Be Cool at Bicol

As John and I were having coffee early on Christmas day, he said, "let's go to Bicol today". Although I've been wanting to see the place (for as long as I can remember) where my mother was born, I wasn't prepared to pack our bags that fast. Plus the kids were still asleep so I told John, "how about tomorrow so I can fix all the things we need to bring?". My husband knows that I hate hot weather, so he said, "let's go there while its cold and be cool at Bicol". The next thing I know, I was grabbing whatever I think we need for the impromptu Bicol trip.

Our first destination was CWC to wakeboard but we arrived around 1am at Naga. Since we didn't have a reservation to any hotel, we parked at the first site of  Flamingo Hotel. I'll make a separate review about this bed and breakfast.

We left as soon as we finished our breakfast.

On the 26th of December, 9am, we were at Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC).

It was so cold that day that Juan and I decided not to wakeboard. 

Juan and I checked out CWC accommodations.

 

By 2pm we were on our way to Albay.

 First stop at Casagwa Ruins in Barangay Busay, Cagsawa,

 in the municipality of Daraga, Albay

Then in Mayon, where we were not allowed to go near because of the recent eruption alert. It was a rainy-foggy kind of day so Mayon Volcano didn't show her perfect cone.

The rain poured harder when we reached our third and last stop in Leagaspi City inAlbay. Lignon Hill hill stands at 156 meters (511 feet) tall and has the best view of Mayon Volcano and the whole Albay. Unfortunately, because we arrived around 4pm and it was raining the clouds covered most of the view.  

  

At least Juancho got to enjoy zipline. For P250, he got to ride twice, plus a souvenir photo.

We were supposed to find a hotel near the port going to Caramoan Island for an early boat ride but the rain stopped us from seeing the road signs so we headed back at CWC where we spent the night at the Cabin.

On the 27th, upon the recommendation of CWC Front Office, we were booked at Gota Village at Caramoan Island. From CWC, an hour or so drive going to Sabang Port and two hours drive going to Caramoan.

We reached Gota Village Resort in Caramoan Island around 3pm.

On the 28th, we checked out at 5am, to catch the 7am boat ride going to Sabang Port.

On our way back to Manila we passed by Basilica de Penafrancia and other churches.

The Peñafrancia Minor Basilica is located on the outskirts of Naga City—also known as the Piligrim City and Queen City of Bicol

Upon the recommendation of Lea Bongalonta, we had lunch at Biggs Diner

before hitting the long road to Manila.

I thought that our Bicol adventure was done when we reached Quezon Province.  We were all so tired and eager to go home so John and I decided to hit the shorter but steep road of Bituka ng Manok (chicken intestine) at Atimonan, Quezon.  

Little did we know that Bituka ng manok is actually a park, Quezon National Forest Park, 

where you can trek, dine and buy pasalubong and take lots of pictures.

There we met and shared a seat with a wonderful Sardona family where we exchanged travel stories.

"All journeys have secret destinations 

of which the traveler is unaware"

- Martin Buber, 20th Century philosopher