Travel Writing/Road Trip/Photography

A Long And Winding Road Trip For A Catch Me If you Can Sunrise

There are many places to catch a beautiful sunrise and one of them is in Sagada

Kiltepan Viewpoint is known to be the perfect place to view the famous Sagada sunrise. Though in some days, the sun is aloof, shy and in a bad mood. To see it is like a game of chance, you can be a winner or not.

One Saturday in the month of February, we tried our luck. We hit the road a few minutes before 5 am. It’s a long way to go, 387.6 km length of roads.

Sagada is a municipality in the province named Mt. Province in the Philippines. There are two routes in going there. We took the shorter one which will pass two expressways. Only two expressways to pass at that time. It was supposed to be a 9-hour trip, according to Google Maps, but everything on the road was unpredictable. First, it’s a Saturday. Second, all types of vehicles were on the road. Third, half of the roads were curves and turns — zigzag

At 10.30am, we arrived in Baguio city. Bought our lunch and stretched for a few minutes. The first 13 kilometers was the usual road to be expected. But the next 134 kilometers were motion-filled for we were in the infamous Halsema Highway.

Halsema Highway is used to be one of the most dangerous roads in the country for its notorious sharp curves and steep elevation. Various construction and development made it a safer one. Except when trucks blind spot a small car or some drivers miscalculate the curves and steepness, accidents can happen. And when it rains, landslides and slippery roads are to be expected. Most of the time, it’s not passable.

Amateur drivers will have the fear of their lives. Driving is like traversing the inside of a chicken’s intestine. But the sharp curves are part of the adventures to look forward to. This is the left and right version of the up and down of a roller coaster. A shifting from side to side.

Atok, Benguet

At 12.30 pm. we arrived in Atok, Benguet. My brother was the one in the driver’s seat. He needed some stretching. That was a tough drive. His first time in Halsema Highway.

It’s more tiring for him to be in the passenger’s seat and have someone else drive. Leave the driving to him.

The Halsema Highroad Point located in Atok, was formerly named as the highest point in the Philippine Highway System. It has an elevation of 7,400 feet above sea level. But in the recent years, the throne was taken by a barangay in Tinoc, Ifugao, which is 113 kilometers away and 7900 feet above sea level.

And finally, at 4 pm, after a 135- kilometer, Sagada is just a grasp away.

There are no fancy hotels there. Almost all accommodations are inns, lodge and homestay. By the way, Sagada is a haven for backpackers who love trekking and hiking.

We spent the rest of the day exploring the neighborhood.

There are good places to eat. Sagada is known for its yoghurt, lemon pie and coffee. Sagada coffee has even won international awards.

We squeezed the 5 of us into a room with 1 Queen size bed and a double bed. Later that night, an adjacent room became vacant. The owner offered the room to us. As I checked the room, there was no private bathroom. The shared bathroom was across the hall. No, thanks.

To catch the sunrise

At 5 the next morning, we went to the Kiltepan Viewpoint. It was a long walk along the dark, dusty and rough road. Both sides of the road were full of vehicles of early spectators. We looked for a place where we can wait for the sunrise. The locals were helpful to direct us to a less crowded place.

And we waited and waited and waited…..

The sky was just blue and white. It was on a Sunday and all we got was a day without the sun.

Oh, just think that we were not meant to be. A little disappointed but the view was still awesome. The color of the sun was not there but the colors of the mountain were more than enough.

Sumaguing Cave

After breakfast, we went to the town hall to register and get a permit to enter the Sumaguing Cave.

The cave is a 2.7 miles out and back trail and the biggest in Sagada. It’s quite dangerous to go further to the inside of the cave. With that, the local authorities require visitors to register and have a designated guide. There are several casualties in the past.

We just stayed in the mouth of the cave. It’s slippery, wet and we’re not physically and mentally prepared for the cave.

After the cave, we decided to start our trip going home. But something went wrong. The car would not start. The culprit — the battery. Whew!!

Where in the mountainous Sagada can we find our savior.

There was a store across the cave. My sister and I went there and see what we can see. The cashier said there was no battery shop nearby that was opened. It’s a Sunday. Our closest hope would be in the next town or the next, next town.

While we were talking to the cashier, there was a man who just bought something and was about to leave but became curious to our story so, he stayed. He offered his help. He had a jeepney and we could charge our car’s battery with his battery.

An angel from heaven. Or Mr. Sun in disguise, making up for his tantrums earlier. Yep, the man defined the phrase — -at the right time, at the right place.

He brought his jeepney near our car. With the help of his friend, they saved our day. He only charged a minimal amount but we doubled it. He saved us from spending another night there, from missing our work the next day and running here and there under the heat of the sun for there were no public transportation in that part of Sagada.

The charge of the battery was only good for 2 to 3 hours. Just enough to reach a battery shop. And no turning-off of the engine or else, we’re done. The battery shop was two towns later. We bought a new one.

It was 4.30 pm and just reached Atok, Benguet. We were not even half-through. But at least, by midnight we can be at home.