Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Getting to Mayon Volcano and Around It (Sto. Domingo, Bacacay, Malilipot, Tabaco, Ligao, Guinobatan, Camalig, and Daraga)
We woke up quite late - our second day in Albay. Had tapsilog breakfast at the hotel, and after morning bathroom rituals - its off we go to explore the towns beyond Legazpi City, and Mayon Volcano itself.
It was fortunate that the road leading towards north of Legazpi was Penaranda Road, and that's where we would come from. Penaranda Road eventually became the National Highway as we passed through the barangays of Rawis, Arimbay, and Salvacion. The view along the drive was very scenic, and actually gave us some insight as to the damage and havoc created by previous eruptions of the volcano. Along the road, we saw remnants of houses half submerged and burnt, big rocks and boulders almost occupying entire fields and rivers. We can only just imagine the strength of the eruption - how these huge stones were hurled from the volcano down to the towns. We saw the signage for the Mayon Riviera - a stretch of black-colored shoreline - however, we were met with a sign that says "private property", and we had no choice but to turn back to the main road.
We got to the town of Santo Domingo in just less than 10 minutes. The kilometer marker reads 541km. We went inside the poblacion to see the Sto. Domingo de Guzman Church. Across it was the town plaza, with the a monument dedicated to Andres Bonifacio, and the mausoleum of Potenciano Gregorio (the songwriter of "SarungBanggi"). Further down the town would lead to the port for Cagraray Island, home of Misibis Resort.
Next town was Bacacay, the town of islands, caves and beaches. Much as we had plans on what to see and do in this town - we got lost along the way, and just decided to drive on to the next town, Malilipot. We saw the road sign that led to Busay Falls, and again, much as we wanted to explore it, we had no place to leave the car with no one leaving to look after the car as well. We saw next the old town hall, where the road beside it led to the town church, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
Next came Tabaco City - it was a city alright - we were met with heavy traffic caused by election convoys and the city was indeed bustling alive with pedestrians and trikes. Along the national road was the eerily-white Tabaco City Hall, where across it is the San Juan Bautista Church.
Back on the national road, we made a right towards Mayon Volcano National Park. The road was well paved, and had occasional sharp turns, and we felt going up on slopes. As we reached Barangay Buang, there is a crossing with the Daragang Magayon Statue. We made a left towards the foot of Mayon Volcano. Vehicles and pedestrians became scarce already, and the breeze started to become colder - there was a slight drizzle - till we saw the "6 Kilometer Permanent Danger Zone" marker. The weather became similar to early morning Baguio City, cold and damp - and the fog started to grew thicker. The road started to make sharp twists and turns - zigzag. Finally we got to the first part - The Mayon Skyline. From here we were supposed to see a grand view of the province below and the Gulf of Albay - but with the fog - we saw nothing but mists and us shivering - we had no jackets with us. There was the never-opened never-functional now-derelict Mayon Resthouse. There was a small souveneir shop with several kids selling bonsai plants. We then proceeded further going up the mountain, the Holy Rosary Mountain Grotto along the side. As we got to the end of the road - there was the Mayon Planetarium - with a P10 entrance fee - but then - there was a power failure - the caretaker said we can just go in but I guess even with the powers on - there was nothing much to see except pcitures and posters of planets and other galactic what-have-you's.
There was also a small park that led down to the Mayon Resthouse. A pay comfort room for those with sensitive bladders is available, and a small canteen serving refreshments.
Beyond this part, further going up is restricted already. But I see several people whom the comfort room watcher says are formal residents of the mountain - they who always face the danger of Mayon's wrath.
We went down from the park, but we took the other way. Upon reaching the daragang magayon statue, instead of turning right to Tabaco, we made a left and headed for Ligao City. This route was considerably much longer gong back to Legazpi, but we had in mind our plans to visit Guinobatan, Camalig, and Daraga. The drive was very relaxing - something to really take off your mind away from work and other worries - from the cold weather up in the volcano - it was bright and sunny as we drove down.
As we approach Guinobatan, we chanced upon some small stalls that line the highway - we got curious to see what they were selling - macapuno rice puto. For P7 a piece, it made of two rice puto pieces put together like a hamburger bun, with macapuno in between. It tasted good while it was warm, but later that night, as we tried to munch on them - they weren't as good already.
We eventually reached Camalig, and got to see St. John the Baptist Church. Along the national highway was a crossing that led to the Hoyop-Hoyopan caves, but we reserved that visit for tomorrow. Camalig is said to be an old town rich with a few ancestral houses and other natural attractions.
Daraga was heralded with Cagsawa Ruins attraction. The road that led to it was rough and unpaved, and we were met with trucks hauling gravel and stones with what looked like a quarrying site filled with volcano projectiles.
The cagsawa ruins complex looked quite similar to Mines View Park of Baguio. Shops lined the entrance selling abaca products, and cutlery. The main entrance to the ruins ask for a P10 entrance fee. There it was - that very familiar scene - mostly seen in stamps, and textbooks and postcards - the half submerged bellfry with Mayon Volcano in the background. An eruption in 1814 sent pyroclastic material that buried the church and the people inside it. Within the park we were greeted by young male teens who offered to take our pictures and even suggested some photo tricks like making the bellfry look small and the volcano like a hill. They also acted as some sort of guides who told tales about the cagsawa tragedy.
The shopping area was also mixed with eateries that sold really cheap meals - but even if it was past noon already, we had our stomaches ready for a place in legazpi known for its bicol-fusion dishes, Small Talk Cafe.
It was fortunate that the road leading towards north of Legazpi was Penaranda Road, and that's where we would come from. Penaranda Road eventually became the National Highway as we passed through the barangays of Rawis, Arimbay, and Salvacion. The view along the drive was very scenic, and actually gave us some insight as to the damage and havoc created by previous eruptions of the volcano. Along the road, we saw remnants of houses half submerged and burnt, big rocks and boulders almost occupying entire fields and rivers. We can only just imagine the strength of the eruption - how these huge stones were hurled from the volcano down to the towns. We saw the signage for the Mayon Riviera - a stretch of black-colored shoreline - however, we were met with a sign that says "private property", and we had no choice but to turn back to the main road.
We got to the town of Santo Domingo in just less than 10 minutes. The kilometer marker reads 541km. We went inside the poblacion to see the Sto. Domingo de Guzman Church. Across it was the town plaza, with the a monument dedicated to Andres Bonifacio, and the mausoleum of Potenciano Gregorio (the songwriter of "SarungBanggi"). Further down the town would lead to the port for Cagraray Island, home of Misibis Resort.
Next town was Bacacay, the town of islands, caves and beaches. Much as we had plans on what to see and do in this town - we got lost along the way, and just decided to drive on to the next town, Malilipot. We saw the road sign that led to Busay Falls, and again, much as we wanted to explore it, we had no place to leave the car with no one leaving to look after the car as well. We saw next the old town hall, where the road beside it led to the town church, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
Next came Tabaco City - it was a city alright - we were met with heavy traffic caused by election convoys and the city was indeed bustling alive with pedestrians and trikes. Along the national road was the eerily-white Tabaco City Hall, where across it is the San Juan Bautista Church.
Back on the national road, we made a right towards Mayon Volcano National Park. The road was well paved, and had occasional sharp turns, and we felt going up on slopes. As we reached Barangay Buang, there is a crossing with the Daragang Magayon Statue. We made a left towards the foot of Mayon Volcano. Vehicles and pedestrians became scarce already, and the breeze started to become colder - there was a slight drizzle - till we saw the "6 Kilometer Permanent Danger Zone" marker. The weather became similar to early morning Baguio City, cold and damp - and the fog started to grew thicker. The road started to make sharp twists and turns - zigzag. Finally we got to the first part - The Mayon Skyline. From here we were supposed to see a grand view of the province below and the Gulf of Albay - but with the fog - we saw nothing but mists and us shivering - we had no jackets with us. There was the never-opened never-functional now-derelict Mayon Resthouse. There was a small souveneir shop with several kids selling bonsai plants. We then proceeded further going up the mountain, the Holy Rosary Mountain Grotto along the side. As we got to the end of the road - there was the Mayon Planetarium - with a P10 entrance fee - but then - there was a power failure - the caretaker said we can just go in but I guess even with the powers on - there was nothing much to see except pcitures and posters of planets and other galactic what-have-you's.
There was also a small park that led down to the Mayon Resthouse. A pay comfort room for those with sensitive bladders is available, and a small canteen serving refreshments.
Beyond this part, further going up is restricted already. But I see several people whom the comfort room watcher says are formal residents of the mountain - they who always face the danger of Mayon's wrath.
We went down from the park, but we took the other way. Upon reaching the daragang magayon statue, instead of turning right to Tabaco, we made a left and headed for Ligao City. This route was considerably much longer gong back to Legazpi, but we had in mind our plans to visit Guinobatan, Camalig, and Daraga. The drive was very relaxing - something to really take off your mind away from work and other worries - from the cold weather up in the volcano - it was bright and sunny as we drove down.
As we approach Guinobatan, we chanced upon some small stalls that line the highway - we got curious to see what they were selling - macapuno rice puto. For P7 a piece, it made of two rice puto pieces put together like a hamburger bun, with macapuno in between. It tasted good while it was warm, but later that night, as we tried to munch on them - they weren't as good already.
We eventually reached Camalig, and got to see St. John the Baptist Church. Along the national highway was a crossing that led to the Hoyop-Hoyopan caves, but we reserved that visit for tomorrow. Camalig is said to be an old town rich with a few ancestral houses and other natural attractions.
Daraga was heralded with Cagsawa Ruins attraction. The road that led to it was rough and unpaved, and we were met with trucks hauling gravel and stones with what looked like a quarrying site filled with volcano projectiles.
The cagsawa ruins complex looked quite similar to Mines View Park of Baguio. Shops lined the entrance selling abaca products, and cutlery. The main entrance to the ruins ask for a P10 entrance fee. There it was - that very familiar scene - mostly seen in stamps, and textbooks and postcards - the half submerged bellfry with Mayon Volcano in the background. An eruption in 1814 sent pyroclastic material that buried the church and the people inside it. Within the park we were greeted by young male teens who offered to take our pictures and even suggested some photo tricks like making the bellfry look small and the volcano like a hill. They also acted as some sort of guides who told tales about the cagsawa tragedy.
The shopping area was also mixed with eateries that sold really cheap meals - but even if it was past noon already, we had our stomaches ready for a place in legazpi known for its bicol-fusion dishes, Small Talk Cafe.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Legazpi Port District
After Lignon Hill, we drove towards the Port District to see what it has to offer. We cruised along the Daraga-Legazpi Diversion Road towards the National Highway, and found ourselves back on Penaranda Road where our hotel is. Almost a few minutes after, we saw the old and non-functioning Legazpi PNR Station. Hopefully with the goverment already working on the soon to be operational trains - this station would be bustling again the way it used to be in the past.
The Post District is the commercial part of the city - malls, public market, offices, restaurants, and public terminals - most of it were one-way streets - and it takes some time getting used to which streets to take.
We saw St. Raphael Church, where across it is a Rizal Park with a Rizal Monument. It was just pretty surprising to know that a lot of the towns and places that we saw along this trip - have a Rizal Park almost always all the time!
We got to a rotunda with the Trylon Monument in the center of it. Created in 1965, it is a 16-meter high heroes memorial that commemorates the Puente de San Rafael, where Bicolanos fought with the Americans in 1900.
Near the Trylon Monument is the Headless Monument, located just within the Legaspi Post Office. It was said to be dedicated to the unknown and unsung heroes who fought against the Japanese in the 1940s. The monument is quite unknown for itself - we hardly saw it - it was unkept and was practically almost obliterated with campaign posters.
We then drove towards the Port Area to see a new place in Legazpi, Embarcadero de Legazpi or the Sunwest Wharf. It was actually a mall, that housed several restaurants and clothes shops. Hardly a third of the mall was operational. They were pretty proud of a light tower, but when we got there, there were repairs ongoing so we weren't able to go up. Mount Mayon stood proudly in the background and I finally saw its tip though the rest of its body was covered in clouds.
Beyond was Kapuntukan Hill, or what is also called Sleeping Lion Hill. I had to stretch my imagination to believe that it looked like a sleeping lion.
We then left to see the Guadalupe Shrine. From the Port District, we had to go back to the Trylon Rotunda, and proceed to Rizal Street, where we made a left with the signage of the shrine. It was a grotto with winding steps along the side of the hill - along the way of which were the 14 stations of the cross. A huge image of the Blessed Mary is at the hilltop. Again there was no place to park again, altho at the back of the shrine is a street that leads to the chapel at the top. But the street is very very narrow, can only accomodate one small vehicle at a time. One lesson learned from the trip - the advantage and disadvantages of bringing your own vehicle versus commuting. It was quite easy going from place to place but it was hard for us whenever there was no safe parking to leave the car and no one is willing to stay behind and look after the car.
From the shrine we headed towards the Landco area - we saw the Legazpi Public Terminal, the currently being renovated Ibalong Center for Recreation and two malls, Metro Gaisano and Pacific Mall. Behind the malls, we stopped to have a taste of DJC Halo-Halo. The place was packed with a busload of Taiwanese tourists. Service was not that good, and when we finally got our servings of our halo halo - I thought the ones in Chowking are much better.
It was already almost 530pm and we decided to head back to the hotel. With the heat , time to shower again - and we lounged at the hotel lobby afterwards, talking with the hotel staff about the activities of the 2010 Magayon Festival. I was taken aback when they couldn't even give us an idea of the proceedings or much so, a brochure of the event. So I just went online to search for it, and there I was able to save the information. Tomorrow was going to be Camalig Day with a series of programs and activities.
We had a chit chat with the security guard and asked which place he would recommend for us to have dinner - bicol style. He told us to go to Hawak-Kamay. We just boarded a tricycle and told the driver of our destination - each of us paid P20. It was a small local restaurant with native huts for style. We had pinaputok na tilapia and bicol express, and I must say that the food was just great. It was not that expensive, and we stayed behind to have some beer.
Just the perfect way to end a long tiring day. For tomorrow, we are going to explore a few towns, plus Mayon Volcano itself.
The Post District is the commercial part of the city - malls, public market, offices, restaurants, and public terminals - most of it were one-way streets - and it takes some time getting used to which streets to take.
We saw St. Raphael Church, where across it is a Rizal Park with a Rizal Monument. It was just pretty surprising to know that a lot of the towns and places that we saw along this trip - have a Rizal Park almost always all the time!
We got to a rotunda with the Trylon Monument in the center of it. Created in 1965, it is a 16-meter high heroes memorial that commemorates the Puente de San Rafael, where Bicolanos fought with the Americans in 1900.
Near the Trylon Monument is the Headless Monument, located just within the Legaspi Post Office. It was said to be dedicated to the unknown and unsung heroes who fought against the Japanese in the 1940s. The monument is quite unknown for itself - we hardly saw it - it was unkept and was practically almost obliterated with campaign posters.
We then drove towards the Port Area to see a new place in Legazpi, Embarcadero de Legazpi or the Sunwest Wharf. It was actually a mall, that housed several restaurants and clothes shops. Hardly a third of the mall was operational. They were pretty proud of a light tower, but when we got there, there were repairs ongoing so we weren't able to go up. Mount Mayon stood proudly in the background and I finally saw its tip though the rest of its body was covered in clouds.
Beyond was Kapuntukan Hill, or what is also called Sleeping Lion Hill. I had to stretch my imagination to believe that it looked like a sleeping lion.
We then left to see the Guadalupe Shrine. From the Port District, we had to go back to the Trylon Rotunda, and proceed to Rizal Street, where we made a left with the signage of the shrine. It was a grotto with winding steps along the side of the hill - along the way of which were the 14 stations of the cross. A huge image of the Blessed Mary is at the hilltop. Again there was no place to park again, altho at the back of the shrine is a street that leads to the chapel at the top. But the street is very very narrow, can only accomodate one small vehicle at a time. One lesson learned from the trip - the advantage and disadvantages of bringing your own vehicle versus commuting. It was quite easy going from place to place but it was hard for us whenever there was no safe parking to leave the car and no one is willing to stay behind and look after the car.
From the shrine we headed towards the Landco area - we saw the Legazpi Public Terminal, the currently being renovated Ibalong Center for Recreation and two malls, Metro Gaisano and Pacific Mall. Behind the malls, we stopped to have a taste of DJC Halo-Halo. The place was packed with a busload of Taiwanese tourists. Service was not that good, and when we finally got our servings of our halo halo - I thought the ones in Chowking are much better.
It was already almost 530pm and we decided to head back to the hotel. With the heat , time to shower again - and we lounged at the hotel lobby afterwards, talking with the hotel staff about the activities of the 2010 Magayon Festival. I was taken aback when they couldn't even give us an idea of the proceedings or much so, a brochure of the event. So I just went online to search for it, and there I was able to save the information. Tomorrow was going to be Camalig Day with a series of programs and activities.
We had a chit chat with the security guard and asked which place he would recommend for us to have dinner - bicol style. He told us to go to Hawak-Kamay. We just boarded a tricycle and told the driver of our destination - each of us paid P20. It was a small local restaurant with native huts for style. We had pinaputok na tilapia and bicol express, and I must say that the food was just great. It was not that expensive, and we stayed behind to have some beer.
Just the perfect way to end a long tiring day. For tomorrow, we are going to explore a few towns, plus Mayon Volcano itself.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Lignon Hill
Lignon Hill (pronounced as li-nyon) is situated near the airport, and is a zigzag drive around it till you reach the top. It gives a nice view of Mayon Volcano, the Gulf of Albay, Legazpi City, and the domestic airport just below it.
The hill stands at 156 meters tall, and although some say it can be walked from the foot of the hill all the way up - I strongly not encourage it. With the heat, and the steep slopes - It can be really tiring. I drove the car all the way up, and along the way - you would notice several attractions, including their own stations fo the cross. Entrance is free, although cars are prohibited from 5-9am and 4-6pm.
In the evenings, it gives a nice sight of Legazpi City by night. The zigzag road is well lit and the hill is very conspicuous from the city because of the lighted zigzag.
For the more athletic and adventurous, the hill offers a trail where you may wanna climb up using bamboo stairs along the slopes, instead of taking the road.
There is also a Japanese Tunnel located near the foot of the hill. A park marshall will guide through the U-shaped tunnel.
A Philvolcs Office is also situated from the foot of the hill. It was rocky drive up to it, and the personnel there continuously monitors the activity of Mount Mayon. A high powered telescope can be used to see magnified views of the volcano from this place.
At the peak of the hill is the view deck. Gives a magnificent view of Mount Mayon. Too bad the volcano was then covered with clouds. There is a place where you can have refreshments and buy souveneirs.
A zipline (more or less about 300 meters) is also available at the hill top. They also offer professional phototaking with you on the zipline with Mayon in the background.
It was already about 430pm and we decided to go down already, and try to see some other places the city has to offer.
At the foot of the hill, near the entance from the main road, is the Albay Park and Wildlife, which we didnt bother anymore to stop. There was no parking available.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)