So this is where they grow rice

After we had to say no to the nice guy from the G.H that end up also as a guide, we start walking from Banaue to Batad. It's about 10 KM walking on the road, and we could get a ride, but preferred to walk. Then there is a nice path leaving the road and start going up to the top of the saddle. All around is great forest, very green and very tropical! Sure enough there were someone on top of the saddle selling something but after a short rest we kept going, down the other side. Again, a beautiful path and very easy going hike! and then we found Batad! a small vilage nestle in-between the rice terrace, all make from stone and wood, no electricity but some very nice people.

We found a small G.H and had a great evening! I don't remember what we order for dinner but it was good, and I do remember the beer, sitting outside on the veranda and it's so dark! no lights at all, our small candle is the only light source around and so many firefly's! we enjoy the night so much, so we decide to stay there for another night - simply magic!

So in the next day we went to visit the waterfall near by, and that was great! it was a hot day, and it was so nice to get into the cold water! I love swimming in frees water! Then we just walk around the vilage, going up and down the rice terrace and enjoy life!

The next morning we pack and start going deeper into the mountains, looking for the way for a tiny vilage that we hope to find there.

It was a great day, some of the terrace were so narrow it was spooky to pass, and there is some places you just go on some kind of rock passes, but we made it and end up in the afternoon in the smallest vilage I got to visit so far outside of EU. Sue spent about a year in Africa and said she never visit such a rural vilage outside of Africa and I would say the same. Except from few houses, it was constructed mainly from huts and surrounded with the forest/rich terraces. That was simply a great place to visit! so untouched and virgin! and with so friendly people! we sit outside, look at the sunset, talk, sing, drink...out of this world!

The next day we keep on going, making a loop and end up back to Banaue, passing in the way some great little streams and beautiful forest!

O, one thing, all the area of Batad is known as "Stairway to hevan" and it's a good name for the place.