Up & Around Mayon
Trip Start
Jul 02, 2008
1
Trip End
Jul 07, 2008
Legaspi, Luzon, Philippines
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
First day into my Bicolandia adventure, we skip shower and headed directly to the aiport since it was still 3 in the morning. We arrived and checked-in really early [Domestic Airport at 4:30am], so we decided to have coffee and croissant at Delifrance. Around 5:45am, we boarded Cebu Pacific's flight 5J 325 bound for Legaspi National Airport. We worried a bit since it rained that morning and that we might not see the volcano from the airplane. Luckily, just before 7am we were flying over the region with the sun shining bright. The regions landscape is so beautiful with the volcano at its very center with the Pacific ocean and the visayas sea on its sides.
As soon as we got out of the plane, we did not waste time taking posing and taking pictures of the majestic Mayon. From the airport, instead of taking a cab we opted to ride a tricycle going to the hotel we previously booked. Actually, we didn't see any cab at all. The tricycle driver collected Php20.00 per passenger. We checked in ourselves at Jennifer's Garden Resort. From the outside the building look like a hospital coz a few meters away there is a hospital. We got Camias room at the third floor of the hotel. The room was spacious [good for 4 person at P1,795 per day] with no aesthetic decorations.
After shower, we were already starving and decided to try out local delicacies. So we had sinigang, pata and ribs. for only Php 295.00. After breakfast we walked towards Albay's cathedral, St. Gregory the Great Cathedral. Just infront of the church is the Legaspi's city hall. Sought advice from the city's tourism office. Didn't get enough information, we proceeded to the provincial's tourism office at the Astrodome. There, Ms. Dorothy F. Colle [0917.5581431] assisted us. Unfortunately, when she called Donsol tourism officer she was informed that there were no sighting of whalsharks in the area during that season. So she made an itinerary for us and contacted a service vehicle we could hire to tour us around Albay. There we met Manong Gary Nuņez [0918.5267057] our tour guide with his driver, Bingoy.
1st stop. Sto. Domingo de Guzman Parish Church in the town of Sto. Domingo.
2nd stop. Busay Falls at Malilipot. Paid entrance fee of Php5.00 per head and Php50.00 for parking.
3rd stop. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church of Malilipot.
4th stop. St. John the Baptist Church in city of Tabaco. Had lunch at Nok's Lechon Manok is across the street from the church and near the city hall. We had natong (laing), bikol express and ginataang manok for only Php182.00. After lunch, bought bottled water and snacks at Lucky9 convenience store and spent 104.80.
5th stop. Mayon Skyline Park. From there, we went back to Lucky9 store to check on Rio's lost cellphone.
6th stop. Going back our route, we proceeded to Cagsawa Ruins in the town of Daraga. Then, to Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church of Daraga.
7th stop. Albay Park and Wildlife. Entrance fee of Php20.00 but we got in for free.
8th stop. Ligņon Hill, which is open to vehicles only after 6pm due to joggers. From there, we had a brief tour downtown.
9th stop. Pacific Mall where we bid goodbye to our tour guide and drive and had dinner at Biggs Diner courtesy of Emily. We back to the hotel around 8pm to rest.
