BATANES "TIMLESS JOURNEY"

BATANES

A TIMELESS JOURNEY!

A group of islands the took my breath away, located in the northernmost

part of the Philippines, i love Batanes for its picturesque, breathtaking landscape and seascape,

a place that you can relax with peace of mind, you can enjoy a simpler life with a slow living community, you can learn to let go of things that you used to live, like slow internet connection, minsan wala pa. no Jollibee, Macdonald samadaling salita walang fast food, walang SM Malls, Robinson, 7/11, Minimart, walang ingay ng mga sasakyan, you can cross the street blind folded at halos lahat ng mga tao magkakakilala, with very low criminality percentage, hindi ka matatakot maglakad sa daan miski anong oras and that is Batanes. 

This place is so surreal, Batanes Blew my Mind and snatched my heart, with its vast pasture lands, rolling hills, towering volcanoes, cliffs, light house, clear beaches and scenic view along the road.ano paba hahanapin mo?Ang GANDA NYA! tamang-tamang sa mga solo traveler like me.

FACTS ABOUT BATANES:

• Batanes is composed of ten (10)islands and islets. The  main islands of  Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat are the only inhabited at syang dinarayo ng mga turista.
• Ivatan tawag sa mga taong ipinanganak sa Batanes na ang magulang ay taga Batanes.
• you can see a small store of goods with no cashier, A small honesty store. bahala ka mag bayad at magsukli sa sarili mo.
• the Province's is protected by the Government from landscape and sea scape, hindi ka pwedeng mag-mayari ng lupa kung hindi ka Ivatan. from that na protektahan nila ang kagandahan ng probinsya nila.
• ALWAYS BRING CASH, may PNB ATM and Bank sa main island ng Basco, credit card is no use, hindi mo sya magagamit.

HOW TO GET THERE

The fastest way to get to Batanes is through Air, you may either fly through PAL or SKYJET.

Cebu PAC open its business or flight going to Batanes this Year 2018. the flight maybe delayed or cancelled depending on the weather, it is essential to check for the weather forecast, specially during the non summer season. at para makamura book early or wait for the promos and events like travel expo. Like me i got my Skyjet Ticket sa isang event ng Travel Expo sa MOA (Mall Of Asia) sa Pasay.

MY TIMELESS JOURNEY!

July 26, 2018 , 
8am Day and time of My arrival, sa Airport palang mamangha kana. I am so excited to start my journey,  My Tour Guide Jimboy Lamer pick me at the airport
and drop me sa Crissan Lodge (Sir Mon welcome me)  kung saan ako mag stay ng Apat na araw, and one Day Overnight at Sabtang kung saan mag stay ako sa Gechas Homestay ,Jimboy advised me na mas maiging mag pahinga muna at sa hapon ko nalang Umpisahan ang South Batan Tour ko, because South Batan will only take 4 Hours of tour at para wala ng maraming turista, kung hindi man ma solo ay kaunti nalang ang mga turista na makakasalamuha ko and for me to see the sunset,i agreed sa advised nya kasi sya ang tour guide ko, He knows best. Rest and sleep in the morning sobrang antok narin ako at pagod so pabor naman sakin. Kaya naman ng 3days ang tour sa buong North And South Batan and Sabtang at dahil 5days naman ako mas ok.

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CRISSAN LODGE

HOMESTAY/ACCOMMODATIONS.

        So eto na nga, months before may travel date Going to Batanes, naghanap na ako ng mga Homestay and accommodations na mura lang sa Batan and Sabtang, i want to take this trip not to expensive, yung talagang makakatipid ako, i read a blog about CRISSAN LODGE and ask the rate of their room, ang Fanroom nila will cost you 450/night pag AC room will cost you 1000pesos,with Breakfast.Nag fanroom nalan ako dahil hindi naman ganung kainit sa Batanes at para makatipid narin, then i stay at Sabtang GECHAS HOMESTAY  for one day and one night ,an overnight stay that cost me 350/night, Breakfast is not included. 

    For Crissan Lodge just contact Sir Mon Emperial
         contact no; 09999907548
    For Gechas Homestay Sabtang contact Sir Rudy
         contact no; 09085607833
    For Tour Guide Contact Jimboy Lamer
         contact no. 09084927450

• TOUR EXPENSES

BATAN

For Batan tour you need to pay 350Php Ecotourism fee.

• South Batan cost me roughly 1500Php for a Tricycle tour.
• North Batan  1000Php for a Tricycle tour, 
• Mt. Iraya Guide is 1500Php another 150Php DENR reg.fee
• DENR HAYASIN Contact no. 09478749958
•  GUIDE RHUFO contact no. 090500015535
• Spring of youth tour 1000Php Tricycle ride roundtrip.
• Spanish blue Lagoon. 1000Php. tricycle ride.
• 450Php/night homestay.

SABTANG

Sabtang  1000Php for a Tricycle tour. Boat ride going to Sabtang  100pesos for round trip will cost you 200Php
plus Visitors  Sustainable Ecotourism fee of 200Php,that you will pay at Sabtang Port after you register. 300Php for a full meal lunch at Beachside Restaurant in front of Savidug break water. plus 200Php for Dinner Meal, Just ask the owner of your Homestay if they can cook you a meal for your Dinner and 350Php for overnight stay.

WHERE TO EAT;
   
   AT CRISSAN LODGE THERE WHERE A SMALL CARINDERIA THAT YOU CAN EAT, ON MY FIRST DAY DOON AKO KUMAIN.

   OCTAGON RESTAURANT-BASCO
      HONESTY COFFEE SHOP-IVANA
      BEEHAN'S MEALS AND SNACKS-BASCO
      BEACH SIDE RESTAURANT BESIDE SAVIDUG BREAK WATER-SABTANG



 MY JOURNEY TO SOUTH BATAN!

TIMELESS JOURNEY DAY 1. 

First thing for Sure papunta palang kayo sa
mga tourist spot, you will be amaze sa roads nila and how it design for the Nature, hills and mountains to be protected, how Beautiful it was made!and the Views! WOW! BREATHTAKING BATANES talaga! Para kang nasa isang movie ng Lord of the Ring or matatanong mo nalang sarili mo Nasa Pilipinas Paba ako? May ganto palang lugar sa Bansa Namin! na pwede mo talagang Ipagmalaki!                           

  SOUTH BATAN TOUR INCLUDES

• CHAWA VIEW DECK

• IMNAJBU BEACH

• IMNAJBU POINT

• HONESTY STORE
  

• HOUSE OF DAKAY
  

                       NEARBY IS AN OLD SPANISH BRIDGE THAT STILL USE TODAY

• MAHATAO BOAT SHELTER POINT

• ALAPAD HILLS

• MAHATAO OLD CHURCH/ SAN CARLOS BORROMEO CHURCH
  
  sa simbahan na ito, there where a room that full of books/guest book that you can write your experienced on your tour at dipende sayo kung anong gusto mong isulat.
  
  
• RACUH A PAYAMAN (MARLBORO COUNTRY)
  
  

• TAYID LIGHTHOUSE
• SONGSONG RUINS
• HOMORON BLUE LAGOON AND WHITE BEACH
  MAHATAO CHURCH

JOURNEY TO SABTANG ISLAND!

TIMELESS JOURNEY DAY 2.

I spend my Day two at Sabtang island,i left Batan (mainly Ivana Port) 7am in the morning.
passenger fare cost roughly 100pesos travel time on the boat is about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the wave conditions. Kuya Rudy pick me at Sabtang Port and Drop me at Gechas Homestay and start my tour 1pm in the afternoon he let me rest in the morning.

SABTANG TOUR INCLUDES

• SAVIDUG VILLAGE

• CHAMANTAD-TINYAN VIEW POINT
  
  

• CHAVAYAN VILLAGE
  
  

• MORONG BEACH/ NAKABUANG BEACH
  
  

• SABTANG LIGHT HOUSE
  
  view from top of the light house

 

 
After my Sabtang journey i went back to Batan Island for my 3rd Day , i leaved Gechas Homestay at 5:30am to take the first boat trip at Sabtang Port going to Ivana Port at Batan. Jimboy my tourguide pick me up, that morning, Jimboy told me that meron two Guest ng Crissan na gustong Pumunta ng Spring of Youth, and they are willing to let me join their tour. At para makatipid nag join ako sa kanila, we left our home stay at 8am ang get to Spring of youth, i spend half day of may Day 3, para maligo sa Spring of youth, baka sakaling Bumata nga aq.. :)

after spring of youth i rent a bike para maglibot sa Batan island..

RAKUH-A-IDI SPRING (SPRING OF YOUTH)

TIMELESS JOURNEY DAY 3.

     Rakuh-a-adi (aka Spring of youth or fountain of youth) in Mahatao, from Basco Capital of Batanes you need to travel about 45minutes by tricycle or private Van, or just rent a Motor cycle at petron Gas station for 150 pesos/hour. From there you have to take a 30min. hike from the fishing village to get to the spring.the hike is easy and there is a path going the site of pre-Hispanic settlement. the water on the spring is cold and clear. local says that the water on the spring of youth make them young.

after my refreshing day swimming on Spring of youth i decided to go at Basco Light house to watch
the sunset , it is a walking Distance from my Hometsay.

MT. IRAYA

TIMELESS JOURNEY DAY 4

       After 3days of touring around Batan and separates trip to Sabtang, I decided to Hike
Mt. Iraya, paglapag palang namin sa Basco nakita ko na agad sya, And i made it to my self  that before i left Batanes i will hike this Mountain, When my tour guide pick me up at the airport the first thing i ask him was, Kyah..kyah..Pwede bang Akyatin yan? he Answered me Yes, pwede po kaya lan ingat po kayo may Viper snake po na pwede kayong makita. when we got at homestay i also ask Sir Mon kung pano makakakuha ng Permit para akyatin ang Mt. Iraya and he told me that i need a clearance from DENR, so i decided to go to DENR office which is a walking distance from My homestay
and they let me with a tourguide. they ask me kung kaylan? and i decided na sa pang 4th day ko lan sya aakyatin.
Major Jump of Sitio Banaraw near Basco Airport, with 1009MASL, standing Majestically in the Breath taking Island of Batanes, a major landmark of Batanes. Specs. Minor Climb in  terms of Difficulty 4/9 trail class 1-3,Days required 1day,hours to summit 3-4hours. the trail on Mt. Iraya is Forested at first with 30min assault and 1.5hour trek to the dense forest. the final Leg is the steep assault of the summit 45minutes through a Grass land (kugon) trail.

we started our assault at 6am and we reach the summit at 8:45am, we stay at the summit for an hour to enjoy the views then we start our descent 10am and at 12:30am where back in the jump off.

when we  where making our descent Rhofu my Guide told me na magingat po kayo Sir May Ahas po sa kakapitan natin. So nabigla ako then tinignan ko, Holly Shit indi lang sya pangakaraniwang ahas
it is a yellow Viper Snake and Highly Venomous!

at night Chris tine and I went to Basco light house to do some star gazing and also for me to take some pictures of milky way, i met Chris Tine at Crissan Lodge, She is also a solo traveler.
sa kasamaang Palad wala kaming masyadong nakitang milky way only a shot of Basco proper.

JOURNEY TO NORTH BATAN
TIMELESS JOURNEY DAY 5.      

 My Last day, nag decide ako na gawin nalang sa Umaga ang North Batan Tour ko, para sa hapon
 hindi na masyadong gahol sa oras, at para makatingin narin ng pasalubong, 8am when my tourguide pick me at Crissan and start my Timeless journey to North Batan at dahil ang North Batan Tour ay within Basco lang maaga kong natapos ang Tour ko Dito.

North Batan Tour Includes

•   Balugan Boulder Beach

• DIPNAYSUPUAN JAPANESE TUNNEL

FUNDACION FACITA

• TUKON CHURCH

• BASCO LIGHT HOUSE

• BASCO ROLLING HILLS

After my North Tour, i decided to go back to Crissan, because Chris tine and I had a plan to go to nearest Pasalubong Store Within Basco to buy some items, we go to Tawsen Store and buy some items and shirts then we decided to eat lunch at Octagon Bed and Dine to try some of their local delicacies.

and late afternoon when we decided to Visit and swim at Spanish Lagoon/ Homoron Lagoon located in Mahatao Village. jimboy  accompanied us to the lagoon.

after that refreshing afternoon, Chris and i was invited by His friends Mother for a dinner, She was nanay Remy a pure Ivatan, she prepared a coconot Crub for us and a sinampalukang manok. ang nakakagulat doon ay yung coconut Crub, first to try a coconut Crub. :).. 

Napakabait sakin ni Batanes for that Five Days of my journey, limang araw na napakaganda ng panahon
nakakita aq ng Viper snake sa Mt. Iaraya, na try ko yung mga local delicacies , like Labster, coconut crab, uvud balls, escargot and lunis, Very accommodating ng mga Ivatan, the place It self was so amazing..I will Never Forget BATANES!

END OF JOURNEY

   ............................................  DIOS MAMAJES BATANES..............................................