My Second Time in Sagada: The Horror Version - Kiltepan Sunrise Fail, Lemon Pie House, Orange Picking and the Journey Back

I was thankful that we did not go with our companions to the Lemon Pie House the previous night. Early in the morning on our way to Kiltepan, the four girls were talking about not being able to sleep the previous night and they told us the reason. It was 9:00 pm and they were the only customers left in Lemon Pie House when the restaurant's heavy door opened wildly. The owner saw the door opening and told them "O, ayan na pala yung kasama niyo." She waited but did not see anyone. Then, the owner, still in shock, had nothing to say except, "Umuwi na kayo, gabi na.", and my companions hurriedly got up and went out.

I couldn't imagine what I'd feel and do if I had experienced that. Simply hearing their story gave me goosebumps that lasted throughout the day. But still, we had our itinerary to pursue.

It was freezing cold when we started the day. When we got to our first destination, the temperature did not get better. Kiltepan Tower is Sagada's highest point and is the perfect spot for sunrise viewing. This is also where they hold the annual Sagada Grand Bonfire, so last year, we did not go here for the sunrise viewing but for the Sagada Grand Bonfire. Unfortunately, we did not see any sunrise but only clouds and fog. Even the overlooking view was obstructed by the fog. We consoled ourselves by taking photos in the woods.

Snowing? At Kiltepan.

Though it might be ironic because our companions were horrified by the previous night's experience in Lemon Pie House, the craving for lemon pie and lemon tea overpowered their fear thus we had our breakfast there. Finally, I was able to try the much talked about lemon pie. It was really delicious but we failed to bring some home because the owner said that you must inform her the previous day because she only prepares it in bulk if there were orders. While here, the tour coordinator asked us for P 20 each for the certificate from SAGGAS.

mouth-watering lemon pie

We then went back to Kanip-Aw Pines View Lodge to get our stuff. It was time to start our journey back home, but not the end of our itinerary.

We proceeded to Rock Inn Farm's orange orchard. We were charged an additional P 50/pax to experience orange picking in their orchard. The self-picked oranges were free of charge if you eat it right away (inside the premises) but they charge P 50/kilogram if you would take it with you. Because I was such a spendthrift, I ate to my heart's content, and did not bring anything with me.

orange-picking: a new experience

The travel went on. We had stops for photo shoots at Mt. Kalawitan and Philippine Pali (highest point in the Philippine Highway System). It was already noontime and we were still far from La Trinidad, so the driver dropped us at a gas station to have our lunch there.

at Mt. Kalawitan

The signage says it all.

Even the gas station has an overlooking view.

When we reached La Trinidad, the first thing that Boots and I did was have our strawberry ice cream. There were no strawberries to be picked at the farm that time so we just bought the packed strawberries as pasalubong. Boots also bought strawberry-flavored taho for the two of us. I love strawberry!

because I love strawberries...

strawberry taho

The driver gave us time to buy our pasalubong before we went on with our journey. We had our dinner in La Union and as much as I was trying to forget about the horror story from the previous night, over dinner, one of our companions who had a third-eye verified that a fast-moving dark figure followed us in the woods from the Hanging Coffins.

Our dinner...good thing we finished eating before our companion told us about the dark figure

Unfortunately, I really had to pee. And I had to go alone. The restaurant was old, and even older looking was the CR. The CR was huge and silent, and I was the only person inside. Still horrified, I tried to pee as fast as I could. I could never explain the relief that I felt when I saw that one of our companions went to use the CR, too.

From there, it was still a long journey home. And the story went on haunting me.