Showing posts with label Bicol (Region 5). Show all posts

🇵🇭 DARAGA • Tourist Spots, Attractions and Things to Do in Town

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Saturday, December 08, 2012 17

Stories of town explorations.

Maximize your time in Daraga, Albay. The bustling town is more than just the Cagsawa Ruins. I have made this simple travel guide to give all types of travelers an idea what to do in the town of Daraga.

So whether you are a solo backpacker, glamorized backpacker, traveling in group, budget-packer, spend-all-you-can-packer, BFF-packers, family packers or simply just a mother packer, you can absolutely do this given that there is no typhoon, volcanic eruption and flood happening the day of your visit.

So you want a town-specific tour for Daraga in Albay and you have this style for slow travel covering 1 town at a time? Here are suggested things to do in town without the need to wear a red bikini. It is very D-I-Y and it won't cost you an overnight stay to a lodging house or a 5-star hotel. Get ready to rumble #TownExplorers!

Start Your Day at Cagsawa Ruins

Daraga, Albay Tourist Spots and Things to Do

Yes, you gotta start your Town Tour Itinerary at the Cagsawa Ruins. If you would ask the locals, they would tell you to go here at morning. The reason? To see the Mayon Volcano without thick clouds covering it.

Ok, that is the theory of these #TownFolks and I bet there are no political and scientific conspiracies over those theories. The volcano's showgirl side peaks at the morning. Ready for the show?

Explore the Ruins

Don't just get satisfied of photographing Bicol's most famous man-made landmark seen in HEKASI Books back then in Elementary and High School. Go and explore the ruins! Examine the ruins. Go around the ruins. If you were able to do that, you'll be smart enough to recognize how volcanic stones look like.

This is your chance to touch and feel the famous Cagsawa Ruins and you'll come to realize that there are some more things to know not discussed by your school teacher only if you will observe keenly and examine the ruins with curiosity.

See what's inside the ruined belfry

Tourist spots and things to do in Daraga, Albay

Another suggestion is to go inside the belfry if you are lucky enough. I said if you are lucky enough because I wasn't lucky enough to go inside. However I was able to take a snap shot. There are wooden fences. The reason I can see to this is to ensure the safety of the tourists. There could still be debris you know.

But of course, have you ever wondered what to see inside the belfry? 'Cause you know, we always see the exterior in books but not what inside the belfry right? This is your chance to prove that there is no dragon inside the belfry.

I was really curious, and now, I was able to see that inside the belfry are volcanic stones stuck together. It is massive you know. The holes inside (that used to be the windows of the belfry) were great source of light inside. But during the night, they become non-useful, of course.

Shop for souvenir (optional)

This option is highly recommended for shoppaholics but not for shoplifters.

Inside the Cagsawa Ruins premises are plenty of local products to choose from. But one inviting commodity that I don't suggest shoppers to buy is the Wild Orchid from Mayon. I am afraid these orchids will run out due to high demand.

Just buy other orchids but not this beautiful wild orchids growing at the slopes of Mayon Volcano.

Travel Back in time at Balay Suanoy

Check out the Balay Suanoy Ancestral Home. It is a restaurant-museum. It is a very elegant house that contains a lot of vintage stuff. It feels like you are not in Albay because of the Intramuros-ish and Vigan-ish ambiance.

Located across the street is the Gazebo, it is recommended for group travelers who want to experience dining in this high-end restaurant.

Food Trip: Recommended Foods to Eat at Balay Suanoy

Yes I know, you are in Bicol and you have to try the Bicol express food. But I just want to make a detour to the Pacific Ocean because the Crispy Pata and Apple + Banana crepes in Balay Suanoy are must-try foods.

I am confident enough to say that it won't disappoint :)

Visit the Daraga Church

Daraga Church is a National Historical Treasure painted with white which actually contains chemicals to preserve the deteriorating facade.

You need to climb the hill where this church is located. If you don't have an idea how this church looks like before it was painted with white, check out the belfry and you'll know how old it looks.

Get inside the Daraga Church

Don't get satisfied just seeing the facade, get inside and check out what to see.

Inside the church was empty when I went here. The facade looks older than what is seen inside based on how I see it.

Dine (again) with the Mayon View

End you Daraga town tour with another food trip at JZOR Restaurant. North of the Daraga Church is a simple, non-touristy yet must-try restaurant because of the experience it brings you dining on an azotea-like setting while viewing the Mayon volcano.

It gives you an outdoor-dining experience because of the vastness of the plains you see below that gradually meet together at the top in unison that is the peak of the almost-perfect cone Mayon Volcano.

I hope this one helps. Go! Explore the town of Daraga!

Do you want to explore more the town of Daraga? Hint: Click the map. Happy #TownExploring!

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

[Ligao] Albay All Bicol (Region 5) Ligao Luzon Mountains Philippines Posts by Edmar Serious Post SUNSETS

🇵🇭 LIGAO • Lovely Sunset Over Mt. Masaraga

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Sunday, July 01, 2012 3

Stories of town explorations.

"The clouds were trying to veil the sunset but their capability was just limited to conceal the glorious beauty of the orange sky."

Enjoying some chilly zephyr and the orange heaven, it looks like a painting colored on a huge canvass called the sky. It was undoubtedly a magnificent view that truly awakens the senses... the soul.

I thought it was a bad idea going to this place at a time where we can chase the dark. It was already 6 pm on my wrist watch. Thinking it was a bad idea, it turned out to be a surprise.

The sunset, it didn't pop out in my mind that the time was just perfect to enjoy the sunset -- not over the beach, but over the mountain called Mt. Masaraga under the jurisdiction of the city of Ligao.

Yes I know, it was not easy to travel on a zigzag road at night where street lights are not present because just after chasing this sunset over Mt. Masaraga, we have to face the night.

Maps by Wikipedia

Location Highlighted in Red

I think chasing the sunset over certain mountains is an idea as good as chasing sunset over certain beaches and being able to capture the sunset over Mt. Masaraga was a golden opportunity.

The clouds were trying to veil the sunset but their capability was just limited to conceal the glorious beauty of the orange sky. Instead, the clouds just blended with the sunset with beauty and magic!

I will never forget this moment and it was more than memorable. Mt. Masaraga is one of the 3 peaks of Albay and I'm glad I have captured this 3 mountains in sunset. Watch out for the next mountain sunset!

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

[Iriga] 112 on 2012 All Bicol (Region 5) Camarines Sur Happy Posts Iriga City Luzon Philippines Posts by Edmar UNUSUAL

🇵🇭 IRIGA • Cool Militarized Tricycles from Nora Aunor's Hometown

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Saturday, June 16, 2012 4

Stories of town explorations.

"I call them militarized not that they are under a military command but because their designs were just so cool which looked like a military vehicle before my sight!"

Whenever I go around provinces, I tend to keenly observe what a place has to offer. It doesn't necessarily mean that I am always looking for the "good" things about the place but I also consider finding the usual things that most people might not appreciate or just ignore.

This blog doesn't just feature what's hip and what's cool, what's the finest beach or the best hotel but it tries to appreciate even the simplest things in the country with considerable value.

Maps by Wikipedia

Location Highlighted in Red

I was in Iriga City in Camarines Sur and guess which caught my attention? Yes the tricycles! It is weird for some but upon seeing their trikes, I became excited that instant.

So what about these trikes? Call me corny but the design of these tricycles were the star apples of my eyes. Iriga City's trikes follow a certain design pattern.

Most of the trikes were in gray. There was a military touch as I see them. At the driver's part, there is a cover which made them look like 4X4 ready for war, LOL!

Like any other municipalities and cities in the Philippines, these trikes are also the king of the streets of Iriga City (aside from the Jeepneys).

I call them militarized not that they are under a military command but because their designs were just so cool which looked like a military vehicle before my sight!

NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

[Naga] 112 on 2012 All Bicol (Region 5) Camarines Sur FOOD TRIP Happy Posts Luzon Naga Philippines Posts by Edmar

🇵🇭 NAGA • I Ate Squid After 13 Years (Bicol Express Squid)

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Wednesday, May 30, 2012 3

Stories of town explorations.

"I thought I will never eat squid again but my travel infection is manifesting that conquering your fear and eating the food you never attempted to taste (or eat again) is part of the symptoms."

I remember, I was 10 years old when I last ate squid (that's 13 years ago). It was not even a real squid because the squid I used to eat when I was a child was the dried one then sweetened. I used to buy it for 1 peso per pack and I was actually after the "sweet" thing and I was not aware at all that the core of that sweetened food was squid. Personally, just smelling the odor of any squid dish disgusts me. I really don't want the odor and I developed that response since childhood.

Naga City Food Trip: Bicol Express Squid

Maps by Wikipedia

Location Highlighted in Red

Until I landed in Naga City in Camarines Sur where eating a food that is not common in our province was the craving of my heart, naks!

Asking the locals where can we have a good eat for lunch, they have pointed the way to SM Naga. The bus (where I just hitched) took us to SM Naga. Without too much adieu, the food court was my target. The people I was with (mostly my first time to meet) shared a table with me. At first I know myself that I am not a squid-eater but I gave it a try since Bicol Express is not common in our province.

SM Naga, where I ate Squid Bicol Express

Of course at first I thought Bicol express was just limited to vegetables and meat with spices. But I was wrong. Anything could be a Bicol Express meal, just add some gata or siling labuyo and there you have it!

Taking the first spoonful of my meal that day, hesitation seemed to be out of my senses. The tip of my tongue was hurt though -- because it was so spicy!

This time I was actually suffering of Gastrointestinal disturbances that eating spicy food is contraindicated but never mind about it. It may take me a long time to go back to Naga again and eat this.

Naga Garden was the name of the restaurant, ironically, I never saw any garden, lol!

About the taste, of course it was spicy -- that is given! The spice is very prominent that I can not honestly distinguish the taste with the spice.

Some foods that I also ate are Chop Suey and my favorite Halo-Halo.

I thought I will never eat squid again but my travel infection is manifesting that conquering your fear and eating the food you never attempted to taste (or eat again) is part of the symptoms.

So this is it, I ate squid after 13 years -- I ate squid without me vomitting!

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NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

[Albay] 112 on 2012 Albay All Bicol (Region 5) Luzon NATURAL WONDERS Philippines Tabaco

🇵🇭 ALBAY • Enjoying Albay from Above the Clouds: Plains, Highlands, Sea

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Monday, February 20, 2012 38

Stories of town explorations.

"...they are the stratus clouds, the low lying pieces of clouds and hurray!!!!!!! - I am above them!"

Visiting the province of Albay for the first time, what I only knew is to be mesmerized by the view of the stunning and lovely Mayon Volcano as being seen from below, or from the plains. But oh yeah, I did a different thing like some other travelers have done - I captured the beauty of Albay and guess where I am? I was on a high altitude at the slope of Mayon Volcano while viewing the beautiful scene of Albay from the sky!

Maps by Wikipedia

Location Highlighted in Red

At the location where I was standing, I was lucky enough to see the highlands of Albay (and that is the Mt. Malinao), the Lagonoy Gulf and of course the plains below.

At the photo above, you can see the plains (or can I call it valley since it is in between two mountains?) of Tabaco City, the municipality of Malilipot and Malinao - still in Albay and how I wish I can also see the island of Catanduanes here but just never mind.

The view is an instant refreshment to my soul as I see the view with the clouds on an elevation leveled to where I was standing.

I was in fact at the Mayon Resthouse Park in Tabaco City, Albay where I reached halfway the peak of Mayon Volcano (almost). From this park, you can afford to see the view of this 3 dimensions I am referring, the highlands (Mt. Malinao), the sea (Lagonoy Gulf) and the plains below.

Who would expect that from this part of the slope of Mayon, there exists a park considering that Mayon is very active. If Mayon has washed out the Cagsawa church, what about this park which is even closer to the crater?

Well, well, well, don't underestimate. People who are already familiar with the activity of Mayon tell that this spot at the slope of this volcano is a safe zone.

The lava that flows from the crater of this potentially angry volcano does not pass through here that's why the park still exists and it is where I am standing now.

The two photos above show the view of the Lagonoy Gulf (to the Pacific Ocean) and the "whitish" aggregates at the center of the photo is the central business district of the city of Tabaco.

With our accidental tour guide (because he was not actually a tour guide, we just picked him up somewhere), he told me that Tabaco City is the take off point for people who are going to the island province of Catanduanes. You gotta ride a ferry from Tabaco City and I hope you can spot the "super tiny" ferries at my photos above, uh! (Hint: Focus at the right side)

So that is the Lagonoy gulf as seen from the point where I am standing now, and yes, I am still on a high elevation at the slope of Mt. Mayon.

And from here, I was actually above the clouds! Notice my photos especially the first one. You will be able to see the smoke-like thing floating in the air.

Those aren't smoke, it is hardly possible to have a thick smoke build up with that elevation. Now you know, they are the stratus clouds (correct me if I'm wrong), the low lying pieces of clouds and hurray!!!!!!! - I am above them!
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NAGUSTUAM DIAY NABASAM/NAKITAM? MABALIN MO MET I-LIKE.

Adventure All Bicol (Region 5) Blog Carnival Experiences Itineraries Luzon

🇵🇭 BICOL • Traveling 4 provinces in PhP3,500 (for 3days and 2 nights)

Edmar del Castillo Guquib at Thursday, January 12, 2012

Stories of town explorations.

"Touring the whole peninsula for 3 days, you need to hire your own vehicle because of the distance in between the destinations for your safety, time and budget."

Bicol has too much to offer from nature, adventure, shopping and food. With this post, I will share to you how I spent my 3 days and 2 nights in Bicol with an on-the-spot itinerary. I don't actually write itineraries because I travel on the spot but I hope this will help to maximize your time in Bicol.

I am not a highly paid professional to afford spending a lot traveling to places with thousand kilometers away from our home. Just to satisfy my urge of going somewhere, I need to be meticulous about my spending thus, "diskarte" is a must for me to pursue the goal. Before reading more about this post, I just want to tell the readers that this post does not aim others to adapt [this] itinerary (just a purpose of sharing) because my travel to the following places in this entry has no set itinerary at all, and we just hit the road and ask somebody what to do and where to go in that destination, it was just unplanned.

Mayon Resthouse Park

My destination is the Bicol peninsula (not the whole region itself) composed of 4 provinces namely Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay and Sorsogon. The reason why I only spent 3,500 pesos for 3 days and two nights for the 4 provinces will be discussed later. For now, I will just focus how I traversed the peninsula in 3 days and 2 nights and as I said, the itinerary was just very random since it was come-what-may and it might be too inconvenient to adapt, anyhow, you may adapt it and I will be sharing my experience.

To note this is my longest land trip so and it took us 24 hours to reach our lodge (includes stop overs). From Vigan, we arrived at 8 pm of June 29, 2011 and we reached the Bicol soil the afternoon of July 30 and this starts our Day 1.

I rode in a bus, and it was just a hitch actually. It was in fact a bus that carries the Ilocos Sur delegation of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers who are going to Legazpi City, Albay to attend a national convention and I grabbed this opportunity to have a hitch although I didn't know the people inside this bus except for one person whom I connected with to join this ride.

Day One (1) - It's All About the Arch

I am just a hitcher, but I was the one who had the "kapal mukha" who was requesting the group on which I don't belong at all to stop at every major welcome arch we will be passing in the peninsula.

It might be a delay for the trip of these government engineers but I was just expressing myself and if granted, well and good.

My first day in Bicol Peninsula was just satisfying because request granted. It is very important for me to take the photos of major welcome arch in the provinces and I just can't resist missing this one because it is an arch that is telling you are already entering the peninsula - a geographical structure composed of 4 provinces.

Gateway to Bicolandia, the arch says. Thanks for the engineers I was with for making this stop over possible. The feeling is magical that I am seeing an arch that will lead me to 4 provinces and seeing the Mayon Volcano for the very first time.

My Day 1 started at around 2 in the afternoon and after our moments at the Bicolandia arch, we head to the south. The first province was Camarines Norte and having a great time posing in a photo with the Bicolandia arch at the background was already enough for me.

Done for Camarines Norte since I no longer had the power to request for a side trip at Daet town since the engineers who are with me are trying to catch up for the time in order not to be late with their appointments.

Still part of Day 1 and approximately an hour away from the Bicolandia arch is another arch, the Camarines Sur welcome arch (I am a fan of welcome arch I told you).

Seemed like the request to stop at the arch in Camariners Norte was generalized when the driver suddenly stopped us at the Camarines Sur arch.

For that case, there's no time to waste because I am afraid the driver will suddenly change his mind and just drive us away ahead so I have to go down and the funny thing was the engineers with me were also "game na game" although I have to accept the fact that some others are killjoy.

Another welcome arch, that's great!

After the welcome arch, I was able to see another arch but this time is embedded with the architecture of Peñafrancia Basilica in Naga City.

Peñafrancia Basilica Minore in Naga City

Beautiful arched windows add beauty to this not-so-old church. The arched windows transform the ambiance into a medieval period.

Those archs were just great enough to start the day one. Peñafrancia Basilica is located just few minutes away from the city center of Naga. The concept of the church building was created in 1960 by Archbishop Pedro P. Santos. The construction of the church began in 1976 but delayed due to financial problems. It was completed on 1981.

The Basilica was just our stop-over on our way to Legazpi City and that ends our day trip for the day 1. It was already 7 pm when we reached Oas, Albay (the location of our lodge called Masaraga). Oas was still one hour away to Legazpi City.

At night, we had to take a rest after the long 24-hour journey and be ready for fun the next day.

Day Two (2) - It's All About the Fun

The next day was full of fun. I considered it a jackpot in a lottery when one engineer wanted to explore the place and he was just a blessing in disguise!!! Yes!!!

I waited inside the bus because the convention was on going and after the long wait the fun started finally.

Before we started the fun for Day 2, we ate at Balay Suanoy in Daraga, Albay and this lunch was for free as sponsored by Davie's paint. I learned that Balay Suanoy is the finest in Daraga.

I loved the ambiance and the food of this restaurant with a vintage feel. I ate different foods here but I will share the best I have tasted and they are the crispy pata and the mango/banana crepe.

Aside from the great food, I also enjoyed the garden setting (Gazebo) of the restaurant. I just love how the air gently strikes then the white charming curtains sway until I can feel the garden breeze while eating with the best dishes.

After the great tummy treat, you can also visit and explore the Balay Suanoy itself, an ancestral house with an old-world charm. Let's have a tour inside this house turned restaurant.

After the great food, we headed to Donsol, Sorsogon with the hope to see butanding (at least) surfacing at the water. Unfortunately, it was an off-season. The town of Donsol can be reached from Legazpi City for about 1-2 hours.

After about an hour visiting the town of Donsol, we headed to Daraga Church and see the majesty of that church located atop a hill overlooking the Mayon Volcano.

In fact, the best time to go in this church is when you are hungry (lunch or merienda) because beside the church is a restaurant called JZOR located in a setting where you can enjoy the view of the Mayon Volcano while eating.

After the merienda at this restaurant, we headed to Cagsawa Ruins. Entrance fee is 10 pesos. Cagsawa Ruins is the location of the church that was washed out by the wrath of the Mayon Volcano and left many people dead.

We headed further to Mayon Volcano, yes the Mayon Volcano itself where we reached halfway of the volcano's crater at the Mayon Resthouse Park in Tabaco City. That was again about an hour from Cagsawa Ruins.

So it is important to start the trip early because you have to travel an hour or two to reach in between the destinations. Hiring your own tourist vehicle is highly recommended since you are traveling the 4 provinces with long distance from one point to another.

The Mayon resthouse is on a high elevation and the bone-penetrating coldness of the air tells you that you are just with the clouds in a high altitude.

It was already on a sunset when we went down from Mayon Resthouse on our way to a Spring Resort in Tabaco City but unluckily, we landed there with the dark. We still explored the place until we backed out because the place is somewhat located in a forest and it is not very practical to visit the spring on which in the long run you won't be appreciating anything because all you will see is darkness and not the view. So it is very important to start the trip early to avoid what happened to us.

The day mode is over and we spent our night time at the Embarcadero de Legazpi for food tripping.

That ends the Day 2!

Day Three (3) - It's All About the Shopping and Food

We started the day three by first visiting the Lignon Hill on which after that, we started our shopping and food trip.

Entrance fee at Lignon Hill park is 30 pesos (if I am not mistaken) and you can also have a zipline for 200 pesos. You can tour the park for an hour of two.

After Lignon park, the food and shopping started. Shopping at the Legazpi Grand Terminal is the cheapest way because you can bargain with price unlike at the malls.

The Legazpi Grand Terminal can offer the best pasalubong from Bicol.

After shopping at Legazpi Grand Terminal, we headed to Tummy Yummy to taste the Sisig Bicol Express. Tummy Yummy restaurant is also located within the premises of the Legazpi Grand Terminal.

After that, we headed to Naga City at SM Naga to do shopping and another food trip too where I tasted the Squid Bicol Express.

That ends my 3-day and 2-night on the spot itinerary.

This article is an entry to the
Pinoy Travel Blogger's
Jan. 2012 Blog Carnival
hosted by Eileen Campos
of possiblypinay.com
with the theme,
3days and 2 nights (itinerary).

So how I was able to tour the Bicol peninsula for 3,500 pesos? I told you it was just a ":diskarte." When I learned from my cousin that the Ilocos Sur chapter of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) will be joining the national convention in Albay, I entered into a deal with them (with the help of my cousin) that I will just pay 3,500 pesos and that will include the hitch ride with their bus, the accommodation and the food! In return, I'll be the travel nurse. Yay! I was just a lucky guy!

As I have said, touring the whole peninsula for 3 days, you need to hire your own vehicle because of the distance in between the destinations, for your safety, time and budget.

Since we were also all new in Bicol, what we did was to "hire" an instant tour guide we just picked up at the Legazpi Grand Terminal who knows the routes in Bicol and we were ready to go. He wasn't a professional tour guide actually since he is just a street vendor that given the fact that he is familiar of Bicol, we took him with our bus. That ends how I managed the 2-3-4 (2 nights, 3 days, 4 provinces). /end