Days 8-9 Stay One More Day

Which is what I did when we got back to Basco. As with any other tourist destination, transportation runs short during Holy Week. The plane back to Laoag only had three more vacant seats so I offered to stay behind and let my three companions fly back.

I went back to my favorite spot up at the hill where I have seen, by far, the most beautiful sunset. I took with me the cleaning lady at Ivatan Lodge where I went back to stay, who claimed that she’s never been up the hill near the lighthouse despite being in Batanes almost all her life. She took her young daughter with her. I gave her my purple malong as a souvenir as we watched the sun go down. I wonder in awe how the allure and captivating beauty of such an island could be so maddeningly perilous, insanely inaccessible yet be so generous and accommodating all at once. I guess it’s that rugged beauty from afar that entices you with its “Come hither,” appeal – that comes not without a warning “ -- those of you who dare.”