Exploring a fraction of Catanduanes: Batalay and the Pacific Ocean

This part of Catanduanes is about a fifteen minute motorcycle ride from the main city, Virac. The local government has worked hard to come up with a circumferential road for the whole province, which means people could now go through the whole island easily without worrying about rough roads. And really it's a big deal, as this province is about 80 to 90 percent made up of mountains. Boy, a couple of years ago, the owner jeep I was riding towards nearby towns did not have a shock absorber. I think i suffered from internal bleeding that time.

Anyways, the road towards this place is not for people who are used to having manicures and pedicures and facials. A tight cap is needed as well as a good pair of sunglasses. Insects fly right to your eyes when you travel in a motorbike. Oh and uhmmm, yeah you could wear helmets, but nobody wears that here. As a doctor, I recommend not riding a motorcycle for safety reasons... but as me, as me, go ahead and live life like it was the last day... There's much to be said about dying in an adventurous way.

We visited this fish pond and celebrated Tintin's birthday there. It was one of the best birthday parties I've ever been to. The food was simple - a sponge cake from the local bakeshop, and coke. The "gasera" was the candle, and the guests - the local fisherman and his family and their dog. Simple life. This is what i love about the province of Catanduanes - people have a sparkle of joy in their eyes, one not influenced by how much money they have.

So anyways, my ultimate survivor technically my uncle but not really, Uncle Doming, toured us around. He was the type you wanted to be with should you get lost in the middle of a jungle. Tarzan personified. ANyways, he worked the boat and took us to see the lakes of Catanduanes. A couple of moments into the ride, i noticed that the boat was going towards the open seas. Oh man, it was an incredible ride. The ocean gave us big waves and the little boat we were riding on, rode those incredible waves. THe fact that we did not have any flotation device should we get thrown overboard was stupid, but what the heck, you live only once. And besides, that Milo Swimming lessons i took right after my near drowning episode kinda helped. I must do something about this philosophy of mine.

Why go boating? Because you live only once. Because it's the real thing. And the sights you see going to Batalay and while inside the boat... it's like being inside a post card. I can't really imagine why so many people say that the Philippines is not beautiful. Just going through this experience made me want to sing "The beauty of the Philippines comes shining through". I'm a big fan of the Philippines... name it, we have it.

How to get there? From the main city, Virac, find a local person who could drive you around his motorbike. Pay about 100 pesos for gas. Then tell them "Batalay"... Of course you need to contact the local fishermen once you are there.

Cost: I'm thinking maybe around five hundred pesos to seven hundred pesos.... inclusive of everything. I went here and spent nothing because I'm a local here. Fish.. you'd be hardpressed to find an expensive fish here, if i'm not mistaken, blue marlins are sold here for 150 pesos a kilo. But that's not a blue marlin. It's a turingan. Dunno that name in english. Supposedly a good fish too. Grill it, have a soysauce, pick some siling labuyo (we bicolanos like it hot hot hot) and some calamansi by the road and presto! Great dinner.

Rate: Five ipods. Remember that Amanpulo, is a place i rated five ipods too. But they are on different categories. For mild to moderate adventure seekers who still want to make it out alive after such an experience, this would be a great start.