Red

I'm finally catching up with the times :-D

Batanes Day 3 - Sabtang Island

(All photos from Day 3 are in my flickr gallery).

I bravely said yes to crossing the sea to Sabtang for our trip --- and I found out later on that I was only brave because I didn't know what I was getting into.

I've been on boats and sea vessels big and small and I've only been scared once (it was an overloaded ferry from Camiguin crossing turbulent waters with no lifejackets in sight) before...This was my second time to be terrified (and we each had our own lifejacket this time).

I remember thinking to myself that it had better be worth risking our lives --- and it was. It really was.


The little boat that could -- and DID!

IMG_3403, originally uploaded by socs.

We crossed the open seas on that boat! Granted, its not as small as it looks -- it carried 20+ passengers to and from Sabtang. It does, however, move with the waves...and in all directions! I regret not having taken a photo of our boat captain, he did bring us to and fro safely. But when you're worried your boat will sink, there's no reason why the camera should go down (and die) with you.

Below: trees blowing in the wind.

IMG_3216, originally uploaded by socs.

Even street signs are carved on the Ivatan stone houses

IMG_3224, originally uploaded by socs.

Photo below is at the same are where most of our first posted Batanes photos were taken. Francis has done a great job taking photos that time and I was too shocked to take anymore afterwards.

IMG_3277, originally uploaded by socs.

Me with a traditional Ivatan basket. The lady in the photo was kind enough to show an ignoramus like me how to properly wear and use it. Photo by Allan Vistan.

IMG_3363, originally uploaded by socs.

Sabtang Lighthouse

The minute I caught a glimpse of this lighthouse when we were out on sea I focused on it. I just kept thinking 'we're almost there, we're almost there'. While reviewing these photos though, the lighthouse reminded me of this photo I took while in The Netherlands.

IMG_3508, originally uploaded by socs.

Batanes Day 2 - Around the Island of Batan (part 2 of 2)

(The photos posted here belong to the same Batanes Day 2 set...I felt compelled to make this as "Part 2" just to highlight some photos of the wonderful sights)

Marlboro Country

IMG_3073, originally uploaded by socs.

No horses, no cigarettes...just rolling hills and a vast expanse of grazing grounds that offer (more) breathtaking views of the surrounding areas. Ate Remy, our tour guide, told us that this was a public area where people can take their herd hang out. That explains the abundance of, er, fertilizer.

If I were cattle, I would love to graze here....weeds + winds + view = natural high! ;)

Valugan Bay

IMG_3186, originally uploaded by socs.

I will admit to a little favoritism...there were other stops between Marlboro Country and Valugan Bay BUT my fiance did mention he considered proposing here....so I'm going straight to this site. Beachfront and filled with huge rocks...its not ideal for a walk on the beach, but perfect for shots like that above. The location is also suitable for sunrise photoshoots --- which we attempted a few days later.

Batanes Day 2 - Around the Island of Batan (part 1 of 2)

The photos below are only a selection of a handful found on my flickr gallery. I highly recommend viewing most of the flickr photos large to appreciate them more :)

Up Early for Day 2

This was the official start of touring the island. We woke up bright and early to prepare breakfast and buy fish for the evening's meal since we would be out most of the day. Allan was intent on buying Flying Fish which could be found in markets in Basco. What we didn't know was that most of the fishermen were set to return from Sabtang and most of the fish would be available late in the day. Luckily enough, we found a young boy selling some in one street corner a block or two from the wet market and we were all set.

IMG_2783, originally uploaded by socs.


Our first stop: Mahatao viewdeck

IMG_2801, originally uploaded by socs.

Driving from Basco town proper to Mahatao gave us great views of the sea and a pretty good idea of the Batanes landscape. We stopped at Mahatao Viewdeck where you could take photos of waves crashing against rocks and against the hillsides. From the viewdeck there were steps leading down towards the sea, giving us a closer view and experience of the water.

Possibly the most photographed local

Lola Ida (and I hope I remembered her name right...yaiks) has graced many tourists' albums of Batanes trips. Her home has been turned into a regular stop for all touring the island and she has, in her home, some traditional clothing and what not that would give people an idea of how locals live. I was more intent on taking a good photo of her and in the process, learned that it is indeed her home and that she has one son and one grandson who live in the neighboring houses. She has also candidly informed me that sometimes some tourists ask her to pose for some pictures but she already had difficulty moving around. I, of course, didn't want her in some unnatural pose, so I just kept talking to her while shooting.

Her portraits would probably be in my list of all-time favorite portraits...granted mine probably isn't unique, but its still mine :p

IMG_2845, originally uploaded by socs.

Song-Song Ruins

Also known as the "Ghost Town", ruined by a Tsunami from years ago. Remnants of old stone houses still remain by the sea, although what surprised me was that a few meters from the ruins are new houses were families live. I had thought they would move farther away from the sea because of that incident, but I suppose they prefer to be closer to the water.

The surrounding areas were our first close look at a landscape that had a beach on one side and hills on the other. Sounds like a common landscape in the Philippines? Thats because I can't really describe how this area looks like. I couldn't even capture it appropriately on photos. Basta, maganda. 'Nuff said.

IMG_2971, originally uploaded by socs.

Batanes Day 1 - finally!

up high, originally uploaded by socs.

After months of waiting and after the original flight being cancelled to a day later, we finally made it to Batanes!

Day 1 was nice and leisurely --- we used the time to familiarize ourselves with the surroundings and we found Basco Lighthouse. It would be the site of more than one day's attempt at capturing what we hoped would be a breathtaking sunset.

Click on the photo above to see the rest of Day 1 photos and Day 2 photos to follow in the next day (or so :p)

thoughts on my return

Today is my third day back at work since my Manila vacation, and I feel even more like a stranger to this city than I did before. I had thought that when I come back, I'd be ready to start really living here --- I would furnish my apartment so it would look more like home, I would find things to keep me preoccupied and that would allow me to meet people and I would allow myself to fall into a routine.

I don't think that's about to happen anytime soon though.

My trip home has reinforced what I had known even before I left -- I wanted to move only if I weren't moving alone otherwise, I wanted to stay home.

Of all the times I've left Manila, my last departure was the most difficult. I didn't want to go, and it was stronger than it was when I first came here. Probably because I already knew what to expect, and I knew that what was waiting for me here was not really worth looking forward to.

But the reality is, it doesn't matter if that was what I wanted. The bottom line, is that I needed to come back here if I wanted to live the life I want to start living in Manila. Every month that I stay here is one more good foundation for my future.

Three days after my arrival, I'm finding that I'm still a stranger to this place, and this place is still a stranger to me. Its getting what it needs from me and I'm getting what I need from it, no more no less. I can only hope it changes even just a little soon...god knows things will be much easier to accept if I feel more comfortable and more at ease when I'm here.

the Batanes incident

I've waited almost 9 years for a chance to see Batanes, around 4 years for my very own good quality DSLR + UWA lens and 4 months until I return home. When all of it finally happened, I didn't expect that I would have along with them, a story that will always lack the actual emotions I felt during that time and someone I will officially spend the rest of my life with.

Salamat sa lahat ng well wishers...I hope you excuse this burst of mushy-ness :D

(My photos from the trip to follow in the next few days)