Welcome to Legazpi - The Best of Albay - Day 2

Day 2 started early with a plenty to do in our itinerary.

We travelled about 40kms to reach Tiwi, Albay.  This part of Bicol is well known for their hand made ceramics.  It has been the leading terracotta ceramic industry in the Bicol Region.

PhilCeramic at Putsan Tiwi

We are happy, we added this stop to our Bicol itinerary.  My sister and my brother-in-law went gaga over the hundreds of ceramics on display.  Prices were barely one third Manila's mall prices.  A set of three ceramic vases is sold for P600-P800 only.  I assume wholesale would be lower, but we did not bother haggle the cost. 

They were already so affordable.

Our haul filled half our luggage compartment.

 

ABR Cutlery

Tabaco Albay is known for its primary product "tobacco" where it got its name from. However, aside from tabaco this city is also known for its well crafted "tabak" or bolo.  My husband, a blade enthusiasts did not let his chance to buy Tabaco made bolo pass. He INSISTED on a side trip. 

Instead of going to the market, we went direct to a local producer ABR Cutlery and got his blade loots a lot cheaper.  The owner Madam Azucena Rodriguez was very accommodating.  She even gave my husband freebies. 

This time it was my husband who went crazy... he obviously can't decide what to buy...

Mayon Skyline

It was raining when we arrived at our next destination, the Mayon Skyline.  It was a real bummer... as we did not get a glimpse of the illusive Mayon.  Sadly, the view and weather was Baguio like (foggy and cold).

Kuyang's Bar and Restaurant Ligao 

Before heading to our next destination Kawa-Kawa Hills, which is a difficult uphill climb (or a downhill roll) we stuffed ourselves at the Kuyang's Bar and Restaurant.  I was initially sad as there were not much local Bicol delicacies in their menu (I was looking forward to more of laing and Bicol express), but when our orders came ~ we were delighted!  We love (and finished) everything we ordered. 

 

We ordered tuna steak, crispy lechon, talong and pork sisig. 

Kawa-kawa Hills

Kawa-kawa Hills is a park with life size statues of the Passion of Christ.

I realized that a common thing about most Bicol attractions is ~ they are hard climbs.  The uphill climb was also slippery after a rain. I would give this attraction a pass if travelling with seniors or small kids.

 

From your uphill climb,  drop by the adjacent Carmelite Monastery and Shrine of the Divine Mercy.  

Cagsawa Ruins

Next to the Mayon Volcano, I think the Cagsawa Ruins is the 2nd most photographed.  The Cagsawa Ruins are the remnants of an 18th century Franciscan church destroyed by the 1814 Mayon Volcano eruption.

Happy Trail ATV

One of the highlights of our trip to Bicol 

We took the Green Lava Trail.  It is about 7kms, 2 hours drive from Cagsawa Ruins. The trail passes through the following standard trails (SkyDrive, Grassland, Snake, Forest, Cagsawa SkyDrive River & SkyDrive Combo), across  muddy cannals, curvy-steep hills, rock paths, rivers, forestry, quarry site.  It was an exhilarating ride and purely off road. 

Legazpi Four Seasons

We finished Day 2 with hefty meal at the Four Season's.  It is a Chinese restaurant, I know but it was the closest one from our hotel.  Beside it was highly recommended.

(We ordered steamed siomai, fried rice, Season's chicken (must order), 

pansit, shrimps and sizzling pork steak)

Food was expectedly sumptuous.  They have huge servings.  I think our order can feed eight.  Good place to go if you are with a big group.    

Day 2 ends here.  

If you missed our Day 1 and Day 3, you may click on link below:

Welcome to Legazpi - Mayon Volcano (Front Seats) - Day 1

Welcome to Legazpi - The Best of Albay - Day 3

Welcome to Legazpi - Mayon Volcano (Front Seats) - Day 1

My father's family hails from Bicol but they have long moved to Manila, even before I was born. 

I recall visiting my father's home town just once.  I was so young then about 10 and I only remember bits and pieces of our short vacation.   We never got to visit back,  due maybe to our busy schedule and well the fact that it more than 400km away.

So the land of Mayon Volcano has always been in bucketlist.  We actually started planning about 2 years ago, but planning was unfortunately halted by Covid19 Pandemic lockdowns.

Last February, we (my husband and I and my younger sister who was barely 5 when we went to Bicol) finally took off the road to Bicol.

Sharing with you our 5 days/4 nights DIY Bicol frolics.  

DAY 1 - MANILA TO BICOL 

We left Rizal at 4:30am and reached our first stop (breakfast) at around 630am.

Breakfast was at Taza Mia at Tagpuan Villa Escudero, San Pablo City.   

We ordered breakfast set meals which comes with brewed coffee. Food was very good and filling, perfect for a day on the road.  

There is a McDonalds across Taza Mia and before hitting the road again, we decided to get take out breakfast sandwiches in case we get hungry.  This was a good thing as we were not able to find much restaurant to our liking.  We ate our take outs on the way and skipped lunch.

Our First Glimpse of the Magnificent Mayon Volcano via Camalig By-Pass-Road.  We would be seeing more of her in this Mayon blog series...

Legazpi is only about 13kms from here.  We intended to dine at Balay Cena Una, but was disappointed learning it has been closed since the start of the pandemic.  Not sure if it has already opened as of writing.  

1st Colonial Grill

Famished (skipping lunch) and driving straight with just bathroom breaks wasn't such a good idea.... we are elated to find ourselves at 1st Colonial at SM Legazpi. 

We ordered (Top-Bottom/Left-Right) pancit bato, tuna sisig, bagoong fried rice, ginataang santol, bicol express and of course their not to be missed Sili Ice cream (that comes on different levels of spiciness)

Check-in at Lotus Blu Hotel

Our residence in Bicol for the next 4 days

We arrived at Lotus Blu at around 6pm.  There was a mishap on the room assigned to us and was too late to correct it on our first night since the hotel was apparently packed. They were apologetic though and moved us to our preferred room the next day.

The room is basic, but we rested well. There is no pool and we did not see any lounge except for the lobby seating at the ground floor.  Breakfast is set meal with very few options.  

Housekeeping was very efficient, they kept the room spic and span and replenished our supplies.  Location wise, Lotus Blu is spot on.  It is a short walking distance from SM Legazpi, outside but near the city center which means less traffic.   It was a good jump off point for tourists.

Got  this photo from TripAdvisor,
I was not able to get a picture of our actual room as we were too tired from our days travel.

Day 1 ends here. Follow our Bicol Holiday Day 2 by clicking on the link below.

Welcome to Legazpi - The Best of Albay - Day 2