The trip was a long 13-hours ride. We booked our tickets through Bicol Isarog bus lines at PITX in Parañaque and departed at exactly 7pm. Since it was an overnight trip, I was asleep for most of the journey. There were two drivers who took turns behind the wheel, which made me feel more at ease.
Travel Trip: if you ever plan to take this route, bring something warm. A jacket or travel blanket will be your best friend. The air-conditioning on the bus? Absolutely freezing. I learned that the hard way!
You can check Bicol Isarog´s ticket rates and schedules here: https://bicolisarog.com/trip/schedules/1
At the back of the altar, you can go upstairs and get a chance to touch Her veil and get a closer look.
If you want to know about the history of the Our Lady of Peña Francia you may visit this link: [https://www.archdioceseofcaceres.org/pe%C3%B1afrancia-historyl]
There´s so much more to do here than just take photos. One of the most popular activities is the ATV adventure ride, which takes you across variety of terrains, from lava trails and river crossing to rugged paths that lead the way to Mayon lava wall.
Another exciting activity is trekking or hiking, though I had to skip this one since I was travelling with senior citizens and stayed with them.
Have any of you tried hinking up the Mount Mayon? I´d love to hear about your experience!
At first, I was a bit hesitant about asking a local photographer for a quick photo session. I´m naturally shy infront of a camera and honestly, I wasn´t sure how the photos would turn out. But I´m so glad that my mom and her friends took the lead and found someone from the area who was happy to help.
To my surprise, the photographer didn´t even have a fixed rate, he simply asked for any amount or a donation, which felt incredibly genuine and down-to-earth. What made the experience even better was how hands-on and encouraging he was. He guided us on where to pose, how to position ourselves, reminded us to smile, and most importantly, helped us relax and enjoy the moment. That made all the difference.
And the result? I was so happy with how the photos turned out! Not only did we capture some beautiful shots, but the whole experience was actually really fun.
Check out the photos above— let me know which of them you like the most!
This local delicacy is a dry noodle dish that´s full of savory goodness. Made with thick, slightly chewy noodles, Pancitbato may look simple, but don´t get fooled! It´s bursting with flavor. I may not know how to cook it, but trust me, if you´re in CamSur, this is a must try! (Check the first photo above you´ll see Pancit bato in its natural habitat LOL.)
Another favorite of mine whenever I travel to provinces is a fresh drink of buko (coconut) water. There´s just something so refreshing about it. Specially when you know it came straight from the tree. Watching the locals climb tall coconut trees to harvest them is impressive on its own!
And of course, no trip to Bicol would be complete without trying their famous Sili Icecream. Yes, you read that right, chili flavored icecream! Bicolanos are kown for their love of spicy food, and they´ve taken it tot he next level with this unique dessert. I was honestly skeptical at first, but curiosity won, and I´m so glad it did! It´s suprisingly phenomenal! You can even choose your preferred level of spiciness,from mild to fiery hot!
So, would you dare to try these Bicolano delicacises on your next visit? Let me know in the comments, I´d love to hear your thoughts .
Thank you so much for reading, and I´ll catch you on the next adventure!
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