Here
we go again, I am about to embark myself on another long odyssey, to set sail
again on a set of Provinces. A Second Series but unlike no other, this time, it
is bloodier and harder. And I call it “THE SOUTHERN LUZON CHALLENGE”. I, your
Pambansang Manlalakbay, Armie “Happy Loner Traveller” Yuson would take an
Adventure on these Provinces, namely Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
Albay and Sorsogon. This challenge is the same as my First Series in Northern
Luzon, a 1,500 Philippine Peso Budget for each Province, where and how far
would it take me? Would it still be a success for the second time around? Well,
here is the story…
I
was only given six days to complete my mission in these Five Provinces situated
in Southern Luzon. My First Province is ALBAY. So from Baguio, I travelled six
hours to Manila for only 356 Philippine Pesos & right away, I rode the
earliest bus to leave for LEGAZPI ALBAY and it took me fourteen long but smooth
hours to arrive at my destination which have only outlaid me 400 Philippine
Pesos.
As I
have arrived in Legazpi terminal, I rode the jeep going to this new attraction
found within the City, the EMBARACADERO MALL, an open shopping center along the
Legazpi Bay with a spectacular view of the Ocean and the Famous Perfect Cone
Shape MAYON VOLCANO. It was cloudy and windy at that time so the setting for me
was perfect! I went to Embarcadero mall because this is where my Hotel is
located too. Yes! There is a Hotel inside the open mall which has a Great 360
Degree view of what Legazpi can offer, its name is ELLIS ECOTEL and it only
costs 288 Philippine Pesos per night. With it is already a beautiful, clean,
classy air-conditioned room & outside of it, is a marvelously built mall
with awesome attractions.
I
rested for a while and after that I went to one of the mall’s restaurants named
Gilian’s Sea Wharf Chef, oh I missed Seafoods! I ate their deliciously mixed
grilled blue marlin! After that, I walked to their town proper and was amazed
because it’s as if I was in another Country. Honestly, it is only for the first
time that on a very urbanized place, I didn’t see any garbage or trash in the
streets, it was very clean! I can’t help but say “Great Job!” to the people of
Legazpi Albay. You are truly Role Models of Cleanliness and Discipline in one’s
own neighborhood. I double salute you for that!
On
the second day, I visited the popular destinations around Legazpi, from
Embarcadero Mall, I rode the jeep going to Daraga Albay for only 10 Philippine
Pesos, it is where the Famous Landmark CAGSAWA RUINS is located, as well as
LIGNON HILL, the place where Extreme Adventures are offered. While I’m at
Lignon Hill, I saw that this company YOUR BROTHER TRAVEL AND TOURS has a promo,
an offer I can’t resist, Thanks to the owner’s nephew, Mr. Joefel Salarson for
giving me a great deal, the regular rate of the ATV Tour to Mayon Volcano’s
Lava Front is 1,800 Philippine Pesos but I got it for only 599 Philippine
Pesos, the experience would usually last for 3 hours with an 18 kilometer
non-stop drive through riverstreams, dirt and rough roads. That’s why you
should prepare for Extreme wetness! After arriving at the Lava Front, I hiked
the rocky hill and had an up close and flawless view of the Grand Perfect Cone
Shaped Mayon Volcano. Whew! It is just plain AMAZING!!! To end my Mayon Volcano
Adventure, from the top of the Lava Front, I Ziplined down to its foot for only
250 Philippine Pesos, care of MAYON ADVENTURE LAND’s Mr. Nad Agao, that was an
Exhilarating Finish! After that, I went back to my Hotel and had a quick shower
then I walked for about twenty minutes to “PURO”, a long boulevard facing the
Legazpi Bay where along it are bright and lively restaurants & bars. I had
my dinner there, in Rock Port Cottage, another Seafood retreat! All in all, my
second day in Legazpi was very memorable, I really had so much fun, my Soul was
alive again…
On my third day, I tried Legazpi’s latest attraction,
the EDGEWALK and Zipline at Embaracadero Mall’s Outdoor Recreational
Activities. It is similar to Cebu’s Skywalk, although Skywalk is 500 feet high
while Edgewalk is 200 feet high but the best thing about Edgewalk is that you
can see the whole of Legazpi, its Bay just fronting the Embarcadero Mall and a
very tremendous view of the Perfect Cone Shaped Mayon Volcano. I definitely had
a worthwhile walk at the edge of Legazpi! To sum it all up, I had to go down
the land via its 350 meter Zipline! This Zipline is unique because you will be
Ziplining above the Legazpi Bay! What an Experience!!! Later on my third day, I
was planning on a more priceless memory, one of my faithful supporters Ms. Krista Barbara Gueriña is from Legazpi, so I surprised
her at the place she is working, in CHED Region V, just imagine her face being
surprised – that one was even better than what I’ve expected, above priceless!
So we went out to eat at 1st Collonial Grill where I had my fine tasteful
dinner of Laing. Bicolanos are really Great Chefs, they’re perfect in mixing
their Recipes! Thank you to Krista for surprising me, she treated me and even
gave me a gift of Legazpi’s sweets!
At
night, I went to “Puro” which means “Dulo” in Bicolano. It’s a very long
boulevard by the Bay where I just walked and thought of my Grandfather, the
GREAT “ARMANDO Q. LEYVA”, asking questions to the Ocean while sitting on the
Seawall… In this place, you can jog in the morning and there are cheap
restaurants fronting the Bay too, serving delicious Seafoods. So it’s a perfect
place where you could just hangout and relax for the rest of the day.
All in
all, if I were to rate my Legazpi Adventure on an out of 10 scale? It would be
a Soaring 15!!! "For me, I have dubbed Bicol as the EXTREME CAPITAL OF THE
PHILIPPINES! They love it Spicy and they love it Extreme!"
Oh and
by the way, I just spent 2,525 Pesos on my three days stay in Legazpi, I was over
my set budget but I had the best and most worthwhile treatment I could possibly
imagine from the Bicolanos! It’s still Awesome! And I give them a Huge YEBAH!!!
- Happy Loner Traveller
