Monday, September 17, 2012

A little deja-vu!

I have not been leaving town lately, and somehow that creates an air of unease in my head. Leaving town means riding on a plane to someplace where the landscape is different from the concrete jungle I live in. The only respite from the daily unworthy circumstances are the every-other-weekends going home to the province, where the air is much easier to take in.  That is a 3-hr land trip only, which doesn't correlate to the meaning of 'out-of-town' already in my head.

So when my feet are itching to go away, I open my external drive of photos, and dig, dig, dig for photos of the not so long past and recall the incidents there. Here are some of the  photos of Batanes, the northernmost tip of the Philippines. Only one airline go there, and not many tourists avail of the chances, prices are high without competition. I've been there twice, and hope to be there again one of these days. It is a place not yet conquered much by commercialism, only the typhoons are its frequent visitors. This led to stone houses with 2 feet thick walls to withstand the strong winds. Batanes group of islands are famous, yet seemingly difficult to reach by common standards.

 This is the view to your right, as you are facing the big waves of the Pacific Ocean.

This is the view to the left, with Mt Iraya, the volcano responsible for putting more soil and rocks on the island. Very normal in the area is the loud deep sound confusing every first timers, as to where they are coming from. But those are caused by the big rocks underwater being carried by the waves, bumping every other rock on the same journey. These unceasing phenomenon is responsible for making these rocks and boulders smooth, and changing them to small pieces. The sound is really incredible and unmistakably from the deep. 
These are actually big boulders, and rocks here get smaller in size faster than maybe any other place, which are just left on normal process of weathering. The loudest sound can be heard even while still beyond that ridge, and is loudest when at that cove. That small stretch of smaller rocks at the middle of the cove serves as anchor point for small fishermen's boats.

Rocks are of different origins and colors. I guess volcanologists, geologists and mineral people will find a lot of data from these rocks and boulders. I wonder how long a certain size of rock becomes a pebble.


It is scary to even think of being caught under those waters. Even just maneuvering yourself among the rocks without water is very difficult. Travelling from one site to another is meditative, as you will not allow your mind wander, or you might slip and break your head.

You wont even allow yourself be near the waterline as wave manners are not predictable. Photographers will not allow themselves near it with the danger of being watersoaked, camera and all.

 This is the common flying fish gathered from those waters, among other marine resources found there. These fishes are sometimes even caught flying alongside boats to the other islands, I actually saw one myself for a few minutes, maybe it flew about 6 meters.

 The view at the other side of the island opposite the Pacific is more tamed, but not necessarily safe! But of course these coves offer more sanctuaries for marine organisms, and humans can swim on these areas. In one of those coves, we actually had swimming.

Our World Tuesday Graphic   Outdoor-Wednesday-logo_thumb1_thumb1[2]







24 comments:

  1. What amazing scenery, Andrea! We have 'singing sands' on a stretch of beach in the UK (Wales), but I have never heard the sound of rocks and boulders moving beneath the ocean! We have just returned from Scotland (photos here), where the air was pure ... and the weather quite dramatic!

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    1. Hi Caroline, know what? Most of us who has been to Batanes love to say that it is the Scotland of the Philippines. There are terrains and landscapes which have similar feel. But I have not been to Scotland, just saw it in photos, but it is one of my dream places to see. I actually said that to Rosie of Leavesnbloom, who is from there.

      I have already posted a few about Batanes in the other blog. By the way, why the beach in Wales called 'singing sands'? Is it because it is carried by wind?

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  2. take me with you next time you go :)

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    1. Oh sure Photo Cache, but ironwulf and lagalog are the best persons to tag along with, of course i will tag along too!

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  3. Beautiful scenery. How lovely to find places that don't yet seem over commercialized. I can relate to this post very much and is the same reason I went recently for a trip to Whidbey Island. Thanks for commenting on my post!

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  4. This is really so beautiful. I know I know....I do the same thing. You want to go but for some reason or another it's just not happening....that's when the pic folder opens up:) Very beautiful landscape. Is that you on the rocks? I love that shot. Looks like so much fun. Do you have parks near you? They would be really fun to see from your point of view. If you think your place is a concrete jungle, you haven't seen our concrete:) It's hot.....very very hot:)

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    1. Hi Kreesh, my dear kreeeesh, haha! Thanks for relating to what i feel right now, wanting to go out but can't! I am not that lady on the rocks, i am the photographer. We were just 3 the first time we went there, this is that first time. I know maybe your concrete jungle is really hotter than ours, but at least you have 4 seasons in your desert! And you can easily go away to some place you want to be! Meanwhile, thanks to my archive photos.

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  5. the rocks are amazing--and the sound you mentioned, quite interesting! i'm still praying for a promo fare that would coincide with my "vacation" so i can afford to go to Batanes.:p

    the last photo is breathtaking!

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    1. I think tourism should capitalize on that sound, because that could be the only place with that, however nobody seems to have thought about it yet. Only a little advertisement will do the trick. But my mind is divided, i also don't want many people to go to the place, or else it will change fast, and the idyllic feeling will not be preserved for a long time.

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  6. What an idyllic place to visit. You describe it so well not just the sights but the sounds.

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    1. Thank you very much for the appreciation. I know i don't write well, so I just most of the time write spontaneously here, without drafts or prior time. I just put what i sincerely feel every time.

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  7. Fascinating place!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  8. Looks like a beautiful place to visit. The various colored rocks are beautiful. Thanks for sharing, have a great day!

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  9. Fabulous views of the kand, the ocean and the rocks...oh I love rocks...I can see why you love it there.

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  10. Lovely photos! Nice to see the ocean and rocks from your country!

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  11. That is the best and cheapest way to travel these days.

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  12. Wow what a beautiful place i love to go there.
    Have a nise evening!

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  13. I can feel the smell and the fresh air of the ocean. :) Thanks!

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  14. What a description of a tour... I loved to read it - and so an amazing series of photos to show..wow.. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

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  15. Ahh... Valugan Bay, one of my favorite spot in this world. :)

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  16. Oh my, these are some breathtaking views. I particularly like the photo of the splash against the rocks. What an inspiring place to visit, to meditate, to enjoy!

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  17. An amazing series of photos, all very enjoyable.

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  18. Well when you're up to it all and the heat dies down a little, you'll get your groove back:) Last week we had a break in the temps and I stayed out an ENTIRE morning!!! and afternoon. It was a miracle. So hopefully things will calm down for you as well. I know how humid it gets:) Hope you get some more butterflies. Yours are so beautiful.

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