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.