Friday, November 5, 2010

Don't Tell My Daughter I'm In Batanes

If I make the cut, that is. South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) is currently running an awesome contest in which seven uber lucky bloggers will be chosen to join the SEAIR Batanes Winter Bloggers' Tour from January 28 to 30, 2011.

And this new-mom-slash-backpacker is taking her chances.

My only remaining photo of Batanes. Shot from an ancient mobile phone.

So why should I be given the chance to join the tour? SEAIR, I beg of you, help me get my memories back! You see, I have actually been to Batanes back in 2006. Before digital cameras took over the world, or make that, invaded the Philippines.

To document such monumental event in my life (it was after all, as cliche as it may sound, a dream come true) I brought with me a disposable camera and a borrowed video camera. No, I did not lose them during the trip and I was even able to have the photos printed. Video was never transferred to a disc though.

Unfortunately, the negatives and photos are with the ex - whom I traveled with. Funny, I contacted him before constructing this post, and he responded "Hu dis?". I answered, "It's Gay". Then he never replied back. So gone are the photos. And sadly, my memories too.

If given the opportunity to visit Batanes once more, I would prove to myself (and share with you guys, my readers) that what I've seen and experienced long ago is for real. I could then piece together these vague snippets of my life:

  • That I stayed at Sabtang National School of Fisheries' H.E. room for P100 a night. There were no other accommodations available that time. The last visitors who stayed there according to the guest book were the people who built the Smart Telecommunications Tower (about 2 years before).

  • That there was once a foreigner who drives a public jeep around Batan Island.

  • That locals buy gin (I believe their province is the biggest consumer in the country), together with the usual grocery items from an honesty store as early as eight in the morning.

  • That the traditional Ivatan house is the most charming house I have ever seen!

  • That the dried dibang (flying fish) is perfect with fried rice and egg in the morning. And a great, err, pulutan for some.

Looking at my list, I realize there's so much more to explore! It was Holy Week when I went there, I am so curious as to how Batanes is in winter season.

And how comfortable it would be to fly with a bigger plane. FYI, I flew with an 8-seater outmoded aircraft from Laoag the first time. Defining it as a 'horrific ride' is an understatement.

Oh, why the title? My daughter's only seven weeks old now and it may seem harsh leaving her for a few days because of some tour, but hopefully she'd understand someday when she's already been bitten by the travel bug.

Help the backpacker mom take some time off mom duties and revisit breathtaking Batanes!

1. Visit SEAIR's Fan Page on Facebook then click 'Like'.
2. Find Gay Mitra-Emami's entry (here's the link) then click 'Like'.
3. Spread the word.


But wait, there's more! If you don't intend to join/win the contest, check out their Sweet November Sale to Basco (plus other destinations). Hurry! Selling Period: November 05 – 07, 2010. Travel Period: January 01 – February 28, 2011 Visit http://www.flyseair.com for more details.


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27 comments:

Kate said...
November 7, 2010 at 12:11 AM

I hope we make the cut :) I'm joining too! Good luck to us both :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 7, 2010 at 9:46 AM

Hi Kate! Yup, I do need lots of luck. I have never won a contest before. Haha :) Good luck too dear.

Brenna said...
November 7, 2010 at 9:10 PM

aww. and the ex has all the memories. :(
goodluck! kita-kits sa batanes(hoping)?
cheers!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 7, 2010 at 9:28 PM

Haha! Yeah Brenna, hope they aren't bitter memories for him though. Good luck to us!

fetus said...
November 8, 2010 at 4:58 AM

haha i like your story. :) damn your ex. lol.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 8, 2010 at 6:45 AM

Thank you! Yeah, quite disappointing. I am not letting him know about this post though. Hahaha! good luck to your entry as well.

fetus said...
November 8, 2010 at 7:34 AM

wish we all win. all who submitted their entry lol. :D goodluck to sea air.

Mekinudols said...
November 8, 2010 at 2:40 PM

oh, my dream travel is in Batanes! i'll take note of that, thanks! at ang bitter ocampo ni ex hehe... (my first stop at pinayjunkie.com) ^__^

apol c",) said...
November 9, 2010 at 8:53 AM

nice short story...(about the ex)..medyo tsismosa ako.hehehe well goodluck! c",)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 9, 2010 at 9:40 AM

Join too Mekinudols! Good luck to all of us... Hahaha! Bitter Ocampo talaga. Thanks for dropping dear.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 9, 2010 at 8:40 PM

Apol, haha! Feel free to snoop around the blog :) Thanks for dropping by and liking the blog (?) too!

Pinoy Boy Journals said...
November 11, 2010 at 3:53 PM

good luck to you gay! i think you deserve that free trip! :)

The Nomadic Pinoy said...
November 12, 2010 at 9:16 AM

i like your entry - you deserve another shot at Batanes! buti ka pa, ako di pa nakakarating ng batanes!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 12, 2010 at 11:01 AM

Thanks Jerik! Enjoy expensive Japan :) Hihi.

Tsina said...
November 14, 2010 at 2:53 PM

I like. Hope you'll win, sis!!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 15, 2010 at 3:36 PM

Dennis, haha! You will be able to go there someday fo sho. Ikaw pa :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 15, 2010 at 3:39 PM

Thanks Tsina! Aliw naman blog mo. Thanks for dropping by mine :)

dannie chOOng said...
November 16, 2010 at 12:16 PM

all the best ! hope you'll win, so you can come back to share more stories about it...

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 16, 2010 at 12:25 PM

Awww... Thanks too Dannie! If I do not win, maybe I will just come back with my daughter someday. Haha!

Khristine said...
November 22, 2010 at 6:45 PM

Ms. Gay, you have a very informative blog. Thanks for sharing your travel experiences! I hope you'll win the Batanes shindig, good luck and Kudos! :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 22, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Hey Khristine! I hope I win too, and what an awesome shindig it would be :)

upto6only said...
December 5, 2010 at 11:42 PM

i've been to batanes last year and it's definitely worth coming back. if given the chance i like to live there.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 6, 2010 at 11:43 AM

Oh yeah, it would definitely be great to live in Batanes! Even if it always rains there :)

Rambling Sensations said...
December 19, 2010 at 7:04 PM

i giggled with the "hu's this?" part. that was funny :-) anyway, best of luck to both of us!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
December 19, 2010 at 9:05 PM

Haha! Yeah, guess I'm not part of his contacts now. Good luck once again!

princess_dyanie said...
January 14, 2011 at 11:37 AM

Hi Gay! Just saw the FB stat of SeaAir. Congratuleshions!!! wooohooo!! :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
January 14, 2011 at 10:45 PM

Woohoo! Nakahabol :) Thanks gurl.

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