• Follow Me on Twitter!
  • Like Me on Facebook!
  • View My Channel!
  • View My Snapshots!

Main menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • No Access
  • Shop
  • About Me
  • Archives
  • Bucket List
  • Links
  • Contact Me

Catanduanes (Mis)Adventures I: Battered but Blissful

Posted on January 31, 2011 by journeyingjames 8 Comments
Share
Tweet

Virac Airport welcomed me with showers of rain. The topography instantly reminded me of the famed Chocolate Hills of Bohol. My feet instantly became soaky wet the moment I step on this island on the easternmost part of Bicol region. Wet and wild? But this won’t stop me from exploring this battered but blissful town.

Catanduanes Island: Battered But Blissful

The terrain instantly reminded me of the famed Chocolate Hills of Bohol

I came here because of the article I read a year ago “Revealing Catanduanes,” the first photo (of the article) made me stoked (more on that on the 2nd part). Anyway, I immediately look for the terminal going to Puraran for the famous surf breaks.

Virac Port as seen from the breakwater

Since rural towns like this, where people are so laid back, you have to extend patience, especially while waiting for the bus to leave. I just made myself busy during that 1.5hours of waiting. I went to the breakwater of the port (beside Sea Breeze, a popular nightly hangout for beer lovers). The weather was gloomy and the waves strong. I can even see the swells from where I am situated. The smell of the breeze is different from that of Manila and the boulevard is clean.

I experienced a lot of rainshowers while at the breakwater, but there is something in the rain- it was therapeutic, blissful!

Two hours after my arrival, I now know why they call this province “The Land of the Howling Winds:”

  • We experienced turbulence as we begin our descent (on board the airplane).
  • The rain just stopped (temporarily) when we arrived.
  • It rained 5 times on the first 3 hours of my stay. And more rains to come…

Rain Rain Rain

Where is Catanduanes?

Well, I have to face the natural design that this island province is just blessed to have more rain showers compared to my home province, Laguna. This doesn’t bother the traveler in me, I don’t know but there is some bliss in the rain I cannot explain. Want another fact? I only saw a total of 4-hour of sunlight during my entire stay. MISADVENTURE? Let’s see, maybe another ADVENTURE you shouldn’t MIS…

***Catanduanes (Mis)Adventures is a 6-part series of blog posts of my jaunting in the easternmost part of the Bicol region, happened last January 7-10, 2011. Find out how this “series of misadventures” become a memorable one.

CATANDUANES (MIS)ADVENTURES: Battered But Blissful / A Frustrated Surfer Wannabe / A Cancelled Bike Ride / Bato Church Service / Tourism Gone Bad / Accommodations for Backpackers

Related Posts with Thumbnails
This entry was posted in Travel Series and tagged Catanduanes. Bookmark the permalink.

Post navigation

← Iloilo & Guimaras Travel Guide on Mabuhay Magazine
No To Mining in Palawan- A Petition Letter →

8 thoughts on “Catanduanes (Mis)Adventures I: Battered but Blissful”

  1. lakwatsera de primera said:
    Reply
    February 1, 2011 at 12:09 am

    Good thing walang bagyo James, parang Batanes din kasi yan, daanan talaga ng Bagyo, andami mo na talaga napuntahan ah, di pa ko nakakarating dyan kahit malapit lang sa amin 🙂 antayin ko na lang mga posts mo para mainspire ako this summer 🙂

  2. Pingback: Tweets that mention Catanduanes (Mis)Adventures: Battered but Blissful | JourneyingJames -- Topsy.com

  3. Cedric said:
    Reply
    February 1, 2011 at 10:53 am

    It sucks when it rains. But then again, pag nandun ka na, di na rin naman papatalo sa ulan diba? Hehe.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 2, 2011 at 2:08 pm

      of course! but you can just imagine the following posts… all are misadventures 🙂
      makes me want to come back

  4. pinoy boy said:
    Reply
    February 1, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    very very nice. can’t wait to read the rest of your post. pero kung wala masyadong sunlight, nightmare yun ng mga photographers! pero very interested ako ano feeling nga mga locals na lagi na lang umuulan!

  5. Marky said:
    Reply
    February 2, 2011 at 12:56 am

    ‘battered but not beaten’ – a hardcore backpacker like James finds something to write about regardless of weather conditions.

    Did you try surfing though?

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 2, 2011 at 2:15 pm

      indeed marky!

      let’s see in the ff posts if i was able to surf 🙂 haha

  6. Pingback: Tweets that mention Catanduanes (Mis)Adventures I: Battered but Blissful | JourneyingJames -- Topsy.com

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA Image
Refresh Image

*

Search

Like Me?

PRESS & MEDIA

Back-to-Back GMA News TV Interviews
Cebu Pacific's Featured Article: Around the Philippines for 100 Days
Manila Bulletin: Around the PH for 100 Days
TV 5: ISANGDAAN Journey Interview
ABS-CBN News Channel: ISANGDAAN Journey Live Interview
GMA News To Go: ISANGDAAN Journey Live Interview
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho: Hidden Paradise Feature
ABS-CBN Southern Mindanao: Short Interview
Living Asia Channel: Watch Me Dancing
Radio Guestings
Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine: Bacolod on a Budget
Cebu Pacific’s Smile Magazine: Zamboanga City on a Budget
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Tacloban on a Budget
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Not Your Ordinary Palawan
PAL's Mabuhay Magazine: Iloilo and Guimaras Travel Guide
8 Travel Tips to Save Money While on the Road
How to Start Your Own Backpacking Trip

Top 25 Posts

  • No To Mining in Palawan- A Petition Letter (313)
  • 100 Days of Backpacking the Philippines- The Cheapest Way Possible (240)
  • My Top 10 Philippine Travel Destination (167)
  • ISANGDAAN: The Most Epic Travel Challenge in the Philippines- A Success! (138)
  • Calaguas Islands Trip Guide: The Cheapest Way Possible (125)
  • Puerto Princesa City to El Nido Travel Guide (114)
  • Do-It-Yourself Puerto Princesa City Tour (86)
  • No Money, No Honey or Why I Travel Solo? (84)
  • Hundred Islands Travel Guide (83)
  • Cheap Accommodations in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (81)
  • Panampangan Island: Tawi-Tawi's Finest White Beach (80)
  • Why You Should Date a Traveler? (79)
  • Surigao Nature Fuck: The Most Depressing Road Trip Ever (76)
  • Dear Reader, I'm not a snob... (75)
  • Wrap Up of Mindanao 400 Challenge (73)
  • Cheap Accommodations in Camiguin Island (71)
  • Puerto Princesa City: Benchmark Of What Paradise Is (70)
  • I’m on TV! Thanks Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Summer Special (70)
  • Boracay Cheap Accommodations and Rates (68)
  • September-October Travel Plans in Bicol, the Visayas, and Ilocos (62)
  • 10 Travel Secrets of JourneyingJames (61)
  • 10 Things to Do in Quezon Province (58)
  • GMA News To Go Interview about ISANGDAAN Journey (58)
  • How to Fund Your Wanderlust? (58)
  • On Pursuing My Passion (58)
Copyright 2012 | Journeying James Designed by: Regine Garcia