Friday, February 05, 2016

BATANES SOLO BACKPACKING TRIP 2015 - Part 5

DAY 5 - BITTER-SWEET FAREWELL
December 16, 2016, Wednesday, my last day in the beautiful and captivating province of Batanes. It was cloudy and it drizzled a little that morning (I guess the heavens sensed the sadness in the hearts of tourists, like yours truly #Emo #Drama). My flight back to Manila was at 8:10 am. That meant I had to wake up early for my flight, which thankfully, I was able to do despite the bed-weather.

I was about to go down from the second floor of Berlen Lodge when I saw this Batan Island map (or was it posted on the first floor? darn it!):

Map of Batan Island (I shoud've seen this the previous day #argh)

Before I left, I paid Nanay Elena P700 for my two nights stay at their lodge and thanked her and her husband for their hospitality. Her husband offered to drive me on his motorcycle to the airport which I willingly accepted (I intended to walk from the lodge to the airport that morning if I failed to hail a tricycle, but thank God for blessing the hearts of these good people).

At the airport, I saw the newly weds and Drs. Jet and Leo queuing in line for check-in and pre-departure of Sky Jet airlines (their flight was supposedly ahead of mine). I also checked-in my baggage at PAL's counter, just beside Sky Jet's, and waited for my name to be called for my boarding pass.

Terminal Fee, Boarding Pass and Plane Ticket

They were already in the pre-departure area, so I waited at the arrival area.

My NetSuite Backpack (queue-in Dora the Explorer's Backpack Song...)

Did a quick google search of the lines in this poem(?), and this was probably taken from one of Dr. Florentino Hornedo's books: Taming the wind (ethno-cultural history on the Ivatan of the Batanes isles)

An airport speaker announcement broke the silence of the sleepy tourists, notifying Sky Jet Airlines passengers' flight to Manila was delayed for a couple of hours. 

The gang of PhDs decided to have breakfast at a nearby canteen just outside the airport and they invited me to join them (sakto, #tomjones na rin ako).

Control Tower

DENR Sign

We had a short chitchat, exchanged numbers, and they even teased me that my flight would be delayed too, or worse, cancelled!

As it turns out, PAL's flight was right on schedule! #ThankYouLord We said our goodbyes and I hurriedly went to the pre-departure area.

There's our plane! #Yey

A couple of minutes past lift-off, I looked outside the window to take a glimpse (hopefully not my last!) and snapped a photo of Batanes.

Ba-bye Batanes! I'll visit you again someday!

I always have mixed feelings after a trip to a new place or foreign land. Happy because of the wonderful memories made and awesome people I met on the trip. Sad because of the "back to reality" moment. Excited because I haven't told anyone (family or close friend) about this trip, and I'm curious how they would react if they learn about it (na-sermonan ako ni mama #boom hahaha hindi tuloy ako sinama sa Davao trip last January). And hopeful because someday, one day, I'll be able to go back to that place with my friends and loved ones.

I was already drifting to daydream land when the flight attendant gave me this:

Cheese Bread (na may kasamang isang basong tubig)

We safely landed back in Manila at NAIA Terminal 3 several minutes past nine in the morning. I went up at the departure area (dun kasi yung pila ng mga puting taxi) and rode straight home to Makati. I went to office the next day as if nothing happened. #boom

I'd like to thank Philippine Airlines for sponsoring my flight to Batanes (#feeling). To the wonderful people of Batanes, fellow tourists and all the people I met on the trip for being hospitable, warm, generous and genuinely kind. Without them, my Batanes trip won't be as memorable and special as it was. And I am truly grateful to Lord God for all his provisions and blessings, for making all of these possible, and for keeping me safe and healthy all-throughout my journey.

(Tama na... Masyado ng emo...)

Well, I can't wait for my next trip! Where would that be? I dunno. Hahaha. #baliw

To my virtual/imaginary readers, thanks for reading this post series. I hope to write more of my future adventures (be it travel, food, anything under the sun, moon and stars! #exaj). Please feel free to leave a message or comment on my posts.

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Thursday, February 04, 2016

BATANES SOLO BACKPACKING TRIP 2015 - Part 4

DAY 4 - FREE DAY

A relaxing bicycle ride around Basco town proper, wind and smile on my face, meet and greet with the warm, friendly and hospitable locals... That was how I imagined my fourth day in Batanes would be. The three-days group tour I availed at BISUMI Tour and Services ended the previous day, and since my flight back to Manila was still on the next day, 16th of December, I had the whole day free.

I woke up around between eight and nine in the morning. Took a shower, brushed my teeth and walked to Crisan Lodge to rent a bicycle. Bicycle rent costs P25-P30 per hour or you can rent if for the whole day (but as advised by Ate Crisan, it would be wiser and cheaper if you rent it by the hour, which I did).

I was itching to check out the souvenir shop that sells cheap but good quality items that Ate Let recommended us to visit. I asked one of the helpers at Crisan Lodge's mini grocery how to get there, and after a few bike turns here and there, I finally found TAWSEN Souvenir Shop.

My bike parked near the entrance of TAWSEN Souvenir Shop. (Matagal ko ng pangarap ang ganitong klase ng bike, yung may basket sa harap! hahaha)


TAWSEN... Island Dressing! #boom #corny

I bought five souvenir t-shirts (price per piece was around P180) and a small bottle of turmeric powder (P100 more or less), and the very kind shop helper from TAWSEN gave me a free Batanes keychain (how sweet!), all for a total price of P1K (or a bit more [hindi ko nanaman maalala, pero kung sakali, di lalagpas sa P100 yung excess] #kuripot).

Happy with my souvenir shopping, I went back to Beehan Food Enterprise to eat brunch.

Beehan Food Enterprise. Aside from bicycles, one can rent motorcycles/scooters (you need to have a driver's license) or make arrangements with a tricycle driver to drive you around Batan Island for the whole day or drive you from one point to another.

Can't get over of Batanes' Beef Nilaga (of course, with rice!)

During my research in November and early December about touring around Batanes, I already read that it's possible to bike around Batan Island but... it would be challenging because of the island's steep roads. That was why I just planned to tour around Basco town proper and would want to go back to Basco Lighthouse and Vayang Rolling Hills which we went to on our first day in Batanes as part of the North Batan Tour.

I dunno but my shy button was activated that day (opo, may nabili akong hiya bago pumunta ng Batanes, mura lang. #rawr). I was shy and hesitant to ask for directions even though I know the locals would easily point me to the right direction. So, I just decided to trust my gut, bike around, read the signs until I get to the lighthouse or the hills.

I made a few wrong turns, but after picking up and reading some signs, I was able to find my way to Basco Lighthouse. Although paved, the path to the lighthouse was super steep! I had to go down my bike and walk beside it up the hill towards the lighthouse. The easy-breezy bike ride turned into a full cardio workout!

Exercise pa more! I remembered that the climb was a bit challenging, and I was still exhausted from the bike ride, so I decided not to go up the view deck.

Tourist Registration in Basco Lighthouse

The sun cast a shadow on a grassy part of the lighthouse so I laid there just watching the sea of clouds above. Moments passed, I decided to head on out to find my way to Vayang Rolling Hills. The road I went on was uphill... again.

Several minutes of uphill mixed biking and walking (I even passed by dogs that barked at me #ScaredyCat), I finally gave up and settled to head back to the town proper and eat-out my frustration, which turned out to be still an awesome experience because the bike ride back was downhill! #ExtremeAwesomeness #WooohoooMoment

I came back to Beehan and ordered their special pancit.

Beehan's Special Pancit #PGModeOn

'Twas already mid-afternoon when I returned the bike to Crisan Lodge. I walked back to Berlen Lodge to eat what was left in my stash of food (sorry na... gutom lang) and took a nap for an hour or two. After my refreshing nap, I remembered Ate Crisan's suggestion to bike at Basco airport's runway. She told me that locals and tourists are allowed to go to inside the airport and walk, jog, run, or bike around the runway three or four pm onwards, since flights to/from Batanes are only in the morning (til probably early in the afternoon).

I went back to Crisan Lodge, rented the same bike and drove my way to the airport.

Basco Airport Terminal Building (Arrival and Departure Area)

Welcome to Batanes sign board

Photo-op of my bike with a parked plane

Basco Airport Runway. Fellow bikers up on the track

End of the runway (where planes take-off/touch-down)


Dusk

It was already dark when I returned the bike at Crisan's Lodge. I came there just in time to see Drs. Jet and Leo who just arrived from Sabtang for the funeral of Dr. Florentino Hornedo.

*** info break start ***

Drs. Jet, Leo and Florentino are doctors of philosophy from UST. It was also surprising for me to learn that Dr. Florentino Hornedo finished his Master's Degree in English and Philosophy in my Alma Mater, Saint Louis University, Baguio City. More about Dr. Florentino Hornedo in this wikipilipinas page: WikiPilipinas Florentino Hornedo

*** info break end ***

And as our last night in Batanes, Drs. Jet and Leo were gracious enough to invite me over for dinner, together with Kuya Mon and Ate Crisan and two other PhDs from UST (once again, I failed to remember their names. All I remember is that one of them is a priest and the other is almost there in getting his PhD).

Guess where they treated us for dinner? Pension Ivatan Restaurant (The Home of Ivatan Cuisine) *squeals*

According to Kuya Mon/Ate Crisan, their original restaurant/hotel was being renovated at that time

What's special about this restaurant? If one would google the top restaurants to dine at in Batanes, Pension Ivatan would surely be in all of those search results. The reason being is they serve a unique plate full of native Batanes dishes, the Ivatan Platter.

The glorious Ivatan Platter

Check out this looloo insights post about Pension Ivatan, the Ivatan Platter and other Batanes restaurants: 5 Must-Try Restaurants In Basco, Batanes

While planning for my Batanes trip, I was hoping (and praying that my tight budget would permit) to taste one of their specialties, the Coconut Crab. Every blog post about Batanes food raved about this delicacy and had me drooling to sample this dish. I thought I wasn't going to see, much more have a bite, of the coconut crab because of its rarity (already considered endangered so I think capture of these species is closely monitored) and price. 

I really thanked God for Drs. Leo and Jet. They made my post-birthday solo trip to Batanes a special and unforgettable one.

Aside from the Ivatan Platter, we also ordered seafood kare-kare and fern salad.

Seafood Kare-Kare (Yum!) and Extra Rice (for the hungry boys)


Fern Salad (Refreshingly Delicioso!)

(L-R): The priest, the almost there PhD, Dr. Leo, Moi (hindi naman masyadong halata na sobrang saya ko di ba? hihihi), Dr. Jet, Kuya Mon and Ate Crisan.

The night was filled with laughter and stories about Batanes, Dr. Florentino Hornedo, the Ivatan culture, about life and more. The big boys had their beers while I, being the youngest in the group, was busy sampling all the food in the platter (especially the Coconut Crab that had a milky rich taste #LuuuvIt #HappyKiddo) and genuinely interested listening to their conversations.

Looking at this group picture (and the food, hahaha) brings back wonderful memories of my Batanes trip. I hope to meet them again someday, especially Drs. Jet and Leo , to show a gesture of thanks in return for their kindness.

My next and last (short) post will be about my bitter-sweet last day in Batanes.

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BATANES SOLO BACKPACKING TRIP 2015 - Part 3

HOME EXCHANGE
There was a change in my accommodation on my third day in Batanes. But I had no worries because I was informed about this by Ate Crisan and Kuya Mon of Crisan Lodge when I arrived in Batanes on the first day. They had a slight mix-up with the booking of their guests, and since I'm a solo traveler, it was logical for them to transfer me to another home-stay, just nearby, which they are close family friends with the owners.

*** chika break start ***

Batanes has a population of 16,604 based from 2010 Philippine Census. And according to locals, Batanes has a tight-knit community and almost everyone knows everyone (or for younger/new generations, know which family you come from based from your surname).

*** chika break end ***

Before they drove me to my new home-stay, they still prepared a breakfast for me to start the day.

Some sort of kakanin (rice cake) but with leche flan on top (yummy!) and 3-in-1 coffee. The food, breakfast and dinner, served at Crisan Lodge is prepared and cooked by Ate Crisan.

My new home-stay in Batanes for the next two nights was at Berlen Lodge, owned and managed by Nanay Elena Villarta and her husband who is an agriculturist. Their fan room for one person is rated at P350 per night, without breakfast but guests can cook their own food in the kitchen free of charge (or... was there a minimal fee in using their gas range stove? I can't remember since I didn't cook any food when I stayed there).

Nanay Elena's business card

Nanay Elena of Berlen Lodge.

Berlen Lodge second floor living room. Behind the curtain is the kitchen while the hallway beside the TV/fan are the guest rooms.

Sea Shells Collection


I wasn't able to take a photo of my room, but it was simple and comfortable enough to stay at. The room has two beds, good for a maximum of four people (I assume, but would comfortably accommodate two). At that time, there were three of us who were guests at the lodge. Coincidentally, I was with the two high school friends I met at the second day of our group tour. Their flight was cancelled that morning, and their flight was rescheduled the next day. They stayed in another room, so again, I had my room all for myself!

Chili Plant

Stairs from the second floor leading to the rooftop garden

Panorama shot of Berlen Lodge rooftop garden

DAY 3 - SOUTH BATAN TOUR

I had to inform Kuya Lex from BISUMI Tour and Services that I transferred to a different home-stay so the tour van would know where to pick me up for the third and final leg of our three-day Batanes group tour. As usual, I was the first one to be fetched by the van.

We started our tour at Cliff Road. It was a walking tour to our next destination but it wasn't that long. It was also a pleasant stroll because it was a bit cloudy that morning.

Ate Let pointing to where we're heading.

The shelter on the right is where we started our walking tour.

Snapping some picturesque seascapes while walking

BLOW UR HORN. A very common road sign you'll see in Batanes. The province has a lot of long and winding roads, with a bunch of blind curves, thus the sign.

Spot where locals used to throw their trash, but is now strictly prohibited by the local government (Clean and Green, For The Win!)

"Do Not Throw Your Garbage Here" (if I remember correctly, or something similar) in Ivatan

Our next destination, Chawa View Deck

This is where the stairs from the view deck leads to #Amoooyzing

government-regulated quarrying

tour-mates taking photos and selfies before going down from the view deck

newly weds excited to go down first

followed by Mr. Lopez

more post-nuptial pics

Finally near the ocean/sea (not sure which side were we at). Timing was a bit off, background should've been a big splash of water like the next picture.

proud to capture this shot with my (well, originally my mom's) handy-dandy point and shoot camera

panoramic scene below the view deck

The climb back up was a little challenging but manageable (that was the reason why Mrs. Lopez didn't go down with us). We rode again the van to our next destination, the Mahatao Boat Shelter Port.

Boat Shelter Port Marker

Parked boats as background

I just fancy taking photos of other people taking other people's photos. Hahaha

another "Idjang" that helps protect and serves as cover and wave breaker for the boat shelter port

Our next stop was one of my favorite spots (ang daming favorites noh?! hihihi), the Mahatao Tayid Lighthouse. This informational blog post tells more about this tourist attraction: Captivating Tayid Lighthouse of Mahatao Batanes

Tourist Mode On!

another postcard worthy panorama shot

Notice the row of plants near the cow. Those serve as natural dividers of land properties in Batanes.

A private house beside the lighthouse

A-10-TION. No Trespassing. Private Property!!!

Lighthouse front view looking up

Gaaah! No words for this... just pure wonderful Batanes memories #Emo #Drama

panorama view in front of the lighthouse

Just before lunch, we dropped by another Batanes church.

San Carlos Borromeo Church in Mahatao Batanes


Informational Marker

full front view

miniature church

miniature stone house

groom doing a daring pose choreographed by the bride

Just beside the church is the Blank Book Archive. Here, tourists can write anything on a page of a blank book. This, for me, was an emotional part of the tour #EmoKing #DramaRama. We were given a couple of minutes to write before heading to a nearby canteen for lunch.

Batanes Blank Book Archive Marker

These are the donated blank books which tourists, and some local students, write on.

Here's what I wrote (buti na lang blurry. hahaha). Each book has a number (and I totally forgot mine) so next time a tourist re-visits Batanes, he/she can read what he/she has written on his/her past visit in the province. 

Several steps away from the church and the blank book archive is Paulvana's Canteen where we had lunch for that day.

hungry tourists storming into the canteen

Tarp Sign

Among the inclusive lunches we had in the three-days group tour, this one was, as agreed by all of us, the most satisfying.

Fried Pork

Sauteed Shrimps

Best Beef Nilaga I have ever tasted in my life! Meat was so tender, juicy and flavorful. The reason behind, according to locals and as we observed, is that cows in Batanes are just chillin' around the pasture lands, stress-free, eating grass all day long. They are neither used in farm work nor other forms of labor.

Uved Balls in light broth (gawa-gawa ko lang yung light broth, basta sinabawan sya). Here's a Youtube video on how to make this native delicacy: Batanes' Uved Balls

Sweet Potato Fries for dessert

Blurry Group Photo... #Ngorkz

After a sumptuous meal, it's time again to hit the road for our next destination, Racuh-a-Payaman, or more popularly known to tourists as Marlboro Country.

queue in the Marlboro (cigarette) music...

Just like what I mentioned in my first post for this series... When in Batanes, jump! #ugh

like the cows of Batanes... just chillin'

Batanes coastline

zoomed in shot

view of the Tayid Lighthouse

I told ya... there's gonna be a lot of panorama shots in this post series... Hehehe

We didn't know where the cows were at that time, but hey, there were carabaos! Hahaha

Another church we went to was the San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel in Imnajbu.

There's an interesting trivia about the wooden cross beside the church. Unfortunately, my memory has failed me again. #boinkz

A technique that I learned from Ate Let when taking panorama shots (assuming you're using a smart phone in taking photos) is to hold your phone in a portrait position. That way, the output wouldn't be very long compared to when holding the phone in landscape. #neat

Brgy. Imnajbu where San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel is located

Batanes' rustic beauty has attracted may filmmakers to shoot their movies in this province, like "Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit" starring Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta. The next tourist spot we went to was where one of the popular scenes in that movie was shot.


Rock formation near Alapad Hills where the old CharDawn movie was shot

as you can see, the rock formation was pierced through to make way for national road
walking towards Alapad Hills, we came across this tree with pineapple-looking fruit and Ate Let is explaining what it was (again, sorry, I can't remember [dapat kasi nag-notes. Hehehe]), with a carabao photobomber!

Which are stones/rocks, which are carabaos?

Alapad Hills

my interpretation of "Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit" #boom #talikodgenic

closer look at LORAN station

can you point out the one person in this photo? :D

rocky waters

panorama shot landscape mode. LORAN Station (L) and Rock Formation (R). [approx. 180 degrees shot]

Also included in our South Batan Tour itinerary was the Ruins of Song-song and we also passed by the pink church of Brgy. Uyugan, but I wasn't able to take photos of those places as we only viewed them inside the van.

A trip to Batanes won't be complete without visiting the famous Honesty Store, which to my surprise was  super duper close (as in, a couple of steps away) from Port Ivana!

please read :P

Honesty is the best policy! #OkayAlright

Kapian Kamu [Pa] Nu Dios Literal: The goodness of God be with you. Usage: "How are you?" / "Hello!" / general greeting

as we say in the office... "for audit purposes"

my afternoon snack

"The Lord is my Security Guard"

Churches in Batanes are rich in history and vary in color, like San Jose De Ivana Church in front of Port Ivana.

San Jose De Ivana Church. Read here for more information about the colorful churches in Batanes: The Colorful Churches of Batanes


another angle and camera setting

church entrance

Next stop, House of Dakay, oldest surviving house in Batan Island.

please read :P

House of Estrella, more popularly known as House of Dakay

According to Ate Let, only the house's roofing is changed every XX years (again, I forgot the exact number). Behind the house is the Breadfruit Tree, the leaves of which are used to wrap traditional Ivatan food, just like the ones we had for lunch on the first day.

from the words of Leah (OTWOL), "mukha kang jebs" shot

tourists can enter the house, but they must remove and leave their shoes/slippers/footwear outside

the "Ninoy Aquino" pose

On our way back to Basco town proper, we passed by the Old Spanish Bridge and Hohmoron Lagoon, both pictures were taken inside the van.

Old Spanish Bridge

Hohmoron Lagoon. Tourists, even some locals, go swimming here.

And that ends our South Batan Tour and our Three Days Batanes Group Tour. The Lopez's were first dropped at Casa Napoli (#sosyal) to have their early dinner. The newly weds and I went straight to our respective hotel/home-stay.

If my memory serves me right, I took a nap when I got back at Berlen Lodge then ate korean cup noodles and vienna chicken sausage (both my baon) for dinner #kuripot. I don't remember if it was Nanay Elena or the two high school friends who to told me about the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Basco Municipal Hall that night.

After eating dinner, I went out and walked to the town proper. Here are my attempts at night photography (please excuse the quality, I only had with me my Lenovo A5000 phone and [originally my mom's] 10 MP, or a bit more, point and shoot camera).

Colorful Lanterns #MedyoFail

Different setting for my phone camera. I was hoping for a bokeh effect #EpicFail

Municipal Christmas Tree #HighISO #Noisy

trying out different camera settings for night photography

Christmas Tree near Basco Church

Basco Church at night

I strolled more for a couple of minutes then went back at Berlen Lodge and took a hot shower before going to bed.

The next day would be my fourth day in Batanes, my free day. I was thinking of going to the souvenir shop that fits my budget as recommended by Ate Let and I was planning to re-visit the tourist spots that I can go to on bicycle.

That and more on my next post.

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