While I was checking out the jeepney and moto trike area for a ride to the Batad Saddle, Australian John and Maylee showed up and introduced me to their favorite moto-trike driver also named John. He agreed to take me right away to where the landslide was some 12 km distance for 200 pesos.
Halfway to the landslide, John had to stop for gas from this liter coke bottle that is sold at most of the small stores found in every little village.
I figured it was time for me to try out this moto-trike.
When we arrived at the landslide area there were a number of workers and heavy equipment working to reopen the road. I walked about a half-mile through the landslide area and caught another moto-taxi to the end of the road. This driver wanted 300 pesos and tried to get me to agree to have him drive me back upon my return. I just told him to pick up other passengers and I would try to get a ride back to the landslide area with whatever transportation I could.
They start training heavy equipment operators young here.
It was then a lot of walking down a slowly dropping rocky trail until began to near the village where the trail was either a concrete trail or steps. I finally got to the Hilltop Inn where I stopped for breakfast and saw this amazing view while having coffee, vegetable omelet, and pineapple.
Along the way to and through the village, there were a few farmers out planting their seedlings in the watery terraces. The way up to the red roof building was fairly easy to see.
This farmer is carrying rice seedlings to the prepared terraces. They use no machinery nor water buffalos for preparing the rice fields.
Notice the protruding rocks that provide villagers and us a way to move up from the terrace to terrace.
Once there I began descending one of the longest staircases I have ever seen. Even climbing Wyan Picchu at Machu Picchu was not as long as these stairs to the waterfall were.
The travel there was worth it to view this beautiful waterfall and its surrounding pond.
After that, it was back up. When I got to the red roof building at the top of the never-ending staircase, I bought a San Miguel from the vendor. In turn, she showed me where I could find the shortcut back the Swedes told me about so I would not have to go back down to the Batad Village. I ended up walking about 11 miles either up or down by the time I got back to where the jeepneys were parked for the return to the landslide area.
View of Batad from the shortcut.
The path through the woods and banana trees.
Children from the elementary school greeted me as I came to the end of the shortcut.
After leaving the Hilltop Guest House and Restaurant with this "guard" dog, it was just a short time before I got to the end of the road they were building to Batad. They had made some progress and had covered over about 200 yards of the trail I had earlier traveled on.
The way back was interesting in trying to figure out how to get back and I luckily found some people who had hired a guide who had rented jeepneys on each side of the landslide area. I jumped aboard and they took me back for just 150 pesos for each ride---about half the price of when I came.
First jeepney ride from the Batad Saddle to the landslide area.
Shortly after dynamiting, the rock wall, this backhoe was busy removing and arranging the rock debris. Not even motorcycles could pass this area when we went through. However, I heard that the road was reopened just a day after I passed by.
Back in the Banaue Jeepney-Moto-trike area.
After a shower and dinner, I attended the nightly Ifugao Cultural Show in the community center.
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