Batan Island, Batanes: Old Spanish Bridge and House Of Dakay

batanes

by Gay Mitra - November 10, 2011August 12, 201424

The misty, winter morn progressed in a whirlwind. A pace that overwhelmed my sleepless being. I awkwardly joined the blithesome chatter amongst a wacky bunch of characters I just met that day. We’re all winners of SEAIR Batanes Winter Bloggers’ Tour Contest, and were on a road cruise around Batan Island. Old Spanish Bridge. Journeying…

Snapshot Saturday: Wild Horses

by Gay Mitra - October 1, 2011August 12, 201427

Batanes… Where horses run free. And run away from Journeying James.The wind hit us hard. I struggled to keep my balance, and so did everyone. We were merry nonetheless, and making the most out of SEAir’s Batanes Winter Bloggers’ Tour. We ran around Batan Island’s pasture like kids, and shrieked with delight when we caught…

Batanes’ Culinary Celebrity: The Coconut Crab (or Don’t Tell A Conservationist I Ate A Coconut Crab)

by Gay Mitra - July 12, 2011August 13, 201424

The guffawing has ceased. After a death-defying falowa ride, and a whirlwind trip of Sabtang Island in the morning, we were all famished. And I was prepared to shove anything edible inside my mouth. But of course, we got class. Or so we posed as such. We were an entourage of seven, six of us…

Sleepless In Batanes

by Gay Mitra - March 23, 2011August 13, 201449

In some parts of the Philippines, the world barely exists at 4:15 AM. Definitely not in Manila Domestic Airport. Its departure area’s already a frenetic scene of foreign backpackers poring over guide books and business travelers surfing via mobile web. The air smelt of coffee. I longed for a cup. I had no sleep at…

A Backpacker Mum’s Batanes Break

by Gay Mitra - February 15, 2011August 13, 201448

South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) made it happen. This backpacker mum finally had a break from house chores and parenting duties! It felt a bit odd not carrying a heavy bag full of milk bottles, not changing nappies every so often, and being able to chew my food well (because I didn’t have to attend…

The Big 3-0: A Backpacker’s Flashback

by Gay Mitra - September 3, 2010August 13, 201413

I turned 30 yesterday. And nope, I didn’t throw a big party nor vacationed somewhere remote and exotic. I would have if I wasn’t 38 weeks pregnant – or more of, if our family elders didn’t disapprove it. My celebration was very boring simple. With a handful of relatives, we had lunch at a Chinese…