3 Days in Sagada, Philippines: I Fell in Love at First Visit

Besides historical sites and architectural attractions, I always prioritize the mountains when I travel.

My visit to Sagada, a small town in the Cordillera mountain range in Northern Philippines, explains why mountains became one of my favorite destinations.



A Short Background

Sagada was my first trip to the mountains, and it changed how I see the mountains forever. It felt like I was in a beautiful dream.

How I discovered Sagada dates back to 2014 when the local movie “That Thing Called Tadhana” premiered.

The film tells the story of Mace and Anthony, who are dealing with heartbreak and disappointments. They travel to Sagada to find self-discovery and healing.

As they explore Sagada, they witness the ethereal sea of clouds, which sparked my interest in visiting the town someday.

That trip to Sagada remained just a wish until my ex-coworker, Erick, messaged me about joining their 3-day trip to Sagada.

His message came at the perfect time. I was frustrated with my job because I was given many tasks that weren’t related to the work I applied for. I really needed a break.

Knowing how beautiful Sagada is, I didn’t hesitate to reply ‘yes, I would like to join’ to Erick.

Visit Sagada at Least Once!

Fast forward to November 22, 2018 — the day of our trip to Sagada finally arrived.

Three days later, we returned home, talking non-stop about going back to this lovely mountain town in the future. That trip to Sagada was one of the most memorable experiences for us.

Even now, I can’t stress enough how amazing Sagada is.

From the spectacular Blue Soil to the refreshing water of Bomod-Ok Falls, and the freshly brewed beers we enjoyed while singing under the sky, everyone should visit Sagada at least once in their life!

Sagada felt like love at first sight to me, and the sweet memories it gave me still linger in my mind.


3-Day Visit to Sagada (Itinerary)

While I can still clearly remember what it felt like to be in Sagada, I don’t recall all the details of everything we did.

However, thanks to the 500+ photos and videos I took during our trip, I can still tell you what happened. Most of it is still fresh in my mind.

If you’re planning a 3-day trip to Sagada, my story will give you an idea of how you can enjoy this small yet lovely mountaintop town.

You can find my tips for visiting Sagada here.


Day 0

(Departure from Manila)

As a techie who uses Google Maps every day to check traffic, I wasn’t surprised that we needed to leave Manila before midnight on the first day of our trip to Sagada.

Because as soon as Erick invited me, I quickly checked the travel time to Sagada, which is a looooong 9 to 12 hours even with perfect traffic.

It’s 9 hours by private vehicle and 12 hours by public transportation. (Imagine how hot our seats were after sitting for so long!)

Since we were traveling as a group, we preferred using a private vehicle to get to Sagada, which I think was our best option.

Thankfully, Erick and his cousin were so thoughtful that they handled all the transportation arrangements with a local driver and van/shuttle owner, so the rest of us didn’t have to worry about it.

So yeah, it was an overnight ride for us. Knowing this beforehand, I didn’t forget my neck pillow, thinking it would help me sleep during the trip.

But boy, I never expected a neck pillow to be only half as useful once we reached the end of the expressways.

After we reached the foothills of the Cordillera mountain range, the roads felt like rollercoasters. I barely got any sleep, just a few quick naps, not too deep.

In fact, I kept hearing my fellow travelers’ heads bumping against the windows, which made me giggle and kept me even more awake. It was like a sleepy head-bonk rhythm!

It felt like an adventure, even though we hadn’t reached our destination yet.


Day 1

One of the benefits of using a private vehicle to visit Sagada is that you can stop anywhere along the road whenever you want.

Whether it’s a gas station for a restroom break, breakfast, or another tourist attraction, you got the freedom!

Morning — Banaue Rice Terraces, Sagada Weaving and Hanging Coffins

By 7:00 AM, we were already in Banaue and stopped at one of the country’s most famous natural landmarks — the Banaue Rice Terraces.

Truth to be told, I was in awe and filled with pride as a Filipino when I first saw the terraces. It was my first time seeing such a marvelous structure, combining local ingenuity with natural beauty.

Did you know that one level of the rice terraces can be as tall as a person? I can’t imagine how our ancestors started building the terraces 2,000 years ago.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t good, so we didn’t see the full beauty of the terraces. After half an hour of sightseeing and taking photos, we left the terraces.

By 9:30 AM, we reached Sagada, and our first stop was Sagada Weaving. It’s a famous souvenir shop where you can buy handwoven fabrics, scarves, and blankets with colorful cultural patterns.

I regret not thoroughly checking everything inside. According to other travelers I spoke with while writing a travel guide about Sagada on my other blog, Sagada Weaving allows visitors to observe the traditional weaving process firsthand.

After we dropped off our bags at our homestay and registered at the tourism office in the town center, we immediately started exploring Sagada. From what I remember, a tour guide joined us right after we registered.

By 11:00 AM, we were ready to explore. Our destination? The Hanging Coffins.

As we walked, we quickly saw St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, the main landmark of Sagada. This historic church was built by American missionaries in the early 1900s, during the American occupation of the Philippines.

When our tour guide told us this, I was amazed.

Given how far Sagada is from the cities and how difficult it must have been to reach a hundred years ago, it seemed unbelievable.

After taking some photos inside and outside the church, we continued to the Hanging Coffins. This required a short hike through the forest.

As a first-time visitor, I found the views along the hiking trail very scenic. There were pine trees, limestone cliffs, and distant mountain peaks. It was totally refreshing.

Overall, the hike was easy because some parts were paved and the slopes had handrails.

It was also a lot of fun, thanks to my new friend, Kheyren Hanada, who I met in our travel group. She brought snacks, jokes, and a fun, carefree attitude. If you can bring someone like her on your trip, definitely do it!

It took us less than an hour to reach the Hanging Coffins. When we arrived, our guide started sharing stories about them.

However, I couldn’t help but notice some foreigners who had arrived before us.

I could see the curiosity on their faces as their guide explained why the coffins are smaller than a human adult — that part, though, I managed to hear the explanation from our guide.

Basically, the coffins are small because the bodies are placed in a fetal position. This ancient tradition symbolizes a return to the womb.

It reflects the belief that Igorot people should leave the world in the same position they entered it.

Lunch — Sagada Brew

After hiking back to town, we hurried into Sagada Brew, a well-known restaurant. It was already past 1 PM, and we were all starving.

We realized we should have eaten lunch before visiting the Hanging Coffins.

The food I had at Sagada Brew was delicious—chicken mushroom steak with veggies on the side.

However, our overall experience was disappointing because it took more than 30 minutes for the staff to serve our food. By the time it arrived, we were absolutely famished!

On a positive note, Sagada Brew also offers a chocolate shake, which I had for dessert and really enjoyed.

Afternoon — Bomod-Ok Falls

Thank goodness I ate a big meal before we started our hike to Bomod-Ok Waterfall — our destination that afternoon.

I had no idea that it would be such a tough hike, especially for a first-timer.

If I hadn’t rented a 50-peso hiking stick, my legs probably would have cramped up. There are so many stairs!

In my opinion, the hardest part was returning to town or village (Barangay Aguid). The hiking trail felt like an endless climb.

By the way, this waterfall is about 60 meters (200 feet) tall and is one of the largest in Sagada. According to our guide, it’s also the most majestic waterfall near the town, and I believe it.

Its name, Bomod-Ok, means “Big Falls,” and it has spiritual importance for the local Kankanaey people. They often use it as a sacred site for rituals and gatherings.

All in all, it took us almost 2 hours to reach the waterfall.

We passed through small villages and terraced rice paddies. There is also a hanging bridge along the way, but we didn’t use it to get to Bomod-Ok Waterfall. I must say, it’s a picturesque spot!

Everywhere I looked, my eyes were delighted. Scenic sights were all around.

From the fields dotted with sunflowers beside our trail to the towering peaks and rice paddies in between, I almost never looked at my steps because I was so mesmerized by the scenery.

I actually got a small injury just before we reached the waterfall. I took a wrong step on a loose rock on the trail.

Every step hurt, but about around 15 minutes before we got to Bomod-Ok waterfall, I heard its roaring cascade, and the pain seemed to disappear.

A few moments after we had our first glimpse of the waterfall… Bomod-Ok Falls looked like white silk flowing in the breeze, and I was stunned when I first saw it.

We reached the base of the waterfall around 3:15 PM, and you can imagine everyone pulling out their cameras and smartphones to take pictures.

After resting for a bit, we took a quick dip in the plunge pool at Bomod-Ok Falls.

However, the water was freezing cold — we got out after just a few minutes. The strong breeze made it feel even colder.

Evening — Early Bedtime

We got back to our homestay around 6:00 PM, and I was completely exhausted.

My feet were hurting, and I could barely move my legs. Despite this, I didn’t feel bad for myself.

Honestly, the pain felt good.

Somehow, it was therapeutic for the mind.

It wasn’t like the pain from a busy day at work, juggling three or four projects.

After dinner at our homestay, we all went to bed, finally getting the rest we deserved after a sleepless night traveling to Sagada and a day full of adventure.


Day 2

During our 3-day stay in Sagada, Day 2 stood out as the most unforgettable.

It wasn’t just that we visited the most attractions that day, but also how remarkably everything unfolded.

Twilight — Marlboro Hills

Sleeping early on our first day in Sagada served two purposes:

  • to get some much-needed rest and
  • to wake up very early the next day to witness the breathtaking sea of clouds at Marlboro Hill during sunrise.

To be at the viewpoint by sunrise, we had to wake up around 4:00 in the morning.

Thanks to the collective power of our alarms, everyone managed to wake up very early, although some of us woke up even earlier because they thought they needed more time to prepare.

Our guide told us to be at the meeting point by 4:30 AM. There, a monster jeep would pick us up and take us to the starting point of the trail to Marlboro Hills.

I didn’t know how far the starting point was from our homestay, but we began hiking around 4:45 AM. It was still pretty dark, so everyone used their smartphones as flashlights.

Also, I can’t remember exactly what the trail looked like, but compared to the hike to Bomod-Ok waterfall, the hike to Marlboro Hills was easy.

Morning — Blue Soil, Ambasing Bus Ruins

By 6:00 AM, we were already at the Marlboro Hills viewpoint.

I was surprised to see that it had turned into a food garden, with stalls selling hot coffees, chocolates, cup noodles, and even breads.

Although the food at the stalls was twice as expensive as in town, they were very convenient for anyone who missed breakfast at their homestay. And guess what… that included us!

The warm drinks and noodles were just perfect for the cold weather at the viewpoint. Our guide said it was 14 degrees Celsius in town, but it was probably colder at the higher elevation.

Thankfully, I wore two layers of clothes — a thick black shirt and our class jacket — which kept me warm.

As the surroundings began to lighten up, the hard truth revealed itself: we were shrouded in thick fog.

Everywhere we looked, it felt like facing a massive gray wall. The chance of seeing a sea of clouds was almost nonexistent. It was quite disappointing.

It’s like the clouds were so eager to welcome us to Sagada that they ended up hugging us too tightly at the viewpoint.

For a while, we still hoped that a sea of clouds would appear, just like the other travel groups. So everyone started wandering around the viewpoint, searching for the ‘perfect spot’ to see the sea of clouds after finishing breakfast.

Some people took photos with the pine trees’ silhouettes in the background. Others chatted and teased each other to keep things light.

But after thirty minutes of waiting for the sunrise and the sea of clouds to appear, our group decided to leave because the view didn’t get any better.

While everyone else stayed at the viewpoint, hoping to see the view we all wanted, our group hurried to the next destination — the Blue Soil. As its name suggests, it’s one of the most intriguing natural features in Sagada.

By 6:40 AM, we were already descending from the viewpoint.

I felt a bit hesitant to leave so early because I was still hoping to see the sea of clouds.

Thanks to my sassy friend, I didn’t overthink it. She and the others were teasing and cracking jokes, which made me forget that we missed the sea of clouds.

We were all laughing hard as some of us made funny YOLO poses on top of the limestone rocks we found along the hiking trail.

I’m not sure if there are other hiking trails from Marlboro Hills to the Blue Soil, but the one we took was definitely scenic.

The trail goes through a thick pine forest, making me feel like I was wandering in an elven realm. We also saw dramatic cliff walls with clouds touching them…

I knew we were close to the Blue Soil when I started seeing brightly colored rocks along the way.

By 7:40 AM, about an hour after we began hiking from Marlboro Hills, we reached the spot.

With my romantic spirit, I naturally noticed a small cliff near the Blue Soil and went there immediately. I stood on top of the cliff for a few moments, marveling at the view.

Thanks to the bright blue color of the soil, the view looked otherworldly, and the feeling from the top was truly magical.

I couldn’t help but think that the Blue Soil resembled a blanket of snow from afar.

I was completely awestruck.

As we took photos from various spots in the Blue Soil, I realized that leaving Marlboro Hills earlier than everyone else was a smart move. We were the first to arrive at Blue Soil, which allowed our group to have the place all to ourselves for a while.

The mountains, denying me the sight of the sea of clouds, seemed to beckon us instead to witness the Blue Soil in its most pristine state.

It was an experience that absolutely brightened my day.

After admiring the scenery and taking hundreds of photos, we continued hiking through the forest on the other side of the Blue Soil.

Our guide expertly led us through the forest, and it only took us an hour to reach a parking lot. There, our shuttle was parked, waiting to bring us back to the town.

By 9:00 AM, we made a quick stop at the Ambasing Bus Ruins, which is one of Sagada’s most Instagrammable spots.

Ruins? Here’s a quick background:

The Ambasing Bus Ruins in Sagada are the remains of a bus that crashed in the early 1980s. Thankfully, no one was killed.

Years later, a local artist from Sagada painted the bus with colorful murals showing local culture, turning the ruins into a beautiful landmark.

We spent about 30 minutes at the Ambasing Bus Ruins taking photos. Some of us climbed on top of the bus for cool poses, but I don’t recommend it because the bus was already crumbling from rust during our visit.

Early Lunch — Gaia Cafe

After hiking for nearly 4 hours, we were all really hungry, so we had lunch early at 10:00 AM.

We had different suggestions, but we all agreed to eat at Gaia Café. It’s a well-known restaurant in Sagada and was featured in the movie That Thing Called Tadhana.

Their menu is mostly vegetarian, but they have other choices too.

Just like in the movie, the restaurant was amazing. It had a cozy, rustic feel with bookshelves, dream catchers, and a stunning view of the rice terraces through its big glass windows. Our group took a bunch of photos as soon as we arrived. LOL.

Unfortunately, we arrived at an awkward time between breakfast and lunch. Most breakfast meals were sold out, and the lunch meals weren’t ready yet.

It took us a while to choose our food, and we didn’t get to eat until 30 minutes after we arrived.

I ordered pesto pasta, but I kind of regretted it. Luckily, my friend agreed to swap meals with me. I got spaghetti instead, which tasted just okay.

While waiting for our food, though, we went outside to the restaurant’s outdoor seating area to get a better view of the rice terraces.

Afternoon — Cave Connection and Lake Danum

After spending 2 hours at Gaia Cafe, our group split into two.

  • Five people decided to try the Cave Connection, which is the most popular adventure in Sagada.
  • The rest went back to our home stay to relax and eat in Sagada Lemon Pie House.

As for me, I chose to join the group going back to the home stay because I was worried my foot injury might get worse. Plus, I just didn’t feel like exploring a cave.

You can invite me to climb a mountain with a knife-edge trail, but not to go inside a cave. Haha!

At this point, I can’t remember what we did besides eating lemon pies. However, my photos suggest we explored the town and looked for hidden gems.

We found many friendly dogs and rustic wooden houses in Sagada. They inspired us to take lots of photos as we discovered them.

Around 4:00 PM, the five adventurous members of our group, who were also my former coworkers (including Erick), arrived back at our homestay after spending 3 hours in Cave Connection.

And guess what? They couldn’t stop telling us that we missed half the fun in Sagada because we didn’t try the adventure. From the photos they took inside the cave, I didn’t doubt it!

At first, I felt like I missed out, but after hearing that Patrick, one of the five, injured his foot, I didn’t feel that way anymore.

If you’re curious what Cave Connection is it’s this: this adventure takes you through two massive caves—Lumiang and Sumaguing.

You start at Lumiang Cave, where you’ll see ancient burial coffins stacked at the entrance, and then descend into the dark, rocky depths.

The trek involves squeezing through tight passages, sliding down rocks, and navigating slippery paths, all while being surrounded by rock formations and underground pools.

The experience was hard to imagine, but by judging by how my fellows have narrated their adventure, they really enjoyed Cave Connection.

After my five fellow’s quick rest, we continued exploring Sagada.

Our next stop was Lake Danum, a popular spot to watch the sunset. The lake is known for its mirror-like surface, which looks stunning when the golden rays of the sun hit it.

It’s also a well-known campsite in Sagada, although I’m not sure if camping is still allowed there today.

When we arrived at Lake Danum at 4:50 PM, I felt underwhelmed.

One reason was the large number of tourists, which took away the tranquility I was expecting. Unfortunately, I also saw litter on the grass, even though local authorities had provided trash bins.

After taking hundreds of vanity pictures, our group left Lake Danum and headed to Sagada Cellar Door for dinner.

Evening — Sagada Cellar Door

If there was one unexpected, amazing experience that happened to us—or to me at least—it was our visit to Sagada Cellar Door. It’s a mountain cabin in the middle of the woods, offering the kind of intimate mountain experience I was really looking for in a trip…

It was already past 5:30 PM when our shuttle arrived at the cabin’s entry path. The driver dropped us off, and we started walking toward the main area. 

To how I saw it, that short stroll to the main cabin felt a little bit magical: Tall pine trees surrounded us. And as we walked, all I heard were our footsteps and the sounds of nature. The chirping of birds and the wind rustling the pine leaves soothed me.

Some friendly dogs even greeted us and guided us to the main cabin, like little ushers. It was so cute!

As we got closer to the cabin, my heart started racing.

I looked around and saw the rustic cabin, distant mountains behind the trees, a bonfire, and a brewery barn. From that first glimpse, I knew the night would be special.

Actually, when we arrived, there was still a group of foreigners and other Filipinos around the bonfire. The scene made me feel like I was in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the USA or the Swiss Alps.

Honestly, it feels unreal writing this part. Even after all these years, I can still remember everything clearly. I even remember the song that played on repeat in the cabin — it was Taylor Swift’s music. Perfect country tunes for the mountain vibes…

I think my fellow travelers were amazed too. Some of us were really excited to explore the cabin and find interesting things. I could tell because everyone was walking faster than usual.

One of the coolest things we found? The door to the cabin’s cellar.

We weren’t sure if we could enter this part of the cabin — there was no sign saying it was only for authorities. We went into the cellar anyway.

As we explored the cellar, it felt like we had left the Philippines for a while.

We found rooms that looked like they were straight out of a movie, filled with wooden furniture, lots of bottles of wine, and beer.

The rooms seemed inspired by Western styles, and I could imagine Westerners, like Americans or Europeans, drinking and chatting loudly in those rooms. 

Interestingly, we discovered a room decorated with colorful murals showing Filipino culture and nature. It’s like finding a hidden gem within another hidden gem — that’s the best way to describe it.

After we finished exploring the cellar, dinner was ready. So, we went inside the cabin and ate.

I can’t remember exactly what food we were offered, but visitors can choose their preferred dish from a menu before visiting Sagada Cellar Door.

According to their Facebook page, they offer vegetarian options as well as international and local cuisines.

For our food, Erick and his cousin made the reservation and arranged the food a month in advance.

When dinner was served, the food looked amazing — I loved how the buffet was set up. It made me hungry right away!

After my first bite, I thought the food was just okay. I didn’t realize it was mostly vegetables, which isn’t my favorite.

Luckily, Sagada Cellar Door sells barbecued sausages, which I quickly bought. I can’t feel truly full without some meat in my meals.

After eating dinner, we proceeded to the campfire.

But just before I exit the cabin, a guitar located on a corner seemingly called me. It caught my eyes and made my eyes sparkle right away.

Somehow, that guitar immediately draw the perfect scene in my mind: an acoustic jamming session in the mountain. Ugh!

It was just a dream, but that moment became the turning point for making it a reality.

Fortunately, there was still a crew member inside the cabin, so I quickly asked if we could take the guitar outside and play it by the bonfire. Moments later, we were all singing together with the guitar I had just borrowed.

Under the stars and with the warmth of the fire in front of us, we swayed to each pluck and strum of the guitarist. Our voices, though not perfect, filled the air, making the moment feel like a scene from a music video.

I looked at everyone’s faces and could tell we were all feeling a kind of joy.

I almost cried from happiness, especially when I got to play the guitar in front of everyone. I had always wanted to do something like that when I was in college, and I finally got to do it that night.

Thanks to the unique kinds of beers from the brewery barn, I had the liquid courage to make it happen.

I was thrilled.

I felt free.

Blissful.

That moment gave me a feeling I had never experienced before: truly living my life!

Note: the amazing feeling from our jamming session lasted for a few days, helping me stay sane during my stressful work.

We finished jamming at 9:00 PM and headed back to our homestay.

That night, we didn’t go to bed right away. Instead, we stayed up until midnight, continuing the fun at Sagada Cellar Door.

We left wanting more, so outside our homestay, we swapped life stories. The beers helped us open up and speak from the heart.


Day 3

A lot was going on in my mind on our third day in Sagada.

While I couldn’t stop thinking about the fun we had last night, I was starting to feel separation anxiety from the town.

I felt sad because we were heading back home.

Honestly, it felt like waking up from a beautiful dream to a harsh reality. Still, I stayed positive to enjoy our last day in Sagada.

Morning — Yoghurt House

Since we went to bed after 1:00 AM, we woke up late on our third day. By the time we got to Yoghurt House for breakfast, it was already around 9:00 AM.

We picked Yoghurt House because it’s another well-known restaurant in Sagada that most of us also wanted to try.

As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in homemade yogurt. Their unique dishes use yogurt as a key ingredient. And according to their menu, you can buy a variety of yogurt parfaits, yogurt smoothies, and yogurt with fresh fruit.

Since it was breakfast time, I ordered coffee and a rice meal. It was egg and sausage with brown rice, which tasted much better than any rice I’ve had in the cities and lowlands.

Overall, I was happy with the service. Even though the food took a while to arrive, the portions at Yoghurt House were bigger than I expected.

Thanks to the cozy vibe of Yoghurt House, I didn’t mind being hungry. While waiting, I enjoyed taking photos of the beautiful scenes inside the restaurant and relaxing on the balcony.

The warm sun and cool breeze on the balcony helped me forget about work, which I had to return to the next day.

Late Morning — Sagada Orange Farm

The last place we visited in Sagada was the Sagada Orange Farm — the tourist attraction that lets visitors experience what it’s like to be a ‘haciendero’ (an estate owner) or an orange farmer.

Essentially, at the farm, visitors can engage in activities such as picking oranges and eating them fresh, right from the branches.

Visitors are given special scissors to pick oranges. Local farmers also teach them how to cut the oranges properly.

Somehow, I pictured the experience as an immersion in local farming culture, just for a short time.

I don’t really like eating citrus fruits, so my time at the farm was just okay.

However, some of my friends had a great time! They picked and ate a lot of oranges during the time we had. They definitely got their money’s worth from the small entrance fee.

For just 50-100 pesos, visitors can pick and eat as many oranges as they want within an hour or two.

Just make sure not to pick oranges you won’t eat, because you’ll be charged per kilo for any leftovers!

If you’re tall like me and you’re traveling with a group, be prepared to pick most of the oranges. Four of my friends asked me to pick oranges for them, which made me feel like the farmer and probably made them feel like the estate owners. LOL.

Sagada Orange Farm has a restaurant and a souvenir shop. This is convenient for travelers like us who visit the farm as their last stop before heading back to the city.

Since most of us ate a lot of oranges and still felt full, we didn’t have lunch at Sagada Orange Farm. Instead, we decided to eat somewhere outside Sagada where there were more budget-friendly lunch options.

Thanks to our driver, who visits the area often and knows many small eateries along the road, we found a place to eat that cost half as much as the food at Sagada Orange Farm.

If I remember correctly, we found the eatery before reaching Baguio City on our way back to Manila.


Final Thoughts

So, that’s how we spent three days in Sagada!

At this point, I can’t believe I’ve written over 5000 words about this trip, especially since it happened back in 2018.

Looking back, I think it’s because I’ve written about it a few times already.

  • First, on my Instagram account (which is sadly gone now), and
  • second, on my first blog, Engineering Travels.

Or… maybe my heart is just good at remembering.

Another reason I can’t forget these experiences is because they happened in the mountains.

From my own experience and what the movie That Thing Called Tadhana shows, mountains have a special way of healing, boosting, or transforming people. Mountains offer impactful and transformative experiences, which is why a trip there can be so memorable.

After more hiking trips the following year, this special quality of the mountains became even clearer to me.

Looking back, I see these mountain experiences as one of the reasons I started blogging and created this blog — Explore to Thrive.