One week ago today...Part 5

The following is taken from my journal of our experience in Tabuk, Kalinga province in the northern Philippines. Here are a few things you'll need to know:

Tabuk - a city in Kalinga province, northern Philippines, a few hours north of Manila

Bugnay - a remote tribal village in the mountains a few hours away from Tabuk

Sagada - a city in Mountain province that attracts international tourists

Achao & Georgia Macad - husband and wife who started a maternity clinic in Tabuk (Achao is from Bugnay)

Crystal Meeks - a midwife who started a maternity clinic in Bugnay, a remote village in the mountains

Sara & Fonda - friends from the clinic in Davao

Sagada to Tabuk

July 11, 2012

We woke up around 5:00am and finished packing all of our clothing and gear. Sara made pancakes and the strawberry preserves we had bought were a great complement to them. So we grabbed all of our stuff and headed down to the multicab. Kuya Ligaya then drove us into town to the jeepneys.

We all got in the jeepney, with Sara and Fonda on top. Christina and I got inside to avoid the sun and the cool mountain air. The trip down the mountain seemed to go faster than going up, even with other people getting on and off. As we arrived in Bontoc, Sara and Fonda had to come inside the jeepney. A few minutes later, we paid and got out to find our ride back to Tabuk. It would either be a bus or 1-2 jeepneys.

Fortunately, we found a bus going to Tabuk. That meant there would not be the need to get out and wait for another ride somewhere between Bontoc and Tabuk. Christina and I again get inside to avoid the sun and so we could possibly sleep a little on 7-hour ride. Fonda and Sara again sat on top. We probably waited about one hour while more people got on until the driver came and was ready to go. It amused us to see people walk by the bus and suddenly look up, a bit surprised to see two white people sitting on top.

The ride was long, but uneventful. Various people got on and off. Sometimes with, sometimes without, random 'baggage' (large bags of rice, bundles of vegetables, travel bags and even a large engine part!). The only official stop was mid-day for lunch at the same place we ate lunch when going to Bugnay a few days earlier. We also stopped briefly in Moro to give a pasalubong gift (a gift to family or friends that Filipinos bring back after traveling) to Crystal.

Just before arriving in Tabuk, everyone on top of the bus had to come inside. Most people found a seat, though a few people just stood. Now many people were getting off the bus. When we came to the clinic, there were just a few people left. We all got out and walked to the clinic.

At the clinic, we met two girls from Canada who had come back to visit. We talked with them for a bit, swapping fun stories of our respective travels. They were preparing to leave for their 12-hour bus ride to Manila, so we took the time to quickly check our emails. Soon Georgia arrived to say goodbye to the Canadian girls. Then she gave us a ride back to her house. We ate supper and unpacked our stuff. After showers, we went to bed, exhausted from our long day of travel, but thrilled from all of our experiences.