Even before the internet boom and the dawn of social media, the rolling hills of Batanes were already popular. Post cards featuring the hills made it well known in days past when envelopes and stamps were still the thing of the day. Batanes, at some point, became synonymous with rolling hills. The all-time worldwide success of the musical film The Sound of Music even propelled the popularity of the rolling hills, as the meadows and hills in the movie would easily remind someone of Batanes.

To say that the hills are beautiful is an understatement. To say that they are stunning is still not enough. Such a wonder? Well, I think you get what I mean.

The Vayang Rolling Hills used to be a public pasture communally shared by people of Basco. Through the land reform program of the government, however, some tracts of land have been distributed to qualified private beneficiaries. Public or private though, nothing can restrict one’s vision, and the rolling hills is a 360° delight. Wherever we turned our eyes, there is the beauty of the green hills touching the turquoise sea then the blue sky in the horizon.

It was 03:30 PM when we arrived in Vayang Rolling Hills, hence the sun was no longer as hot. Its changing position in the skyline, however, does something visually amazing. The hues of green on the grass subtly changes depending on the angle by which they are viewed, caused by the amount of golden sun that hits it!

Ran and I took a few minutes to just sit and look around, allowing ourselves to absorb and be absorbed by the power of nature around us.

I could no longer remember exactly how the feeling was when we were in Vayang Rolling Hills, but if only based on the photos, I could say that we were happy at the very least. Who wouldn’t be? Being in Batanes is a major accomplishment for both of us, and to be in a place so coveted by travelers is way too much to contain. Of course we were happy. To some extent, we were more than happy.