Day 1: The start of our 5 Days Backpack Adventures

Part1: A Rainy Day Departure

by lakwatserong tatay

This is the 1st time that my so called group of "xplorerboyz" will be complete, it's been a long time since i'll did to travel far. I remember upon booking this activity way back April of this year, once again thanks to Cebu Pacific's promos...hehehehe....we were all excited, because we're all new to this placed even though one of the xplorerboyz "johari originated in Sorsogon one of our destination...The "Tour de Sorsogon"...hehehehe...He said that, this is the 1st time he will do this adventure...a 5 days of adventure....within the Province of Legazpi & Sorsogon, getting around to some of the tourist spots, and using our "Trike Mobile"...hehehe...So enough for the story...lets proceed.....

At last, after months and days of waiting, the time has come, to begin our 5 days of backpack adventures. It was thursday, our flight to Legazpi, Albay scheduled (1235 pm / Sept. 2, 2010 via Cebu Pacific Flight no. 5J - 327). We meet at office @ D' Fort, Taguig and went to NAIA Terminal 3. We arrived at NAIA Terminal 3, earlier to proper check-in procedures....in short...excited po kami...hehehe....and all of us where 1st timers to this airport...so we were really excited...hehehe...

The daily view of check- in process in Cebu Pacific NAIA Terminal 3

We check-in exactly 2 hours prior to its departure. After we see in the monitor that the Legazpi flight is starting to accept check-in proper....hehehe..excited talaga...Of course, if your a newbie to the place, what you will do? of course.....photo opps....Below are some of our photo shots activities....hehehe...Actually we have so many shots within the airport...hehehe...just what i have said..we were all 1st timers....

"xplorerboyz" on photo sessions....hehehehe !!!!!

see....even our boarding tickets had a photo opps too !!!!!

After doing check-in procedures...we proceed to boarding and waiting area...we another photo sessions happen. Upon paying the terminal fee and gone thru to airport security...There is this gallery which is made thru efforts of Cebu Pacific i dont know if they called this as "Airscapes", i've forgot to takenote of the name of the photographer...hehehe...but all of his shots where really nice...different places and tourist spots of our country is been placed for this gallery.

of course photo sessions again....

We exactly boarded on time, but personally on my own experience riding Cebu Pacific flights, there is always a conflict...hehehe..and i have already told my group about this. It was raining that time while waiting to board on the plane. Of course, while waiting photo opps is always present. Below are some of the shots while were waiting, go to onboard and experienced traffic airway congestion...photo opps inside the plane...hehehe....

Our plane ride to Legazpi, Albay

Photo opps on on Waiting area Gate 120

Luckily upon waiting to board our plane. The rain stops so it was really comfort for us, incase this is the 1st time i will ride a plane wet....hehehe....We have to walk in the airport ground to ride our plane. As you can see below of course yours truly will not miss this opportunity...

Yours truly in NAIA Terminal 3 Airport ground...

Most of the passangers is ready for our take off, seat belts were on, but many of us, including our group is wandering why we were still on the airport grounds, and there were also other planes alined...after staying in the ground for more than hour the pilot announced it was due to an airway congestion...hay!!! ang kala ko wala na ganito...hehehe.....so what we have did..photo opps of course inside the plane.

"lakwatserong tatay" & "d eagle"

At last after waiting for our turn to flew off....It is nice to have some shots while in the air...seeing some of the ground sites while you were up in the sky and of course, who will miss a shot of Mt. Mayon before you will ascend to Legazpi Airport, but sad to say.....Mayon Volcano is shy to us that time because it is too cloudy on its upper part...sayang!!!!!! This actually my 1st time to see Mayon Volcano upclose....huhuhuhu!!!!!

Few minutes after our plane departed on NAIA Terminal 3

The Shy Mayon Volcano before we ascend to Legazpi Airport

Of course, if you're new to a place specially like airports, what you will do? So again....photo sessions started again...hehehehe...I found that the airport at the foot of Mayon Volcano in Legazpi City servicing not just the province of Albay but the entire Bicol Region. It's in this airport where tourists wishing to commune with Donsol, Sorsogon's pride (Whale Shark aka Butanding). And some outdoor enthusiast wishes to climb Mt. Bulusan and get amazed with the beauty of Lake Bulusan of Bulusan , Sorsogon.

"xplorerboyz in action"...hehehehe...

Legazpi Airport arrival entrance

Legazpi Airport Departure Area

Our plane ride within the view of Majestic Mayon Volcano

It is such an opportunity seeing Mayon Volcano upclose and do really hope to climb it too.....

Here is our 1st Day Itinerary for our 5 Days Backpack Adventures:

1030 ETA NAIA terminal 3
1130 Check-in process
1205 Scheduled Boarding Process
1325 ETD to Legazpi Airport (delayed departure due to airport runway congestion)
1415 ETA Legazpi Airport
1435 ETA Pacific Mall Legazpi, Albay (Late lunch "Biggs Diner")
1545 ETA San Gregorio de Magno Church, Old Albay District of Legazpi near Peñaranda Park, Legazpi Capitol
1615 ETA Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church, Daraga, Albay
1650 ETD to Sorsogon City via GTExpress vans.
1750 ETA Sorsogon, Sorsogon City
1815 ETA See Breeze Home Subd. (our resident’s host house (1st stop)
1830 ETD to Sawanga, Bacon District,Sorsogon
2015 ETA Johari’s Place (Narra St., Purok 7, Sawanga, Bacon District, Sorsogon)

Total expenses (1st Day):

Tricycle to Pacific Mall from Legazpi airport (P20/person)
Jeep to Peñaranda Park (P7)
Jeep to Daraga, Albay from Peñaranda Park (P7)
GTExpress to Sorsogon (P60)
Tricycle to Sea Breeze (P10/person)
Full tank of Trike Mobile (P100/person)

Legazpi Airport Information:

Flights to Legazpi from Manila are offered by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express, and Zest Air with airline offices inside the airport compound. (You could choose any from this airline which offers the cheapest flight rates to Legazpi).

Legazpi Airport to your preferred destinations:

There are no taxis in Legazpi, only tricycle that can be hired for P50.00 to P 60.00 per trip to bus and van terminals where you can ride and choose between vans and buses to the Albay towns like Nabua, Tiwi, Sorsogon City, Naga City (Camarines Sur) and also back to Manila via land transportation.

Contact Information of Albays Tourism Office:

PROVINCIAL TOURISM & CULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
Albay Tourism Bldg., Albay Astrodome Complex,
Capt. F. Aquende Drive, Legazpi City, 4500 Albay, Philippines
Tel: +63 (52) 820 6314/16
Fax: +63 (52) 820 6315
e-mail: albaytourism@gmail.com website: http://www.albay.gov.ph/

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
Regional Office 5
DOT Building, regional Offices Site,
Rawis, Legazpi City 4500
Tels: +63 (52) 820 3664 +63 (52) 482 0811
+63 (52) 482 0812
+63 (52) 482 0712
Website: http://www.wowbicol.com/

X-plorerboyz: Conquers Albay and Sorsogon

A 5 days of Different Adventure.....

by lakwatserong tatay

This trip was unexpected to be happened, that time....April this year it all started...hehehehe...Our itinerary was not establish as like when we used to climb, we just have only the list of places we will gonna visit....and that's why i came up with a title of "A 5 days of different adventure"..many places were added....

And at last after months of waiting. Our Unexpected travel, trip and adventures....will be starting....Four guys united together with one goal, to explore our country...and always fulfill a one of a kind adventure...hehehe...Brian..."lakwatserong tatay"..Johari...."newbie daddy"...Jayson...."D Eagle".....and Regie...."Iinaki"...."D Xplorerboyz"....

Sept. 2, (1st day) this is the day....we were all excited and 2 hours early on our departure time...diba excited talaga...of course in every place..and newbie..what you will do?.....and we really don't expect it to be a rainy day departure.

Xplorerboyz @ NAIA Terminal 3

After hours of waiting, being delayed to our flight.....all of us landed in the grounds of Legaspi Airport...with a cloudy arrival...huhuhu!!!!!!

Xplorerboyz @ Legaspi Airport

Our 1st stop on our 1st day of adventure...to eat and dine in one of Bicol's pride...Bigg's Diners, located inside Pacific Mall in Legazpi, Albay, this mall is just a short horizontal stretch, when compared to the malls in Manila but is just enough for the booming city of Legazpi.

Xplorerboyz @ Bigg's Diners in Pacific Mall, Legazpi

After eating our late lunch, our group headed to town plaza, actually that time it was raining....but even rain could not stop our adventure....hehehe...specially seeing the places that im really fascinated of...churches....specially old one's....hehehe..seeing those kind of churches reminds me of our past....and of course getting a blessing from our lord to have always a safe adventure and trip...

Xplorerboyz @ Legazpi City Hall

The Cathedral of San Gregorio Magno (St. Gregory The Great) in Albay or called as Albay Cathedral Church, is located in the heart of Legazpi City.

Xplorerboyz @ Albay Cathedral

Our last stop for 1st day of adventure before going to Sorsogon, is an 18th century baroque church poised on a hill with commanding views of the sea and Mayon Volcano. Its stone masons suffused the facade with statuary, carvings, alcoves and niches at different levels. This Church was built after the eruption of Mayon Volcano which covered the original church of the town at Cagsawa. The Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church of Daraga, Albay.
Xplorerboyz @ Daraga Church

It was almost 5 pm when we departed the City of Daraga, and headed to a van terminal going to Sorsogon City. Our road trip to Sorsogon city from Daraga, Albay took us 1 hr. and to Sea Breeze Home Subd. added almost 15 mins. of tricycle ride. This is our 1st stop in Sorsogon were we will get our "Trike Mobile"...hehehe...After buying some foods and beverages were on our Trike Adventure to Sawanga, Bacon District, Sorsogon city, Johari's parents place.....It took us almost 2 hours of tricycle ride...we drove in a highway and of course it was really dark...hehehe...

The Start of our "Tour de Sorsogon"...hehehe...2nd day of different adventure...of course we started it with a delicious breakfast were yours truly is the chef....That day our plan is to go to Paguriran Island and Paguriran Island Resort stay for there for few hours.

Xplorerboyz @ Paguriran Island, Sawanga, Bacon, Sorsogon

That same day, parents and youngest brother of Johari will go to their house @ Sea Breeze, Sorsogon, Sorsogon City. Of course we will not miss the chance to have a photo opps...hehehe...

Xplorerboyz @ Sawanga, Bacon, Sorsogon

After halfday of spenting on Paguriran Island and Beach Resort. Our group will be heading in the Town of Irosin, Sorsogon. Our 2nd stop for the day is The Annunciation Parish Church of Bacon, Sorsogon. Actually this Church has so many hand paintings inside as you see below on its Church altar.

Lakwatserong Tatay & Inaki @ Annunciation Parish Church of Bacon

Lakwatserong Tatay & Inaki @ Annunciation Parish Church Altar

After passing a Church were now heading to the town of Irosin. But before that we had a stop in one of the Famous Halo-Halo Store in City of Sorsogon, located in Calle Nueva St., Sorsogon, Sorsogon City, known as Susan's Halo-Halo, this is just like a residential house that the lower and front part is converted into Halo-halo resto...indeed the Halo-Halo really taste great, and full of ingredients..as you see below, and the price of P20....wow....hehehe.....

Xplorerboyz @ Susan's Halo-halo Shop, City of Sorsogon

Nanay Susan's famous Halo-halo

After of few minutes spending eating our merienda for that time, we proceed to our plan to go to place of Irosin, really known there The St. Michael Archangel Parish Church aka Hilltop Church of Irosin.

yours truly @ Hilltop Church entrance

After visiting Irosin's Hilltop Church it is really getting dark, we have to go for our last stop of the day. The Mateo Hot & Cold Springs Resort, located in San Benon, Monbon, Irosin, Sorsogon. As we go to this spring resort, we passed by the Irosin Marker, Johari said to us it is really nice to look this post at night. but we have to hurry because the location of spring resort were heading is quite far from the city town.

Irosin City Town Lamp Marker

We spend our 2nd night at Mateo Hot & Cold Spring Resort, we rented a room for 4 pax. Were we just relax and swim to its very warm water. This resort sits at the base of Bulusan Volcano and offers cottages, hiking trails, camping grounds and steaming mineral baths.

Xplorerboyz @ Mateo Hot & Cold Spring Resort

Start of our 3rd day of different adventure....Our destination are the Cities of Bulusan and Gubat, Sorsogon. Where Lake Bulusan and Rizal Beach Resort is can be found. But of course this trip is not called a different adventure if jusgt will be our usual plans.....Below is the added tourist spots and destinations that been added to our "3rd day of different adventure" and "2nd Day Tour de Sorsogon"....Let me start with a stop in Irosin Plaza.

Xplorerboyz @ Irosin Plaza

We choose to stop on this bridge before proceeding uphill to Bulusan Volcano Natural Park. This is Rangas Bridge Km 628+699. Actually sad to say, that time there were no water flowing to its river. And do always what we want to do...photo opps...hehehe!!!!

Xplorerboyz @ Rangas Bridge, up to Bulusan, Sorsogon

On our way up to Bulusan, We saw a marker going to Palogtoc Falls, located in San Roque, Bulusan, Sorsogon because of that and with an immediate discussion, we include this on our itinerary....It was a few minutes of walk and then.....

Xplorerboyz @ Palogtoc Falls

After driving uphill with our Trike mobile we reach at last the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, actually this Lake Bulusan is happen to be also the jumpoff point of the mountaineer want to experience the trill on climbing up this mountain. Below is one of my favorite shot where we are pointing our Mt. Bulusan....hehehe

Xplorerboyz @ Lake Bulusan

After our photo session at Lake Bulusan, were now heading to Gubat, Sorsogon, but of course, in every town there is always been unusual place that you will encounter, specially one of my favorite....churches...hehehe!!

Photo opps going downhill to Gubat, Sorsogon

After our photo sessions again at Lake Bulusan & photo opps in the hill towards to Gubat, Sorsogon. Before we say last goodbye to Bulusan. We had the chance to see the biggest among the five baluartes de piedra (stone watch towers) which, together with the thick and high stone walls, comprise Punta Diamante, the stone fort that encloses the church & rectory of the Parish of St. James the Greater in Bulusan, Sorsogon.

Xplorerboyz @ Bulusan Belfry

Inside the Church of St. James the Greater Parish of Bulusan

Upon approching the City of Gubat, Sorsogon, you will this Church, this one of the most famous church in Sorsogon because it is the Bicol's oldest church built in 1874 by a Spanish friar from the Franciscan order known as Barcelona Church (St. Joseph's Church). Also infront of this old church is an old spanish ruins. It is barren inside with only the external stone structure still standing.

Yours truly & Inaki @ Barcelona Church

The sun was up by that time when we arrive at Rizal Beach Resort, Gubat Sorsogon. One of the only two "True" resorts on Rizal beach, Gubat Bay in Sorsogon where will be staying for the whole day and spend overnight. The other resort that is just really nearby is Veramaris Resort.

Xplorerboyz @ Rizal Beach Resort, Gubat, Sorsogon

It is really nice when you are in a beach, doing beacheneering, and bonding moments while just sitting on it's shoreline...just like below....hehehe...

This is one of a kind vacation!!!!!!!!

After spending almost whole day of our 3rd day vacation in Rizal Beach Resort. We checkout early morning on our 4th day, because we will gonna go back to Legazpi. Spend maybe most of the day. And once again, due to changing of our itinerary, Lignon Hill Adventure Park is added to our 4th day of different adventure.

Welcome @ Ligñon Hill, Legazpi

Ligñon hill is a new destination for locals and tourists is rising on top of one of Legazpi City’s most famous landmarks, the 156-meter Ligñon Hill (also spelled Lingñon, pronounced as /li-NYON/). For years, Ligñon Hill is known only for the PHIVOLCS observatory located in its flanks and an old lighthouse on its summit. Now, Ligñon Hill is poised to become one of the city’s top destinations with the construction of the Ligñon Hill Nature Park.

Xplorerboyz @ Ligñon Hill Mayon Volcano Observatory

And of course, we try it zipline adventure. We tried first the superman experience and the usual type of zipline just sitdown and relax...hehehe...

one, two, three.....xplorerboyz go...go... go...

After doing those kind of adventure, our headed to mainland Legazpi and checkin to stay overnight at Magayon Hotel, and sametime to stroll around by night. Night time came we headed to one of the newest mall in Legazpi. The Embarcadero is a major waterfront development located at the harbor area of Legazpi City adjacent to the alluring Kapuntukan Hill (also called Sleeping Lion Hill).

Strolling and Bar hopping around Embarcadero

Bottoms up....Xplorerboyz...go....go...go...

On our last day of a different adventure, our group passby the Church of St. Raphael, Legazpi, to pray for safe trip back to Manila and same time to thank our God Almighty for the wonderful 5 days of different journey around Albay & Sorsogon......Our last stop was Pacific Mall, eat and dine again at Biggs' Diners......last minute of pasalubong shopping at of the Bicol's Pride when it comes to pastries, they said, this is the counterpart of Goldilocks.....

Inaki @ Pacific Mall, Legazpi

Special thanks to Elquiero Family for a warm welcome on their place. Of course specially to Johari, our newbie daddy.....thanks for the different backpack tour around Albay and Sorsogon....to the brother of Johari for letting us to use our "Trike Mobile", that we used to tour Sorsogon...hehehe.....and lastly, our God Almighty for taking good care of us while we were on our adventure....

Watch out for the detailed summaries, places, tips (budget & getting around) and itineraries that i made about our 5 day of different adventures happen to us.......to be continued...................

The Xplorerboyz with our "Trike Mobile"