For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, having beaches as tourist destination is quite the norm. It has 36,289 kilometers of coastline after all, hence the sea is rather common for most parts. When talking of beautiful beaches though, most people always talk about how white or how fine the sand is. The whiter and the finer, the better. That would explain why in trying to market beach spots to tourist, a reference is almost always made to popular white sand beaches, such as Boracay. Search Anguib Beach and Saud Beach in the internet and you will stumble upon the appellation Boracay of the North.

The beach we visited in Basco, however, does not feature any white sand, let alone fine. No, forget sand. It has rocks. Big ones. Boulders.

The rocks in the boulder beach are said to be from the ages past when Mt. Iraya was still at the height of its activity, when it was still busy carving Batanes Islands as we know it today. The marker on the entrance to the beach speaks of at least three ancient eruptions: 325 BC, then 286 and 505 AD.

Our first beach in Batanes is a place where swimming is not allowed, unless you have a thing for waves crushing your body against the boulders. The intent to swim aside, this place is a wonder to behold!

The scenery in Valugan Boulder Beach is both of chaos and tranquility. On one hand, the constant smashing of the waves to the rocks lets out a thunderous crashing sound, coupled by the humming of the strong gust of the winds. On the other hand, the dark blue hue of the sea evokes its depth, complementing the vibrant green of the mountains that touches the calm from within the recesses of ones mind. Add to that the presence of Mt. Iraya, hidden beneath the clouds in its deep slumber, withholding in its bosom a power so strong yet so unknown.

Chaotic. Calm. Clandestine.

Speaking of chaos, the chaotic duo.

It is an understatement to say that the workings of nature is overwhelming. When in front of such wonder to behold, one could not really be exaggerated. If one would be very introspective about it, the four ancient elements worked together to give birth to the Valugan Boulder Beach: the fire of the fiery volcanic eruption that spewed the rocks, smoothened and continuously being weathered by the sea and the wind.

This is not the work of the Avatar. This is nature, plain in its might.