Our Sagada Cave Connection Adventure: So Proud I Did It; I Will Probably Never* Do It Again

*With a husband like mine though, I should never say never!

Our main agenda for our Sagada trip was the Cave Connection: going in Lumiang Cave and coming out of Sumaguing Cave.  For weeks leading up to the trip, I busied myself researching everything I could to allay my fears - could I handle it? Have there been accidents? What do I wear?  The closest to a "cave experience" I had was with my friends (hello, P4!) when we visited the Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh (not very close, I know).  We didn't even finish the entire tunnel and all agreed we've had enough of the claustrophobia.  I knew there was a sissy in me; I just didn't want her to come out in Sagada!  All the blogs and websites I read said the same thing: cave connection is not advisable for people who are afraid of the dark or of tight spaces, not for the weak willed or faint of heart.  They all advised to listen to the tour guides at all times and absolutely trust them - this was a matter of life or death.  I must have asked J 10 times if he HONESTLY thought I could do it (this was going to be his second time).

Beautiful day to go underground (ngiiii), as J said!

On the Saturday we were scheduled to go, J and I took an early morning stroll before breakfast to explore the area near our inn (as it was raining when we arrived, we didn't get to go out at all).  We thought it would be a good idea to swing by the church too, to pray for good weather and an injury-free day.

Old bell in front of the church

Sagada Church

A moment of thanks and prayer

Yes! Evidence of me being outdoorsy!

Our morning walk

Sagada Graveyard
...probably not the best way to start our cave connecting eh!?

We headed back to the inn at 7am in time for breakfast with the family, and then our SAGGAS tour guides Kurt and Pakway (Kurt said it's really Pak-wai, Pak-wei if he's feeling extra fancy) came to pick us up at 7:30.  No turning back*!

*Interestingly, Kurt said a number of tourists end up backing out of the Cave Connection once they reach the entrance. Giving me ideas, eh? Hehe, I'm kidding.

We walked from the inn to the caves - warm up!
Here, we passed the SAGGAS headquarters

Viewed hanging coffins from afar
and learned about Sagada's unique burial customs

More walking - I was thankful for the paved walkway!

This is it! Entering the Burial Cave

One of our tour guides, Kurt

THAT WASN'T THE ENTRANCE???

The tour guides were so light on their feet. On rocks.

While carrying gas lamps! (That's Pakway)

See you later, sunlight!

This tiny crevice is the entrance.

This is just the first part & there's
some serious rope action required?? Intense.

One of the many times I was thinking
"what did I get myself into??"

We had to wade through cold pools in some parts
(I didn't mind these so much -
in fact, I'd go so far as saying I enjoyed these!)

We had to step on the guides to get from point A to point B
(these guys are amazing!)

Beautiful flow rocks - you step on them and you don't slip or slide off!
Magic (and free feet exfoliation)!

Truly amazing

Waterfalls!

More stepping-on-tour-guide parts

Beautiful King's Curtain

An exceptionally difficult part. Pakway shows a tourist how to cross.

Instructions from the guides were very specific - put your foot here, this way not that, flat on the ground, don't lean back too much or you'll fall, place your hand here, move your face to the side - it was very precise!  Despite having read countless reminders to "listen to your guides, trust them", on more than 2 occasions, I found myself asking "Ha?? Sure ka, kuya? Bangin yan eh."  To be honest, I was sort of glad it was very dark so I couldn't see how close to potential death I was in some parts (Ma, if you're reading this, of course I'm kidding.)  Also, whenever Kurt would tell me to put my foot somewhere, I really, for the life of me, couldn't SEE where that somewhere was!  I would stretch my short legs as far as they would go (see, that was me, LISTENING to the guide!) and get hit with foot cramps for my efforts (foot cramps? Who gets foot cramps?!?).  I think I had two mini panic attacks.  Not proud.

I have to mention though how helpful these guides were - they would literally ask us to step on them (foot, knee, shoulder - a veritable ladder!) and in an exceptionally slippery part (where I was having mini panic attack #1), Pakway used himself as a human stopper, asking me to step where his feet were so I wouldn't fall.  Very mission impossible!  I remember Kurt telling me, before we entered the cave, that I should just have fun and think of it as a big playground.  I thought to myself, these caves really served as a playground for the local children, who grew up to be guides!  

Our camera died on us towards the latter part of the tour (the culprit: water entered our supposedly waterproof bag when we had to swim across neck-deep water! I said water 3 times in a sentence.) and my hands were dirty with bat poop, but we came out of that second cave with nary a scratch!  Just a couple of knee bruises for me (like a banana, I swear) and a pair of tattered shorts (Master of the Butt Technique).

I was, and still am, so proud of myself for taking this on!  Of course I had a lot of help from the guides, and from J, who encouraged me throughout the expedition (haha, expedition agad?).

I would totally recommend the Cave Connection to Sagada visitors.  The experience is one-of-a-kind and the caves are awesome, in the truest sense of the word.  You can find more information on tours and other activities by visiting the SAGGAS website here.