The Final Frontier

I've been in the Phils since Dec of last year. But spent most of that since trying to find Filipino owned bikini bars. Not hard
to find, even in 90% Muslim dominated Iligan city.

Anyhow, after Burma i really thought i should pay a visit to Batanes. The final frontier if you would. I've always wanted to
come here, but the 90 min flight costing 7,700 pesos 1 way kept putting me off, not to mention the lousy weather
anytime after june. Anyway.....

Only one airline flies there, and its 32 seater old skool plane
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The flight attendants uniform
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Arrived at 1pm and rented a mountain bike and headed around the island
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Just as i turn a corner, another stunning bay with wicked scenery
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Looking back at Basco town
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The batanes is known for 2 things. Old stone houses and countryside like the Scottish highlands.

Oldest stone house on the entire island. at least 200 years old
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Just like photographing the old temples in Bagan, Burma, i seem to have gone overboard again. Sorry!
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Think this place is a picnic area with rent-a-cabins
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Songsong village, or ghost town. The village was swept away in the 50's by a Tsunami
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Some strange fruit. resembles a red pineapple. Anyone got an idea as to what it is or tastes like?
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Its a tough uphill climb for 6km through Marlborough country. Wild cows etc here.
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My jaw dropped when i saw this
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2nd day i went looking for Pacita Abad's house. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacita_Abad

This is her house over looking the bay, perched on top of a hill
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Took a cross county ride literally through the farmland
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Duira fishing village
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Diura Fountain of Youth. [ swimming baths near the sea to you and me]
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Also located on the trackway is the ancient settlement. At least over a 1000 years old
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Old Spanish bridge
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Really remote and barren, but beautiful. Kind of reminds me of Scotland.

Great photos mate.
Looks like it was well worth the trip.
Many thanks for posting them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Greyman

Great photos mate.
Looks like it was well worth the trip.
Many thanks for posting them.

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Not finished with the photos yet. Its 2.30am and i need some kip

Great stuff wuji, looking forward to the rest of the pictures!

Interesting photos. Looks like a great place to visit.

Very interesting, some of these older houses look like old croft houses. Looks a bit like heading down to Campbelltown and seeing Islay and Jura in the distance.

Superb photos, I also want to see more.
Thanks for that.....

That "fruit" you asked about.
The plant is known as a Screw Pine. It is not a Pine, but a member of the Pandanus family. If you look at the stem, you'll see that the scar that's been left by previous leaves is in the shape of a helix, or, screw. Very common over all of south-east Asia.
The fruit is hard and inedible.

Thanks for posting these pictures.

Looks as though the place has character. Love the Skool plane.

Fantastic pictures WujouMao. What a lovely place. And it looks reasonably clean. Garbage wise I mean. I know there's not much of a population, but it looks quite well kept. More pictures please.

Fantastic photo's.

I never knew this place existed.

Good stuff mate,been to laoag never been across too there, where did you stay ?

Wow, what a fascinating place. Beautiful pictures.

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Originally Posted by bobo746

Good stuff mate,been to laoag never been across too there, where did you stay ?

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I've been to Laoag, but The Batanes isn't near the mainland. It's closer to Taiwan. In fact, Orchid Island near Taiwan shares linguistically the same language as the Ivtan's on the 3 main islands of Batanes.

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Originally Posted by geoff

Fantastic pictures WujouMao. What a lovely place. And it looks reasonably clean. Garbage wise I mean. I know there's not much of a population, but it looks quite well kept. More pictures please.

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There are numerous recycling bins in every village. Sorting bins for plastic, green waste and metal. Bad news, it's all collected by the same truck and taken to the recycling depot on the side of a Mt. near Basco.

Nice mate, keep them coming.

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Some more "English" countryside.
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Old paved road. Now if only the government didnt cover the cobble roads in the towns with concrete, the towns would
resemble the feeling of being back in time
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Road rules
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My breakfast. Turmeric rice and venis i think.
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Coconut crap. Its banned from being sold in Manila and elsewhere.
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Basco port
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Day after typhoon
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When the wind and rain stopped, i headed out to Sabtang island. I hour away by boat. Met this guy with some "samurai"
fishing nets

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Where's his body?
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Sabtang main town.
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Savidug town
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Notice how thick the walls are. Super typhoon tough
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Just south of Savidug down is the man made Ijang, or fortress. The people of long ago threw boulders and stones to the invaders below
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On top is a few more of the stones with the holes in. Technically the house was build with 4 stones on each of the corners. Thick vines and feed through the holes and over the roof of the house to keep the roof on during the seasons of typhoons. I just call them "tent pegs"
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Last village on this side of the island
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The local government wants this town to have UNESCO status. I feel they shouldnt of covered the cobble stone road with concrete.
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National road through the hills
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Nice wall
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Walking home alone. In the 4 hours i've been walking around the island, i've seen 1 motorbike and 1 bicycle.

Some more pics of Sabtang town the next morning before taking the boat back to Basco

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Re-roofing the thatch
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Is that a marrow growing?
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Yep, even out here, basketball rules
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That pile of straw you see is a female head piece which protects the wearer from the hot sun and the rain. Its one reason for me coming to the Island. Although i was 6 days early. They don't wear them on a Sunday
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Superbio!

Great thread, Thanks! Makes me want to travel again. If only I can find a way to make money for travel without having to do any of the work.....

Fascinating! I'm motivated to visit! Thank you.

Outstanding thread and great photos. I never though any part of the P.I. could look like this. Just wish I could go there .

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Originally Posted by Ascotkiwi

Fascinating! I'm motivated to visit! Thank you.

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I'll give you some Ivatan words.

Good morning = [are you ready?, deep breath]. Kapian ka pa nu dios chamavukas aya.

In case you're wondering, Dios is Spanish for God

The locals, especially the older gen would lift their hat's slightly and say "Good Morning" in English. They have no trouble understand British English and even say American English uses to much slang and talk fast!

Superb trip report. Thanks