[DAY 3]BATANES: South Batan island tour, visit to Honesty Coffee shop and more
It was an incredible 2-day adventure while exploring the untouched beauty of North Batan and Sabtang Island. Today is our last tour and I hate the feeling that we are leaving soon. :(
It was a gloomy morning again. Well, the tour guide said that it is normal in Batanes, mornings are cloudy and it gets sunny during noon and for the rest of the day.
We will be traveling back to the town Ivana passing by some jaw-dropping scenery of the cliffs.
CHAWA VIEW DECK
Before reaching the first town of South Batan, we stopped by the Chawa View Deck. The sky started to clear up which gave the sea its blue hue. There is a stairway leading to the rocks on the lower portion of the view deck. The guide mentioned that its a popular diving spot.
ALL-WEATHER SHELTER PORT
It has a steep entrance. Its a man-made port created for the locals so that their boats can dock and be protected from harsh weather. Some parts of the port is still under construction.
TOWN OF MAHATAO AND CHURCH
Talking about churches, South Batan have several old churches built since the Spanish era. The churches were built with lime and dead corals making it sturdy enough to resist typhoons and fires.
TAYID LIGHTHOUSE
One of the three famous lighthouses of Batanes. The land is privately owned yet the owner agreed to allow the guests to go near the lighthouse. As per our guide, the owner just asked the government to built a storage area for his crops and farming equipment. Hence, to this date, you can go near the lighthouse for free.
RACUH A PAYAMAN (MARLBORO COUNTRY)
The alias Marlboro Country was tagged by tourists coming into the place. But this place is named by the locals as Racuh a Payaman. Its a communal pastureland for carabaos and horses. Here you can have a panoramic view of the rolling hills of the parts of Batan island. This is one of my personal favorites which I know my aunties and sisters enjoyed too.
ALAPAD ROCK FORMATION
This is the place of the famous i-Dawn Zulueta mo 'ko! act as mentioned by our tour guide. Hehe. There is a huge rock seems like covering the road leading back to town of Ivana. Before we arrived here, there were several farm-to-market roads being constructed. This makes the transport of goods and farm produce easier to the locals. I must commend the local official for this project.
HONESTY COFFEE SHOP
This store is a true testament of Ivatan's honesty. No one is manning the store. Since most of the Ivatans are busy in the farm and some of them have several day jobs, they can't afford to sit down and man a store. Rules: get what you need; write the item in the log book; drop your payment is locked box beside it. The store has t-shirts, drinks, garlic, shallots, snacks, and souvenirs. It was intended for the people waiting at Ivana port who often look for coffee and light snacks. There are other stores in Batanes with the same Honesty concept but this coffee shop the most famous.
HOUSE OF DAKAY
Considered to be the oldest and most resilient house in Batanes, House of Dakay is in its original structure to this date. It withstood typhoons and earthquakes that visited the island. It is now owned by the son of the original owner of the house. Guests are welcome to go inside and experience how it feels inside an Ivatan stone house. It was surprisingly cool at noon! It was also elevated from the ground with large slabs of wood as it flooring making the air come to and from the the separation of the slabs. The owner mentioned that during cool weather, the house keep them warm. The kitchen and toilet is usually separated from the main house.
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OLD SPANISH BRIDGE
Oldest bridge constructed in the town of Ivana which is being used until today.
LUNCH AT VATANG GRILL AND RESTAURANT
The food were great and for sharing. During our lunch, one of the staff played a presentation of the history of Batanes, sample photos of the stunning scenery and the great life of Ivatans.
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PASALUBONG SHOPPING
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DINNER AT FUNDACION PACITA
Spending our last dinner in Batanes at an artsy hotel (and probably the most expensive place to stay in Batanes). Fundacion Pacita serves set dinner with salad, main course, and dessert. All organic and gourmet.
So sad that our Batanes escapade is coming to an end. Our flight tomorrow will be at 8AM via Philippine Airlines.
Day 4 is coming up...
It was a gloomy morning again. Well, the tour guide said that it is normal in Batanes, mornings are cloudy and it gets sunny during noon and for the rest of the day.
We will be traveling back to the town Ivana passing by some jaw-dropping scenery of the cliffs.
CHAWA VIEW DECK
Before reaching the first town of South Batan, we stopped by the Chawa View Deck. The sky started to clear up which gave the sea its blue hue. There is a stairway leading to the rocks on the lower portion of the view deck. The guide mentioned that its a popular diving spot.
ALL-WEATHER SHELTER PORT
It has a steep entrance. Its a man-made port created for the locals so that their boats can dock and be protected from harsh weather. Some parts of the port is still under construction.
TOWN OF MAHATAO AND CHURCH
Talking about churches, South Batan have several old churches built since the Spanish era. The churches were built with lime and dead corals making it sturdy enough to resist typhoons and fires.
 |
| coral comprising the steps of the Church |
TAYID LIGHTHOUSE
One of the three famous lighthouses of Batanes. The land is privately owned yet the owner agreed to allow the guests to go near the lighthouse. As per our guide, the owner just asked the government to built a storage area for his crops and farming equipment. Hence, to this date, you can go near the lighthouse for free.
RACUH A PAYAMAN (MARLBORO COUNTRY)
The alias Marlboro Country was tagged by tourists coming into the place. But this place is named by the locals as Racuh a Payaman. Its a communal pastureland for carabaos and horses. Here you can have a panoramic view of the rolling hills of the parts of Batan island. This is one of my personal favorites which I know my aunties and sisters enjoyed too.
 |
| it suddenly cleared up showing the magnificence of Mt. Iraya |
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| the white tower is the Tayid lighthouse as viewed from Racuh a Payaman |
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| 1-2-3 jump! |
This is the place of the famous i-Dawn Zulueta mo 'ko! act as mentioned by our tour guide. Hehe. There is a huge rock seems like covering the road leading back to town of Ivana. Before we arrived here, there were several farm-to-market roads being constructed. This makes the transport of goods and farm produce easier to the locals. I must commend the local official for this project.
 |
| i-Dawn Zulueta mo 'ko on top of the hill! |
HONESTY COFFEE SHOP
This store is a true testament of Ivatan's honesty. No one is manning the store. Since most of the Ivatans are busy in the farm and some of them have several day jobs, they can't afford to sit down and man a store. Rules: get what you need; write the item in the log book; drop your payment is locked box beside it. The store has t-shirts, drinks, garlic, shallots, snacks, and souvenirs. It was intended for the people waiting at Ivana port who often look for coffee and light snacks. There are other stores in Batanes with the same Honesty concept but this coffee shop the most famous.
HOUSE OF DAKAY
Considered to be the oldest and most resilient house in Batanes, House of Dakay is in its original structure to this date. It withstood typhoons and earthquakes that visited the island. It is now owned by the son of the original owner of the house. Guests are welcome to go inside and experience how it feels inside an Ivatan stone house. It was surprisingly cool at noon! It was also elevated from the ground with large slabs of wood as it flooring making the air come to and from the the separation of the slabs. The owner mentioned that during cool weather, the house keep them warm. The kitchen and toilet is usually separated from the main house.
OLD SPANISH BRIDGE
Oldest bridge constructed in the town of Ivana which is being used until today.
LUNCH AT VATANG GRILL AND RESTAURANT
The food were great and for sharing. During our lunch, one of the staff played a presentation of the history of Batanes, sample photos of the stunning scenery and the great life of Ivatans.
PASALUBONG SHOPPING
DINNER AT FUNDACION PACITA
Spending our last dinner in Batanes at an artsy hotel (and probably the most expensive place to stay in Batanes). Fundacion Pacita serves set dinner with salad, main course, and dessert. All organic and gourmet.
So sad that our Batanes escapade is coming to an end. Our flight tomorrow will be at 8AM via Philippine Airlines.
Day 4 is coming up...
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