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! ♥

Just Another Studio Ghibli Post

If you have been following me on SNS, you probably have an idea on how soft I am for Studio Ghibli films and anything related to it. But hey, who isn't?

Of course being the (slightly crazy) fanatic that I am, I readily got tickets when I knew there's gonna be a pop-up exhibition honoring the late Toshio Suzuki (one of SG's co-founders and producers). Fittingly, it's called Toshio Suzuki and Studio Ghibli.

 I went two days ago and even though the venue was small and there were lots of people who came, somehow, nostalgia seeped its way through the crowd to me. I never thought I'd feel a pull on my heartstrings just by looking at the film posters and Toshio Suzuki's calligraphy... but boy, oh, boy, that was one big pull.

So yeah, enough with the drama lol. Here are some photos I took of the exhibition. There were places where photography was allowed and then there were those where it was prohibited. When you go, just make sure that you read the guides posted throughout the exhibition venue. Oh, it runs until the 12th this May so you might wanna go before then~ *wink*

We were greeted by these movie posters with calligraphy on it. Apparently, Toshio Suzuki was into calligraphy. Throughout the exhibit, his calligraphy works can be seen.

There were also areas where his books, manga, and vintage stuff were displayed. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed. 

There was a big room where you can see a giant Yubaba and a giant Zeniba (from Spirited Away). 

From the mouths of each, one may pull out a numbered tag, go to the omikuji box nearby, open one of the numbered boxes (should be the same number as the numbered string one got), and get a strip of paper containing one's fortune. The exhibition-goers can only choose one, either you get a love omikuji or a  fortune omikuji.  Kenji and I chose the latter~

I got 八 or 8.

Kenji got 五 or 5.

Here's how the omikuji box looks like~

I got "forthcoming luck" and Kenji got "great misfortune" oh noooooo

(you can bring the omikuji/fortune strips home as a souvenir)

Also spotted is a calligraphy of Reiwa, Japan's new era name.

From researching aka Google lol, Reiwa is handwritten as the one above. If printed, it's 令和.

 Spotted this random corner too, I think it's cute heh~

Ahhhh, the bath house from Spirited Away~~~

Look at these delicate deets~

The end~

It was a small exhibition for the price but hey, it's not every day that they hold one so yeah, that's enough. 

Right after this room is the exhibit shop where you can buy goods and whatnot related to Studio Ghibli.

Also, don't forget to take a photo with our giant furry friend outside the exhibition hall!

And if you still have spare time, go around the nearby (really just right next to this furry friend) Kanda Myojin Shrine. It's so beautiful at night!

So yup, that's one short but sweet Studio Ghibli day. I hope there will be more to come, and if there is one again, for sure, you'll find me there~ ♡

Exhibition Details:

Toshio Suzuki and Studio Ghibli Exhibition 

Kanda Myojin Cultural Exchange Center “EDOCCO” at Kanda Myojin Shrine Hall (神田明神 文化交流館「EDOCCO」内 神田明神ホール)

Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Sotokanda 2-16-2

(東京都千代田区外神田2-16-2)

Dates: April 20th to - May 12th, 10:00AM- 6:00PM

Fee: ¥1,300

xx,

Alyssa