We Can't Get Enough of Banaue

Banue is the home of 4,000 year old rice terraces, considered to a wonder of the world. They are an engineering fete since they are still in use all these years later and are naturally irrigated from the rain forests above. While in Nueva Vizcaya we decided to take a day and show the area to the Shaners, since they hadn't seen it before.

We arrived on late Sunday afternoon and it was raining and cloudy. The next morning we woke to hard rain and so much fog you couldn't see 10 feet ahead of you. What a bummer! But with some prayers and a blessing from on high the clouds parted and the sun shone. This was our third trip to Banue and it was truly the most glorious. We took a jeepney ride up to the lookout posts and saw the most glorious sights. The rain water was glistening off the scenery below, looking almost like sparkling diamonds. The air was refreshing and the sun was warm. It was truly one of the most beautful days we've had here in the Philippines. Since this is considered the "off" season many of the shops were closed but there was still lots of opportunities to do some shopping around our sightseeing! We loved sharing this day with our dear friends and fellow missionaries--Elder and Sister Shaner.

On the drive up the clouds started rolling in.

The rain stopped, the fog lifted during breakfast and we were ready to go and explore!

We hired a jeepney to drive us up the mountain to the shops and lookout posts.

The Shaners first jeepney ride.

President Carlos is not a tall man but compared to this Ifugao native he's a giant!

Elder and Sister Shaner in a little Nipa Hut bench.

Most of the terraces had just been harvested and so that's why you see so much water. A few had just been planted and so those ones are the ones with light green showing.

This is a sign that designates the historical significance fo the area. They are truly a site to behold! I'm so grateful they are in our mission boundaries and so glad that President Carlos believes our missionaries should get a chance to view them while serving here.