I never want to hear the word "landslide" again

After breakfast at 6am, a 60 year old village man named Yun says he'll take me for a walk along some Mountain trails. It's been pouring down heavy rains all of yesterday afternoon and night, so it's very muddy and slippery. After about an hour hike we're almost back in the village, when I suddenly hear what sounds like gushing water. Yun stops as the sound grows in intensity, soon sounding like there's a roaring waterfall right next to us. Seconds after, some villagers come running along the trail shouting "landslide! landslide!" (same word in Tagalog). It turns out the slide has taken out a big chunk of Mountain, right where the trail was, only about 150 ft ahead of us! Had I not just stopped for photos, it could have meant the end of us.

Yun then takes me another route back. The hard route. It involves some pretty scary moments such as climbing on small and slippery outcrops of rock with 100+ ft drop under us (guaranteed death if fall). Yun helps me through some tricky parts by pulling me up and telling me where it's safe to put my feet (he's climbed these Mountains all his life). I am so relieved when we reach back to the village center.

There, I meet a Filipino called Steve and his German boyfriend Adrian. They have learned about an alternative route back to Banaue which involves a 5 mile hike along a Mountain trail (unfortunately with numerous landslides) until we reach the same road I arrived on the day before. So there are another 5 Miles hike along that road until my driver Freddy meets me with his motorcycle.

Back in Banaue around 2pm. I have a really bad headache probably from lack of food and water, so I just have lunch, some Internet, and then sleep approximately 12 hours.

Downtown Batad.

Me with Batad rice terraces.

Not a great shot, but this is the landslide that took out the trail in front of us.

Batad school.

Me and my guide Yun.

Steve asks an old lady for directions, but she only speaks some tribe language.

I never want to hear the word "landslide" again

Batad, Philippines