Inside your Backpack

Now here are some things to bring to Sagada.

1. CASH : There are no ATMs there and you don't want to end up doing whatever to earn your way. If you are the classic backpacker though, you may want to explore this option to earn more cash...but I haven't tried it, so I wouldn't say how feasible this is.

2. SUNBLOCK : the mountain breeze can be cool but the sun is still the sun.

3. STURDY SLIPPERS/SHOES : Okay maybe you can arrive in your Havaianas, but to walk around town and outside, you might consider the tyre slippers , or shoes.

4. ZIPLOC/WATERPROOF CASING : YOur digitial camera, phone and money can't be submerged in icy cold cave water....

5. CAMERA : a definite must! Who knows when the next time you'll be in Sagada again, if you ever will be.

6. MEDICINE : If you need maintenance of some sort, its better to bring your own. They have a hospital, but that far away burrowed into the mountains, they might not have what you need.

7. JACKET! : Don't be silly and say your fats can insulate you. It won't! The biting cold would be enough to take the life out of you.

8. A GREAT BAND OF FRIENDS : You've travelled this far, this long , you are in the middle of nowhere....you certainly don't want to be stuck with people you hardly like..... Pick well and choose wisely. The destination is only half of it; the company completes the fun.

9. A SUNNY DISPOSITION - Sagadaans are friendly and speak English! Try to be nice and polite, and if you are a true urbanite, I suggest you leave the arrogance and the bratty attitude sometimes carried. There is no room for the picky and choosy traveller.

10. DAYPACK : You don't go to Sagada and expect to stay in your room. While making your way around town and outside, you would need a bag to put all your valuables in. Remember you might be hiking and grabbing at stones, weeds and tree roots and you don't want to be bothered by singly and tediously handling your precious stuff.

11. CHARGERS : For phones or digital cameras. Make sure you bring your own provisions. Thankfully no cellphone shops have established stalls yet.

12. CONTRA BODY ODOR ARMAMENTS: You can live the backpacker lifestyle among others, but you can opt not to smell like a bath has eluded you. For sanitation and humanitarian reasons, remember that hygiene isn't just a city thing.

13. NEVER SAY NEVER ATTITUDE: You may be pushed to do things apart from your normal routine. Don't quit before you even try. And don't quit in the middle when you're half done. Keep an open mind. So long as your body is not about to break, try to overcome fears. Test yourself and will yourself when you find you want to just stop.

14. INFORMATION : Do not go anywhere without knowing the least wee bit thing about the place and people. If information is available, read through, research, get to know. As the community is still of the minorities, their culture might be different from ours. It is best to know what to do and not to do.