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Articles in Legazpi to Matnog

Eruption of the Mayon Volcano in Legazpi

May 10, 2013 – 10:50 am
Eruption Cloud from the Mayon Volcano

Eruption of the Mayon Volcano in Legazpi
Monday May 13, 2013
Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, Sorsogon, Philippines
It took an effort to load up my bike and cycle away from the comforts of the hostel in Legazpi. I’d stayed there when I first arrived in the Philippines and I returned there after my trip to Catanduanes. I had some errands to run and some organzing to do. Then …

Bus and Truck Madness – Cycling from Legazpi to Sorsogon City

May 11, 2013 – 10:54 am
The Handlebars of My Bike on the Road to Sorsogon

Bus and Truck Madness – Cycling from Legazpi to Sorsogon City
Speaking of a menacing aspect, I was saying that I eventually got on my bicycle and rode the 60 or 70 kilometers to the next town in Bicol – a bustling little place called Sorsogon. The Bicol region is divided into two provinces – Albay and Sorsogon. The town of Legazpi is in Albay Province. …

Coast Road Paradise – Cycling from Sorsogon to Bulusan

May 12, 2013 – 11:13 am
Crossing a Bridge Along the Coast

I’m very happy to report that my next day of cycling – tough as it was, and it was very tough – was far more pleasant than my first. It was different because I quickly managed to turn off the main highway and follow a coastal road. Following the coast road means covering a lot more distance and going up and down steep hills as …

Jungle Night Noises – Camping at Bulusan Volcano Natural Park

May 13, 2013 – 11:20 am
Lake at Bulusan Volcano Natural Park

It turned out that the camping area was more of a myth than reality. It wasn’t a camping area as such. They just allowed people to put up their tent on a small grassy patch right beside the park buildings. That was fine with me, and I decided to stay there. They even had a bathroom available and tables and chairs – everything I could …

The Road to Matnog – Leaving Bulusan Volcano Natural Park

May 14, 2013 – 11:22 am
Irosin Valley

The access road didn’t seem quite as steep going down as it did going up. Perhaps I had just been too tired at the end of the day when I arrived to handle it. It felt good to be on the move again and surprising people with my sudden and, apparently, outlandish appearance. Once at the intersection and on the main road, the jeepney and …

Matnog – Trying to Uncover Matnog’s Charm

May 15, 2013 – 11:26 am
Urban "Camping" at Richwell Resort in Matnog

As much as I enjoyed the ride to Matnog, I have to say that it took some time and effort to uncover Matnog’s charm – if, in fact, I ever did. This was not an unusual occurrence. Some towns just work. Things go smoothly and they strike me as pleasant places. I set off as Doug the Hunter/Gatherer and, with a bit of effort, I …

Spewing Out Words – The Matnog Tourist Information Office

May 16, 2013 – 11:30 am
Downtown Matnog and My Lunchtime Eatery

Once fortified with food (I struggled through my fish head as best I could), I stopped by the tourist information office. I could either catch a ferry across to Samar right away or the next morning. Or I could do a bit of exploring around Matnog first. I wanted to see what the tourism people had to say about this, and, taking my courage in …

The Hunt for Food in Matnog Continues

May 17, 2013 – 11:34 am
Children in Matnog

My first night in Matnog at the Richwell Beach Reort did little to ease my pain. There was a restaurant at the Resort and I had been assured by everyone that I could order what I wanted. But when I tried to do that, I found it impossible to fight my way through the vagueness once more. Our conversation (if you can call it that) …