT GIRL!
I think it's more like that kid adopted Mom!
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