3 Destinations in 3 Days: Where do broken hearts go?

As promised, here's my last travel post for the year 2016.

Way before Jem's 'last' vacay started (yep, we're dreading it haha), we had a mutal agreement that we would join a joiners tour. See this had been becoming quite popular for travel junkies and social butterflies over the past years. Joiners tour is a type of tour arranged by travel agencies which aim to lower the costs of travelling by having a bunch of strangers travel together in groups.

GALORE!

By the first week of December, we have been scouting Facebook (mostly) for travel agencies which offer the lowest fees for a travel up north.

Sagada Tour offered by Travel Galore

Good thing Facebook algorithm caught up with what I've been searching for and recommended this one travel agency. Travel Galore is a travel agency based in Laoag, Ilocos Norte and is owned by Regina Lyca P. Bagaoisan. They offer various tours both exclusive and for joiners.

So after reading some reviews I looked up on the internet (TIP: always read reviews of the travel agency you're going to book with to ensure that they are legit and that they come through with what they promise), I contacted them and asked for their itinerary for their Sagada Trip. I commend the people who handle their Facebook page cause they really do reply fast :)

We deposited our downpayment-slash-reservation fee to their BDO account (this is deductible from the total amount you are to pay) and awaited for their confirmation. The travel date we chose was on December 28-30, perfect choice if I must say. After a few days, we were PMed by their team for the deadline of the payment of the 50% of the tour fee. Then, 2 days before our travel date (we departed on Dec 27), we were given our sort-of ticket which included our driver, the plate number of the van we're riding, and the name of the accommodation we're assigned to.

Our chosen meet-up destination is at MOA Open Parking because this is the first pick-up point (TIP: if possible, always choose to be picked up on the first pick-up point and be there an hour before the agreed time of pick-up, this is so that you can choose a good place to sit down inside the vehicle). We then proceeded to Trinoma to pick-up the others.

Then we were off to our first stop, Banaue!

NLEX (photo grabbed from here)

So since we left at night, I didn't get to calculate much of the duration of our travel time since we were all sleeping. But we did arrive at Banaue at around past 7 in the morning :)

BANAUE!

Our first stop was a bit disappointing cause we couldn't properly see the rice terraces in all its glory since it was raining and the fog was really, really, REALLY thick. But nonetheless, we get to see some glimpse of it when the fog is being caught by the wind.

So as I said, this is a joiners tour so you really have to get along with all the quirks of the people who you're travelling with. It might be somewhat awkward at first (since no one really wants to start a convo with the other parties) but I tell you this is a great way to start making friends!

After some photo-ops, we were ushered back to the van so that we can start our travel up to Sagada!

Another pit-stop before heading off to Sagada

From Banaue to Sagada, it was another 3 hours (or something, not sure cause we were sleeping! TIP: bring a very comfy neck pillow!) of travel. We came from Bontoc so we didn't get to see Sagada's town proper, yet.

When we arrived, we were informed of the place where we'll be staying at. Apparently our accommodation is located on top of a hill and unfortunately, our van couldn't take us to the top cause one wheel got stuck. So yep, we hiked our way up!

After a few minutes and some "see you laters" to our new found friends, we have finally reached Mapiya-aw!

We were ushered by the very friendly owner of the pension house to the second floor where most of the smaller rooms are located. We were also given our keys after we have chosen which room we'll be staying at. Most of our companions from the van were also assigned to this place.

Their rooms are simple but very homey. They don't have any fan cause you really don't need one. The bathrooms are for sharing though. You'll be using the same bathroom as the room next to yours so make sure to properly lock it when you're inside!

Our very tidy room HAHA

We were advised that our Echo-Valley Tour will start around the afternoon so we need to have our stomachs full by then. So since we only brought bread and some spreads with us (yes, we always bring those), we opted to search for some rice meals. TIP: Prepare money for food!!! Seriously though, the food in Sagada is quite pricey cause a simple Bangus-Silog meal already costs 120. So yep, meal allowance would be 150 per meal. PER. MEAL.

Here are some shots we took from hiking up and down Mapiya-aw hehe

Alright! So by 2-ish PM, we went back to where our van has been parked. By 3, we started the tour!
For the Echo-Valley Tour, you'll be roaming around one area of Sagada. Here are some photos we took :)

Globe tower - super linaw ng signal dito guyth

Our tour guide, I'm really not good with names :(, was very kind and funny. He jokes around with the group all the while stating facts about the places we were visiting. After seeing the very famous hanging coffins of Sagada, we were then told to head up quickly since it was already beginning to get dark. Also because there were quite a number of tourists so we opted to climb up early to avoid traffic.

Since we ended our Echo-Valley Tour at around 6PM, we didn't get to visit Bomod-Ok Falls #sadlayp. So instead of going there, we visited Sagada Weaving instead which is a souvenir shop.

Dark ba?

We headed back to our accommodation on our own since it was quite near and we also wanted to explore Sagada. Since we have already bonded with the other groups, we decided to have a little drinking sesh before turning in for the night. So for dinner, Jem and I simply ate the food we brought.

New found drinking buddies! :D

It was one hell of a day so by the end of it, we were quite tired (and add the effect of some liquor). By past 10 in the evening, we went back to our own rooms to rest since we still have one extraneous activity the following day.

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Click here for the 2nd part of our Sagada tour :D