The Beauty of the Philippines Part 3: Postcard from the Bicol Region

The Bicol Region was one my best kept travel secrets that I didn't want to share.  But the discovery of the whale-shark in Donsol, Sorsogon, made the Bicol Region one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines.   
  
As our plane touched down in Legaspi City, we were greeted by the beauty of Mayon Volcano - an active volcano in the province of Albay, on the island of Luzon.  It is renowned as the “perfect cone”

As we drove to Barcelona, Sorsogon (our home-base), the clouds started to hide the tip of the volcano.


The following day, a lengthy jeepney ride from Barcelona, Sorsogon took us along the length of the Pacific Ocean and deserted coastline to the town of Bulusan.  Our vehicle was the only  one on the road as we climbed over the mountains with thick vegetation.  The occasional jeepney revving noise was drowned out by the buzzing crickets and birdsong.  





Bulusan Lake is a scenic crater lake at the foot of Mt. Bulusan.  It is surrounded by a dense green forest.  The dense green forest, the calm thick green water and the elusive Mt. Bulusan made me forget that I was at the foot of an active volcano.
 


Jade Flower native to Bulusan Lake

After 'boating' and trekking around the lake, the clouds finally revealed Mt. Bulusan, as if giving us a

cue to leave Mt. and Lake Bulusan and enjoy the glorious sunshine and bathe in the spring water of Masacrot.
Masacrot Spring
Here we lingered over lunch that consisted of native dishes, fresh fruits, grilled-fish and green caviar (more than 5-course meal) that could not be topped by a 5-starred Michelin restaurant.  Bathed in glorious sunshine, and dipped in spring water I had a slice of heaven.

Comments

  1. Time Square HotelAugust 2, 2012 at 10:11 PM

    Taal Lake is such a beautiful island. I want to see out through tall mountains that appeared like other volcano islands reached in sight.

    ReplyDelete

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