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to Stove or not to Stove …

Hendrik Morkel waxes philosophic on a most practical matter:

… I’m convinced that it is on average lighter to go with an UL stove and dehydrated food, as I reckon it will be tastier and give more (mental) energy. …

Hiking in Finland – Food for Thought: Stoveless backpacking

I like that conclusion. I normally have 2-3 hot coffees in the morning, a cold lunch — and a big hot meal after dark.

My stove of preference is still the MSR Reactor.

Should I go to something lighter? 🙂

Hendrik links to these related posts:

• Going stoveless / Hiking no-cook PART II (PCT)

• TrailSavvy – Alternative Menu Planning (Stove-less)

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Batad rice terraces, Philippines – day 2

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Day 1 saw me reach Batad, a remote village of fewer than 1500 people, one of the best places to view the UNESCO World Heritage Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.

Day 2, I slept in until everyone else had departed (with guides) to the Tappiyh Waterfalls. … At a quiet moment, I rushed off in the opposite direction on my own. I didn’t want a guide.

Though the trails look easy and obvious, I was quickly lost.

Over 3wks in the Philippines I never once saw a trailhead sign, nor a “hiking trail” sign. No wonder most hikers hire local guides.

I was intending to find (on my own) the back-route to the village of Bangaan. And find it I did — eventually.

It was fun to be in the paddies on my own.

En route I saw only 2 other hikers, with guide, headed in the opposite direction.

The biggest industry in the region seems to be construction, both road and trail construction. These steep slopes must often get washed out.

It was a truly wonderful hiking day, especially when I finally reached intensely scenic Bangaan.

From there I was prepared to walk out of the mountains (with full Pack) and try to catch transport back to civilization. By luck the very first vehicle — a dump truck — offered to drive me out. I got the cab. Other locals hopped into the back.

Here’s a Jeepney driving in the opposite direction, delivering more happy tourists to Batad.

See more photos from my 2 days in Batad.

There is no hiking guidebook for this region. The best resource I’ve found in English is travel-philippines.com Batad.

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Batad rice terraces, Philippines – day 1

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

You know you’re on an ADVENTURE when you find yourself in a dangerous vehicle, surrounded by Israelis. Israelis love ADVENTURE.

Here we are unloading at the Batad Saddle.

No road leads to the village. From here it’s a 40min trek.

Like most other visitors, I stayed at one of several “hotels” overlooking the town, the Hillside Inn.

I chose the Hillside based on a Travel-Philippines.com recommendation. But from what I heard from other visitors, they’re all about the same. Spartan. Clean. Cold showers with shared toilet. Dirt cheap. ($5/night). Electricity came to Batad in 2005 and the lights are bright enough for reading. Restaurants all have a blaring TV.

This is why we’re here — Batad is one of the best locations to hike the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, UNESCO World Heritage listed in 1995.

Fantastic.

For 2000 years rice farming on these steep slopes has been virtually unchanged.

Having arrived late afternoon, everyone took a quick look around, then settled down to enjoy the vista until dark.

Those are coffins, by the way.

… In a special kind of paradise like this, I’d expect to be elated and excited for the next day. Yet I was irked.

Every local man and boy pesters to “guide” you to the Tappiyh Waterfalls (PHOTO), an easy 40min walk. The standard program is to arise early, eat breakfast, do the Falls guided. And rush back to the only regularly scheduled transport out at 9am.

I disliked everything about the standard program. 😦

Compounding the annoyance of so many self-appointed guides is a fight between the “offical” guides of Batad and the “official” guides of another town, Banaue.

I resolved to hike independently, taking off in the opposite direction of everyone else.

… tomorrow I’ll post day 2 of my Batad rice terraces hike.

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helmet cam for Christmas?

Did you get one? 🙂

GoPro cameras are used more than any other.

Click PLAY or watch a GoPro promo on YouTube. Helicopter skydivers, skiers, wing-suiters, surfers, scuba divers and more.

This video is © GoPro Inc. and shot entirely on the HD HERO2 camera …

(via Gear Junkie – Best Adventure Montage of 2011: GoPro Promo)

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wandering Boracay, Philippines

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

How long can a hiker lie around on a Beach before getting bored?

Not long.

Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km (196 mi) south of Manila …

The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide …

Once a day I’d take off jogging wherever tourists do not go.

I checked out the dump. Excellent. And watched how trash is collected. Very efficiently.

Bottles are recycled.

Here is a tourist attraction, a Zorb run. Unfortunately the Zorb doesn’t roll unless a group arrives together, pre-booked. Otherwise I would have signed up.

On another lonely road I found two new born goats. Mama nowhere to be found. When I jogged back a half hour later, they were still there.

The highlight was navigating narrow alleys where the poorest folks eek out a living. I didn’t take any photos, but it looks something like this.

Actually, the people looked surprisingly healthy and happy. The animals sickly and pitiful. In fact, I saw an emaciated cat in it’s death throes, ignored by one and all. There was no way I could put it out of its misery.

Very best of all was arriving at a new Mosque being built by the minority Muslim population. Clearly it will be the pride and joy of the community, once finished. They asked how it compared with Mosques in Canada. Equally grand, I told them.

… It was always good to get back to my inexpensive hotel for a shower and a rest.

Before the long rest.

See more photos or check my Boracay holiday posts.

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Hanging Coffins of Sagada, Philippines

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Sagada … has a population of 10,930.

It is located 275 km. north of Manila …

Sagada is one of the most popular tourist destinations, undeveloped as it takes at least 11hrs by bus and Jeepney to get there.

Sagada is famous for its “hanging coffins“. This is a traditional way of burying people that is still utilized. …

These coffins are carved by the elderly before they die; if they are too ill or weak their son or other close relative will do it for them. This ritual involves pushing the bodies into the tight spaces of the coffins, and often bones are cracked and broken as the process is completed. …

Pilot Guides

Most intriguing of all are chairs dangling alongside the coffins.

Later I learned that families who cannot afford a coffin use a chair, instead. The recently diseased is tied to a chair, attends an all night wake, and then is lowered down from the top of the cliff by rope.

This hanging coffin has a Crucifix, as well. Christians in this region have the choice of a graveyard or being hung.

In fact, the short hike to those hanging coffins takes you right past the impressive church and graveyard.

more photos

The other adventure out of Sagada is a guided tour of the Sumaguing Cave.

related – Weird Asia News – The Hanging Coffins of Sagada: An Ancient Tradition

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10 beautiful waterfalls

… It’s difficult making a choice when it comes to narrow it down to just 10 when there are so many beautiful ones out there, however below are some of the best …

Plitvice Falls, Croatia

See the rest on Smashing Tops – 10 of the most Beautiful Waterfalls in the World

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Andalucian International Walking Festival

I’m seeing a trend to hiking festivals where you can learn about local culture. This new event in Spain includes: Olive Harvest & Virgin Oil Production, Andalucian Cookery Classes, Pottery, Bodega Wine Tasting Tour, Oil Painting and several more.

February 26 – March 4, 2012
Malaga Airport, Spain

The White Mountain Village of El Burgo plays hosts to the first Andalucian International Walking & Cultural Festival.

Guided walks will explore the surrounding olive groves and beyond to the stunning Nature Park of Sierra de las Nieves. Take part in a wide variety of activities as well as colourful local fiestas including Andalucia Day and the celebration of Carnaval.

The whole thing is an invention of a company, Frontier Holidays. Looks like fun to me.

details

While you’re in Andalucia, be sure to stop by the blue Smurf village of Júzcar.