BANAUE PHILIPPINES
Banaue Philippines,
rice terraces of the Ifugao Province which make up a part of
the region around Banaunne are the most spectacular of
the cordilleras. It is a breathtaking world of high
mountain ranges with several peaks reaching heights
of over 2,000 meters: of forest, waterfalls and
valleys so deep that the ravines enchant and petrify
all at once. The colors of the rice fields change
with the seasons. Tender, green rice shoots dot the
drenched brown earth at the onset of the planting
season, burst into the bright green of ripened crop,
then turn into the golden hues of the harvest.
Few man-made landscapes can equal the splendor of these
rice terraces. This overwhelming scenic beauty is
awe – inspiring, as the Ifugaos constructed these
rice fields more than 2,000 years ago an –undeniable
feat of technical prowess. They are, for instance,
shelved on a steep incline of over 1,000 meters
spanning a surface of nearly 400 kilometers! The
terraces are also listed on UNESCO’s “World Heritage
Site” as the first “combined cultural and natural
site”. This unique panorama is in danger of
vanishing as many of the rice fields are no longer
cultivated, having been deemed unprofitable.
The rice fields are irrigated by a system of bamboo pipes
which gather the water of the mountain streams. The
embankments here, some of which are over 15 meters,
are made of soil. Those of Melegcong, Hapao and
Hungduan are made of stone.
You can explore the rice fields during any season and since
the road from Manila to Banaue is paved, the town is
accessible throughout the year. During the rainy
season, however, some parts may become impassable.
In Banaue, it is easy to rent Jeepneys-indispensable if you
do not own a four-wheel drive vehicle. The town
itself may not be an endearing sight to some, with
its undulating rooftops and entangled overhead
electric wires. As it is at an altitude of 1,200
meters, Banaue can get quite cold at night. The few
interesting handicrafts made here are hard to find
an they are often sent to manila or Bagiuo for sale.
Banaue Viewpoint
(4 kilometers from Banaue) the viewpoint is on the
road from Banaue to Bontoc. The view is superb, the
rice fields occupying a narrow, high spur in the
mountain on a rather steep incline. As it is very
near the town, the natural serenity of the
surrounding is somewhat ruined by the sprouting
handicraft stalls. From Banaue you can make a round
trip (it can take between two to three hours) across
the rice fields passing through the viewpoint.
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