It was my birthday last July 12 and I decided to celebrate it in Albay Bicol.
I always wanted to see the Mayon by myself and it was a dream come true to me travelling to Albay.
First I traveled by plane. I wanted to save costs and thinking to travel by bus but since I only have two days off and traveling by bus will take 1o hours or more from Manila it will be very tiring so I choose to buy a ticket from Cebu Pacific, ticket could cost around 5k roundtrip. (You can buy ticket by your self but I choose to buy it in a travel agency because I want my travel to be hassle free).
In my travel I always want to have a best accommodation.. For me an experinece in the hotel in the place you’re travelling too is very important to create a meaningful tavel experience. A feeling of first class or first star is always my goal in my travel.
I asked my travel agent and they booked me in Oriental Legaspi.

What I like about the hotel aside from their very kind driver who picked me up in the airport and did a little tour already for me in the city, is the hotel interior itself. Yes the hotel is not 5 star but i like the interior of the hotel.
Upon entering the hotel I already feel the feeling of five star ( the hotel is 4 star category) . The hotel has a daily buffet breakfast and buffet dinner every wednesday by the month I visit. (I forgot how much the exact amount I paid but it wasn’t too expensive around less 500/pax)
Since I arrived very early and the check-in is still at 2pm I decided to take the tour already. However the hotel doesn’t have a free tour, they offered me to ride in a taxi but it was too costly. The taxi in Albay doesn’t have a meter and they charged fix. I asked how much going to cagsawa ruins and the cost per drop was what?? 500.??? Seriously???
Okay so I commute from hotel you can ride a tricycle costing 20 pesos per person. Tell the driver to drop you in the terminal to jeeps going to cagsawa ruins. From the drop off area going to cagsawa ruins by jeep was 10 pesos.
There was an entrance fee around 1o pesos per person. Cagsawa ruins was used to be the refuge of the town people during the 1814 Mayon Volcanic eruption however no one survive in the eruption.
Near the ruins premises are areas for off road adventure you can rent a ATV’s (But i did not try because its too costly about 1800 per head for 3 hours not sure ✌️)
Next stop is Daraga Church.. Again I just commute from Cagsawa I returned to Albay in town proper and right infron of Mcdo there are jeeps with signage Daraga. Cost is less 20 pesos (sorry i forgot the exact amount) .
It will take a little walk from the drop off to the church but the walk is worth it… (I will not put into details the history of daraga church, just be amazed of it’s beauty) .
Okay it’s time for a little refreshment.. Since I am in Albay I should try their famous chili ice cream. You can taste it in Colonial Restaurant located in Ayala Malls Legaspi.
From daraga you can go back to town proper and took a tricyle going to ayala malls. (Cost 50 to 100 pesos) sorry since I am very tired I can no longer took a jeepney so I decided to take a tricycle special trip. ✌️
And tadaaaa… Whoo.. Chili.. Perfect.. As in just perfect… (Cost less 80-100 pesos)
From Ayala Malls to hotel I recommend to take a special tricycle trip for hassle free (costing around 100-200 pesos) yes costly but I’m super super tired already.
Back to hotel since it’s my birthday I treat myself with their signature massage “haplos in daragang Magayon” .
Massage is always the best thing to do to end the day.
*over all I cost around less 8k including airfare plus hotel 4 star and tours, food, massage. Worth it since it’s my birthday.
Happy me..
Hope you enjoy my second blog… See you in my next adventure.. Put some comments and love..
Your’s truly
-MSKUTING