Region V Adventure: The Albay Experience

Experiencing all the beautiful places in the Philippines has always been part of my bucket list. And each new place I get the chance to travel to gives me a feeling of exhilaration and rejuvenation.

A year ago, I went to Bicol with my siblings and their best friends. This was an unexpected trip since they only planned it for a couple of days and then off we went away.  We had no worries about where we were going to stay because the family of Ate Miera, my sister-in-law, is living there. We arrived in Tabaco City, Albay after 16 hours of travel. Yes, that was true! It was really a very long bus ride and that was my first time traveling that far by land but I enjoyed it because our bus traveled around Albay and I saw the Mayon Volcano in all angles even though it was foggy. We were fetched by Ate Miera's relatives and finally, we reached their home in Barangay Matalipni and had our late lunch there. The people were very welcoming and accommodating. They made us really feel like we are all part of their family. 

            

After our sumptuous late lunch, we went to this cold spring resort and indeed it was really freezing cold! But nevertheless, we enjoyed wading in the pool just like children. We also shared scary stories while munching on chips and fruits.

Best friends Part 1 (Kuya Albert, Kuya JR)

Best Friends Part 2 (Ate Gicel, Ate Lea, Ate Kat)

Our second day was spent on roaming around the city and discovering places like the Kawa-Kawa Hill and Natural Park. The place is mostly visited by religious devotees when it is Holy Week because of its stations of the cross. It was really huge and you would have to do a lot of walking and climbing before you can reach the top of the park. It was definitely a paradise and one of the places that you would not want to miss when you go to Albay.  There were also recreational activities offered like ATV ride, obstacle course and horseback riding. But the best part of this place was their sunflower garden and we were lucky enough to see the sunflowers in their full bloom. I was elated to see so many sunflowers that I just want to stay there forever.

The church is still under construction

           

The start of long walking and climbing up of stairs 

At the top of the hill where you can do many activities and of course, enjoy the scenery

Goofing around ( Me, Ate Kat, Ate Gicel)

Bikol Extreme

              

Kuya Albert and Ate Gicel trying out some of the obstacles in the place

Sunflower Garden

              

                               

So beautiful, I could stare at you forever

Very happy kids at a very happy place

"I got a pocket, got a pocket full of sunshine."

We also went to see the top of the Mayon Volcano but of course we did not trek, we just went to a high side of the volcano through a jeepney so that we could see the crater but unfortunately we had not seen it the way we expected it to be because of the downpour so we just took pictures of the place.

Too foggy and raining but no one can stop our craziness. Haha!

With my biological sister, Ate Gicel!

Mayon Volcano playing hide and seek with us. Haha!

This Albay trip was definitely a one for the books experience! The places I had seen, the locals I met and the fun people I am with made this vacation worth it and memorable.