Sagada Adventure: Kiltepan Peak, Benguet, Back to Manila
June 14, 2015, Sunday marked the last day of our Sagada Adventure. The whole trip was super "sulit" and did not feel "bitin" at all. It must be because we spend less of our time sleeping and most of our time touring.
The group decided to travel to the peak though. For this, each person chipped in P50 for the jeep and P40 for the guide. This was actually expensive since a jeep rental should only cost around P500 which then you will just have to divide among the group. Our jeep was able to accommodate 2 van groups since there were those who rode at the top. So we were around 25-30 in the jeep. And the jeeps also did not look like the usual jeeps in Manila as they look sturdier.
I took a few pictures of us while waiting. There were just so many people there to witness that sunrise!
~~~~
But we were so tired from all these activities that we could not wait to get home (though we're dreading that long travel back to Manila!). But before leaving, we had one more Sagada activity in our itinerary which is the viewing of sunrise at Kiltepan Peak.
SUNRISE AT KILTEPAN PEAK
I was told that the Kiltepan Peak became a popular tourist spot because it was in one of the scenes of the well-known Filipino movie "That Thing Called Tadhana". Nevertheless, the hype was high and everyone wanted to experience it.
Our driver told us that if we would really want to get the peak, we would need to rent a jeep (extra fee) because the van would not be able to bear the road going there. However, he also told us that we have another option wherein he can just bring us at a spot where we could see the sunrise without having to go to the peak.
The group decided to travel to the peak though. For this, each person chipped in P50 for the jeep and P40 for the guide. This was actually expensive since a jeep rental should only cost around P500 which then you will just have to divide among the group. Our jeep was able to accommodate 2 van groups since there were those who rode at the top. So we were around 25-30 in the jeep. And the jeeps also did not look like the usual jeeps in Manila as they look sturdier.
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| Photo from Angie San Jose |
Upon our arrival at the start of the rocky road going up to the peak, we were not surprised to be experiencing traffic but we were surprised to find vans going up! They kind of caused the hold up to the most vehicles trying to go up. Since we feared that we would not be able to make it to the top right before the sunrise, we all then hopped out of the jeep and walked up (another trek!).
Luckily, the sun has not showed itself yet as soon as we have arrived at the peak. All the people already had their cameras ready for it though. I was so glad to have brought the monopod so I was able to get decent photos.
Luckily, the sun has not showed itself yet as soon as we have arrived at the peak. All the people already had their cameras ready for it though. I was so glad to have brought the monopod so I was able to get decent photos.
After a few minutes of waiting, the sun slowly showed itself to us, gracing the spectators with its beauty. It took some time because it was hidden behind the clouds. I tried to capture several photos of it using my Xiaomi Yi but they did not do this masterpiece any justice.
I had to grab a shot from Angie San Jose since the beauty of the sunrise was more visible using her more hi-tech camera.
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| Photo by Angie San Jose |
After that quick but satisfying nature show, we joined the crowd heading back to their vehicles. Unfortunately, we kind of got lost from our group since the jeep decided to move its parking to the top so we agreed to be picked up by the Kiltepan Peak signage.
The view there remains to be beautiful if you know how to angle your camera. Below shots look a bit like the man-made forest in Bohol which has this Lord of the Rings aura.
GOING BACK TO MANILA
Our trip back to Manila was a bit of anti-climatic for me. Once again, we joined the van we rode going to Sagada, which was different from the group we were part of when we toured Sagada.
My exhaustion from the previous days slowly crashed down on me and all I wanted was to get home and finally sleep on my own bed. At first, we tried to watch the remaining episodes of Game of Thrones but I was just too tired to watch and the the driving was too nauseous for me. So I ended up sleeping.
As part of the itinerary, we went to La Trinidad for strawberry picking but our group just ended up eating lunch there since we're all so famished. Ruel and I have also recently visited Baguio City this year so we did not feel like experiencing Baguio.
There was another stopover at the highest point of the Philippine Highway System at Atok, Benguet. Some had snacks while we just took pictures again especially with our matching shirts.
When we finally left the mountainous part and reached the plains, we got back to watching the movie, "That Thing Called Tadhana." This was really part of our plan since it fits with our travel. Ruel was not really the kind who's into romance but he obliged for me even though we watched it in a moving vehicle.
ALL IN ALL...
I could say we truly enjoyed this whole Sagada trip. My favorite activity was definitely the Bomod-Ok Trek because of the view.
Personally, I would not mind going back to Sagada since I found out it was just near my province, Isabela. I may also consider doing the Cave Connection again during non-peak season and if there is sunlight! Maybe I would appreciate this activity more considering these circumstances. Maybe I would drag my family there...
It was definitely a bonding experience for me and Ruel and it made me appreciate him even more. He never hesitated to take care of me especially during our caving. There is always something to learn from each other whenever a couple is travelling. <3<3<3
We also felt lucky to be part our touring group. We would not have enjoyed it this much if it were not from them. :)
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
|
Date
|
Activity
|
Expense Type
|
Total Cost
|
|
June 11-14
|
Sagada Tour Package
|
6,800.00
|
|
|
June 12 (Day
1)
|
Breakfast at Chowking, Solano
|
Pork Chao Fan with shanghai + extra egg x2
|
161.00
|
|
|
Lunch at Sagada Homestay
|
Rice with 2 pieces Chicken
|
155.00
|
|
|
|
Extra Rice
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
Oat Cookies x2
|
30.00
|
|
|
|
Juice Drinks x2
|
20.00
|
|
|
|
Watermelon slice
|
20.00
|
|
|
Sumaguing-Lumiang Cave Connection
|
Guide Fee x2
|
900.00
|
|
|
|
Environmental Fee x2
|
70.00
|
|
|
|
Natural Honey (large)
|
300.00
|
|
|
|
Natural Honey (Small)
|
150.00
|
|
|
Dinner at Accommodation
|
Chicken adobo with rice x2
|
200.00
|
|
|
|
Extra Eggs x5
|
40.00
|
|
June 13 (Day
2)
|
Breakfast at Accommodation
|
Longganisa, hotdog with rice x2
|
160.00
|
|
|
Bomod-Ok Falls
|
Guide Fee x2
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
Banana-cue x2
|
40.00
|
|
|
Halo halo x2
|
50.00
|
|
|
|
|
Buko ice cream x2
|
40.00
|
|
|
|
Mango
|
25.00
|
|
|
Echo Valley, Hanging Coffins, St. Mary's
Church
|
Guide Fee x2
|
56.00
|
|
|
Lunch at Accommodation
|
Corned beef, egg with rice x2
|
100.00
|
|
|
Pinikpikan House
|
Pinikpikan
|
130.00
|
|
|
|
Alibama Rice
|
150.00
|
|
|
Pasalubong Shopping
|
Sagada Coffee x2
|
360.00
|
|
|
|
Chunky Peanut Butter
|
180.00
|
|
|
|
Oat Cookies x2
|
270.00
|
|
|
|
Bread with cheese
|
30.00
|
|
|
Yoghurt House
|
Banana granola strawberry preserves x2
|
220.00
|
|
June 14 (Day
3)
|
Kiltepan Peak Sunrise Viewing
|
Jeep fare x2
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
Guide Fee x2
|
80.00
|
|
|
|
La Trinidad Pasalubong (sweets)
|
100.00
|
|
TOTAL EXPENSES
|
PHP 11,047.00
|
||
|
EXPENSES PER PAX
|
PHP 5,523.50
|
||
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