Caramoan Island Hopping

4:00 AM ang call time, 4:30am kami naka-layas sa Golden Leaf Hotel. Mahuhusay na mga bata. Masunurin. hihihi! Sa mga oras na yun, ako ang batas. Kailangan mahabol ang first trip ng boat e. Hehehe! Kulang na lang maghawak ako ng flag.. pupwesto ako sa unahan nila at iwawagayway ko habang sinisigaw ang.. "Children.. dito tayo!" hihih!

Filcab Van Terminal is just a few blocks away from Golden Leaf. Pwede ng lakarin basta alam mo kung nasan ang SM. Tapat yun nun.. pero wala akong nakitang sign e. Basta pumasok lang kami sa maliit, makipot at madilim na gasolinahan. Forgive me at nakalimutan ko ang linsyak na pangalan. Wala namang mambabarang na humarang samin nung umagang yun kaya feeling ko safe naman pag madaling araw ang biyahe. Ang maganda samin, hindi na naghintay na mapuno ang van. 13 na kami e. Binayaran na lang namin yung 2 pasahero. Larga! Fare is 120.00 each.

Biyaheng langit si manong. Ka-level ng bituka ng manok ang kalsada. Ang daming curves. We left the terminal at around 4:40am. After an hour we're already at Sabang Port. I told everyone to take the right side  to see Mayon's peak before sunrise. Yes you can still see it. Masaya ang boat ride.. mapayapa.

We arrived at the port of Guijalo at 7:45am and we saw our Shuttle bus with sign Rex Tourist Inn. I thought we're the only guest that time since it's off peak and only a few anticipated the Ramadan Holiday. But I was wrong. May ibang asungot sa bus. hihihi!

Loboc ba kanyo?

Nope. Rex Tourist Inn is not a beach front resort but you can see this very refreshing view. Actually it's much better than Loboc River. Mas malinis. Wala nga lang ang mga songers at pagkain. hihihi!

umeemote si madam

We just ate breakfast for a bit then dropped our bags in our room and voila, we're good to go..

..pati ang bumble bee shades ni Rachelle, ready na rin. hihi! SAKOP lang?!

I chose the package that's good for 2 days and 1 night. P1400.00 each. Inclusive ang full board meals, accommodation, boat rental, and transpo back and fort of Guijalo. Whattapack... age. hihihi!

For 10 minutes I guess, binaybay namin ang kahabaan ng bakawan. Same experience when I went to Coron for Mangrove Kayaking. Scary. Pakiramdam ko may lalabas na buwaya anytime.

Hello Sea!

Mga isang oras pa bago kami nakarating sa first stop. Hindi ako prepared. Sabi ko pa naman sa kanila kanya kanyang dala ng pagkain at walang mambuburaot. Isa ako sa nanguna. hahaha!

karst limestone. Nasa El nido ba aketch?!? ^_^

Tinatanong namin si kuya kung nasan ang shooting location ng survivor.. wala naman kami napala sa kanya. hihihi! Palipat lipat daw kasi yun. Anyway.. Moving on..

Fishfully

Infairness, wala kaming "Gravity Issues" diba Christian Lee?!? lol!

Wala akong ideya sa mga pangalan ng mga islang yan. hihihi! Forgive me. Basta kung san na lang kami dalhin ni manong.

Enjoy na enjoy sila... Ako hindi. hihihi! Ah ewan!! Kasalanan ni El nido to e. ^_^ I'm always expecting for more than that. Damn!

I may not be pleased by the islands but the underwater scenes amazed me.. Come and see.

The corals are alive and colorful and I'm happy about it..

..but there's nothing I haven't seen before. For the first time snorkelers like most of my officemates, waging wagi ang eksena sa ilalim..Anong nangyayari sa ibabaw? Eto..

I saw sir Rene and Sir Rodel, tumatayo sa corals ang mga dyaske.
Me: "Uy wag niyong tatapakan ang mga yan!!! Alam niyo bang inaabot ng maraming taon para mabuo sila!"

Natawa lang sila. Bakit daw bigla akong naging environmentalist. hahaha!

More of the sea creatures...

At ang mga sea weeds...lol!

Okay pala ang Orange outfit ko.. hindi halata ang life vest. ^_^

I'm sure most of you already know that there's one island there with enclosed cliff and a lonely bangus reigning the area. My officemates climbed up, but I and Ms. Freda chose to snorkel. I don't think I can do that. Kapagod kaya. Isa pa... butanding na ako.. Butanding AKO! Hmmmp!

Salamat sa picture

Sumu-survivor pose?! hihih!

Chan Lloyd! lol!

I had fun while seeing my officemates with happy faces. Ako kaya ang nag organize niyan! hihihi! Pero hep! It doesn't mean I still wanna do it next year. No way! hahaha! Ang sakit sa ulo no. At ang sakit sa bulsa ng phone bills ko after.. dami kong kinontak na hotel. Whew!

Hanggang sa muli...

Legazpi City Tour

Howkei Kokey! I'm back! Pagkalipas ang limampu't pitong siglo. Chos! I've been to 3 provinces and yun na ang hahabulin kong iblog sa ngayon. hihihi! Anyway, my September is allotted for work work work again so I made the most out of August. Gora!

At dahil bentang benta ang profile pic ko.. (Ngayon lang ako nakatanggap ng 40 + likes sa kasaysayan ng FB. hahaha!) e papasalamatan ko muna ang officemate kong si Madam Aymee. Makapangyarihan ang camera mo. Nakaka-denggoy. hahaha!

January pa lang, nagpa-plano na kami mag team building. I already mentioned before that we cannot file for leave all at once. Naalala ko nung nag Baguio kami year 2009. Half day lang ang hiniling namin, gusto ata luluhod pa kami sa asin. Ayaw kami payagan. Kaya I suggest, patulan ang long weekend ng August. Eid'l Fit'r is always an unpredictable date. Though PNoy never really made an announcement that it should be considered special non working holiday, nagmaganda ako at sinuggest yun. Bahala na si Thor. Chaka first time ko if ever.

February 13, 2012 when I started booking flights going to Naga and Legaspi whichever is available. Oh yeah, did I mentioned 13 kaming lahat?! Ka-pressure mag book. hahaha! Thank God Airphil and Cebu Pac did their job. Wuhuu! Ayun, 4 people decided to take the bus. I don't know.. fear of heights? plane crash? Whatever. 

My flight is earlier than everyone else. Sa kagustuhan manguna sa seat sale, napuyat tuloy ako. leche! Oh the bus team? They left the day before. hihii! Ayan tuloy pagod na pagod. Sakto nagkita-kita kami sa Naga Bus terminal. Since everyone wanted to see Mayon in Legaspi, Team Naga took the van and endured the 2 hour ride. Team Legazpi spent their time in Embarcadero playing bowling, billiards, sight seeing. Chill lang sila habang nagkukumarat kaming makarating sa Let's Pinangat in Camalig, Albay. That's the starting point.
 
We alighted just infront of Let's Pinangat. I already talked to the van driver to tour us around Legazpi for half day. He gave it for the price of 3,500.00 including the transpo back to Naga. Bale 270.00 each lang kami. Amazing! Since may iba kaming kasama sa van na galing Naga, hinatid muna sila ni kuya driver bago kami binalikan.

We ordered the ff:

TINUKTOK - P40.00

 Dahon siya ng gabi na may young coconut sa loob na nilagyan ng gata. Waging wagi!

BICOL EXPRESS (P40.00)

Gusto ko sanang mag aklas nun at sabihing "teh! hindi po sili ang binili ko" pero huli na ang lahat. Nagkakainan na sila. Grabe ang bicol express na yan. Uusok ang tenga mo sa anghang. Totoo ngang nasa Bicol na ako.

Team Naga (Clara, Jimbo, Rene, Espi, Me, Aymee, si Rachelle ang nag picture. hihihi!)

  After eating, Team Legazpi arrived. Ayun.. nagkainan din.

Team Legazpi (Paul, Mac, Iris, Rodel, Melyn, Freda)

Cagsawa Ruins

A glimpse of Mayon's Peak

Mga 3pm na yan kaya pahirapan siyang makita.

Lucky 13!

pitong camera + pitong jumpshot = pudpod na lupa

Maraming naglipanang photographers. They're willing to capture a trick shot using your own camera. You just have to enjoy every pose. i therefore conclude, ang hirap palang maging model. whew!

Lola naman o. Ok na sana e. hihih!! :)

♫ Sige... higupin mo..♫

Daraga Church

Sabi sa lapida, lime-washed daw ang walls niya. It's a form of preserving the structure. Kaya siya ganyan. Ang chaka lang ng renovation portion.

Kailangan talaga magka-holding hands? :)

Albay Park and Wildlife

Oh well hindi ako mahilig sa mga ANIMAL na yan (put the stress on "-mal!" part. hihih!) Mapanghi. Madumi. Mukang patay na. Hindi gumagalaw. Ayaw sa akin. Kaya wala silang masyadong picture. hmp! The feeling is mutual no! hahah!

ka-umay.. hahah!

anong emote yan!?!? :)

Our team is composed of 5 couples and 3 singles (sa kasamaang palad. lol!) At umay na umay kaming tatlo sa pinaggagagawa nilang kahalayan. hahaha!

Me: Madam Madam Freda!
Freda: O doray?
Me: Nakita mo ba yung malaking ibon sa cage? Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganung kalaki e. Ang panget niya! Nakakatakot. Tara dali!
Freda: Ang alin? Yung ostrich? oo nakita ko na.
Me: Huh? may ostrich ba dito?

Pahiya ako. Ang sinasabi kong malaking ibon ay wala sa kalingkingan ng ostrich. Leche! hahaha!

hayup!

Lignon Hill

May nilalang na di-tiyak ang kasarian ang humarang sa van namin pa-akyat. GT express daw kasi ang huling sasakyang naaksidente dun (o e ano ngayon?!?!) Muka naman confident si manong driver namin. Kakaakyat lang daw niya dun.

Anong meron dun? Makikita mo ang buong Legaspi. As in 360 degrees. We tried the zipline. Normal na lang sakin.. Yabang e no. hahah! Kakaiba lang kasi gabi. At nagkakandasabit-sabit ako sa sanga ng puno. Buti matindi ang kapit ng tsinelas ko. Paki inform ang mga kinauukulan ha.. na tabasan ang puno dahil sumasabit ako. 

Naiinis ako kasi habang naka sabit ako, biglang nagpakita ang uber shy na Mayon. Sayang wala akong camera. Pero tambling ako sa eksena sa baba...

Aymee: "Sir Rene! Sir Rene! dali picturan ko kayo ni wife mo. Kita na ang Mayon! "

Finished Product (clap clap!)

Rene: "O Aymee dali ikaw naman.. "
Aymee: (excited. nagmamadaling bumaba)

Toinks! Si Aymee at ang pugot na Mayon. lol!

Huli na ng nalaman niyang putol ang mailap na Mayon sa picture niya. Life is unfair no Mam Aymee? hahaha! We left the place around 7pm and headed to Small Talk Cafe for dinner.


Small Talk Cafe

It is located in Doña Aurora St. in Albay. Sikat siya kaya no worries.I've heard a lot of great reviews.

I love the ambiance. It gives a homey vibe. Check it out.

We ordered 14 different dishes. Ang yaman lang namin. Ayun naka 3,255.00 tuloy kami. But wait there's more.. budgeted na to. Isang taong meeting fund ng department namin. Kaya wala kaming nilabas kahit singkong duling. Well.. merong nagkawanggawa di ko lang alam kung sino. Sobra kasi ng 55.00. hihihi!

Eto ang mga natikman ko.. Buraot mode.

Pili Basil Pesto

Freshly made Mango Crepe (oo.. mainit init pa.)

Blueberry Cheesecake (mas masarap pa ang gawa ko. Charot!)

Veggie Salad

Golden Leaf Hotel

It is located in Misericordia St. Walking distance lang sa SM Naga, Filcab Van Terminal (going to Caramoan & Legaspi) at Naga Bus Terminal. O ha!

We stayed there for two nights pero yung nakuha kong pictures e pang uwian na. hihihi! Forgive me. For Day 1, when we arrived coming from Legaspi, we occupied 3 triple room and 1 double. But for the last day, we stayed in family room. Eto yun..

Ok naman siya. Kaya lang medyo minalas kami sa CR. Sira ang flush. Pinagpawisan tuloy ang mga nag tootoot. hahaha! If ever you arrive early, you can request them to take care of your bag muna. Meron silang parang bodega sa front desk. WiFi is only available at the lobby. All rooms are airconditioned but you can request for a stand fan if you think it's not enough.

Ok so much for our day 1. Caramoan na ang susunod. Watch out..

Expenses breakdown for day 1:
NAIA Terminal Fee - 200.00
Naga Airport to FilCab van Terminal (in front of SM):
   Pedicab ride to highway - 10.00 per pax
   Jeepney ride going to Naga Bus Terminal - 18.00 per pax
   Tricycle ride to Golden Leaf Hotel - 8.00 per pax
   Golden Leaf to FilCab Van Terminal - 0.00 (walking distance)
Fare going to Legazpi - 170.00 per pax
Legazpi City Tour (and going back to Naga)- 3,500.00/13 pax = 270.00 (spell cheap!)
Lunch at Let's Pinangat - 40.00 per pax
Dinner at Small Talk - 3255.00/14 (kasama si manong) = 232.50
Entrance fees:
   Cagsawa Ruins - 10.00 per pax
   Ligñon Hill - 20.00 per pax
   Zipline at Ligñon Hill - 250.00 per pax

Golden Leaf Accommodation (one night):
Misericordia St.. Naga City
(054) 4726507
09208139810
 
1 Double Room (600.00) +
3 Triple Room (800.00) = 3000.00/11 pax (may ancestral house yung 1 love team e.) = P272.70
------------------------------------
Total: 1,501.00