The Ifugao Rice terraces, which follow the natural contour of the mountains, have been cultivated for 2,000 years but up to a third of the terraces have been abandoned due to young people migrating away to the cities. The region’s value to the nation as a tourist destination may exceed that of its rice production.

http://travel.nationalgeographic.co....rice-terraces/


Other sites of interest which I managed to visit in January included the Tam-Awan Village ( Tam-Awan means “ vantage point “ ).

http://www.tam-awanvillage.com/





… with Ifugao tour guide :-





Another was the BenCab Museum :-






http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awes...ull-bloom.html


Here could be seen the much revered rice gods ( bulol / bulul figures, carved from narra wood by the Ifugao ). They may be in pairs, standing, squatting or dancing – which help identify their origin.

It’s not often these are seen in Ifugao houses now because of the prices paid by antique collectors.











There was much more to be seen at the Museum :-


























… and the gardens, which were purchased by BenCab to prevent more building :-








http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/282189/Ifugao


http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/ethnoatlas/hma...r/culture.7848