KALINGA

MY JOURNEY GOING IN THE SMALL VILLAGE OF BUSCALAN IN KALINGA PROVINCE TO MEET APO WHANG-OD THAT BEEN PRACTICING THE TRADITIONAL ART OF TATTOOING FOR ALMOST 8 DECADES.

ANG HULING MANGBABATOK

DAY 0

Victory Liner Termina Kamias

I booked 1 ticket going to Tabuk since its fullybooked my buddy will be a chance passenger

last option wil take Tuguegarao bound bus then take a van bound for Tabuk.

good thing may marami hinde dumating sa tamang oras ng alis hehehe

Bus to tabuk 820php a travel for almost 11hours 830pm to 730am

From Tabuk we need to catch-up a jeep or van to Bontoc or Tinglayan  (travel time 3-4hrs)

Since the bus drop us in Victory Liner Tabuk Terminal we need to ride a tricycle going to the terminal of the jeep and van going to Bugnay or Tinglayan 30php

Landmark of the terminal going Bugnay or Tinglayan

Across Saint William Cathedral at the Police Station

Good thing our jeep is relative of our contact in Buscalan hinatid kami mismo on the turning point going to Buscalan.

Jeep to turning point buscalan 150 (930am alis ng jeep).

My First Adventure is to ride on top of the jeep really scary but amazing experience.

We arrive in tinglayan 1:30pm then start trek.

We do have tour guide but since we have a hard time to contact him (no signal).

We decided na lang to take the trail and a lokal there initiated na sumabay n lang sa kanila since isa lang namn ang trail/tumbok dun nde ka maliligaw.

From  the turning point we need to trek  (trek time: depende sa bilis mo)

the hike is definitely not for the faint of heart. There will be tight paths with little walking space on the edge of the cliffs on some parts and steep climbs up and down during others. One wrong step and you could easily fall off the side of the cliff but all that difficult trek  you will be rewarded by awe-inspiring views that you could only get from being that high up in the mountains. At the end of the hike, we came around a corner and were greeted with impressive views of rice terraces that we were only able to see from a distance earlier in the trail. 

Take 5 at the falls to relax our tiring feet.

On our way up to buscalan Kua amboy our Tour guide meet us on the trail and thank god our saviour kinuha nia gamit namin para nde kami mahirapan umakyat sobrang nakakahingal pataas

we arrived 3:30pm.

We stay sa hauz ni kua amboy his family welcome us ,we accomodate us what we need. Homestay 1200php for 2pax.

I schedule for the tattoo session with apo whang od but since shes not feeling well kaya resched in the morning ng saturday.

 I got the chance to chitchat with grace apo grand daughter.

Marami ako natutunan sa simpleng pamumuhay nila at ang kultura ng mga taga buscalano

kahit hirap sila magtagalog.

DAY 1

6:00am in the morning 

Tattoo session with Apo and Grace

first plan is to stay only in Buscalan

but we decided to leave buscalan and travel to sagada

from turning point we decided to hire habal-habal go down to bugnay

9am leave buscalan start trekking down to bugnay to catch up the jeepney trip going to bontoc (11am)

3pm arrive in bontoc then ride jeepney going to sagada 80php

4pm arrive in sagada

5pm check in at Hidden hills inn 300 per nyt per pax Ate angie caretaker and the owner mr john

6pm dinner at Sagada Brew

brewBeef burger sandwich 150

Caramel macchiato latte 100

Banna caramel milkshake 120

Sagada brew pasta 150

DAY 2

6:00am Cave Connection tour (4hrs inside the cave)

Tour guide kua erickson 1000php

11am travel going to Baguio

lizardo trans bus non airconbus 220php First trip 6:00am then last trip 1:00pm

6:15pm arrive at baguio

find Apartment rent one nyt 800php

then dinner at 

Good taste

1 friedrice good for 3 110php Buttered chicken half 165php Chosuey 135php

then night market

10:00am back to manila

victory liner Baguio

Bus going to manila 450