Notes on the Geography of The Philippines: Banaue

Banaue is the modest capital of Ifugao Province, famous for stepped terraces cut from rugged mountains.

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We're about 125 miles north of Manila and on the rugged eastern slope of the Cordillera Central.

The best roads are poor, and the average one poorer still.

Jeepneys find their way around.

Banaue, capital of Ifugao, is centrally located in the province and roughly halfway up the long slope of the Cordillera.

The buildings cluster around a bit of flat land occupied by many shops catering to tourists who have come to see the terraces.

The view from the commercial center out to the local hotel and terraces beyond.

The carver must know his customers.

Outside of town, one can wander freely.

The landscape is of Balinese intensity.

Farmers make no money from rice: they are engaged in what they themselves call "sentimental agriculture."

The grain ripens.

Beautiful but labor-intensive harvested bundles.

The stub-end of a road? Not quite,...

The start of a very steep and long path to a remote village.