Itbud, Batanes - As of this date (Oct. 7, 04) there is no Internet service. It seems that a problem has arisen with the IP talking to the ISP, so the company here is trying to find another provider. I'm sure that by the time I write again we'll have some news.
I took a walk the other day just to get the lay of the land; within 45 minutes I'm all the way to the farthest point you can go and still be in the Itbud fields. They have roads all the way to the backfields. They even have signs that tell the tourist which way to go, and picnic areas, and this is not just in Itbud.
and is anchored somewhere off the northwest coast of Luzon. Sea conditions were abating to moderate levels as I was writing this.
When I flew up from Manila, I found out later that the Governor and the Congresswoman were on the plane with the Ambassador from Japan. Wow! That's a lot of horsepower! Seems that we are going to get a breakwater built in Basco. Again, I asked one of my usual questions, and found that I was standing alone. Seems that everyone in their haste forgot to calculate the three streams that dump into the harbor and need the harbor flushed every tide change. You know, to me it seems simple that you look around the island and find where mother nature made a harbor, make a couple of improvements so ships can tie up. I know that the problem is that the natural harbor isn't in Basco, so therefore it's of no value. Also the national highway would have to be improved by being widened and straightened. God help us now, two trucks passing each other at the same time! What will they think of next!
You remember the wind power that was promised. Still sitting on the ground getting very rusty. We have electricity every once in a while. Since my arrival we have only had 7 complete days of power. To tell you the truth; I kind of like it when there is a blackout because the old days are remembered and things like a Batanes candle are looked for. Where is the mosquito killer?
Oct. 12th. The boat, Batanes Trader, has arrived today at noon. What an operation! There are no cleats or Bollards to tie the boat up to. When they built the pier they anchored the cleats to the thin concrete of the pier and the first time the boat used them as a spring point they ripped out. General rule of thumb, cleats and bollards are placed in 36" thick concrete, maybe even a meter; with 1½" to 2" re-bar ties to the 18" thick pier. Larger ships would require thicker concrete and re-bar. All of our things we bought in Manila and the last of our "Balikbayan" boxes were on that boat. So some things are getting better.
I walked into the store in Itbud Saturday to get a couple of things for supper when the telephone rang. It took me maybe one to one and a half minutes to take that in, and then a teenage girl ran in shooing everyone away and she answered in a soft voice that turned hard after learning that the call wasn't for her. But, it took me all of a day to find out the information and order me a phone too. Thank God I don't have any teenagers! Yes, that's right - telephones - land line, satellite link. I should have my own link to the net soon, and will directly send information out. As long as you are in sight of Basco, cell phones work but after that the landlines are the only way to call. Manila is considered a local call, same as cell. The cell system here on the island is "Smart" and if you don't have links with "Smart" your stateside cell phone wo'nt work. Of course, you can get a new "Smart" sim card in Manila and install it in your phone and that might work. I found that there are lots of technical centers ready to help get your phone working, and at reasonable prices.
Oct.20th. More bad news! Smart said that I couldn't have a landline because I'm not a seaman. We now have someone contacting the main office in Manila to get the straight scoop.
That's another thing, prices. It's starting to be a lot like North America. Prices are posted and bargaining is a thing of the past, and that here on the island too.
I have sad news to pass. I have just learned of the death of Johnny Conde Ybay of Imnajbu. We will all miss his kind smile and gentle way. Rest in peace old friend. My condolences to his family back in Nebraska.
Well Tony's boat left Manila Saturday and on Monday the sea conditions were so bad that they turned around and are in some sheltered cove. All of our household goods are on the boat so I'm glad they are taking their time. We have another typhoon in the slot coming for a visit.
God be with you all, and y'all com' on down now, here! - William M. Griffin, Itbud, Uyugan, Batanes Is., October 2004. |
