BATANES -- The New Zealand of the Philippines
My grandmother (Mamita) grew up in Batanes but she moved to
Manila when she was 11 years old. I kept on hearing good things about Batanes
from her, from their climate to food, from the cleanliness of the place to how
people are very respectful. I got curious and I promised her that I would bring
her back, and so I did.
It was very difficult to go to Batanes because it’s a typhoon-prone province. You need to know in advance when there's no typhoon so you can tour the island.
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| Welcome to Batanes! Airfare ranges from P12,000 to P15,000 round trip (yes, its cheaper to go to Hong Kong from Manila than to go here). You may check their website for the fares and schedules. |
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| Mamita's cousin, Precy |
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| House made of stone |
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| Mamita wearing Vakul |
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| The popular Honesty Coffee Shop. There's neither shopkeeper nor security guards. Customers pay and just leave money for the goods they get. |
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| Horses and cows everywhere! Fells like I'm in New Zealand again. |
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| Japanese Tunnel |
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| Lighthouse |
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| The weather was really cold and windy I was freezing to death! lol |
Sound of music? Nope, this is Vayang rolling hills. The narrow pathway to the top is a bit dangerous
Travelled around the island via ATV or All-Terrain Vehicle. It’s the best way to explore the breathtaking scenery of Batanes at your own pace. We were first brought to the town plaza, where they taught us the basics: how to turn on and off the atv, how to shift gears, so on and so forth.
Since the roads are small and there are only a handful of cars, going by bike, motorcycle, or ATV is the only way to get around the island
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| We visited Tukon Chapel (chapel on a hill), is inspired by traditional Ivatan stone house. My dream wedding would be here (I swear). |
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| The famous Coconut Crab. Only in Basco |
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| We ate lunch beside the beach using our hands! |
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| Youth of Spring |
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| It can be reached by taking a 30 minute trek. |
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| You can see Mount Iraya at the background. |
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| The tree on the left is called uhangu. Uhangu fruit is eaten by coconut crabs. |
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