They were carved by hand!

The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the Philippines' top tourist destinations. Called the 8th Wonder of the Modern World by locals, these terraces are said to have been carved into the mountains and hillsides by the ancestors of the local indigenous Ifugao tribes, and are well over 2,000 years old. How to Get There: Others are just as lovely but the Banaue Rice Terraces are the most famous of the lot. Banaue is some 216 miles (348 kilometers) from Manila (perhaps eight to ten hours with stops and mountainous terrain), and daily buses make the trip. When to Visit: During summer and fall abundant rains can sometimes cloud views of the slopes. Winter may be a more reliable period for sightseeing. June is harvest time, so the landscape is golden and activity levels are high. How to Visit: Not surprisingly, hiking into the terraces is a popular activity among visitors to the region. But the emerald hillsides appear lovely even without the walk and outstanding picnic spots abound. Plenty of guided tours are available in Banaue. #grassland #100waysoftravel #historicallandmarks