Months ago, I wrote a LOVE LETTER to Batanes… It says something like this,
“I am charmed. Your rustic charisma is beyond all remarks. You are the apple of my eye, my Aphrodite, my Kryptonite, my joy, my dream forever- the reason for my smile…
I am jealous. I am jealous of those who earlier beheld you. All their eyes are filled with magic. As if they drank from a secret fountain of your splendor…
I want to see you because “taytu ka mavid” (you are beautiful). Saying “Ichakey ku imu” (I like you) is too simplistic, maybe a heartfelt “Ichaddaw ku imu” (I love you) is more fitting- yes “Ichaddaw ku imu” has been in my heart a decade ago. And I will say it again and again “Ichaddaw ku imu,” “Ichaddaw ku imu Batanes.” Would I hear you say “I love you too.”?”
Fast forward >>>
I was pinching myself, twice, thrice, many times to check if it was a reality- that finally, I was able to see you.
It was so sweet of you to tour me around the island with a carabao.
Well, not really the whole island.
It was so sweet of you to take me on a tour with a carabao. I love the idea! You are different from the others I loved.
As promised, I was able to kiss you (medyo maalat ka pala).
On my love letter to Batanes, I promised to kiss her when I see her. Just like a faithful lover, I fulfilled my promise.
You filled me with your bounty, you must have heard the saying that, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
Coconut crab cooked in coconut milk, simply the best
I said this to you a lot of times- I enjoyed every moment we were together. Those 4 days seem like 4 hours, so fast, I hoped it will last forever.
One of the many "moments" I had with Batanes
But I have to face the reality that I cannot stay forever. Yes, I will say it again, “Ichaddaw ku imu” (I love you).
But I want to share you- your beauty, your charm for everyone to see. Remember, people say, “if you really love her, you have to let her go.” I will but with a promise that I will be back because love never fails. We will spend more time together next time- that is a promise. Seriously, I look forward to seeing you again. Please embrace me like what you did the first time.
My Dearest Batanes, I am missing you already. Until next time…
Chamantad Viewpoint in Chavayan, Sabtang Island
_____ _____ _____
4th Edition: Most Romantic Place in the Philippines
This is my addition to the “Most Romantic Place in the Phillippines” for the 4th Pinoy Travel Bloggers’s Blog Carnival hosted by Aleah of Solitary Wanderer; (You can also click the Blog Carnival Logo to direct you to the past blog carnivals).
Photo kissing Batanes by Compañerong Leon of TadongGeniusKuno.
***This happened during the Batanes Bloggers’ Winter Tour last February 11-14, 2011. The trip was made possible by SEAIR. My heartfelt thanks goes to Tita Lydia of Batanes Seaside Lodge & Restaurant and Dir. Bless and the rest of DOT Region 2 staff.
I heart Batanes too! Marami talaga syang admirers 🙂
i just hope her admirers would not break her heart and take care of her 🙂
towards a sustainable tourism in batanes!
humabol sa blog carnival! your photos made me miss batanes more. i miss y’all too! 🙂
glad to travel with you gay backpacker! hahaha
i was telling the rest of the group nung wala pa kayo, idol kita! kaya na-excite naman ako when i heard the plane touched down. haha sinundo sa airport
Thanks for visiting our place…
I hope you had a great stay.
🙂
hi ryan! indeed, it was GREAT. AMAYZING! until next time.
Nainlove talaga sa Batanes hehe 😀 Sana makapunta na rin ako dyan 😀 Congrats again for winning in the SEAIR contest 😀
come and visit our place!
🙂
yes, super in-love! thanks mica 🙂
oo, makakapunta ka din dyan
i hope to see batanes too. :))
romantic ka pala journeying james 🙂
…pero i noticed…baho mo daw sabi nung bata…hehehe….peace! 🙂
🙂 sinabi ng bata yun? hindi kaya, mabait yung bata, ivatan yun e.hahaha
I hope to sleep with Batanes soon too 🙂
you will marky! thanks again for the vote of confidence during the contest. pinalakas mo loob ko!
Romancing the stone in Batanes! Perfect VD post. Lavet! Awesome photos too. 🙂
thanks a lot AJ! kelan ka pupunta ng batanes?
nakanaman! ang sweeeeeeetttttt!!!! hahahaha…
at dahil jan, magsusulat na rin ako! hahaha.
go go izah, nice to meet tripadora in person, galing pa na photogrpaher! 🙂
will wait for your posts (and mike’s) hahaha
You guys are making me jealous so badly now! I’m dying to go back to my homeland and enjoy this island too! Nice love letter to Batanes James and what an excellent idea to write it that way.:) Cheers!
c’mon back quick! book your flight na with seair
iba ka james! 🙂 can there be surfing in batanes? or is there surfing in batanes?
joko, i think surfing can be done in batanes as i saw tubes and nice breaks while i was there. but i would say it is the wildest waves i saw in the Philippines. dangerous is an understatement.
ang alam ko, wala pang nag-try magsurf sa batanes, i saw a paddle board though in one of the inns.
i shall ask around. Wildest? diba you went to Catanduanes when the waves were ginormous? it’s going to be dangerous depending on the bottom and the current mostly.
“I am jealous. I am jealous of those who earlier beheld you.” Yaan mo, kami na magsasabi nito ngayon, kaming di pa napupuntang Batanes. 😀
now i can say, let them be jealous, those who have not behold you yet. then laugh until i roll on the ground…huwahahahaha!
kayang-kaya mo yan ced, ikaw pa galapinoy! plan your trip na, 1 month in batanes
Congrats again James! Kung ang iba may asim pa.. ang Batanes (when you kissed her?) eh may alat pa.. hehe
the love letter that’s very timely.. 🙂
thanks jeff! correct, may alat pa si batanes… 🙂
you should schedule a trip na to batanes!
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Galing mo James. Congrats. Sana makapunta na rin kami ng batanes. Dami talagang na inlove sa kanya. My Dream Places. I am curious with their structures also on how they built it.:-).
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Congrats James! You deserve it man! 🙂 Bitter ako! haha pero someday mararating ko rin yan. Madameng may gusto na marating xa I’m sure, too bad mejo my kamahalan ang pamasahe, sana in the future madame ding mag-offer ng flights papunta sa kanya. 🙂
see you soon!
Thanks thanks gael! mura na fare ngaun, oct 2011 ang travel time.
im excited for your travel plans this year ha.
what a romantic and heartfelt letter you have wrote for Batanes..thenatural beauty and tranquility combined of that place may put everyone in a hurry packing up there things to see her in reality..including me ^_^
go na! book a flight with seair agad, 🙂
lets just say im in love….with batanes and with her beautiful people, the Ivatans. the experience was just awesome. would not mind to live their if opportunity comes.
You make me cry… 🙂 Batanes is truly beautiful! Thanks for sharing your adventures and travel tips. Will wait for the launching of your book 😀
aww… ang cute! kinilig nman ako sa letter mo. =) i admire your passion for travel. would love to travel as much as you have.
talaga? hahaha buti nga nanalo!
thanks and i hope that you get to travel too as often as you can.
how romantic…pag inlove talagang “makata”…
very romantic…
I’m dreaming of Batanes too….haysssss…kakaiingit 🙁
i can say that i’m proud to be an Ivatan….changsah cu naw Batanes(i miss batanes)…people there are very truely different…their attitude,,,their sweet and very welcoming smile…you’ll never feel that you’re different person…
when you visit Batanes….always bring with you your sweet smile…:)…
i can say that i’m proud to be an Ivatan….changsah cu naw Batanes(i miss batanes)…people there are truely….very different…their attitudes,,,their sweet and very welcoming smile…you’ll never feel that you’re different person…
when you visit Batanes….always bring with you your sweet smile…:)…
ang ganda talaga ng batanes janice.
i enjoyed my tour there and hoping to visit in again sometime
My dad was born and raised in Basco, Batanes and I’m looking forward to visiting Batanes this year. The coconut crab is really very delicious but it’s already endangered so I hope people won’t be too enticed to try that. Try the big fishes and shrimps (sugpo) instead. If you know how to catch fish(my dad catches his own food when vacationing there), you can do that too to experience some Survivor moment. Also, the ADOBO of Basco Batanes is really something else. They have the best adobo in the whole wide world! 🙂