Life, Lately: May Day(s)

Hello, hellooooo~

 It's been two months since I've written something re: my life. Not that I'm saying you're interested nor you've missed anything grand about this mundane, humdrum existence of mine, but yeah... let's say I just missed "talking" to this blank space on the www. Also, March and April were a blur- those two months happened so fast and it's just now that I got to pause and calm down even for a little bit.

First off, I finally finished my Beautiful Bicol series, a three-part write-up on my recent trip somewhere in  my home country, Philippines. 

If you haven't read them, you can access the following links:

Bagasbas Beach x Around Daet https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/04/beautiful-bicol-bagasbas-beach-x-around.html

Calaguas x Balagbag Island

https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/04/temporary-backup-beautiful-bicol.html 

All About Mayon

https://alyssashimode.blogspot.com/2019/05/beautiful-bicol-magayon-mayon.html 

You might have also heard that Japan  changed its emperor and along with it comes a change in the name of the era. From Heisei, it's now Reiwa, which I turned to like because of the petty reason that its kanji characters are easy to write for a kanji noob that is *drumroll* me lol~ So yeah, this year's Golden Week in Japan was a whopping 10-day  vacation (for some lucky ones, yours truly included) because of that so  I was able to spend a few days in Yamanashi with the beau's family. It was quite fun and I'm planning to make a proper post on our Yamanashi trip (once I get the time and the will to write it lol) so doncha worry~

Also, I went to iKON Fan Meeting 2019, something I've been eagerly waiting for this month. Well, I love iKON to death, need I say more? Heh~

One random night, I answered a personality test online (again, after three years) and me being "shocked" with the results is an understatement. I am INFP-T (The Adventurer). Since when did I become an introvert??? I mean, I always thought I like people and being with people- that I'm an extravert/extrovert. I had the surprise of my life from an online test *much wow* lol. I was an ENTP-T (The Debater) before. 

Guess, people really change over time huh~ 

Here is the link if you wanna try out for yourself: 

https://www.16personalities.com

Shocking personality tests aside, the beau and I had a little Narita exploration after we brought his parents and relatives to the airport! I've always associated Narita with well, Narita Airport. But then there's more to it being an airport- go out and you'll see. I did that and I'm glad I did. Another proper post about that coming soon. *wink*

Last but not the least, Roppongi Art Night 2019 which I enjoyed better than last year's. I'd have to give the curators a very big round of applause for this! I enjoyed a lot!

Ahhh quite a lot of things happened, huh? But I guess there's gonna be more cos June is my birth month!

So yup! Until then, www friends!

xx,

Alyssa

Beautiful Bicol: Magayon Mayon!

Been dreaming of seeing Mt. Mayon's perfect cone shape since I've learned of it in one of my Sibika at Kultura (Civics and Culture) classes back in elementary. This visit was almost 20 years in the making! All I can say was, "finally" ~cries~

Without further ado, here are the places we went to in Albay, for multiple million-dollar views of Mt. Mayon:

1. Along the highways of Camalig

We drove from Daet to Naga and ate lunch at Chef Doy's Gourmet Restaurant with the beau's family and relatives. After that, we drove from Naga to Albay and luckily saw Mt. Mayon, clear of clouds. Of course I snapped some photos! The beau's parents were very supportive, we even stopped multiple times just to get good views! We also stopped by the small baduya/sinapot/maruya stores along the highway for some merienda~

Ahhh! Day 1 of chasing Mayon and she graced us with her beauty! Lucky!

   Also, yummy dishes from Chef Doy's! This one's Paella Bicolana.

Crispy Kare Kare! Sinful!

 Leche Flan na may Pili (milk and egg custard flared with pili nuts) 
cos you gotta eat pili nuts when in Bicol hehe~

 I personally loved this steamed plantain-guava-coconut milk combo called Pinakro (Bicol's Ginataang Saging) ♥

2. Quituinan Hills, Tinago, Camalig, Albay

Next destination was Quituinan Hills. If you're not versed with the roads in Albay, I think it will be hard to spot cos the road that leads to the place is very narrow and the signage was small. I was just very lucky that the beau's dad grew up in Albay so he knows the area. There's an entrance fee of 20php/person and 20php/parking. There were lots of horses just grazing on the wide field when we went there. You can ride it for a fee but I chose not to.

 Mayon was covered with clouds this time but what I liked about this place is that it's so wide and breezy! 

Ofc, a photo with the beau!

 Also, golden hour, so I was able to take a handful of portraits, one of which is above lol!

3. Sumlang Lake

Probably my most favorite place in Albay! I loved the view, the balsa/raft boats, design, everythinnnnggg~ Here, we were able to try the famous chili ice cream from Soccoro Lakeside Restaurant! Yum! We spent the rest of the afternoon just taking photos and admiring the sunset view- of course Mt. Mayon was present!

 Hi, Tita! 

 People can use the raft boats free of charge! Yasss!

Even the beau's parents weren't able to resist this picture-perfect vchair/boat/view haha!

Chili strawberry ice cream so yummyyyyy!

Just a little before sunset, people were heading home but we stayed. And I'm glad we did...

 I mean look at this...

 and this...

 and thissss ahhhh so pretty!

 We went inside not to dine but to check the interiors out heh~

  It's very pretty inside! Even the bathrooms omg!

 This reminds me of my Mama's dresser in our house in Malolos~
Ahhh I left this place with really happy eyes!

4. Red Labuyo Restaurant/ Airbnb place/ Daraga Parish Church

As if going to three places for viewing Mt. Mayon was not enough, we booked a place to stay for the night with the view of Mayon still! It is in the same building as the Red Labuyo Restaurant. And I'm really glad that throughout my stay in Legaspi/Albay, Mt. Mayon kept on showing up! I'm one lucky tourist!

Our airbnb~

Lovely facade of Daraga Parish Church~

5. Cagsawa Ruins Park

After having breakfast at the famous food joint, Biggs Diner, near our Airbnb. We then hurriedly went to Cagsawa Ruins (remnants of a 16th century church built by the Franciscans), just a few minutes drive.

 I missed eating tapsilog (tapa, sinangag, itlog) so of course I had to order this haha!

Happy faces, happy tummies~

 Hello, Cagsawa!

 Can't believe I'm here! I only see it in books before until this day haha!

 This would have been a good photo if Mt. Mayon decided to show up but that's okay~

This belfry and parts of the facade of the church were the only ones remaining after Mt. Mayon's most violent eruption back in 1814. If you happen to go here, you might want to go to Cagsawa National Museum nearby.

6. Legazpi City Domestic Airport

Mt. Mayon didn't disappoint until the very last end. Just look at the photos below! Ahhhh! Whether you're admiring the famed volcano near or far, on land, water, and even up above, it shines bright and blinds the beholder like a diamond! Well that's a pretty lame comparison lol but you get what I'm saying okay hehehehe~

And just like that, my Bicol trip came to a close. I know there are still a lot of things that I have missed out but I know for a fact that I'm coming back... so til next time! For the beautiful people who were with me during this trip and for all of you who spared my Beautiful Bicol posts a look, thank you so much! ♥