I am not a backpacker nor a hiker. I just want to make that clear. But I love a good challenge and a fun adventure. I have been to Banaue rice terraces perhaps once or twice before. I've seen them from afar, took pictures and perhaps reached one rice paddy to sit on while someone took a snapshot of me.

I thought it was magnificent to witness such a view. But hiking Batad is like no other experience.

Banaue Rice Terraces is one of UNESCO's World Heritage. It's been here for 2,000 years perhaps more. It is a living cultural landscape that can be traced as far back as two millennia ago in the pre-colonial Philippines. The traditions of the native people of Ifugao was passed down from one generation to the next and have kept this amazing sight for many travelers around the world to enjoy.

There are about five main clusters of terraces but the Batad terrace cluster is the most astonishing and well-preserved of them all as it boasts an amphitheater-like semi-circular terrace with a village at its base. It really is like no other place in the world.

We got there by CODA bus. I figured will take the Super Deluxe seat to get a better rest since according to some friends, Batad is the most treacherous among all the rice terraces in Banaue.

After an overnight bus ride, and a 30-minute van ride from the tourism office to the entry point, we began our four-hour trek on Batad. Our goal was to reach Tappiya Falls, which is literally a hidden gem in Batad. You'll know what I mean when you get there.

Our first stop was in a small eatery, that served us with a delicious home-cooked meal. It's no fast food as we had to wait for about 45-minutes for our food to be ready. It gave us a chance to talk to the locals, had a little historical background from our tour guide, learn about the tools they use in the rice field and spend some time taking photos of random things.

Did you know that it's actually the job of the women in the tribe to plant and harvest the rice in the terraces? I was surprised to hear that it was ONLY a job for the women. What do the men do? Well, they are the ones who maintain the walls of the rice fields. They carry the rocks that kept the terraces together in and out and sadly there is no other way to do it but carry and hike those rocks up and down the terraces. After the women harvest the rice, the men also carry those bunch of freshly harvested rice out of the terraces. Talk about MANpower.

The hike wasn't easy at all. But it was worth it. The most rewarding part was when we reached the end of the trail some 2 hours later. There lies the treasure - the Tappiya water falls.

It was the perfect place to cool off . The water was as refreshing as it can be. Exactly what we needed after a long hike under the sun. But the trip didn't end there. We hiked back the same way - another 2 hours back and took even more photos. We just can't get enough of it!

As I said earlier, I'm not a hiker. Although, when I hiked Batad I would say I was physically fit. I think if you prepare for the trip, bring enough water to hydrate yourself, eat right and bring a hiking stick - trust me you'll need it, you can also survive Batad. My 8-year old son did it with us, so can you!

Enjoy!