Batanes, Day 1

I was at the state of just taking it all in. I believe I was the earliest to arrive at the Domestic Airport, since I did leave home literally a day before, at almost midnight, since I was not sure how the commute situation will be. I’m glad I did though, because I only got to board an FX taxi about an hour later, realizing the provincial buses were not plying their route at that time anymore, and I had to ride a jeep to get near the Malolos/Guiguinto area, where I was hoping early Monday Manila-bound passengers were in my same situation.

Anyhow, the realization that I was finally Batanes-bound came through when I only got my ticket. This was a trip that I was just invited to, unaware of all the other details, but the date, and that I’ll be with bloggers. While lined-up at the check-in line, Markku and company gave me the quickie orientation: this was an Epson-sponsored event, and we’d also be with some press people.

Plane flew, plane landed a bit more than an hour after, and the weather that greeted us at the Basco Airport was glum. Screw glum, I exclaimed, I’m in Batanes.

Our temporary residence for the trip was the Batanes Seaside Lodge and Restaurant, where we were initially served tinapang flying fish. The place was currently being rennovated (read: pounding hammer noise), and that the flying fish was actually bony, but screw all that, I muttered, I’m in Batanes. After settling in to our rooms, and a brief explanation by the Epson crew of the photo contest theme, we were off to a guided trip around Basco.

First stop, an old church around the town proper.

I don’t know if I was too giddy, or just plain careless, but this was about the time I dropped my Horizon 202 panoramic camera on the chruch’s concrete floor: the leveler became a cluster of bubbles, and the advance mechanism has gone cranky. Thankfully, several rolls later, it looked like it was back to its original, fixed state.

Next stop, a few rolling hills, where the scene was breathtaking, and the wind ready to screw the bones off its sockets.

Then a lighthouse, where you have a pretty good view of the town.

A place called Marlboro Country came next, where a sign on a gate noted that this was a protected area. Again, the ocean wind beat on us like the fragile humans we are. The carabao herds didn’t look too friendly either.

We were then off to a place called ghost town, which -if I remember right- was a place that experienced brutal tidal waves once, and its residents decided to relocate.

No, the place wasn’t stranded. This was around the time I realized my DSLR and my limited photographic skill cannot do justice to the scenic places around, but if I had people to shoot, I’d probably be able to find my groove again.

Mid-to late afternoon, we had the unattended Honesty Coffee Shop, another church, and the oldest house in Basco on our list. Go through the rest of my Day 1 DSLR images here.

The days-end was spent back at the hotel, with a product presentation of Epson’s printers, and a print-all-you-want-in-A4 session. And while most decided to pop a few beers right after, I decided to hit the hay early.

Sponsored by and product details to follow.