Taste of Sagada: Sagada Guesthouse Restaurant & Cafe

Why walk more if there is a restaurant and cafe down stairs?

Sagada Guesthouse have their own Restaurant / Cafe with a a huge map of Sagada on its wall to assist their guests, it also serves as a conference room (with whiteboard), they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and all their cafe crew are men.

 

Interesting Facts:

ALL MEN CREW? It’s quite intriguing… According to Randall, a crew and relative of the owner, “we do not have discrimination with women, it’s just that most of the girls in our family is not in-line with hotel management and services, unlike us (men crew) who took culinary and hotel management. Though we had 2 girls in the house, one in the lobby information and one dishwasher (often comes). Furthermore, efficiently men can handle almost all the tasks like cooking, cleaning, carrying luggage, etc. By the way, some crew are not our relatives, the owner is very kind to all. When one needs job, he offers a job here or in the farm.”

MENU. Plenty of variety to choose from, quite reasonable prices and the cheapest compared to other restaurants and cafes in the town.

Food Review: Very kind service and they serve plain rice unlike the other restaurants which mix red (malagkit) rice. Also the cheapest restaurant.

Len had fried bangus, with side dish and plain rice, she had the plate down! LOL! A satisfied customer. While Violet had pancakes, yes it is for dinner. She asked for an extra butter, it was given free of charge. Nothing spectacular about the 2 big pancakes.

TASTE OF SAGADA: YOGHURT HOUSE

Rainy afternoon cancelled our pottery and weaving making, sunset in Lake Danum and Echo Valley with hanging coffins visit. A lame second day afternoon in Sagada.

Cancelled tour because of a rainy afternoon. The weather is unpredictable. It was a sunny morning yet on the afternoon, it ain’t no more. Instead of laying on bed at the guesthouse, Len and Violet still went out and look for souvenirs and pasalubong. And a chance to try-out Yoghurt House.

Menu and the Yoghurt:

Review: Chocolate chips were a balance to the sour taste thick yoghurt. It was a nice taste but it was not a perfect timing. It was raining outside and Violet was bored, she rather have chips (which she has in the bag and ate it). LOL! Len had hot chocolate for 90 pesos, in a big mug, she loved it. She described it as like-a-dark-chocolate drink which I bet is a tablea. They need to improve their customer relations, they seem to be starstruck with most of their guest (we are not even stars. LOL!). They had receipt written in a piece of paper (tore in a notebook) and they had charged an excessive 60 pesos. It was corrected and Len paid for 190 pesos (her treat)! 🙂

Taste of Sagada: Pinikpikan Haus

 After trekking back and forth the terraces and witnessing the enchanting Bomod-ok falls, we definitely can eat a horse! Horses, it’s not a Sagada dish, a must-try here is the famous Pinikpikan.

Location: Down the slope almost near lemon house pie

Interior:

The Pinikpikan Haus has its own touch of originality. It feels like dining at home and there are some good folks who had shown our group mushroom of different kind just like the one wild mushroom that can be determined by a pig (great animal) and they said that’s it’s an expensive mushroom.

Food and Menu:

 

Menu from http://sagadapinikpikanhaus.blogspot.com/p/menu.html

Waiting time is about 20 minutes. The Pinikpikan is an original chicken dish of Cordillera. This version taste-like nilaga, with some veggies and topped with cured-and-salted pork. The food was okay (not much of a nilaga fan), the pork tasted very unique and delightful in the mouth, totally happier for there are other parts of chicken (breast part) and the coca cola definitely made it a great meal. Too hungry and with the fellow trek mates silently eating theirs, pinikpikan was a sure hit to these hungry fellow adventurers.

Taste of Sagada: Hot Porridge (Lugaw/Arroz caldo) and Suman

Woke up in a lovely cold Sagada morning (6 AM), craving for something hot to eat, Len and Violet decided to get out and have a breakfast downhill but not a single store and restaurant is open. Sagada loves waking up late. Where will you find porridge/lugaw in a cold place like this?

Taddah!  An answer is here!

Location: At GL Bus Terminal, St. Mary the Virgin Church and the hospital

Food & Prices: 

Arroz Caldo with egg and chicken for 45 pesos
Arroz caldo wtih egg for 25 pesos
coffee for 10 pesos
suman for 5 pesos each

Review: Porridge taste good. Good breakfast for the cold weather in Sagada and opens very early, serving breakfast for hungry visitors (most of restau and eatery opens 7 or 8 in the morning). Very affordable and sales ladies were very kind to answer every inquiry. Coffee is not so good according to Len.

After the breakfast, time for some sight-seeing. Visit St. Mary the Virgin church  and echo valley. Try this!

Just follow the path walk that leads to the cemetery, you’ll need to pass by it, and continue to walk for 5 minutes and try to shout. If it echoes, you’re on the right place. 🙂

Taste of Sagada: Homestay’s Diner

After the amazing yet tiring cave connection,  a quick shower and a good dinner is  badly needed by the team (Len, Jun, Kim and Violet).

It’s almost 8:30 and Sagada curfew is at 9 PM. Goodness… Homestay’s diner is still open!

Interior:

Food: Chicken BBQ

Review: The place is all wooden and it feels staying in a log cabin. The food was not so good, the chicken is originally fried (cooked earlier) and  BBQ is just spread into it to give it a taste. The pack is hungry so who cares? Good thing is that the male host is very kind, entertaining and accommodating plus the fact that Milo (hot choco) is only 20 pesos with unlimited creamer is really great. 🙂

Outside the diner is also awesome, they had bonfire area.

Taste of Sagada: Lemon House Pie

Sweet Love for Pies. A delightful craving and addiction.

A heartbreak caused that it’s too far (from home) to grab anytime.

After the lunch out in Salt & Pepper, Violet insisted to look for the Lemon House Pie, well, Len agreed. It’s a long walk to find it but the agony of walking is bearable, once savor the heavenly taste of the pies. Oh droooling here! Teleportation please! Huhuhu! Missing it too much already. I love you, egg pie! 😥

Interior:

Photo Credits: Len Flores

Review: Awesome interiors. Love the low-rise table and even the dining area inside. The pies are great (Violet can eat the whole thing all day and wishing to be eating one at this very moment)!

Taste of Sagada: Salt & Pepper

One should look up for a sign.

 

If you reject the food, ignore the custom, fear religion and avoid religion,  you might better stay at home. ~  James Michener

Arriving in Sagada by noontime is perfect to roam around, find something interesting and look for a good place to eat. Going down the slope, one should look up for the sign of Salt & Pepper. It was a fortunate event that while walking and taking pictures, Violet looked up and found in black-and-white the name of this restaurant, and its catchy tagline.

History: Salt and Pepper are the original seasoning of all the foods in Sagada.

Interiors

The View: 

The nearby houses with chimneys, the slope (up and down), the blooming flowers at the veranda, and the locals of Sagada on a Monday (lunchtime) – a simple life.

On the Menu: Honey Lemon Inutom and Mushroom Inutom. “Inutom” means chicken.

Reminder: Waiting Time takes about 30 minutes or more.

Review: It’s a self-service restaurant. Get the condiments and water at the center shelf (they have plenty of drinking cups).The food was great. It taste special and original. The honey lemon is a delight (though no other part aside from thigh-leg). The veranda is awesome, even the interiors and the rice grains over the counter is very unique.

Sagada Trekking: Epitome of Walking On Sunshine

Landscape walking. Walking in the luscious green terrain. Walking the valley to hear the resonating echo. Walking downhill to eat Sagada’s best. Walking on the clouds.

If there’s one thing you need to know about Sagada, it is the epitome of walking on sunshine. Sure does one would have a plenty of walking to do here, all walks will let you melt into a majestic and astonishing view, and it’s gonna be a lovely meltdown.

What should you bring and prepare in your trekking?

1. Backpack. Keep your hands free. You’ll have your walking sticks with you in Bomod-ok Falls. Place your valuables, food and drinks.

2. Food and Water. Aside from chocolate bars and energy drinks. You should bring a bag of chips with you. Munch! Munch! It will distract you from your tiring trek.That’s the thing Violet failed to do.

3. Footwear. Shoes, slippers and sandals will do. Violet used sandals. It can protect the soles of your feet, can be dipped into the water, it easily dries and comfortable than shoes.

4. Sarong. Can be used as a cover from the sun or a towel to dry off after soaking into the falls.

5. Arm & Leg Cover. Skin cover for protection is useful. If you don’t have these, apply a sunblock.

6. Respect. Respect the trails, the people you’re with and met on it, and all the living that goes with it. Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures.

7. Camera. The landscape in Sagada is amazing. To good to be true indeed. Capture it with your own light and see how it radiates it beauty into your lens.

8. Good Companions. This is one of the best thing you need to find. But some things doesn’t need to be found,some awaits at the place where we need them. So, do not worry to be alone or being in a small group, sure enough you’ll find new friends along the trails. Just like Len and Violet did.

9. Good Conversations. It all starts with a name and the rest is history. Make sure to be polite and kind when conversing with others. Respect differences and just be yourself.

10. Warmed-up Legs. Exercise before the trip, it will do no harm. Violet is a terrible uphill trekker and her knee is stubborn. Walking though is not a problem. So, she advise to flex those lower extremities and work on muscular endurance.

Kiltepan Trekking (possible but too far)

Photographed by: Len Flores and Renailyn. Credits: Len Flores

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 Cave Connection
 Things to Pack for Sagada

What’s In and Out of Sagada Cave Exploration?

Sagada Adventure. There are several cave tours you can visit while staying in Sagada. You can try the normal caving in Sumaging Cave which can last for 2 hours or cave connection from Lumiang Burial Cave to Sumaging Cave which can last 3-4 hours (while Balangagan Cave and Crystal Cave were closed for quite a time now).

Aside from the protective attire and footwear according to the SAGGAS. What should go in and out of the bag for Sagada Cave Exploration?

1. Headlamp/ Headlight. Light your own path. Help yourself.

2. Food and Drinks. During rest, it will be great to have something to munch.

3. Drawstring/ Backpack. Don’t let your bag be a setback for you to move better. Put your things on your backpack as well.

4. Camera. Capture fascinating limestone formations and genuine wet-look smiles and faces.

5. Sarong. Wipe some ice-cold water from your face and body.

6. Friendliness. Meeting new people and building bridges can make the cave experience way much better.

7. Sense of Humor. There are plenty of chances for a good laugh inside. Share it with your guides and fellow cave mates. Feel every moment and savor it. Be amused and amazed at the same time.

8. Open-mindedness & Good Attitude. Respect your guides and cave mates. Be open for ideas and what your mates share while inside the cave. There are some jokes from the guides (if you find it funny, laugh); all to make the experience more fun but if you find it irritating, offensive or porn-like, well, just be open-minded.

9. Exercise & Warm-Up. Maybe do it a week-long readiness. hehehe… Flex those sleepy muscles, try climbing 100+ steps stair. That’s a tip! 🙂

10. Plenty of Courage. One slip, it will be goodbye world! Just trust your guts and you guides, and all is gonna be fine.

1. Cellphone. No signal, you’ll not need it.

2. Social Network Updates. Don’t bring your gadgets, it might got wet.

3. Accessories. A watch will be a necessary but all the others are a No! No!

4. Whining. Don’t blame anyone (your guides or your mates) for any mishaps or tiring caving. It was your choice and paid it. Be sure you are willing to do the cave tour.

5. Brat-pack. This is a major No! No! Being a brat, your guide/s might throw you on the deep part of the caves. You wouldn’t want that right? Expect to be dirty, touch the guano (bat shits), slip in the mud and have some body scratches.

And that’s the least Violet can impart as a guide for what’s IN and OUT of Sagada Caves using her own caving experience.

Photo credits: Len Flores. Photographed by: T-Rex.

10 Essential Stuff for Sagada Exploration

Since Sagada is all about adventure and exploration, it will help if you’ll think like a backpacker. What does a backpacker pack on a trip?

“Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent international travel. It includes the use of a backpack or other luggage that is easily carried for long distances or long periods of time; the use of public transport; inexpensive lodging such as youth hostels; a longer duration to the trip when compared with conventional vacations; and an interest in meeting the locals as well as seeing the sights. It is typically associated with young adults, who generally have fewer obligations and thus more time to travel. They also have less money to spend on hotels or private vehicles. It may include wilderness adventures or be limited to travel within settled areas”. – en.wikipedia.org

Sagada is a small town with no luxurious hotel, neither do not expect bellboys to gather your luggage or welcome you with red carpet. Expect that you’ll always be out and walking in any type of weather conditions.

1. Backpack. Carry a backpack which is not too small and not to big. Just enough to carry all your stuffs which is essential for your trips. Travel light. 

2. Footwear. Adventures in Sagada involves walking, trekking and caving. You can bring your rubber or hiking shoes, sandals or slippers  and even aqua socks. But you wouldn’t dare to bring it all right? To save a lot of space in the bag, to keep your feet safe and which will allow you to do all these exploration, it’s best advise to use your trekking sandals. Why?

In spelunking or caving (cave connection), you’ll walk first in a cemented trail going to Lumiang Cave; then upon entering the cave, you’ll walk in the soil/mud and rest of the path involves walking into sharp, rough and slippery rocks. You’ll even need to swim inside the cave, thus you need protect the sole of your feet. Once in the Sumaging cave, they will tell you to remove your shoes, slippers or sandals.

For trekking Bomod-ok falls, there are some parts which are steep and some are wet, too. The spike in the sandals will contribute to the friction, lesser chance of slipping or falling into the rice fields. Then, upon arriving in the falls if you want to get near it, you’ll have to cross those large boulders.

Note: You have to protect your feet. That’s all that really matters because Sagada is all about walking. Yet Violet do not recommend shoes for caving and trekking to the falls, it will get wet and it could be to difficult to dry. Slippers can snap easily. Violet used her sandugo sandal for trekking (doesn’t need to be removing even while dipping into the waters) and for caving. She also brought her slippers, for early morning walks, dinner walks, walking in the guesthouse and when her feet needs little comforting.

3. Clothes. Do not bring your entire closet! Just bring light clothes, walking short, leg and arm covers, jogging/ trekking pants, tees and undergarments.

4. Jacket and night socks. People in Sagada even in the mid noon do still wear jacket. It can be cold the entire day and at night especially when you leave your windows open.

5. Drawstring bag/ knapsack. A small bag is an essential to keep your valuables, food and drinks and essential stuffs.

Violet used drawstring bag. To avoid water in entering inside the bag and to keep the bag in her back. Inside her bag:

Speluking: card wallet, cellphone, camera, sarong, bottled water.

Trekking: Shades, cellphone, card wallet, camera, sarong, bottled water and food.

Tip: it is also good to use backpack/ waterproof bags rather than shoulder or sling bags. 

 6. Toiletries. Soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner, alcohol, mosquito repellant lotion and sunblock.

Tip: Violet uses a clear zip-locked bag (a t-shirt container from bench) with a snaplink on it, so it can be hang anywhere. A goggle (she often forget to bring so she also) placed in it the toiletry bag.

7. Sarongs. These materials are very efficient, it can serve as a blanket, head and body cover, accessory, beach towel and bath towel. It dries faster, too.

8. Cellphone. Smart and Globe is really working in this place. There’s even wifi in every guesthouse and restaurants. 3G is really workingin the town but not as good when in Kiltepan peak. It can serve as a camera, too.

Photographed by: Greg. Credits: Len Flores

9. Money. Do not forget this. Well, you can sleep in the streets of Sagada (and suffer hypothermia), eat nothing and walk until your legs get numb. You wouldn’t want that.

10. Camera. This is something you should never ever forget. Capture every moment and record everything with your own light.

Photographed by: Len Flores