When you tour Sabtang Island, you actually only see the eastern side of the island, one that is near the coast.
After visiting the Stone houses of Sinakan, we took a long road to our next destination. Along the way, we stopped by a limestone kiln — essentially a hole in a limestone-rich ground. They light the makeshift kiln up and “cook” the limestone for days until it can be used as a binder for the walls of the stone houses.
On the same long road, we were able to see an idjang, which — as mentioned in a previous entry — is a fortress used for habitation, but was also a fortification where Ivatans hid against enemies or invaders.
The idjang in Savidug not too difficult to find as it is greatly modified, as opposed to simply carved onto a landform like the Basco idjang.
The Savidug idjang has been a subject of archaeological investigations. Burial jars, Chinese ceramics, and foundations of stone houses have been excavated from here. (You can read about such an excavation here.)
Our eventual destination was the Chamantad-Tinyan viewpoint for some rugged, breathtaking views of the beach.
At some point, your fellow tourists will spread out. It is a huge place. You are urged to go as far out as you can for the grandest views.
And here, in Batanes, you will realize again and again what breathtaking views really mean.
And while we were at it, why not a post-nuptial picture? :)
We also got to try the vakul, or the headgear of the Ivatan females, while I sipped on fresh coconut juice and ate its soft, juicy meat.
I urge you to buy your pasalubongs here, particularly the tubho tea. We were able to buy one pack for P35, whereas other stores would sell them for P50. I also bought a couple of ref magnets that look like stone houses for P70 — they’re a bit steep, but they look nicer compared to the others I have seen.
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Filed under: Batanes, Philippines, Travel Tales Tagged: Batanes, land tour, landscapes, philippines, travel, travel tales
