Shooting at Viang’s Rolling Hills on Day 1
“Batanes in June!? You gotta be kidding? You might get stranded when a storm comes.” Was some of the common reactions I get when I say we’ll be holding a Travel and Outdoor Workshop at the end of June. I couldn’t blame them since Batanes do have a reputation as a stormy region but that was true a few years ago. These last couple of years we noticed the change in weather patterns. Even Ivatan locals there say “Official storm season now starts sometime October” So early morning 24th of June, 2010. I along with 16 other people flew from Manila, braving whatever weather yet eager to set foot on the northern-most region of the Philippines – Batanes.
Seair Dornier at Basco Airport
I can say it again and again that I would never tire of Batanes. Even as our plane started to land, I could feel the excitement and now taking along a group to experience its rugged landscapes, windswept hills and its kind people. A welcome banner courtesy of DDD Habitat greeted us as we arrived at the stone-walled Basco airport. The group regrouped as we waited for our bags and we were soon whisked away to our home base in Basco, DDD Habitat.
Welcome Banner at Basco Airport courtesy of DDD Habitat
Breakfast served, room assignments given, and a little rest on the side, we soon started our lectures on the foundation of the workshop. For day 1, we discussed key concepts about Travel and Outdoor Photography, its scopes and differences, then moving to light and exposure, to more advance metering methods and using filters to balance and get the desired exposure on a scene.
Backpack Photography Lecture at DDD Habitat (Photo by Araceli Habaradas)
After lunch, a little towards mid-afternoon, we started our tour on nearby sites. It was hot and humid in Basco and thought it was the perfect time give out each participant caps provided to us by Olympus to offer a little shade while we tour. First stop was Fundacion Pacita and Radar Tukon so participants could get to appreciate a 360 degree landscape of Batan Island with the imposing Mt Iraya and the scenic hedges opposite the mountain.
Framed view from Radar Tukon
Stopping for a little halo-halo snack, we went to the Viang Rolling Hills for the sunset. Here also to apply the concepts on exposure, metering and use of filters to get the proper exposure on a scene. Of course, also to admire these rolling terrain under the setting sun. The moon already rose when we were about to leave, yet not letting any photo opportunity pass; we also shot some landscapes under the moonlight.
Sunset at Viang Rolling Hills
Dinner was at Pension Ivatan and they prepared a very nice setup of local cuisines. We feasted on lobsters, tatus (Coconut Crabs), ivatan rice (with turmeric), fern salads, tadyang ng baka, itbud (meatballs) dry adobo and more. It was a great first dinner.
Ivatan Cuisine at Pension Ivatan
There was a week-long celebration for Batanes and electrical power were being cycled through grids and directed to the town plaza. Unfortunately, we were on the power outage grid that night. I was a bit worried about the heat when sleeping and charging our batteries but good thing the staffs at DDD Habitat were able to turn their generator on and find extra fans until the power would be restored so participants could use the aircon. Water is not a surprising problem in Basco. I’ve stayed at 5 different places in Basco and I know water is a common problem in the area. Staff had to manually fetch buckets of waters from their reservoir that night so participants could freshen up since the water tank has depleted. Power was restored before midnight ending our first day in Batanes.
Backpack Photography wishes to thank Canon for lending the Selphy Printer and Lonely Planet Travel Photography Book prize, Eagle Creek for 2 Packable Duffle Bag Prize, Olympus for the participant caps and Sony for the Bloggie
that resembles the food at sea food island but it looks much much better and yummy looking!
wow! exciting agad first day nyo ha.
p.s. sarap ng dinner nyo. hehe!
nice. natuwa naman ako sa banner ng DDD. love it. Ferdz and Oggie you never get tired of Batanes no?! i am excited to see the next entry. mukhang nag-enjoy si Ate Nidz. di pa ko nakakapagpakuwento.
Hi Bing! Definitely yummy! And we ate lobsters and crabs straight three days.
Lagare agad first day Erick! Yep masarap nga yan hehe
Hi Rayts! Di pa ko nagsasasawa especially now that I’m still discovering a more of Itbayat. I hope nag enjoy si Nidz, kung pwede ng alang daw mag travel na lang at wag na magtrabaho
akala ko views lang ang maganda sa batanes. even the food. at galing ng airport nakadesign na rin ng stone houses. unang post pa lang exciting na. i felt like i was part of the group.
Ferdz, an online buddy of mine asked me if DDD (of the DDD Habitat) meant something in particular?
Naku Dom! Sarap ng din ng Ivatan food. Yep very charming yung airport nila dito
Hi Cat! DDD stands for the initial of the owners “Dominador, Don and Danda”
The experience of Batanes landscapes and food is awesome. But maybe those are not only what is good in Batanes. My first visit there was last year, there are three of us and i enjoyed our five days. We went there “empty-handed” or empty-minded, as we just followed what Ferdz wrote years ago in his blog posts. This time we did not only have his posts, he is personally there to guide us. This time we are thrilled! (take note present tense pa). Six out of nine Banawe participants joined here (maybe we enjoyed the company), and there are nine more, equally wonderful souls enhancing the experiences. So maybe it is not only the place, it could be the company. Maybe it magnifies the best in us. We learned, we experienced and we gained friends. So thanks to our dear Wulf and Lagalog for making our travels and camaraderie more exciting. . . . From the Pack of Wulves (juk time)
Glad you enjoyed the workshop Nids! Yes, I guess no matter how good the place, it still differs if you share it with a great company along
Mukhang ang saya saya. The spread is so delectable. What’s next on the calendar?
I keep coming back to your site. I hope someday I may be able to attend one of your workshops.
Thanks Ferdz, I will relay to her the info. I only found out when I tried to google they have other nice hotels (boutique hotel pa) in other places. Hopefully some online buddies will be convinced to give it a try there…