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Published: June 14th 2011
Mount Mayon Is Everywhere!
This time around, the grand old dame was in the mood to show off. Everywhere! We saw her the entire time we were in Albay. Not even a typhoon could stop or hide her.It would have been easy to board an overnight bus from Manila to Legazpi City, sleep off the entire 10 hour ride, then hop on a jeepney or a van for another hour's ride from Legazpi City to Donsol, Sorsogon for that date with the
"butandings" or whale sharks. But we are a family of 7. An SUV fits us like a glove. Provided no one "overpacks". Also, the plan was for 2 in our family flying home from Legazpi City after a few days into the week. So that lightens up the load and we would have more than enough space in the car on the way back.
Summer's Not Over Yet
Determined to make this an awesome summer holiday especially for the kids, we set off on this journey late in May. School here does not start till June. So you can say this one beats the deadline before summer here is officially over. Just a week-long holiday hopping from place to place around the Bicol Region. I was here last February, and I fell in love with the place, its food, the people, and the whale sharks!
We only arranged for our Donsol lodgings.
Ziplining at Embarcadero de Legazpi
Both kids were supposed to zipline with an adult each. At the last minute, the older one begged to go solo. Fine. Brave. Then the younger one had 2nd thoughts, but finally decided to go. And the children were not exactly excited that we don't know where we'd stop next for the night. To perk them up, we gave them their first adrenaline high with the zipline in Embarcadero de Legazpi in Legazpi City. The cable lines cross the waters, with no less than Mount Mayon in the background, all the way to that mound of earth at the end of the zipline. Blood pumping, the family made it in time for a big lunch at Bigg's Diner, an old-time American-inspired food chain in Bicol Region. A nice break from all the Bicolano food we have been eating --- all coconut cream-based and spiced up with the local chilies.
The "Lady" Is Back, and Showing Off!
While I was not as lucky to have a good view of Mt. Mayon during my last visit earlier in the year, my family was blessed with the grand old dame's majestic appearance practically from every angle, every corner, everywhere around Albay! We saw the "Lady" from Cagsawa Ruins, from Lignon Hills, from Embarcadero de Legazpi, Padang Memorial, from Mayon Skyline, from the window of our room in Legazpi City every hour of the day! The
Cagsawa Ruins
The remains of a 17th century church buried in volcanic lava, trapping everyone inside, when Mount Mayon erupted in 1814. day we set off from Legazpi City, Albay bound for Camarines Sur, Typhoon Signal No. 2 was declared over the entire Bicol Region. But no cloud, no typhoon would dare stop this grand old Lady from making her dramatic appearance any hour she chooses. We were almost sorry to bid it goodbye as we drove towards Naga City in Camarines Sur.
Typhoon Signal #2 at Camsur Water Complex
As it turned out, the typhoon was a blessing in disguise for my family. I have been trying to book a family trailer van in the Camarines Sur Water Complex (CWC) , famous for its wakeboarding facilities, but it was such an ordeal to make a reservation. With inclement weather, many cancelled their bookings and we suddenly found a family trailer van available for our family for the next couple of days. These container vans come in blue, green and red and have since been converted into "hotel rooms". The family trailer van we got has 2 rooms: one at the left end with a queen-size bed, another room near the restroom with twin beds. In the middle are a small kitchenette and a tiny receiving area. We
Camsur Water Complex (CWC)
Container vans converted into "hotel rooms". For US$84, you get a van with 2 rooms : 1 queen-sized bed+2 twin beds, a small kitchenette, a tiny receiving area, and your own toilet and bath. thought we'd 'wait out' the typhoon in this area. Not bad. The novelty of sleeping in container vans excited the kids no end. One even asked why there were no wheels!
There were hardly any guests the day we arrived. The pool and wakeboarding area beckoned. The cable lines looked almost lonely. No grinding, wheeling sound. With hardly any guests, the waiting staff were eager to please us. We enjoyed our pizzas, rice porridge, salads and beers here. I even got my US$7 one-hour massage in one of the huts lining the pool. By the 3rd day, the complex was teeming with people again. Oh btw, the typhoon didn't hit land. Lucky for us. We enjoyed the place minus the crowd. The kids even found a cat which they named "Bob" and served as their pet for the 3 days, 2 nights we stayed in CWC.
Oh, we had a wonderful summer. We built many memories together, albeit with many last-minute planning. Came as a surprise for them, especially with the kids, who grew so used to me making plans for everything. Well. A little spontaneity won't hurt. 😊
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Maisondubonheur
Pierre-Alexandre
It's not a little rain that is going to scare us!!!
Love all your entries...enjoy family time! I like the way you found out to put even more pictures in a single page! Welldone!