Tag Archives: Bicol

A Little Side Trip

The day after Christmas we took a little vacation-within-a-vacation to Legazpi City, the biggest city in and administrative center of the Bicol region. It’s not nearly as big as Manila or Cebu, but it’s probably for the best. After a couple of days, I definitely feel like I’ve had enough Manila, but I could hang out in Legazpi for a while. It’s touristy and urban enough that there’s nice places to stay (for way cheaper than comparable accommodations in the US) and eat but it is definitely an actual living, breathing, working part of the Philippines, so you’re not missing out on any of the “Philippines experience.”

Embarcadero, Legazpi City

The Embarcadero is a seaside mall sort of thing that has, unfortunately, seen better days. The city had ambitious plans to make it their version of Manila’s Mall of Asia, but there’s two or three pretty big malls downtown (and another even bigger one under construction) so I can’t imagine how a city this size can support one that’s sort of out of the way. The end near the street is pretty busy with shops and restaurants, but farther in it’s largely empty.

Mayon Volcano from the top of Lignon Hill

According to another couple we talked to, the view of Mayon from Lignon Hill is just as good as the one you get from the expensive ATV tour, and it only costs 20p to walk to the top of Lignon Hill. You can drive, too, for a higher entrance fee or pay a guy to take you up in his sidecar (sort of a stripped-down tricycle). There’s a little souvenir shop/cafeteria/visitor center at the top but really what you’re here for is the amazing view of Legazpi City and Daraga on one side and Mayon on the other.

Mayon from Lignon Hill

Legazpi City and Daraga from Lignon Hill

Mayon and surrounding fields from Lignon Hill

I’ve got some more photos from Manila and Taipei coming.

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Hard Drives Fail Sometimes

I recently re-discovered some photos from my last trip to the Philippines (and a brief layover in Tokyo) that I thought I had lost when my old laptop hard drive decided to pack it in.I must have had a rare moment of foresight and backed them up on the portable hard drive I usually use for work. With another trip to the Philippines right around the corner, I guess it’s a good time to go through them so I can get more excited than I already have been. I’ll post them as I get to them and they will not be in any particular chronological or thematic order.

Cabanatuan, I think.

Weird-looking horse.

Jeepney designs are not typically known for subtlety and restraint, so this one stood out.

Some kids playing in an alley in Irriga.

American fast food franchises seem to have a slightly loftier status in Asia. And those little vans are adorable :3

Tokyo uses space very efficiently. Even side-streets and alleys are packed with storefronts and eateries. Not being on a main street doesn’t seem to be the handicap it is in the US…

…but of course being on the main street is a huge boon to visibility. Again, adorable little trucks and vans.

There’s at least one more batch I’ll be wanting to share, and then a whole bunch more when I come back from the Philippines in January. I’ve got two overnight layovers in Taipei this time, so hopefully I’ll have some bonus pictures from there, too.

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