Banawe Rice Terraces- Philippines

Banawe Rice Terraces 1, originally uploaded by Eric Gozar.

Considered as one of the 8 Wonders of the World, the Banaue Rice Terraces is and intriguing pieced of engineering and agricultural work.

Historians of the place, says this method of rice farming dates back many centuries ago and the technique and method of building the rice paddies on terraces has been handed down from generations to generations and has survived the modernity that is looming into this hidden eden of agricultural magnificence.

Though not indigenous and exclusive to the Philippines, the technique of terracing rice paddies is one for the Guiness Book of World Records. Engineering this land with bare hands at a height of 2,500 meters above sea level is a magnificent work. There are similar construction in Taiwan, Hainan and even the Korean peninsula. In my travels, the architecture and tribal costumes in all this three locations are very much similar if not the same.

People who toil this land starts young even at the age of ten, they start learning the methods of keeping the terraced paddies from breaking water and thus starting an avalanche. They grow up to it, and spending the rest of their life toiling at this land which is high up on the mountains of Banaue.

The climate on this height is quite cool and dry, making skin dry and tough. But the residents has been accustomed to the climate and has developed a resistance to the climate's harsh treatment to them. It is thus not too uncommon to see older folk resorting to taking local herbs that strengthen their stamina, like that of dope or cocaine.

Tourists have flocked to this place for many years, and somehow, my recent visit to this mountains has showed that modernity is taking it's toll at this natural and historic sculpture of the land. Houses of masonry and tin has started to spring up even on the cliff sides along the streets towards this place. The natural museums started by the government has turned to souvenir shopping stalls, destroying the views and ecology of the place.