Around Bicol in 30 Plates

It was in 2007 when I first reached the Bicol region.  6 years after, I've already visited Bicol for 8 times. The accessibility, the pristine beaches, the majestic volcanoes, the adventures, and the great food made Bicol a really good destination. Actually, our episode of PHL360 was also shot in Bicol - particularly in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Legazpi, and Masbate.

Day 1
My previous Bicol trip was themed uniquely. Together with a few invited bloggers, we discovered and experienced the wonders of the Bicol Region while enjoying the sumptuous meals at Bigg's Diner - the biggest and most famous food chain in the Bicol.

 Bigg Taste You Can Afford

Does Bigg's Diner really need to be promoted? As far as I know (and including the advices in the travel forums), a visit to Bicol is never complete without eating at Bigg's. It's that famous! For the record, I never missed eating at Bigg's whenever Im in Bicol. It's simply a must. Agree?

Magsaysay - one of the trendiest branches of Bigg's Diner

certainly, Bigg's Diner is one of the best of Bicol

Tapsilog for breakfast

with Choco drink and Black forest cake

Right after breakfast, our group proceeded to our first adventure - an ATV ride to Malabsay Falls. This is not my first time to ride an ATV, but it's my first time to go to Mt Isarog National Park and Malabsay Falls.

orientation - done. Im ready to go!

If you haven't tried riding the ATV, well you should. It is really awesome!

the breathtaking trail to Malabsay Falls

with Mr. Our Awesome Planet, Brenna, EAZY traveler, Byahilo, Marx, and Out of Town Blog

The trail became bumpy and slippery when we're nearing the falls. I took extra care of my camera on this part. I only used one hand to drive and the other to hold my camera. LOL

finally at Mt. Isarog National Park

After the ATV ride came the trekking part. Its trail is not that hard, but right footwear is needed. Since I've been busy working with my project in the office, I really treasured this moment to take a deep breathe and enjoy nature.

going down the Malabsay Falls

the Malabsay Falls in Mt Isarog

we just love group shots eh? ^_^

It's just nice to know that we do not need to go far. There are already many waterfalls within Naga City.

Next place we visited is the Panicuason Hot Spring. This is where we had a nice and soothing soak which relaxed our tired muscles. The big surprise is that Bigg's Diner delivered our snacks to this area. Perfect, we're all hungry!

Extreme Supreme Burger and my favorite Iced Tea

Panicuason Hot Spring
This photo of Naga is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Just like Bigg's Diner, the Avenue Plaza Hotel in Naga is also a certified best in Bicol. The hotel is really elegant. I liked it.

reception area at Avenue Plaza Hotel

fabulous twin beds

 my first ever Havaianas pair, with the I ♥ Bicol pin

 thank you Havaianas - SM Naga

I dont want to leave the room anymore, but we need to keep going, specially if it's time for my most favorite Bigg's Baby Back Ribs. ^_^

vintage-inspired themed Bigg's Diner - Centro branch

Along with Brenna and Marx, we shared this so-good dinner with a lot of chismisan.

my ever favorite Baby Back Ribs

I can't count the times I've ordered this on my previous trips. haha

heavenly yet sinfully Molten Lava Cake

met The Pinay Solo Backpacker again after 3 long years. 

long and straight hair na sya ngayon. yabang ^_^

Day 2
We traveled to Inorogan Chapel right after breakfast. This chapel was built in 1614, which represents the town’s gratitude to the Almighty and the Virgin Mary for miraculously saving the town from Mt. Sumagang’s eruption.

i so love this statue at the foot of Inorogan Chapel

We got hungry after climbing the 150-step to Inorogan Chapel. Next destination is Bigg's Diner - Iriga for our lunch treat.

 Bigg's Diner - Iriga

sizzling Tenderloin Tips with Baked Mashed Potatoes partnered with creamy Cauliflower Soup

Kookie Monster Cake

this instantly became my new favorite!

It's the first time I tried out these dishes and Im glad I did. Bigg's Diner has really a good variety of food selection.

After this satisfying lunch, our group went to Cagsawa Ruins to have a view of the mighty Mayon Volcano. As always, its shape is perfect!

Cagsawa church was destroyed during the most destructive eruption of the nearby Mayon Volcano in February 1, 1814. The eruption killed an estimated 1,200 people in the surrounding areas and buried the town of Cagsawa. Hundreds of inhabitants of the town of Cagsawa sought refuge in the church, but unfortunately were also killed by either pyroclastic flows or lahar.
 

the majestic Mayon Volcano

I've seen the Mayon multiple times before, and I was quite surprise that this volcano is still beautiful even when viewed at night.

the Mayon view from Ligñon Hill

even more beautiful at night

Another place to visit at night is the Embarcadero de Legazpi. This is a premier waterfront development in the Legazpi City harbor that is emerging as a world-class lifestyle hub both for tourists and the locals.

Embarcadero de Legazpi

Since this is the hippest mall in Legazpi, Bigg's Diner has a branch in it. We just did a take out since it's getting late already.

Bigg’s Chicken Meal with Crab and Corn Soup

Another best of Bicol is The Oriental Hotel in Legazpi. This is one of the beautifully constructed hotel that I've been. It looks really clean and elegant as well.

 welcome drink with a twist of spiciness

our beautiful room for the night

even the centerpiece bouquet arrangement is made of chillies

After eating our Bigg's take out meal, I had a long bath and immediately sleep. It has been a long day.

Day 3
The daylight added more beauty and sophistication to the Oriental Hotel. I cant help but appreciate its architecture.

 The Oriental Hotel

way to pool and alfresco dining area

pool fronting the Mayon Volcano

fabulous hotel design

For breakfast (and addition to the hotel's complimentary buffet spread), Bigg's provided us with newly cooked Bacon, Sausage, and Hash Brown meal.

Bacon, Sausage,  and Hash Brown for breakfast

Next activity is a trip to Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave. I've always wanted to go here and thankfully the organizers included this is the itinerary.

Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave is a natural tunnel-like structure situated in Camalig, Albay. It has been said that these caves were the primitive habitats of the natives in the area. It has been discovered during the Japanese occupation and has been one of the most popular attractions in Albay. The name Hoyop-Hoyopan was derived from the local word "Hoyop" which means to blow.

Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave, c/o Marx

The final stop in this Around 30 Plates in Bicol trip is a lunch at Bigg's Diner - Pacific Mall. In celebration of Bigg's 30th Year, a man dressed in Elvis was giving away gift certificate for lucky diners.

free Bigg's certificates for lucky diners

Bigg's Diner surely brings pride to every Bicolano.  For 30 long years and 11 branches in Bicol region alone, this business has sustain and even improved the quality of food to every native and tourist of the region. They don't actually serve some fast food, but rather good food.

thank you Bigg's Diner for the experience

thank you for the 30 years of serving good and affordable food

..and cheers to more years ahead. 
We are really hoping to have a Bigg's Diner branch here in Manila! =)

http://www.biggsdiner.ph/
https://www.facebook.com/BiggsDiner
https://twitter.com/BiggsDiner

Misibis Bay - The Sweetest Escape

Misibis Bay is sweeter the 2nd time around! ♥

Due to the unfortunate experience we had on our day tour in Misibis Bay, the management granted us an overnight Gift Certificate in a Garden View Room (worth P20,000), which was later on upgraded to a Junior Suite Deluxe (worth P27,000) for free! This generous gesture delighted me big time.

Airfare tickets are not included of course, but luckily we scored round trip tickets to Legazpi for around P782.00 only (c/o Cebu Pacific's P12 promo). Much cheaper and convenient than taking the bus.

CEB meets Nilo Pillow

And off we go again to Misibis Bay. As soon as our plane landed, the staff of Misibis Bay was already waiting for us. Free airport transfers and on-board refreshments (yummy cookies!) for Misibis guests.

Misibis Bay once again

As usual, some dancers welcomed us by performing the traditional Ibalong dance. After that we headed to the reception area right away. Refreshments and a little snack were served.

reception area

refreshments and snacks were served while checking-in

The reservation officer asked for my ID and a deposit fee of P2,500 (which will be refunded upon our checkout). Also, since we're a group of 3, we paid an additional P3,888 for the extra person. After that, the lady handed their suggested itinerary for us. There's truly a lot of things to do in Misibis Bay.

Since we arrived 4 hours prior the standard check-in time, I asked the officer in charge if the room is ready. She said yes, we may use the room as early as 10am. Very nice. And to our bigger surprise- she informed us that we got a free upgrade again. We'll be staying in a One Bedroom Deluxe, a poolside villa! Rate per night is P38,000 and I'll be getting this for free! Spell happiness! ^_^

Villa 22 - One Bedroom Deluxe

with flash ^_^
ang ganda!

The size of this villa is 65 square meter. Huge enough for 2-3 occupants.
Now the bedroom..

full sized glass windows and a big flat screen tv

2 double sized beds with ultra soft sheets and pillows

and a JBL ipod dock

native bags are given to guests too, for free!

I loved the dim light effect of our villa! As you know, I prefer my own room to be dim as well.
Now for the bathroom..

spacious bathroom with bathtub and shower room

2 sinks + a lot of toiletries

Armada Sport and Acca Kappa toiletries (only!)

Luxurious indeed, and another one of its kind is this easy pool access.

dine with the view of the pool

our own beach bed right outside our villa

easy access to the pool ♥

It was such a delight to have a gorgeous villa for a day.

my friend Rem in our veranda

the refreshing view from our veranda

oh yes, i love this luxury!

Here's a panoramic shot of the poolside villas.

poolside villas in Misibis Bay
view from our veranda

Who wouldn't turn into a camwhore if this place is all yours?

this is where the Korean stars 2NE1 stayed
yes, Sandara Park and the gang were also there in Misibis at the time. ano ngayon? hehe

astig dito!

oakley addict!

staycation at its finest

Im very much overwhelmed with the entitled GC that we received. It was more than we expected.


At 1pm, we decided to have lunch. Since we already tried the lunch buffet in Misibis, we chose to have ala carte dishes this time.

Lunch at Spice Market

Crispy Lechon Kawali - Bagoong Rice with Mango - Prawn Sinigang - Ice Candies

Surprisingly, these dishes were really yummy! Each dish is already good for 3 persons. We spent a total of P1,500- inclusive taxes and tip. A bit expensive but we concluded it's just right for a meal inside a luxurious resort. Besides, the dishes were really yummy, not to mention the very attentive staff - Ken. We're satisfied. Btw, these creamy buko pandan ice candies are free of charge. Rem ate 4 ice candies and I had 2. Ang sarap! ^_^


After lunch, we strolled the area and found ourselves in the pool. Still, there's not much guests. Only staff are everywhere to assist you with everything you might need. Service deluxe at its finest.

alfresco dining

this is my favorite pool. these turtles provide soothing water massage. ♥

final photo op in the pool

We then decided to take a nap and enjoyed our luxurious villa. Good thing we already visited these attractions the last we visited Misibis Bay.

Amphitheater with Stonehenge in Misibis Bay

the Cathedral, thr nearest church to Misibis Bay
obviously for wedding purposes

At 4pm, it's time for the non-motorized activities. These activities are free of charge. The gloomy weather was just perfect. Who wants sunburns?

hobie cat sailing in a gloomy day

it's interesting to know that this sailing boat is non-motorized. only the wind controls this boat.

hobiecat sailing is like banana boat ride- the speed, splashes, and the fun!

The next we tried is Wind Surfing. And it's not easy at all. Ang bigat. Ang hirap i-control. I commend the patience of the staff for teaching us, one by one.

ang bigat!

ang hirap mag-wind surfing =(
good thing is the staff did it for me, haha!

I had no interest to do Kayaking after, but seems I had no choice. Haha Let's do it then.

kayaking in Misibis

The wind and the wave direction were so strong that we cannot control our sailing anymore. The staff rescued us. Haha

I salute every staff for warmly accommodating us. Our bottled water and fresh towels awaited us after we've done an activity. Thank you mga bossing!

non-motorized water activities in Misibis Bay

We have tried snorkeling in Marina before so we skipped doing that one.
Aside from these activities, guests can also do parasailing, jet ski, wake boarding, diving, ziplining, and a lot more. You can also visit some interesting spots nearby like the glass cathedral and amphitheater. Click here for Misibis Bay day tour.


We went back to our villa and enjoyed taking a bath in their luxurious bathroom. One of the best bath time ever!

At 8pm, we went out to have dinner. Buffet is served but guests have the option to order ala carte dishes. Since I think the buffet spread is not very exciting, we chose to have pizza and pasta meals instead. What I love most - my favorite pumpkin soup and mango panna cota were given as complimentary appetizer and dessert! Super like! ♥

pizza elizaldy (house specialty), pumpkin soup, and DIY pizza (with 5 toppings)
the pasta is too spicy. the pizza had overwhelming toppings. the soup - divine!

complimentary mango panna cota for dessert Ü

Anyway, there's a live band performance too. And since the Korean pop stars and the crew were also there, the band played some Korean songs that night. Yes, pasikat. ^_^

live band entertainment

We spent a total of P1,500 for this dinner. Good enough specially they gave us that remarkable pumpkin soup, mango panna cota, and superior customer service. =)

Misibis Bay at night

The scene is nothing but glamorous and elegant. Agree?
No booze for us that night. We chose to have coffee and tea instead in our own veranda.

our villa - the first one on the right

Come next morning, we had our complimentary breakfast buffet in their restaurant. Still, there's not much guests. I believe 2NE1 had a good choice, Misibis Bay has privacy.

What's for breakfast?

dried pusit, danggit, fresh salad, waffles, pancakes, tocino, sausages,
cheese and bread, congee, omelet station, angus beef tapa

a good morning indeed

Misibis Bay is SWEETER the 2nd time around ♥

Before going home, we strolled the beach area for the last time.

beachfront villas with beach beds

for the record, the sand in Misibis Bay is not pink ^_^

The sand may not be pink, but that's not Misibis is all about. It's about the world-class service. It's about luxury and exclusivity. Mind you, it's 1 of the 3 resorts in the Philippines that is accredited by the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

We concluded it was really an outstanding experience in Misibis Bay. I have never experienced this kind of service until I stayed there. This is the finest. Im proud that there's kind of luxury resort in Legazpi.
..and yes, Im willing to save money to afford a Misibis Bay getaway in the future.

thank you so much for that outstanding experience
as of this writing, im still nostalgic about it

Misibis Bay
Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay, Bicol Region, Philippines
email: reservations@misibisbay.com
contact no: 661 8888
http://www.misibisbay.com/

disclaimer: this is NOT a sponsored post