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The Banaue Rice Terraces should never be missed when traveling in the Philippines since it’s definitely one of the most famous icons of the Philippines. Thailand or Vietnam might be the first place that most people associate with sprawling rice paddies but there isn’t any other place in the world where you can see them built on entire mountainsides forming grand terraces at a scale like the Banaue Rice Terraces. At first, I was quite concerned about visiting Banaue during the dry season due to fears of possibly seeing the damaging results of the worst El Nino the Philippines had ever had especially after discovering the rice terraces being in-scripted into the List of UNESCO World Heritage sites in danger. I was thinking of documenting how badly the terraces for my trip but as my wish of visiting the Banaue came true, my fears quickly died down. My trip was so worth it and I’m so happy that, despite the negative pressures, the rice terraces of Banaue is still a sight to behold and the people of the town have done a great job at preserving its beauty and allure.
Elder Igorot Native watching over the Rice Terraces in Banaue
Ifugao Province is best known for the Banaue Rice Terraces, one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Philippines. Though, many seasoned travelers can attest that the best view of the ampitheatre-like rice terraces isn’t actually in Banaue town but in nearby Batad. It would be great to explore both areas to see which has a better view for yourself and also go on a hunt to find out the exact view where the Banaue Rice Terraces in the backside of the PHP1,000 bill was painted. Here’s a helpful list of links when planning on visiting Batad town in Ifugao, Philippines.
Photo by asteegabo
In the Philippine Ilonggo dialect, ambot ah literally means "I don't know." After graduating in college, I decided to hold off pursuing my profession and embarked on a free spirited journey of adventure and self-discovery. My travels have led me to many places across the Philippine Islands and South East Asia. I don't know where this path will take me but I'm certain I'll get a lifetime of stories out of it.
