Batanes Day 3: South Batan ❤

Time went by so fast we didn't realize that we're on our 3rd and last tour. This time, we're 5 joiners-- me and Jan, Ron and another couple. Our tour guide for our South Batan tour named Paul. A 22 yrs old  grade school teacher who also works as a part time guide in Bisumi. Judging from the way he delivers the information about Batanes to us, he's indeed a teacher by profession.

Our call time was 9:30am . We woke up early to bike at the downtown. Natuloy rin sa wakas! We bought some canned goods and salted egg and cooked it in Marfel's which we gladly shared with our housemates-- A couple ( almost same age as my parents) going on a honeymoon in Batanes for their 31st wedding anniversary. Its so nice to know that even a married couple like them who've been together for more than 3 decades still find time to travel and get more bonded. Often times we've seen them holding hands and teasing each other. Sabi ko Kay Jan sana ganyan din tayo when we grow old. It made us inspired to travel more..

Anyway,  Paul picked us at our accommodation at exactly 9:30am. We first headed to chawa view deck and Mahatao Boat shelter Port.

We also went to Tayid Light house located at the middle of the pastures and is closed to the hill. One can have a stunning view of the ocean, hills and Mt. Iraya sitting at the side of the lighthouse. 

Before lunch we headed to Mahatao Church and  Batanes Blank Book Archive.. Tourists are free to select a blank book and write whatever their heart desires. When the time comes that I'll have my own children, I'll bring them to Batanes and let them read what I've written..

Beautiful Altar of Ivana Church.. 

And a sumptuous lunch at Paulvanas Canteen. They served us seaweed soup, ground pork w/ tomato sauce, fish, eggplant salad and a fried sweet potato for dessert. Sorry, I'm bad with describing foods

Next stop was the blue lagoon. Do I need to explain where the beach derived its name?

Jan has been tempted to jump in the blue lagoon many times like a little kid that  I need to repeatedly remind him that we didn't bring extra clothes.

House of Dakay---The oldest stoned house in Batanes...

Tatay Francisco.. A descendant of Dakay Family.. Suddenly barged in with our conversation and told me "I love you"..As shown in the picture below, he was expressing his love for me.. Hehe..it was not actually  my first time to be told Iloveyou by an Ivatan elderly. While we are exploring Lighthouse of Naidi Hills in our first day in Batanes, another old Ivatan man also told me Iloveyou (as in with strong desirous facial expression) Sabi ni Ron.. Baka its their way lang to say you're beautiful. Weeeee talaga? Ngiting hanggang tenga! . Assuming lang teh. Hehe

Next stop is the Ivana Church 

Across the Ivana Church is the famous Honesty Coffee Shop. Ivatans pride themselves with zero crime rate and known to be honest people. The existence of Honesty Coffee Shop, an unmanned store where you just get anything that you need and put your payment at designated box proves that Honesty is the best policy in Batanes. How I wish we could practice the same value in Manila. I bought some pasalubong in this store and made sure to pay the exact amount.

We also stopped by at some cliffs on the way to Marlboro Hills which Paul said was not included in the itinerary. I  just don't remember the name of the places he'd mentioned. What a lame?! That is why I want to blog right after the trip kasi nakakalimutan ko talaga. But anyway atleast I was able to capture some photos.. 

And our final stop.. The famous Marlboro hills for sunset viewing which I think the highlight of our South Batan tour.  While our other joiners spent a lot of time taking pictures.. Jan and I decided to lay at Marlboro hills for hours. Just looking at the clouds, appreciating the view and  savoring the quaint moment.. A first time for us! 

The song ''Do I need a reason'' by the D' sound keep on playing in my mind the entire time we were at Marlboro hills. And in fact, as I type this blog, the song is repeatedly playing as my background music.. reminding me of our wonderful experience in Batanes.

A perfect jumpshot with our group joiners! 

At 6:00pm we were already back at Marfel's. Jan's mom knows someone from Basco.. When he learned we were at Basco, he treated us with a festive dinner at Octagon restaurant even though he's also in Manila. His driver picked us from Marfel's.  Buti na lang we invited Ron to come along.  I think we went home around past 10pm already.

I don't know but as I pack my stuff that night for our early flight back to Manila.. I felt really sad.. Feeling ko batanes is my hometown. Jan was also asking me if I want to extend.. But I only filed 2days leave soooo... Sniff sniff

Last glance of Batanes at the plane's window. 

For me, batanes is the best travel I had so far.. Not only because of the breathtaking scenery but the people itself. The honest & warm hospitality of the ivatans.. The simplicity of life and the company of our other joiners.. If I would to describe batanes in one word it would be.. undefinable.

We would definitely come back. So long, Batanes. Dios mamajes!

Part 1: South Batan, Batanes
Part 2: Sabtang Island, Batanes Part 3: South Batan, Batanes

Rica ♡

Batanes: Day 2 Sabtang Island ❤

I woke up early to prepare breakfast as our call time was 5:30am for our Sabtang Island tour.  Good thing, Marfel's Lodge has set-up their own Honesty Mini grocery store in the communal kitchen where you would just basically get anything you need, write it down in their list and put your payment at designated jar. They have basic items like coffee, canned goods, cup noodles, chips, rice and etc so you won't need to go out and buy your commodities especially if your call time was this early. In a span of one hour, I managed to cook rice, scrambled eggs and cornbeef while preparing myself for the tour. I consider it as an accomplishment because normally, I would be in my zombie mode waking up earlier than my 6am body clock.

Sabtang Island is where the famous Ivatan's stoned houses can be commonly found and a lot more beauty of nature anywhere you look. This time, we're a big group of 10. We had different sets of guides and group joiners every tours. Our guide for our Sabtang Island tour named Ian but pronounced as "Ayan". He's a bit reserved compared to Art but I could see he was trying his best to relay important facts about our tour in the Island. They say Ivatans are shy people but nowadays they're learning to comprehend more with tourists [due to high demand of Tourism in Batanes].

We travelled a 20mins van ride going to San Vicente Port of Ivana and another 30mins faluwa (boat) ride to Sabtang Island. The ride was not bumpy as I thought. We're blessed with a perfect weather during our entire trip. Our guide said that the weather has been drizzling the past few days. In fact, the sun only showed up on the exact date of our arrival. One of our housemates even experienced a cancelled flight two days prior to our flight-- they're already in Basco but the plane was not able to land due to zero visibility that's why their pilot decided to return back to Manila. We're very lucky indeed.

From Sabtang port, we went straight to Sabtang Tourism Information Center. I believe that all tourists of Sabtang Island are required to register and pay an environmental fee which was already included in our tour package. The tourists are also encourage to try their native Ivatan tea called Tubho tea for free and I could say that it tastes like taho (soya). 

Brgy Chavayan Stone Houses

Sto. Thomas Chapel

Brgy Savidug Stone Houses

We stopped at a hut selling buko juice and souvenir items.Nanay, as shown in the picture below was bragging us that his father reached 100 years old drinking Tubho tea regularly. I bought one to her for Php 50.00 for pasalubong.

I think that the highlight of our 2nd day tour in Sabtang Island was the Savidug Idjang viewing. The scenery is just so breathtaking.. Lush green rolling hills as far as eyes can see, breathtaking cliffs, big waves hitting the rocks and the beautiful view of Mt. Iraya. Am I really in the Philippines?

Of course, we won't miss the chance to wear Ivatan headgears (vakul and kanayi ) which traditional Ivatans use for protection from the harsh sunlight and rain while farming.

We had a sumptuous lunch at Morong beach which was our final stop in Sabtang Island before heading back to Basco. They served us chopseuy, Ivatan adobo, fish steak and seaweed soup.

We only had a limited time as the last faluwa ride was only until 12:30pm so we only stayed in Morong beach for 10mins for photo ops to the famous Ahaw Arc Formation

And then there goes the scariest boat ride I've ever experienced going back to Basco. As in tumalon puso ko as I see the big waves hitting our faluwa. The boat captain was steering the boat by foot. He must have mastered the flow of big waves of West Philippine Sea. Hehehe. But thank God for a safe trip!

At 2:30pm we were already back at Marfel's. Even though its just a half day tour but we felt so drained. Maybe because we're lack of sleep the past few days. We've agreed to meet Ron and go biking around town proper to see what we can buy in the market for dinner. But myyy, my ever dependable boyfriend didn't set the alarm.  We woke up past 6pm already. The market in Batanes closes early and we don't want another canned goods for dinner. And so we invited Ron  to join us for dinner in Shanedel's Inn restaurant. They're one of the restos in Basco that offers coconut crab. Though the coconut crab is quite expensive (Php100.00 per gram) pikit mata namen inorder out of curiosity just to identify the difference from the regular crab. I think the difference was the alege (crab fat) of coconut crab tastes a bit bitter. Yun lang. Nothing else. Hehe. We also ordered pork steak, venes & ivatan rice. 

Another couple who was with us during our Sabtang tour happens to be staying in ShaneDel's Inn. They just came from dinner date in Fundacion Pacita and so when they saw us dining at the Inn's resto,sinamahan nila kame for an endless chitchat. Ang saya lang!  .I asked them how was their experience with Fundacion Pacita as we also made a dinner reservation with them the next day.. the couple surprisingly discouraged us. They said its overrated from blog reviews. Disappointed from the feedback we've heard, we immediately cancelled our reservation. Perfect timing because Jan's mom knows someone from Basco and he was kind enough to treat us a sumptuous dinner in Octagon restaurant.

Part 1: South Batan, Batanes

Part 2: Sabtang Island, BatanesPart 3: South Batan, Batanes

Rica ♡