Rice Terraces of Banaue

Last weekend our group undertook an 11 hour bus ride to the Northern portion of Luzon to visit the rice terraces of Banaue. These rice terraces are a UNESCO world heritage site... These terraces are over 2000 years old and if lined end to end, would extend more than half way around the globe! There was a lot of fog... but we were fortunate to have a clearing mid morning as we walked into some of the rural homesteads to interview farmers... The Ifugao people were once head hunters according to the Lonely Planet guide to the Philippines... Their houses traditionally are roofed with cogan grass (one of the most invasive weeds in North America and several other areas around the world!)... Now they use a lot more corrugated tin!

The houses are on stilts to keep rats out... You can actually stand up inside the house once you climb up the ladder!