Friday, December 31, 2004

Up North

After xmas we travelled up north to the rice terraces. It's really incredible how people have made lives for themselves up here - and have done for years!! There are amazing vegetable terraces as well as the famous rice ones. People will walk for however long it takes to get whatever it is they might need - incl. clean water, food, coca cola, crisps and a song book! This is on really rocky/muddy roads and bare foot. But this is only when they've missed the few jeepneys that travel between the mountain provinces. When there is one available, it's amazing how many people they can fit on!

As for the terraces - they really were an amazing sight and worth the hike ;o)

My guide told me lots about the terraces and the history of the Ifugao people so have learnt lots. What I found funniest though was that despite UNESCO wanting to preserve the villages around the terraces as much as possible by not bringing in electricty (it would look ugly, apparently), they've managed to sneak a pylon in and now have videoke (karaoke) like the rest of the country!

All is good in the mountains!

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