Livin' High and Takin' it Easy

Mornings at Masferre Restaurant were the best part of my trip to Sagada. Mornings spent sipping deliciously brewed coffee while gazing at the lifting fog on the hill behind the restaurant – a view most enjoyed by the window.

We were only able see one thing in Sagada, the Sumaguing (also known as the Big) Cave. I admit it was exhilarating, but not something I would do twice.

I am sure I will be back in Sagada again one day, maybe next year, with my husband because he hasn’t been there yet. Maybe on that time we will be able to do and see other things, but I swear to God I will wait for him outside the cave.

We spent four days and three nights in Sagada. One would think that is more than enough to see everything there was to see.

Instead we spent almost all our time eating, talking, sleeping and watching TV. Yeah, I got to watch TV! Not somehing that I went to Sagada for, but ok, it’s well worth mentioning.

In the mornings, we took our time waking up. And eating breakfast. In the afternoons, we took our time eating lunch, then reading and ultimately, because it always rained in the afternoons – sleeping, only to wake up just in time for dinner. After dinner, it was watching TV time. I must admit I was bored to death! Though I enjoyed the lively banter and laughter and long chats I had with my friends from work.

I actually enjoyed myself with their company more than I thought I would. I was with friends I didn’t actually hang out much with during the entire school year – us being with separate bigger groups, but I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with them in Sagada. We even made a resolution to save the whole year for a trip every summer. That’d be nice. I’m so glad I did not have any expectations for the trip, because I sure would’ve been disappointed. The disappointment would’ve made me surly for the rest of the trip.

Sagada is such a small town, perhaps as small as El Nido, maybe smaller but it is no doubt quieter.

It was lovely to sleep in the quietness and coolness of the night. No videokes! No laughing, drinking men outside the window! The residents had curfew and slept early. The food is expensive though. I believe more expensive than in El Nido but the vegetables were just oh so yummy! It made me wish I had a vegetable garden.

We mostly ate at only two places in Sagada, Masferre and Yoghurt House. Yoghurt House made me the spiciest curry I ever tasted and the sourest yogurt to be had in all the planet. I swore never to eat yogurt there anymore. Even if the service there sucked, they did not make any effort to make it better. Perhaps because they know tourists really do not have a choice. I do love their potato salad. It’s the most delicious potato salad I have ever had anywhere. I’d come back to Sagada just for that!

When I commented that there weren’t many places to eat there, Diane the World History teacher, said there were others but we just didn’t go there. I forgot to ask why.

Spending my time alone in the balcony of Olahbinan, I seriously thought about having a house of our own in the mountains. It would be a good place to spend the first trimester, don’t you think?

Sagada would be a nice place. One can open a coffee shop since there is none, where people who do not want to watch TV at night can hang out; and a bike rental for people who would rather cruise down the road in two wheels than walk with their two feet and legs backwards.

Written April 25, 2007