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View Full Version : Batanes, Philippines; Scotland of the Orient



Iloko
06-28-2014, 09:28 AM
When you touch down in Basco, the provincial capital of the Batanes Islands, the feeling of you being in the northernmost corner of the Philippines is immediate. It’s so quiet.
The airport runway is good for small aircraft only. Its terminal, designed to look like a hut, would resemble a boutique shop beside major provincial airports.
In the distance looms Mount Iraya, the country’s northernmost active volcano. Standing at 3,300 feet, the summit shrouded in clouds, it dominates the northern end of Batan, the main island.
Batanes’ lonely location partly contributes to the quiet life there. It is 160 kilometers from the main Philippine island of Luzon, and sits at the intersection where the West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Sea meet. About 190 kilometers to the north is Taiwan.
The isolation is one reason why crime is nonexistent. Offenders have no place to run or hide. Most people know each other. That’s why police officers there have no reason to carry guns.
Perhaps the tranquility can be mainly attributed to the quiet ways of the indigenous Ivatan people, who have been around before the Spanish colonizers arrived in the 1600s. They continue to predominate Batanes, numbering about 15,000.
Long ago, the Ivatans used to live in homes made from cogon grass until the Spaniards introduced the use of stones in construction, resulting in their now-famous stone houses, designed to withstand typhoons.
Isolated as Batanes may be, it was not beyond the reach of Spanish missionary zeal in the 17th century. Just like across the Philippines, centuries-old churches built by the Spaniards dominate the center of town in Batanes. Then and now, life revolves around prayer.
With the 10-island Batanes group so far away from everything, its local inhabitants have to rely on fishing, farming and livestock raising for their sustenance. Cows and goats grazing lazily on steep hillsides are a common sight.
“Here in Batanes, as long you work hard, you will not go hungry,” says Roger Amboy, a hardy Ivatan tour guide.
Tourism is the major industry but the islands’ facilities are so limited, Batanes can only accommodate about 10,000 at a time. The airport can load and offload passengers one plane at a time.
The roads are barely wide enough for two vehicles to squeeze past each other. Signs saying “blow UR (sic) horn” are fixtures at blind spots, especially along cliffside roads. When vehicles do meet at a narrow segment, the one going downhill has to give way and slowly back up until they find a wide-enough spot to get through.
There is hardly any vehicular traffic. However, one must still look before crossing the road because it’s so easy to forget that roads were built for motor vehicles.
The carefreeness may be excusable because Batanes is simply captivating. It doesn’t fail to draw visitors despite its remoteness.
“Almost anywhere you look is like a postcard. No shot is wasted,” says professional photographer Mandy Navasero, who holds “photo safaris” there.
Batanes is not for those looking for shopping and night life. It’s for those who want to soak in the scenery and learn about the history and culture of its locals. It creates an appreciation for how the country and its multi-cultural nation was formed.
Much of Batanes is so hilly and mountainous that finding flat land is nearly impossible. Even the airport runway has a very slight upward incline.
In one moment, you are on a seaside road. A few minutes later, you are negotiating a road that had been cut into the limestone cliff and you are looking down on razor-sharp rocks sharpened by the sea.
Or you may be on a road winding through trees, and before you know it, you are already gazing at steep hillsides dotted by cows, goats and carabaos. Or you will discover that you are on a road built on the ridge of a hill and it’s a long way down on both sides.
Or you will be surprised to find yourself perched on a mountain rising over 300 feet above sea level, and you are stupefied by the sight of the sea — frothing white — as waves crash into rocky coves below. You can make your way down the slope and see the waves up close, the sound of surf is carried by the wind blowing from the sea and whipping at your face.
But the high point of the trip to Batanes may be at sea level, when you take a boat from the main island of Batan to Sabtang Island to the south.
Most boats in the Philippines have outriggers made of bamboo because their hulls are narrow and are designed for cruising over relatively flat water. But in Batanes, swells reach from five to ten feet on a normal day and can snap outriggers.
So the boats there have wide rounded hulls to enable them to ride the waves. And the higher the swells, the more exciting and wetter the ride.
Batanes’ rustic and rugged setting appeals to those who want to get away from the noise and rush of modern city living. It is not your usual idea of a beach destination. It is a place where one communes with nature — a place to savor peace and quiet.

Iloko
06-28-2014, 09:29 AM
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7137939039_950b605197_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6992145442_53ceab6afb_b.jpg
http://www.pasyalera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/basco-batanes_03.jpg
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http://www.pasyalera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/basco-batanes_12.jpg
http://batanestravelandtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BATANES-SEASIDE-LODGE-RESTAURANT.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3cndJ3U8vww/USSHtPdsWnI/AAAAAAAAAKo/EcrY6UZ0ETg/s640/heritage+du+chavayan.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T88-trB1ljA/USSRz3jnabI/AAAAAAAAALs/w9tLxY4XxCs/s640/amboy+hometel.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xhqxaYDkzIc/Tu7Wfko-rMI/AAAAAAAAACo/BxMjfDKeOrE/s640/batanes+seaside.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjxb1gASQo8/Tu7ldMpsdnI/AAAAAAAAADA/kY46iNncdCY/s640/Dive+Batanes.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-oI2MwBRh8/USSSOXmm5AI/AAAAAAAAAL8/2n4wivPbmcw/s640/Fundacion+Pacita.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/ba/ec/d6/fundacion-pacita-batanes.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/8b/f7/66/fundacion-pacita.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpZvYjYYx04/UP-BgrMHsII/AAAAAAAAAIU/jpkaP3OUcXM/s640/valugan.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBmDtaeboRs/UP-En58IihI/AAAAAAAAAIo/zd2lOm3skzc/s640/iraya.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bVJSOYIFPiY/UP-Hr2BylBI/AAAAAAAAAI4/4GSzdPM6Hr4/s640/port.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1tCQJjyg9LY/USSU5X5dq5I/AAAAAAAAAMM/qaLFGen7-r4/s640/tinyan+du+sabtang.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_pD8pyR23w/UPzgvpwGNgI/AAAAAAAAAGI/NSuBycc9T0Y/s640/payaman2.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxjam8odobc/USSWvyDIb1I/AAAAAAAAAMk/Y5deKKTMdRA/s640/ahaw+arch.jpg

Graham
06-28-2014, 09:34 AM
It does look like the Western Isle in scenery & some areas have been too. But I bet that place has nicer weather. :)

Selurong
06-28-2014, 09:36 AM
It does look like the Western Isle in scenery & some areas have been too. But I bet that place has nicer weather. :)

Only during the hot season. The cold season and the wet season brings ferocious storms and wind velocities there which are off the scale.

RedLight
06-28-2014, 09:37 AM
It does look like the Western Isle in scenery & some areas have been too. But I bet that place has nicer weather. :)

Yes it resembles tropical form of Scotland. Like the mother of Scotland grab one piece from her vagina and set it in north west Europe and the other twin put south east of Asia.

Iloko
06-28-2014, 09:38 AM
I actually meant to post a few more pictures but my Internet died :eek: well here they are..

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OhqWzfvjg7k/USSXPGLzbQI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Ns_y-lm2uFc/s640/tinyan.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tlyb7mpOIMQ/UQYajhQlIxI/AAAAAAAAAJY/HTDSdCJDoMU/s640/coral.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8159/6971847990_058921621f_z.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mV02O_CN2M4/UQYaprxYfYI/AAAAAAAAAJg/uF-HMddJOCM/s640/baka+du+tayid.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-scH7bwa_x5o/UQYay4FdnMI/AAAAAAAAAJo/Q2cxAc4Qqz4/s640/pagad+du+vayang+2.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BTWdHMwdFsk/Uvh1ePeO9pI/AAAAAAAAUss/aUwmO_e_BLs/s1600/Accommodations-in-Batanes+(7).jpg
https://yy2.staticflickr.com/3309/3521367755_30a82a980b.jpg
http://www.shootfirsteatlater.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/5936090033_b559c8f762.jpg
http://static.rappler.com/images/2014%2002%2024%20IMG_6436-111.jpg

Iloko
06-28-2014, 09:39 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRlOZJaMMBs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_3eYL78feU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRlOZJaMMBs

RedLight
06-28-2014, 09:40 AM
Also can say Scotland have rough sexual relations one drunk night with Hawaii and this is the baby.

Graham
06-28-2014, 09:44 AM
It reminds me of my time in Lewis/Harris. Not including the buildings of course. They get massive storms too.

http://www.rtamotorhomes.co.uk/photo-gallery/images/beach-on-isle-of-lewis.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DzLbV79i7g/TSZL1A_YyhI/AAAAAAAAmZQ/4CzCJCtqOtU/s1600/Tour%2BScotland%2BPhotograph%2BRemote%2BBeach%2BIs le%2Bof%2BHarris.jpg

Selurong
06-28-2014, 09:50 AM
It reminds me of my time in Lewis/Harris. Not including the buildings of course. They get massive storms too.

http://www.rtamotorhomes.co.uk/photo-gallery/images/beach-on-isle-of-lewis.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DzLbV79i7g/TSZL1A_YyhI/AAAAAAAAmZQ/4CzCJCtqOtU/s1600/Tour%2BScotland%2BPhotograph%2BRemote%2BBeach%2BIs le%2Bof%2BHarris.jpg

It's so beautiful and the rocks and beach formations are so superb. What do you do in a storm?

From what I heard. Before a storm comes. The people in Batanes actually peg their houses to the ground and put their livestock in barns which are also pegged to the ground.

so, what precautions do you take in a storm? Seriously, that area is also a hurricane alley.

Graham
06-28-2014, 10:05 AM
Scotland doesn't get hurricanes on your level. It just gets extremely windy and rainy, we get all the left over hurricanes from North America coming from the Gulf stream. Buildings are all solid, most places are built down hill, in less exposed areas, everything made of sold stone in the windy areas historically for everything, due to the lack of trees. Why we still have places like Skara Brae and Jarlshof, thousands year old streets

Highland cattle are built for the weather. They'd enjoy a Hurricane. lol :P

simple
06-28-2014, 10:14 AM
Batanes is beautiful place. the green mountains and scenery is breath taking, it is facing the Philippine West Sea and Pacific Ocean. The villages and those stone made houses


http://blog.theholidaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/DSC00143.jpg

http://derwinparfan.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/35176_445539985902_740110902_6323316_3182550_n.jpg

simple
06-28-2014, 10:43 AM
Honesty Coffee Shop in Batanes (No Cashier or Vendor, Security, all self Service)
http://research.fuseink.com/artifactimg/MTMxODEzMTAzNDE3MDRfMQ.jpg

http://roamingmum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC00662.jpg

http://journeyingjames.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/feb-01-274.jpg

Iloko
06-28-2014, 10:47 AM
I haven't been there yet myself, but it's looks quite awesome in photos; hopefully I can vacation next year though:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWF9uW8auSg/T2-7abrOO7I/AAAAAAAACh4/5RLwir6OT-8/s1600/basco+airport+batanes.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PC1q8aPoIhU/SOjfGPj-yrI/AAAAAAAAAAs/X5HffsoMQKg/S660/batanes+island.jpg
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http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSWOsdT3uwM/T5AOTCQ0RKI/AAAAAAAAAEs/uJc4SH9SAOY/s1600/2012-04-07-209.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X7eVzn_Z9zs/TSHuI-hRauI/AAAAAAAAATE/5_WsdsqFARk/s1600/batanes22.jpg
http://d13pix9kaak6wt.cloudfront.net/background/users/r/a/l/ralphandvoluntourism_1368873476_49.jpg
http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e882fe_38f5382fd2144b218aa5f58864b38cd3.jpg_srz_51 5_381_85_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz
http://www.shootfirsteatlater.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/5945285143_ff94f2fcf4.jpg
http://www.shootfirsteatlater.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/5929494267_178ee4f578.jpg
http://www.pasyalera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/batanes_01.jpg

simple
06-28-2014, 10:58 AM
Well the Villages are all well organized

http://www.littlewhims.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/batanes-240.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4806759839_71168687b6.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8249/8598189135_2eb43d5a1f_z.jpg

http://marilil.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/20130325-181551.jpg

http://www.thepoortraveler.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Savidug-Village-Sabtang.jpg

Iloko
06-28-2014, 10:58 AM
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3286/dsc0072ws.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1187/dsc0076xq.jpg
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/7144/dsc0078xg.jpg

Iloko
06-28-2014, 10:59 AM
Well the Villages are all well organized
Have you been there yourself?

Graham
06-28-2014, 11:05 AM
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8249/8598189135_2eb43d5a1f_z.jpg

:P

http://www.snaphappyross.co.uk/europe/scotland/shetland/croft.jpg

simple
06-28-2014, 11:12 AM
Have you been there yourself?

Well I haven't been there yet but I heard a lot about nice things about Batanes because some of my friends already visits the place.
I'll visit Ilocos first and even if I live in Northern Luzon, Batanes is still far and I heard that you have to make sure the weather is okay.
So I guess I have to take plane because it takes more than a day to get in Batanes if by land and Batanes is composed of other islands so lol we need to travel by boat too, Batanes is one of the places I would love to visit.