Northern Luzon Loop (Take 2)

a travel blog by Joey Carlotta

July 4 is the birthday of the wife so we are planning a roadtrip to celebrate this and Sagada came immediately and unanimously to mind. We plan to do an abbreviated version of the Northern Luzon Loop leaving Manila on July 2 going through Banaue via Nueva Ecija, Sagada, Baguio via Halsema and back home on July 6. The condition of the Halsema Highway is still a major concern so an alternative is skip Baguio and return to Manila from Sagada the way we will get there. In this manner, we will definitely make our objective, regardless of road conditions, which is Sagada.

As mentioned before, I bought my current car, a Suziki Grand Vitara, with visions of driving the Halsema. Last I heard was that paving was done between Baguio and Mt. Data with only a short stretch to Bontoc and Sagada left undone. Still, the whole stretch is prone to landslides and we have started with the rainy season already so one never knows until one tries. I hope I finally make this objective this time. Wish me luck.

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Drats! Foiled Again!

Las Pinas, Philippines

Typhoon Fengshen has just passed Manila, serving us a direct hit, and is on its way north. The rainy season has finally caught up with us, rather abruptly, and has once again dashed our plans to head up the mountain hinterlands. Stay tuned as there will definitely be a Take 3.