Philippines

Ifugao is a province in the far north of the country and features the famous rice terraces of Banaue though, in reality, the rice terraces at Batad (a remote village about a day’s hike from Banaue) are more impressive.

The whole province is inhabited by subsistence farmers who raise the rice right up the sides of the mountains. It’s easy to follow trails throughout the region and outside of the major tourist areas you’ll see no other travelers. People will look at you like an alien and little kids will chase after you. Trekkers are quite a novelty.

The jungle in the area is pristine. There’s a very beautiful and quite mystical (especially with lungs full of hash smoke) waterfall not far from Batad. Ask the locals for directions and though a handful of tourists do turn up each day most leave after half an hour.

M.J Lloyd was born and raised on a small farm in rural Ohio. At the age of 18 he hit the road to Alaska with a meager savings and no plan. Over the next 2 years he wandered in search of real answers and a livable life. The journey has taken him through three continents, various loves, battles with the loneliness and insanity of the road, and extreme poverty. Though the lessons haven’t been easy, he has learned much from the trail, and has reached a much happier and more peaceful understanding on the nature of his life.

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