welcome note from Nelzo's mother, posted at their gate
pineapple like but it's not...it's called uhangu
courtesy call at the Batanes Provincial Capitol...hehe
the Basco cathedral
our first stop just after taking our breakfast after a not so long flight from Manila, going around Basco. At first in every sight I see I would utter "WOW", "NICE", "AMAZING", "LOVELY" as in all the words of praises coming out ....
isn't this awesome?
then after awhile I couldn't find the words to express how lovely the sights I'm looking at anymore...I am in awe, really in AWE!
the house on a hill in Tukon, owned by a Filipino artist Pacita Abad
inside the homey home of Representative Butch Abad, Pacita's brother. If not for Nelzo's brother we would not be inside this place, thanks Big brother Warren=) I'm even signing his friendly friend's book.....along with his foreign friends, politician friends, tv personalities such as Dawn Zulueta
the hacienderas and hacienderos
our service truck on going around Basco with Kuya Mel and Ate Arming as our tour guide/driver/entertainer/all that we need =)
big jack stones .... lined up on our way to the famous coffee shop
Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard.
And mostly what I need from you.
I think Billy Joel should go to Batanes to find what he really needs
remains of "Song song" a Barrio after being swept by big waves, they now call this "Ghost town"
inside Japanese tunnel used in WWII
view on top of the hill outside the tunnel
they have a lot of watch towers...it's scattered all over the island
Diura beach, the fishing village
going out of the crystal cave...
Lobster (or payi in Ivatan) galore, YUMMY!!! I wish I'm with my whole family coz they love this but it's expensive here in Laguna so I just ate for them. You can have more than one, how's that for a lunch?
Valugan Beach....rocky beach with big waves
see...
buco break, fresh from the tree
Marlboro country or "Payaman" the common pastures of wild cows and horses
kid's natural pool at White Beach
adult's pool where you can play with the big and strong waves =P
conquering Mount Iraya on a holy Friday with guide Philip Cardona, Nelzo's childhood friend
hantak, fruit of a big tree, on the way back from Mt. Iraya
May showing papaya also fresh from the tree...our snack after climbing the mountain
face to face with the onions, one of their many root crops
Batanes special occasion food: yellow rice called supas, the round shaped called uvod and white yam
boat ride to "Vojos" uninhabited island near Sabtang
our accommodation
our transport service
demo on catching fish, kinda different from what they do here but can't explain to you how...hehe
smell something fishy...the catch!
enjoying our private Island, it's amazing we went to Batanes during Holy week and the news on the television says that people are crowding Boracay and Puerto Galera while our group have our very own big island in "Vojos"
our guardian angels in Batanes preparing our dinner, Nanay Nellie and Tatay Zolio Ereful, Nelzo's parents
lights off in the island
breakfast by the beach....
ready for boarding and on for the next destination....Sabtang island
the whole gang going around Sabtang
topload trip to the UNESCO World Heritage, the home of the famous Ivatan stone houses
May wearing Vakul, it's like a hat that women use for protection from the sun and rain as they farm
after going around Sabtang, we headed back to Basco on our very reliable boat....never minding the big waves .... Diyos Mamajes!!!
back at Nelzo's place...preparing for a french breakfast is our french friend Ipe
Christine trying out the rocking chair
Bing resting after days of going around
we miss tasting this, the coconut crab or tatus....i'll be back for you someday!
doesn't want to go home yet =( so sad, we had to leave...hopefully I could go back here
Diyos Mamajes!!! Ivatan greetings it can mean welcome, thank you come again, God bless you!
going back to Manila
