• 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

Batanes: It All Started With A Love Letter

Posted on February 14, 2011 by journeyingjames 43 Comments
Share
Tweet

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.

Related Posts with Thumbnails
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged batanes, blog carnival. Bookmark the permalink.

Post navigation

← Catanduanes: Cheap Accommodations for Backpackers
Bukidnon: What Does A Backpacker Do In A Golf Club? →

43 thoughts on “Batanes: It All Started With A Love Letter”

  1. lakwatsera de primera said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 1:00 am

    I heart Batanes too! Marami talaga syang admirers 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:42 am

      i just hope her admirers would not break her heart and take care of her 🙂
      towards a sustainable tourism in batanes!

  2. pinaytraveljunkie said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 1:16 am

    humabol sa blog carnival! your photos made me miss batanes more. i miss y’all too! 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:43 am

      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

  3. Ryan said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 1:21 am

    Thanks for visiting our place…
    I hope you had a great stay.
    🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:44 am

      hi ryan! indeed, it was GREAT. AMAYZING! until next time.

  4. Micamyx said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 1:23 am

    Nainlove talaga sa Batanes hehe 😀 Sana makapunta na rin ako dyan 😀 Congrats again for winning in the SEAIR contest 😀

    • Ryan said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 1:28 am

      come and visit our place!
      🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:44 am

      yes, super in-love! thanks mica 🙂
      oo, makakapunta ka din dyan

    • joana paula said:
      Reply
      September 1, 2011 at 6:44 am

      i hope to see batanes too. :))

  5. bubbly said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 1:32 am

    romantic ka pala journeying james 🙂

    …pero i noticed…baho mo daw sabi nung bata…hehehe….peace! 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:45 am

      🙂 sinabi ng bata yun? hindi kaya, mabait yung bata, ivatan yun e.hahaha

  6. Marky said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 1:48 am

    I hope to sleep with Batanes soon too 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:45 am

      you will marky! thanks again for the vote of confidence during the contest. pinalakas mo loob ko!

  7. AJ said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 2:17 am

    Romancing the stone in Batanes! Perfect VD post. Lavet! Awesome photos too. 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:46 am

      thanks a lot AJ! kelan ka pupunta ng batanes?

  8. Tripadora said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 3:22 am

    nakanaman! ang sweeeeeeetttttt!!!! hahahaha…

    at dahil jan, magsusulat na rin ako! hahaha.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:46 am

      go go izah, nice to meet tripadora in person, galing pa na photogrpaher! 🙂
      will wait for your posts (and mike’s) hahaha

  9. Jorie Pacli said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 6:14 am

    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!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 15, 2011 at 7:47 am

      c’mon back quick! book your flight na with seair

  10. joko said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 9:29 am

    iba ka james! 🙂 can there be surfing in batanes? or is there surfing in batanes?

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 16, 2011 at 12:11 am

      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.

      • joko said:
        Reply
        February 17, 2011 at 7:39 am

        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.

  11. Cedric said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    “I am jealous. I am jealous of those who earlier beheld you.” Yaan mo, kami na magsasabi nito ngayon, kaming di pa napupuntang Batanes. 😀

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 16, 2011 at 12:13 am

      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

  12. JeffZ said:
    Reply
    February 15, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    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.. 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 16, 2011 at 12:17 am

      thanks jeff! correct, may alat pa si batanes… 🙂
      you should schedule a trip na to batanes!

  13. Pingback: Most Romantic Places in the Philippines | Solitary Wanderer

  14. Bonzenti [Con Tour Blog] said:
    Reply
    February 16, 2011 at 3:04 am

    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.:-).

  15. Pingback: Tadonggeniuskuno goes to Batanes « Tadonggeniuskuno

  16. thepinaysolobackpacker said:
    Reply
    February 19, 2011 at 10:14 am

    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!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 20, 2011 at 2:22 pm

      Thanks thanks gael! mura na fare ngaun, oct 2011 ang travel time.
      im excited for your travel plans this year ha.

  17. rowena lledo said:
    Reply
    March 11, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    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 ^_^

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      March 14, 2011 at 5:20 am

      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.

      • Tessa said:
        Reply
        April 18, 2011 at 6:44 am

        You make me cry… 🙂 Batanes is truly beautiful! Thanks for sharing your adventures and travel tips. Will wait for the launching of your book 😀

  18. kay said:
    Reply
    August 10, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    aww… ang cute! kinilig nman ako sa letter mo. =) i admire your passion for travel. would love to travel as much as you have.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      August 11, 2011 at 1:50 am

      talaga? hahaha buti nga nanalo!
      thanks and i hope that you get to travel too as often as you can.

  19. ma re said:
    Reply
    August 22, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    how romantic…pag inlove talagang “makata”…

  20. mj said:
    Reply
    July 3, 2012 at 1:15 am

    very romantic…

    I’m dreaming of Batanes too….haysssss…kakaiingit 🙁

  21. janice said:
    Reply
    September 11, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    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…:)…

  22. janice said:
    Reply
    September 11, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    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…:)…

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      September 17, 2012 at 2:09 am

      ang ganda talaga ng batanes janice.
      i enjoyed my tour there and hoping to visit in again sometime

  23. Joy Lora said:
    Reply
    February 25, 2014 at 10:14 am

    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! 🙂

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