DAY01: Explore and Discover Northern Batan Island
We were assigned to different locations not too far
away from one another. Some of us were assigned at a hotel and some at a
homestay.
I was luckily assigned at a homestay owned by Mr.
Gunding Horcajo and I occupy a room. There were three rooms and I was home
alone. There were no other guests.
Just before lunch time, I met our tour guide
“Kinuy”.
Before starting the adventure, we had lunch at nearby
restaurant. The menu was a tasty steamed fish and a soup with
Ivatan rice (brown rice). Here, we were joined by a friend Donna Nicolas who
came later all the way from the airport.
We
travelled exploring the north of the island of Batan. On board the van, we
reached the place of Valugan, our first destination.
§ Boulder
Beach in Chanpan Valugan
The place is called “Boulder”
beach because of the huge rocks and stones scattered beautifully along the
seashore.
According to our guide, the huge rocks were spewed out of the crater
of the dormant volcano – Mt. Iraya hundreds of years ago. Facing the sea, on
the left side is the slope of Mt. Iraya and on the right is a portion of the
edge of Batan island.
Unlike ordinary stones, the rocks seemed to be decorated
with different colors of varying patters.
From the Boulder beach we
travelled further north to see a tunnel, a remembrance from the last World War
II.
§ WWII Japanese
Hideout/Tunnel
We stopped at the left side of
the highway few steps away from main entrance of the Japanese Tunnel. Our guide
said that in 1945, the main entrance was covered with cogon grass. The tunnel
was excavated in 1945 in a strategic location overlooking the landing zone of
the Americans.
Getting inside the tunnel
reminded me of the Malinta tunnel in Corregidor.
§ Basco Idjang
Viewing
Moving
further north from the Japanese Tunnel, we passed by the Idjang stone fortress.
According to our guide, Idjang is a fortress for those who have enemies in the
ancient days.
Ancient
Ivatans believed to have abandoned the Idjangs during the Spanish colonial
period, according to our guide.
§ PAGASA
“Tukon” Radar Station
Travelling
further north, we had a rendezvous at PAGASA Radar Station on route from the
Japanese Tunnel.
This is the last station of PAGASA up north, according to our
guide. From the Radar Station, we gazed at another amazing landscape of lush
green slope of land mass.
What makes it more interesting was the “checkered-like”
view of the grassy slopes.
§ Mt.
Carmel Chapel (Tukon Chapel)
From
the Radar station, we went up a hill to see Mt. Carmel Chapel. It was a small
chapel but what makes it special is the way it was constructed.
It was
constructed out of stone similar to the Ivatan Stone houses. There
was a restoration going on inside the church at that time.
§ Vayang
Rolling Hills
From Mt. Carmel Chapel, we moved
up to an upper ground to the Vayang Rolling Hills. According to our guide, it
was called “Rolling Hills” because it is a hill of hills or hills after hills –
hence rolling. For me, this was the first testament of what others call “New
Zealand” of the Philippines.
The view is simply astounding.
The Vayang Rolling hills is a lush green land scape with few cattle on lose
feeding freely. Likewise, the view of the seashore is equally amazing.
§ Lighthouse
in Naidi Hills
From the Vayang Hills, we visited
the Lighthouse at Naidi Hills. I was a little disappointed when our guide said
that all lighthouses in Batanes are no longer operational. Seafarers according
to our guide are using GPS to navigate their way to the port.
I had a chance to
went up the lighthouse to further enjoy the view of the surroundings from atop
and I was completely blown out by the awesome view that beholds me.
It was around six in the evening
when we ended our first day adventure. We were shuttled back to our respective accommodations.
Donna and I were just neighbors and we had a good dinner at Pension Ivatan.
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