#north batan

[itisjustmille]

Batanes has always been on top of my bucket list. [I even made a promise to myself that I won’t travel to another country without visiting Batanes first.] It is, at least for me, the ultimate travel destination. So, few weeks before finishing law school, and after watching Sakaling Hindi Makarating (starring Alessandra de Rossi), I told myself that it is high time to book a flight to Batanes. I called my best friend who, fortunately, was willing and available to join me in this trip. I redeemed my Mabuhay miles for our round-trip tickets (7,000 miles for a one-way ticket) and only paid around Php 900 for our travel tax. I booked a June 12-15, 2017 flight since based on my research June is considered as summer in Batanes. Plus, it is a perfect breather before locking myself up for the bar review. It was supposed to be a 4D3N trip, but on the day of our supposed departure, our flight got cancelled due to strong winds which made it impossible for the aircraft to land safely, and so, we stayed for another night (and which by the way was not shouldered by PAL.ugh!). But other than that, the weather was perfect during our stay.

We booked a 3-day exclusive tricy-kool tour from Bisumi Tour & Services which costed Php5,000/pax. We stayed at Wakay Homestay which I would highly recommend not only for their affordable rates (Php 500 each per night for air-conditioned room; Php350 for fan only) but more importantly because its owners, Nanay Esther and Tatay Guding, treat their guests as family. As for the food, we only spent for our breakfast and dinner since the tour package is already inclusive of lunch. We tried Pension Ivatan and Beehan for our meals. Foods are affordable and they really have generous servings.

  Here are some of the photos to document our Batanes experience. I’ll let the photos tell just how majestic Batanes is.

DAY 1 – North Batan

One of the three inhabited island of Batanes.

View of the island from the plane.

  First stop was lunch at Vunong (included in the tour package). Everything was delicious.

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Tukon Church. Perfect wedding venue.

  Fundacion Pacita owned by the Abads. Probably the priciest accommodation in Batanes. According to Kuya Edwin, our tour guide, part of its income is used to fund the studies of scholars.

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Valugan Boulder Beach. Swimming is not allowed here.

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Vayang Rolling Hills. This place is just surreal.

  The iconic Basco Lighthouse.

  Naidi Hills. Perfect place to watch the sunset.

  DAY 2- Sabtang Island

  Early faluwa ride to Sabtang Island. It takes around 30 minutes of rough boat ride to get to Sabtang. (Not for the fainthearted)

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Mahayao Arch

Morong Beach. We didn’t have have time to swim because of time constraints. We have to catch the last boat going back to Basco at 1pm.

  Wearing Vakul (traditional headgear worn by women)

Friendly kiddos of Savidug

Savidug Village is lined with traditional stone houses.

  St. Aquinas Chapel in Savidug Village

  Panoramic

Tricy-kool used to roam around Sabtang.

As blue as it can be

Still trying to grasp the reality that I am really in my dream destination

Chamantad-Tinyan Viewpoint

  Chavayan Village. It’s like walking back in time.

  Sabtang Lighthouse

  Inside Yaru Gallery

Merienda at Octagon Restaurant

Slow afternoon in town

Spent the rest of the afternoon biking around town. Bike rental is Php25/hour.

  DAY 3- South Batan

Didn’t go down to the bottom of the stairs since the waves are quite scary.

Mahatao Boat Shelter

Chawa Viewdeck

  Mahatao Tayid Lighthouse

  Blank Book Archive. Wrote a promise to come back here.

Mahatao Church

An old Spanish bridge

House of Dakay. Oldest house in Batan.

Inside the famous Honesty Store

Writing our own receipt

  Forgot the name of this viewpoint but it’s one of my favourite spots. I love that we had the place to ourselves.

  “Blow UR Horn” signs are everywhere since the roads have a lot of blind spots.

This used to be an American headquarters, but is now being converted into a museum.

Every spot is just picturesque

Alapad Hills and Rock Formation

  Enjoying the peace and quiet in Racuh A Payaman (Marlboro Hills)

  Had this for ourselves for a good 30 mins.

Such a refreshing dip after a half day of walking and walking.

Took this route to the Fountain of Youth since it’s still low tide

Fountain of Youth. It wasn’t part of the itinerary but we asked our tour guide to take us there. (We just gave him a tip after the tour). Definitely worth it!

  “Behind” the Blue Lagoon. Since we didn’t want to swim anymore, Kuya Edwin (our tour guide), brought us here instead.

  Day 4- Free Time

  Catching sunrise at Valugan Boulder Beach

  Since our flight is at 1pm, we decided to just chill and watch sunrise here. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy that day. Nonetheless, we enjoyed taking pictures.

    Forever grateful for this experience.

Postcards from Yaru Gallery

Sending postcards to my friends.

    Basco Airport’s runway with the shy Mt. Iraya behind.

Since our return flight was cancelled, we decided to just walk around town, bought halo-halo then went to the airport just to relax and chill. Basco’s airport serves as playground when there are no more flights for the day.

  Day 5- Back to Manila

Morning flight back to Manila. Thanks to Philippine Airlines!

  Dios Mamajes, Batanes! Hanggang sa muli.

  I fell in love with Batanes the first time I saw it in pictures. I loved it even more when I finally experienced it. It’s probably the one place I would choose to visit over and over again despite the lack of/poor network and internet connection. People there are just so genuinely nice and honest that there’s no need to lock (or even close) the main door. Everybody also has that ready smile for everyone. Batanes is really a piece of heaven on Earth; a place of pure bliss and tranquility.

      Batanes 4D3N Tour Batanes has always been on top of my bucket list. [I even made a promise to myself that I won’t travel to another country without visiting Batanes first.

[songofrobin]

When In Batanes : Day 1 (North Batan)

Been booked to Batanes last August with an Airfare of less than PHP 600 roundtrip from Manila. I was very lucky to be one having the seat, it was my dream and I can’t believe that I’m here, standing to the northern most part of my homeland.

at 9:00am in the morning, I’ve started to ask local folks where can i rent bike, since it would be much cheaper if I do biking alone than having the trike tour. Asking landed me in Crisan Lodge, where I rented a mountain bike and ask for routes with North Batan tour, Ate Crisan was very lovely and accommodating even if I haven’t stayed in their Lodge, gave me direction and where to go first and last. 

First Stop was the Valugan Beach

I’ve notice local folks on the road were looking at me, so I give then an Up and Down eyebrow as a greeting, they’ve gave back with a smile, that was one of the best moment I’ve experienced, the feeling that I’m not alone and giving a positive energy to the local. The weather that time was crazy, it rains a moment then its not, luckily I have a windbreaker raincoat with me, is I’ve expected the weather that month would not be good.

That time, I was the only person meandering around Valugan Beach. Actually got no chance swimming cause the waves was epic (might pull me out the shore), so a nice picture taking and being crazy shit shouting (no one’s around that time) was the best thing to do.

Later that time, I’ve met kuya Donnie, also a lone traveller, got to converse experiences he got. That day was his last day, he was actually about to hike Iraya but failed to due to crazy weather, so what he does was to linger there, having a bittersweet moment before leaving this dream destination. Good thing with people you’ve met travelling alone is that, you always makes new friend/s and will got to shot your picture haha. I’ve invite him to have a dinner late that night, then I headed to my next destination. Luckily Donnie gave me the route so, I’m not lost at all.

The Uphills way to  Japanese Tunnel/Fundacion Pacita/Mt Carmel Church/ Pagasa Wheather Station

After half or an hour biking uphill road (god that was tiring, haven’t remember the last time I used to bike that long), finally reach the 

Dipnaysupuan Japanese Tunnel. It was fucking creepy, being alone there lurking inside the tunnel. I’ve made a video inside.

watch it here, you can turn on the subtitle

After that unexpected experience, I’d just continue roaming the road to Fundacion Pacita( Home of the Artist Pacita Abad ). The place was a real beauty, having your home on the top of the hill, waking up with a majestic view every day was the best thing you could do in retirement. 

The Mt Carmel Chapel/Tukon Church 

I’ve actually met the painter of the mural inside this church kuya Olan (Roland Gonzales) and have a drick with him. Look at the Photoset

The Murals inside Mt. Carmel Chappel / Tukon Church Batanes

Next Destination was the Basco Lighthouse, in which I’ve met Donnie again, lingering there. Thankfully he’s there, so i can get a photo shots in lighthouse haha.

The wind was strong in here, you can actually hear mother earth’s howling. I stay in here for quite a long time just staring at the narrow ocean ahead of you. 

After a moment, I’ve headed to my Last Destination for that day, the 

Vayang Rolling Hills

Here’s another video being crazy shit at rolling hills haha

I deeply feel in my heart I was in Batanes, Batanes of my dream, running in Rolling Hills singing “Do-Re-Mi” hahaha. I’ve actually made a video singing, but i was too ashamed to include it to this post haha. 

I was the only person being crazy shit running in there, so I went to the cliff side, in which you can see the Dinem Island, the rocks was like having the feels like you’re in the set of Lord of the Rings.

That island there at the center of horizon is the Dinem Island, can be able to hike read this Pinoy Mountaineer Post Mt. Dinem

My Itinerary and Expenses in Batanes