Banaue is known among travelers as the gateway to the rice terraces. I rather liked it here. It’s not a big city, so the traffic, noise, and pollution is low. All the buildings are build along one busy road. Most interestingly, the buildings are set among the hills, which are draped in lush green vegetation. Going to my room in a hotel, I was led down three flights of stairs. I thought I was staying deep in a sub-basement, but there was a balcony on my floor. The buildings on the hill are built such that the top floor is at street level.
Banaue’s sites are the rice terrace viewpoints, which a trike can take you to in a few hours. While not as dramatic as the Batad terraces, they are worth a look. Even more enjoyable for me was just walking around. There are no “sites” to see in town, but it was fun to observe the locals going about their business.
It was peaceful and dark at night. I enjoyed a quiet dinner, then, still hungry, wandered to the public market where a lady was grilling hamburgers. The next morning it was easy to find the jeepney to my next stop, Sagada.
