Maybe it's because i've seen Jens Peters' shot of Puraran that kept this island province of Catanduanes in my head for the last year or so. I already booked a flight to this place last february but had to let go of the chance to visit because of work. But i guess, one can always try again. We left rainy Manila and landed in sunny Virac, belying the province's moniker "land of howling winds". From the air, the hilly terrain greets the eye. Catanduanes' location, separated from the rest of Luzon to the east by the Maqueda Channel and gulf of Lagonoy, as well as facing the pacific, probably keeps it from most tourists' itinerary. But as we found out, catanduanes is a nice place to be in, being given a reprieve by the fickle weather.
Info on how to get to Catanduanes: fly via any of the three airlines currently servicing the route from manila - Cebu Pacific, Zest Air and PAL Express. you can also catch the ferry from Albay headed either to San Andres or the capital town of Virac.
