On my first visit to Batad I was only around 140 Pounds and I learned how much muscle aches my body could achieve. On my second visit I brought along an additional weight of 20 pounds in the form of muscle and body fat (mostly body fat) and my muscle ached to the point that I think that fat aches also exist.
On my third visit to Batad, I added 50 pounds from my previous visit because I can. If you think about it, my body is like a barbell bar which I could add weights to it. I’m weirdly cool like that.
The original plan was just to visit the Highest Viewpoint of Batad Rice Terraces and the next day we would visit Tappia Falls because I do not want to abruptly stress my body from the additional weight. When my brother heard that we could still head to Hapao Rice Terraces if we visit Tappia Waterfalls on the same day, he encouraged us to do everything we can in Batad and move on to another destination the next day. And that was when we did not follow my workout schedule.
8:27 AM We arrived at our accommodation in Batad – Simon’s Viewpoint Inn and ordered the tasty Porkchop with Rice for breakfast (highly recommended). We decided over breakfast that we would start our trek around Batad at 1:00 PM so that we could still get enough sleep and have lunch before the trek.
12:00 NN We decided not to have lunch since we did not really do anything but sleep. Got ready for the trek and asked for a guide from the Batad Tourist Information Center to guide us to 3 main points of Batad Rice Terraces.
- Highest Viewpoint
- Tappia Waterfalls
- Main Village
Guide fee is 800 Pesos/guide for the three points of interest above.
1:00 PM Start of our trek. I shall let pictures tell you about our walk along the rice terraces. Mostly it’s going up or down.
There’s a point in the trek when we had to climb on a wall using the rocks protruding from the wall. On top was a store where we drank coke.
Since the place is a rice field with lots of water I wonder if we could use some easy-to-bring water filters so we could drink from the water.
2:16 PM (1 hour, 16 minutes hike) Arrived at Highest Viewpoint of Batad Rice Terraces. We took photos and absorbed the beauty of the rice terraces from a higher point of view.
By the way, there’s a higher viewpoint of Batad Rice Terraces but we did not have enough time and strength to go there. I think that was what they call the ‘Best View Point’.
2:22 PM (6 minutes stay) We started our descent to Tappia Waterfalls.
Stairs going down.
More stairs.
Last stairs going down.
Another last stairs going down.
Finally a not so much inclined stairs. I think I lost a lot of potential energy.
Break!!! Coke for Sugar Rush!
Another last set of stairs going down version 2.
Woohoo! Rest stop for another set of softdrinks. This time I think we had Mountain Dew because were in the mountains. #Corny
Another last set of stairs going down version 3.
Final another last set of stairs going down version 3.
It’s another set of stairs going down! When will this end?!?!?
Finally, some steps going up!
Hello there Tappia Waterfalls.
But we still had some steps to do.
A little more.
3:32 PM (1 hour, 10 minutes hike) Arrived at Tappia Waterfalls. Rested and took a dip in the cold cold waters at the basin.
A store for more sugar rush.
The bad thing about this trek is that we went an awful lot of stairs going down, so if we go back that means we also have to go through an awful lot of stairs going up! Woohoo!! More training! I can’t wait!
4:35 PM (1 hour, 3 minutes stay) Started going up to Simon’s Viewpoint Inn passing thru Main Village.
Finally, some rest.
Sunlight was slowly fading.
We heard chanting and according to our guide they were doing a ritual for the harvest.
Going down a wall.
Nearing the Main Village.
5:48 PM Start passing thru Main Village
Pig pens.
A native hut being constructed.
Inside the native hut.
5:53 PM Got out of the Main Village.
They tied plastic straws so that the path would not be blocked by the rice stalks.
Rest stop. Unfortunately, no store.
View from the rest stop.
More stairs.
Nearing Simon’s Viewpoint Inn.
6:46 PM (2 hours, 11 minutes hike) Arrived at Simon’s Viewpoint Inn with an aching body. Finally some rest!!!
5 hours, 46 minutes total hiking time.
P.S. I lost around 2 kilos from this trip when I checked at the house. But do not worry, I already gained 5 kilos. I’m now a walking barbell.
Will I do it again?
YES! YES! YES! Batad Rice Terraces is my favorite Rice Terraces so far and even if I have visited the place for 3 times I’m willing to do it again. Next time I prefer to bring less weights.
Here’s the standard guide fee in Batad. This was from the Batad Tourist Information Center.
If you want to see more photos of our trek arond Batad you can visit my Flickr album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/
I want to go here!!!
You must go there!!!