BICOL ROADTRIP WITH KIDS [Camarines Norte – Camarines Sur – Albay – Camarines Sur]

A trip unplanned but thanks to the APEC holiday for the long weekend plus it coincided with my youngest birthday; indeed, a birthday celebration away from home.

We are true blooded bicolanas; me a full born Masbateña and hubby’s father was hailed from Sorsogon.  Whenever we’re in Bicol’s soil, it has a natural homey tone except that we missed both our provinces for this round. This however was the kids first Bicol trip which made the voyage a family tree quiz bee.

During college, the Bicol highway is a customary sight and the verge of trees shadowing the road was inscribed by my countless lonely plies then but today, it was the kids turn for the dumbfounded gaze.

The actual account of our Bicolandia road trip as follows:

Day 1

Depart Manila for Bicol

Around Daet, Camarines Norte

-       Jose Rizal Oldest Monument

-       Kapitolyo ng Camarines Norte

-       Parroquia de San Juan Bautista

-       Bagasbas Beach

Traveled to Naga City

Read More

MATUKAD ISLAND -- Caramoan, Camarines Sur

During our Caramoan Trip, we spent our last adventure at Matukad Island famous for its fine powdery sand that looks like a powder soaked in water.

Matukad Island

Matukad is also known for the mystic bangus (milk fish) that resides inside the secluded lagoon which is accessible by a steep ascend on its jagged rock formations.  The eerie story of the milkfish is an added persuasion to climb the top even to faint-hearted persons.  

According to folks, long time ago there used to be two fishes in the lagoon until a fisherman caught one of those to fed his family which unfortunately has caused the death of everyone.  Since then, no one dared to catch the remaining fish.

Read More

CARAMOAN, CAMARINES SUR TRIP

We arrived at Sabang San Jose, Camarines Sur at 8am after an 11 hours travel from Manila via Naga-Sabang route.  We’re just in time for the 11am trip to Guijalo port via a public boat which can carry more or less 150 passengers @P120 fare per head for a two hours sail with the view of Mayon Volcano from afar.  At Guijalo port we took one more ride to Paniman Bay, the jump-off to Caramoan Peninsula.

Another option in getting to Guijalo port from Sabang is to hire a smaller private boat between P2,000 to P4,000 depending on the size and capacity.  During our visit, construction works are already on-going linking the Paniman Bay to Sabang Port by land.  The more transportation and logistics options, the better for the tourists – “time” value wise, it could mean lesser time waiting for a ride and more time for your vacation.  

Read More