Kirchhofer Visit
Cabanatuan, Sagada & Banaue

The Banaue Rice Terraces the eighth wonder of the world

If you come to visit us here in the Philippines we will rent a Videoke machine and throw you a party. During the party you will eat Balot and then, and only then, after balot consumption we will travel to witness several of the many wonders this country has to offer.
Who will be next? Remember it is an open invitation.

Videoke Queen

Videoke King

Rockin the mic

Balot Time


Joey explains the process to the photojournalist

Dad gets ready

See the feathers

Down the Hatch

A brief stop in Baguio


Anxiously awaiting one of the many wonderful western style meals that we had during the course of the Kirchhofer visit.

Sagada

Market Day on the road to Sagada

Inside joke

Hanging coffins in the Echo Valley approximately eighty feet up.

That is Kate in pink at the bottom of the photo contemplating whether or not to enter.

Sagada is know for weaving and while we were there we had the opportunity to visit a family of weavers. All their products are produced in the basement of their house a short trip from Sagada.

Banaue

Care is given to aesthetics when planting crops.

A small town on the road to Banaue.

The four of us hiked down to a village to meet some elders and check out some terraces. We met this fine fellow and he agreed to introduce to some elders, I thought he was the elder, for a small fee.

He took the bundle out of a rice sack and spilled them bones upon the floor. His primary income is wood carving for the tourists shops in Banaue proper but he earns a little more introducing tourist folk to his ancestors. We paid him fifty pesos said good buy and were on our way.

We happened upon a pig sacrifice in the middle of the road. This family lost a relative the previous week and at the conclusion of the eight day wake they roasted this pig in the deceased honor. The stick is shoved down the beasts throat to control head movement as they cut the jugular. Sorry Katie.

Notice the pink stained lips caused by chewing bettle nut. The nut is a mild narcotic and extremely popular in the north. Ralph and I tried it and ended up with a numb tongue and no buzz.

The terraces are over two thousand years old and for the most part all the work is done by the women. The process is entirely organic. Maybe the rest of the country, and America, should take a hint. Here three women transfer seedlings from the bed to the paddie.

All the terraces in Banaue are family owned and operated. The rice is a different type than the standard Pinoy style. It grows taller than the typical kind and reaches approximately one meter. This is a family compound high up the valley. They work the surrounding paddies. Notice the seed beds to the left and at the top center of the frame. These will be transferred once they reach appropriate height.

View thru the haze caused by brush fires used to clear the terraces

Kirchhofer's Arrive in ManilaMom and Dad Kirchhofer paid us a visit for three weeks in the middle of Feburary. We had a lot of fun and did quite a bit of travel during their stay. We started in Manila and moved to our house, the north, house again, Manila again, Boracay, Manila and they headed back to the US. We will be posting trip photos soon.