Have you been to the northern-most, wind-swept islands of Batanes in northern Philippines? If you haven't been there then you may want to consider to visit this idyllic place. It may be battered by typhoon from time to time but this calm place is far away from the hassles and daily grind of Metro Manila. Time takes a lot slower to tick so that you have all the time enjoying the company of friends, meeting the locals, taking photographs of the picturesque landscape or just taking time off for a personal "me" time.
The local inhabitants have collected stones to build up their homes to withstand the strong winds and the test of time. In fact, there is a house in the town of Ivana on Batan Island that is still standing since 1887. It remains to be one of the longest, continuously occupied house in the Philippines.
Life is simple in the island. They live what they need. It all reflects in the way they designed their houses, age-old techniques were used like the way old churches were built. Rocks, corals and limestones are stacked up so that it becomes a solid, strong foundation. Tourism brings in a lot of money and livelihood. Hopefully, commercialization won't destroy the idyllic charm of this island.
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