My bestfriend, Kriska and I have been talking about going to Kalinga to meet Whang Od, she's the last original mambabatek.
We planned the trip just a day before since we were busy with work and since we've both read a few blogs over and over and over like:
When in Manila's The Buscalan, Kalinga Experience: In Search of Whang-Od
Pinay Traveller
Wanderful Together's Things to know before going to Buscalan to meet Fang Od
We were able to plan it in a span of just an hour.
Thank you so much by the way! it helped a lot!
I booked bus tickets to Tabuk in Victory Liner, Kamias. Regular tickets cost 614 per ticket. You can also choose the deluxe bus which is more expensive, around 800. We got the last trip which was at 8:45 PM. There are earlier trips - 7:30, 7:45 but we had to get he last since our friends were coming from work. Bought for tickets for Kriska, RV, Carlo and me.
The trip had 3 stops - it was okay since we all had to use the bathroom or eat snacks.
We arrived Tabuk at 9:30 am. We ate brunch at a nearby restaurant. Waited for the van/jeep that would bring us to Tinglayan, where we'll meet Kuya Francis Pa-in. He's a recommended tourist guide.
The jeep finally arrived, and we got to Tinglayan at 1:30pm. It took us another hour or so to get to Buscalan riding the same jeep. The whole trip was 150 per person.
Time for the hike!
While reading some blogs, we didn't actually realize how tiring the hike would be. But Travel lessons from Tripadora were super useful. Especially this: When the road seems long and your body is weary, never give up. Go on. Continue what you've started. There's no turning back.
It took us about 1 and a half hours to reach Buscalan and when we saw the elementary school, whew! it was a relief we were just steps aways from the village. As we walked a few steps more, there she was, Whang-Od sitting outside her house with a kid. Kriska and I were super starstruck!!
Since it was almost sunset, the tattooing will push through early morning the next day. They want perfect lighting when tattooing. We went to our rooms which was fairly new. It was Grace's (Whang Od's grand niece) room.
We brought canned goods as baon and we had the hosts cook the food for sharing. We had dinner and chatted with the locals, we also made friends with the other tourists. :) Apparently some of them were affiliated with Barefoot Travels.
It was still early but since we were tired, we slept just before 10pm. Woke up really early the next day so we can get our tattoos done already.
Tattooing started at around 6:30 am. :)
Carlo got Ilat, meaning lighting like
As soon as all of us were finished, we packed our stuff, prepared ourselves for the hike back. We started the hike at 9:30am and we got to the end of the trail 40 mins after. There we rode the van to Tabuk. Arrived there at around 3pm. Bought bus tickets in Victory Liner, Tabuk. Tickets were at P605 each. Trips back to Manila start at 4 PM, last trip is at 5 PM.
The four of us were really tired with tattoos aching. So when we were able to board the bus. We just relaxed and slept. We ate along the way during one of the stopovers, but we really couldn't wait to go home to sleep on our beds.
We arrived Manila at 5:30 AM. It was really a memorable trip. We had so much fun and the leg and back aches were all worth it. :)
We planned the trip just a day before since we were busy with work and since we've both read a few blogs over and over and over like:
When in Manila's The Buscalan, Kalinga Experience: In Search of Whang-Od
Pinay Traveller
Wanderful Together's Things to know before going to Buscalan to meet Fang Od
We were able to plan it in a span of just an hour.
Thank you so much by the way! it helped a lot!
I booked bus tickets to Tabuk in Victory Liner, Kamias. Regular tickets cost 614 per ticket. You can also choose the deluxe bus which is more expensive, around 800. We got the last trip which was at 8:45 PM. There are earlier trips - 7:30, 7:45 but we had to get he last since our friends were coming from work. Bought for tickets for Kriska, RV, Carlo and me.
 |
| Off to Tabuk! |
The trip had 3 stops - it was okay since we all had to use the bathroom or eat snacks.
We arrived Tabuk at 9:30 am. We ate brunch at a nearby restaurant. Waited for the van/jeep that would bring us to Tinglayan, where we'll meet Kuya Francis Pa-in. He's a recommended tourist guide.
The jeep finally arrived, and we got to Tinglayan at 1:30pm. It took us another hour or so to get to Buscalan riding the same jeep. The whole trip was 150 per person.
Time for the hike!
While reading some blogs, we didn't actually realize how tiring the hike would be. But Travel lessons from Tripadora were super useful. Especially this: When the road seems long and your body is weary, never give up. Go on. Continue what you've started. There's no turning back.
Kriska and me
It took us about 1 and a half hours to reach Buscalan and when we saw the elementary school, whew! it was a relief we were just steps aways from the village. As we walked a few steps more, there she was, Whang-Od sitting outside her house with a kid. Kriska and I were super starstruck!!
Since it was almost sunset, the tattooing will push through early morning the next day. They want perfect lighting when tattooing. We went to our rooms which was fairly new. It was Grace's (Whang Od's grand niece) room.
We brought canned goods as baon and we had the hosts cook the food for sharing. We had dinner and chatted with the locals, we also made friends with the other tourists. :) Apparently some of them were affiliated with Barefoot Travels.
 |
| Sleeping time! |
It was still early but since we were tired, we slept just before 10pm. Woke up really early the next day so we can get our tattoos done already.
Tattooing started at around 6:30 am. :)
 |
| I got the tattoo meaning The Traveler |
 |
| Kriska getting her tattoo |
 |
| RV getting her tattoo |
Carlo got Ilat, meaning lighting like
As soon as all of us were finished, we packed our stuff, prepared ourselves for the hike back. We started the hike at 9:30am and we got to the end of the trail 40 mins after. There we rode the van to Tabuk. Arrived there at around 3pm. Bought bus tickets in Victory Liner, Tabuk. Tickets were at P605 each. Trips back to Manila start at 4 PM, last trip is at 5 PM.
The four of us were really tired with tattoos aching. So when we were able to board the bus. We just relaxed and slept. We ate along the way during one of the stopovers, but we really couldn't wait to go home to sleep on our beds.
We arrived Manila at 5:30 AM. It was really a memorable trip. We had so much fun and the leg and back aches were all worth it. :)
