A Wanderlust Blogdreaming

A luster. We all have this one far place where we always find ourselves hooked up. Either a want or a need, either as well a desire or a must, it is a place where you constantly feel yourself belong and at home.

A place we haven’t been yet literally, but been there countless times through countless dreaming (or maybe this is just me). Well, we all really have a personal dream paradise, and I am beyond thankful to know mine.

Disclaimer: this is not really a kind of a travel blog but a sort of tale-telling and a sneak peek on what awaits in Batanes.

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WELCOME ABODE TO BATANES, PHILIPPINES!

I haven’t got any words here in mind, looking at these photographs hyperbolically blown my mind away. Named as the country’s “Home of the Winds”, Batanes is generally windy because it is in the northern-most group of islands in the Philippines. Bounded on the north by the Bashi Channel, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by the West Philippine Sea and on the south by the Balintang Channel.

Batanes was created by a series of volcanic activities and other geologic forces when Mt. Iraya erupted around 325 BC. It is also the smallest province in the country which comprises 10 islands but with only 3 inhabited ones, namely: Batang, Itbayat, and Sabtang. The Natives are called the Ivatans who are nationally acclaimed as the “True Insulares”, and with the fact that their population is a total only of 18,831 with a very low crime rate, the radiating peace that reflects, blooms, and radiates in every side you will look at, made Batanes well-known.

Batanes is favorable with gods, and with God perhaps, I bet you think so as well. Together with the wind that sounds like a hush of a mother that will astonishingly make you calm, there are more three elements that will surely made its remark.
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First is the sky that is completely out of light pollution: from the blue sky that paradoxically makes you feel yellow and casts all blue, up to the night sky that will leave your breath away and might even question yourself if are you one of the stars so close above.

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Second is the lush of greens that seemingly looks like a blanket of Mother Nature that covers and comforts the lives of the people and the wild, so graceful, clean, and so warm.

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And third is the sea with its duality to welcome and guide you ashore but as well lure and captivate you with its magnificent beauty of sparkling blue and depth.

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A/N: If you are wondering now why do I speak like I experienced these all already, nah, just some research and a lot of daydreaming (lol!)
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Thus, I made sure to make a bucket list, and its tally is constantly increasing time to time.

• I want to die there.

• To live with my girlfriend there.

• To dramatize my poetic life there.

• And also to go to the beach and swim (if I get lucky and the waves would not slap me hardcore.)

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Yes, I am serious. Batanes is one of a kind, and I got here the list what to do.

• Visit the beaches, bays, and coastlines of Batanes.

• Have a trip to the other islands! However according to my mother who visited there on pre-pandemic times, since Batanes has full of twists and thrills, the provincial government only allowed tourists to visit two more islands, so totally there are still 5 other islands that are prohibited, mainly because of the strong waves and currents, do not have docks nor ports, and do not have coastlines.

• Learn their rich culture, meet the Ivatans, try their famous headgear known as vakul (for women) and talugong (for men), have a sip with their best coffees and seafoods cuisines, and most especially visit their old stone houses that withstood different earthquakes and typhoons already.

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• And fourth thing to not miss is to visit their rolling hills, mountains, and their famous lighthouses.

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To free yourself from worries and droll yourself over a paradise would be the best thing to do.
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Batanes is a loner’s dream and a loner’s paradise—my dream and my paradise that I would like to go to in the near future. Now, I am not only sharing a dream to you, but also sharing a page behind my life with a stuck wanderlust. I hope you have enjoyed!
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