Early Morning at Sabtang Lighthouse

We stayed for 3 nights on my third visit to Sabtang, Batanes. We even used 2 homestays on those 3 nights, 1st is at the Sabtang Lighthouse near the port. It was awesomely located on a promontory and the homestay is literally at the foot of the Lighthouse. Apparently, the lighthouse is on a private land and since the location is very idyllic the landowner decided to utilize this unique location for a homestay. At present there are 3 small cottages there with a few rooms each, me and my buddy stayed with a mother and son team. They were at the room and we at the livingroom, which was fun. There is a common bathroom and a kitchen. We all left to roam around in the morning and we transfered to another homestay in Chavayan on our 2nd and 3rd night. Of course our days seem to be very short to roam around the island.

We were literally forced by the sunrise to come out early and experience its effects on the landscape. Unfortunately, due to the urgency of the moment i was not able to bring with me the better camera in recording the sunrise. So i just have these photos to at least show you a semblance of the truth.

 This promontory is on an almost vertical ridge from the sea level. We explored every nooks and crannies to get most angles of the landscape. 

 To our right is the Sabtang port and the business center, where houses and some government offices are located, together with the school and the church. It actually is a very small community.

 At the lower left are stairway steps to an almost secret cove where visitors can privately swim or have picnic near the water. 

 It is windy and a bit cold to our standards in the tropics. By this time the sun is already up, we just cannot get in yet for breakfast as there still are some subjects to photograph, like ourselves. 

 My travel buddy, unlike me, is not afraid of heights nor depths. She prefers going to scary places. That area she was on is already a very steep vertical ridge, a slip will bring you down to the very sharp rocks below! By the way, that island at the horizon is Batan Island, where the airport is, and concentration of commerce and people are located. 

 It is nice to watch big waves breaking on the boulders. This just looks small because our location on the top gives us an angle that projects shorter sizes. 

 A nicer designed stone cottage is at the back, i surely prefer that cottages here should have been designed like that. However, the cottage at the right is already a modern structure, almost like a temporary makeshift cottage in the area. 

The view to the mountains, where cattles and goats roam freely to graze. 

Again, that is my extreme adventurer travel buddy looking for more difficult areas to explore. Despite my already softening knees, trembling while looking at her location, i still have to get this picture to document what she has been through. I actually don't know how she was able to get there! And with all my summoned courage i immediately press the shutter to be done with and already go to safer grounds. Her passions even made this trip more memorable.


Our World Tuesday
Nature Notes

A hurried visit to Sumnanga

Upon arrival at Sabtang Island after lunch,  our guide tricyle took us to Sumnanga, a fishing village at the other side of the mountains from Sabtang Centro. It was through the north side. We did not go there during my first 2 visits. Roads to Sumnanga are more difficult than other roads in Sabtang Island. The roads are more narrow and steeper, and there are also some roads under construction.

We did not have the usual itinerary so we can tell the guide where we want to go. We actually have only 3 hours to spare before it gets dark, so we were actually hurried.

Above is one of the steep rockies on the roadside to Sumnanga.  Tricycles there now have cogon roofs that entice tourists. That is ours, i rode at the side car, while my buddy rode at the back side of the driver. My travel buddy has a penchance for a little extreme, she is not scared of depths nor heights, and she wants these feats documented. I do not share such, so i normally do the photography. 

 She likes high places. At her left is a very steep wall to the sea, and my phobia will not

 allow me to stand on that ledge. Sometimes when she does that, 

my knees want to buckle down and I actually feel them weaken !

After about 40 min. we are in the fishing village of Sumnanga. There are the typical legendary stone houses of Batanes. Only a few houses are in this village. Above is another group of houses at the other side of a hill, and they call this Little Hongkong. I have been to Hongkong, but i don't see the comparison. Maybe it is in a part of Hongkong that is far from the tourists usual destinations. Actually it is a small cove. 

This is the view immediately catching one's attention in entering the village. Those rockies are very typical hardened lava from some volcanic eruption. I think Batanes in the past are under water, just emerged by some volcanic eruptions and tectonic movements. Those white patches on the rocks are drying cuttlefish backbones. That is a small falowa boat for fishing. 

Most men from this village are also cattle raisers at the Vuhus Island, which is only devoted for cattle grazing. It is about 30min from Sumnanga Island by smaller falowa boats.

 

 A small red falowa boat; and a very big papaya that fell off the tree because of its heavy weight. It is almost as long as the cart, at 2 ft long.

My travel buddy tried pushing the cart of the local resident.

 typical stone house in Batanes, but this one is smaller than those in other parts of Sabtang

 those are flying fish being dried; one-day old fish like these are preferred by the Ivatans

This is on our way back to Sabtang Centro from Sumnanga. There is still an hour before dusk so we can still have some photo opportunities.  The width of these roads are only wider than a tricycle so they cannot be on opposite sides at the same time. There are some wider lay-by portions where one has to stop to let the opposite one go ahead. 

The nice thing about Batanes Islands is that most of their roads are cemented even if they are in the remotest barangay. Even some roads to the fields are paved. 

 This mountain has to be cracked at the middle for the road to pass through. The road is a bit steep but still manageable by the tricycles, although we hear the engine complaining.

 It is after sunset when we finally reached Morong Beach and Nakabuang Arch on our way back to Sabtang Centro. It is cloudy and we did not sea a nice sunset. I remember having our lunch of lobsters, fresh fish and turmeric rice during my first trip here in 2008. Our guide then joined the three of us to a group so we can partake of the famous Sabtang Arch lunch. That time there are no huts or restaurants here in this area, in contrast to what they have now. A few resto huts are already built above this area.

 the expanse of Morong Beach

my fascination in expanded beaches, documenting the lacey waters

Our World Tuesday