First Time in Bicol

Legazpi Trip - Day 1

October 2, 2014

Thursday, 6:40 am

Well, I was anticipating traffic so I left my apartment way early. I already checked-in online so I just need to be at the boarding gate at least 30 minutes. The fun part is, there was no traffic. So I have at least three hours to kill.

After taking some obligatory selfies, of course, I have nothing else to do but take a nap. I woke up at 4am so a couple of hours of sleep would help, but first, let me explore the Domestic Terminal and what it can offer to me.

Probably not a good first time:

- cancelled

- rescheduled

- delayed

So it's already night when I touchdown so instead of exploring, I decided to go to sleep instead.

Some notes on my accommodation:

Ellis Ecotel is a budget friendly hotel. It looks and feels like a pension house than a hotel. The reception and hotel itself is located at the 3F of Embarcadero de Legazpi. I didn't take pictures as I was underwhelmed. Indeed, their website is deceiving in a way. Or the pictures used there were taken when the place was new. Anyway, so far I have stepped on two German cockroaches, ants were crawling at the sink and pieces of hair at the bathroom. I knew the hair wasn't mine because I have shaved hair. And for my 5 nights 6 days stay, I have paid a down-payment when I booked it. When I registered at the reception, the receptionist is already asking for the full payment. Is that really the policy? I mean, usually full payment upon check-out right? And then inside, there's no closet or safe deposit box so I really need to bring with me my valuables. The only amenity? One piece of generic soap, one sachet of shampoo, one bath towel and one hand towel. No complimentary slippers, toothbrush etc., but then again, I might have been accustomed to the hotels I stay in whenever I have big events. The room I'm in is P900/night. There's a P450/night but no aircon and fan only. I think I could have settled with that if I have only known. The weather is quite cool so a fan would be okay. But since I don't really plan on staying outdoors much, as according to the tourist official I get to talk to yesterday at the airport, it would only take me one day to tour Legazpi, which I'll do on Saturday on my birthday with my bestfriend.

Going back to Ellis Ecotel, good thing there's a Puregold Supermarket at the ground floor so it's convenient to buy some stuff like shampoo, soap etc.

Day 2 - October 3, 2014

My accommodation in Ellis Ecotel includes a complimentary breakfast at the Seaside Restaurant. Buffet breakfast is made up of pancit palabok, sausages, omelet, rice and coffee. Their coffee tastes quite good, caramel but not too sweet or strong.

So I took a picture of Mayon from the seaside. If you see two lines at the top, that's the zip line. Maybe I'll try that before I leave.

For today, I will just chill at a mall, watch a movie perhaps, have facial or massage and buy some alcoholic drinks as I make salubong my birthday tonight. Hmmm, these are the same things I could have done in Manila, but still, I was here to see Mayon haha and I'll do the tourist things tomorrow :)

So, the first thing I did was visit the nearest church - San Rafael the Archangel Church. Mass is daily at 6, 12 and 5. I arrived around 10. The Church is peaceful and quiet.

From the Church, I went to Legazpi City's biggest mall, the Pacific Mall by Metro Gaisano. Since it's too early to have lunch and try the sili ice cream, I decided to watch a movie instead. The Maze Runner was showing so I watched it. I'll make seperate review for this but in a nutshell, it's like The Lost Boys and the Hunger Games rolled into one. I am the first ticket buyer, go figure.

Then I went to have lunch at the Colonial Grill to take a taste of the sili ice cream. There are two levels of hotness, so of course I took Level 1.

On the way back to embarcadero, I got lost. I didn't get off where I am supposed to go, I saw Aquinas University. I got off at a Mariners school at Rawis. So I went back. I got off at LCC Mall and walked along Legazpi Blvd. back to the hotel.

Will go to church later, not sure if at San Rafael or here at St. Pio chapel.