Left our accommodation in Cataduanes by 5AM and we are at the port just in time. We left at 6:30 instead but all goods since it's still early. We asked to be dropped by at the church but it was closed so we just went to terminal right after.
Little did we know there's a UST in Legazpi as we are on our way back to SM Legazpi. Ate lunch there at SnR because fried chicken then tried that local coffee shop that has sili latte.
Booked a Grab to our next accommodation and we are here now. As always I sleep faster and woke just in time to swim.
We stayed at Your Brother's House Tribal Village that I booked on Agoda. We stayed on the Triangle room without bathroom but that area have a common bathroom and comfort room that that shower cubicle are so small and I think that was just the downside of it all.
Dinner was good ate a good bag of popcorn alone after.
Booked our ATV tomorrow at Mayon. We saw it today somehow, so pretty.
I'm disoriented with days now. Current awake at 2AM instead of my usual sleeping time but we are off to our tour today.
Arrived at Baras just in time for sunrise to start our hike at Binurong Point that’s been on our bucket list since 2016 or 2017.
Struggle is real as I'm no hiker our tour guide was so fast that at the beginning I can hear my breathing and heart rate is at 161. Thankful for the whole hike because no one got injured and we were safe. Hopefully next time there will be intro that we are already hiking because as we were waiting for a tour guide since we arrived early we took the time to nap. When there’s a tour guide already available we are fresh awake from the nap. Lol
Binurong Point is so pretty. If you can't afford Batanes yet this is your chance just be ready. Our tour preferred chasing sunrise so we are on our way immediately before 5AM. Words and pictures can’t do any justice it was so worth it. Will do it again sometime if needed to.
Nature can fuck my brain so hard that it can shut down everything. I’m just so speechless and just wow. Thankful for a beautiful sunrise.
Thankful for our guide even it somehow started awkward but when we got there on top he started to offer us to take our pictures and he got some good ideas too. As we chase the sunrise we are the first people in there and fortunate to have our pictures taken without other people around.
I'm so out of words for it. It's just too pretty and breathtaking.
Thing I get of waking up 2AM instead of just getting in bed.
Puraran beach was next on our list and it's pretty too. Would love to swim on all the beaches we stopped by but since we are on the go and not staying on any resort for a long period of time so I just don't want to rush on swimming on the beach if I will I just want to chill. Love the rock formation in the middle and you can really swim from the beach.
Visited 2 churches and Maribinan Falls. It rained for a little then stopped. On our way out of Maribinan Falls, there was a motorcycle on our way out and didn't gave much notice to who it was since I'm looking at the steps I'm making since I'm being careful
Next stop was a souvenir shop that we almost skipped but thankful we didn't because Philippine Looper's bag (Ferdinand Dela Merced) is there and it became a tourist attraction to us immediately. Surprisingly he was the one riding the motorcycle that I didn't gave attention early. The staff at Happy Island was so nice we had our conversation about Philippine Looper and when they came back they even share the empanadas that was given by a local. We had pictures and it was so fun. Can't believe that we will cross paths. I'm stunned. One of the high light of our Catanduanes trip for sure.
We had lunch and back on our accommodation and sleep. Hehe. Woke up at 9PM and had late dinner and sleep again since we are going back to Tabaco in the morning.
EAST TOUR
Binurong Point
Puraran Beach (surfing capital of Catanduanes)
Miraculous Batalay Shrine
Bato Church
Maribina Falls
Happy Island Marker
Thank you to Island Escapes for arranging our tour and made our stay in Catanduanes hassle free
Woke up at 3AM went to port at almost 5AM we are confident since we have our tickets already but something need to be confirmed and printed at the ticket booth that opened at 5AM with a very slow service and a very long line.
Booking ticket shouldn't be that slow since the process is kind of old school.
Luckily we were able to print our ticket and people are still nice but I have to use the time of departure since its almost 6AM and there’s still tons of people in front of us. Boarded the ship and we are off to Catanduanes with 3 hours time travel. Gem booked the ordinary ticket meaning no aircon and after lining up and figuring things out, all of my sweat glands are alive. We were able to secure our seats but it's not the most comfortable will take it and charge to experience. We left Tabaco an hour late and we arrived at San Andres by 10AM after head banging for almost the whole 3 hours. Lol
We were fetch by a driver and off we go to our tour after some kind of morning.
WEST TOUR
Miraculous Batong Paloway
Luyang Cave
Virac Cathedral
Museo de Catanduanes
Twin Rock Beach Resort
Tampad Beach (Face of Jesus rock formation)
Fleur de Lilies Glamping Farm
Batag Beach
Mamangal Beach
After Museo de Catanduanes, we had lunch and then check in at Casa Remedios just change quickly before the beach hopping. Beach are tempting but since we are not staying longer at each beach it’s hassle to swim and change.
When were back at our accommodation we shower and we realized that some places close early since we are not in Manila. We took the trip to Virac Town Center had some dinner at Fernando’s and went back to our accommodation, clean up and I zoned out.
Good night, Catanduanes.
~
Thank you to Island Escapes for arranging our tour and made our stay in Catanduanes hassle free
My brother asked me where I will be going and I said Bicolandia. So weird that I'm saying that out loud when at some point in life it should be normal by now but no.
We can't check in online so Gem is already at the airport. I'm running late as always and over packed.Haha We don’t have check-in baggage so I’m pretty relaxed that the only worry I have is that my shampoo or conditioner is over 100ml.
I slept at 4am because I just pack from 12-3AM. Got home super late from watching the volleyball game since it went to set 5. Good game day and it was fun to watch I’m going to miss volleyball too.
I think this is the first trip that we are going from one place to another that’s one reason why I can’t figure out what to bring and for what will be my clothes rotation. Let's see how this trip will go. I had coffee this morning just to be sure that l'm awake.
We ate at Burger King and then rush inside because there might be line at security but it was fast and we waited a while for our gate number which was announced minutes before boarding.
Landed in Bicol wasn't able to take pictures on the plane because I was in a middle seat and it's raining in here. What’s Bicol without rain, right. We are currently at SM Legazpi for early dinner. There should be more shed on the loading and unloading areas if it’s always raining in there.
Travelled 1 hour to Tabaco City where we are spending 12 hours to recharge before transferring to Virac the next morning. Made it to our room which is pretty basic and thankful for the TV and PBA Rush for 24/7 basketball thing. I slept immediately and took a shower when I woke up around 11PM so I don’t have to rush in the morning. Also regretting not buying throat spray earlier at SM.
This isn’t on my schedule but I guess since I can go and also Araneta, why not.
Gem is finally in Manila and free so I asked her if she wants to experience volleyball this time and she said, yes. I wasn’t the only one who wanted to watch volleyball for so long we were actually planning it for years. Lol
M2M was the day before and since I panicked I already bought tickets the day before. Well, volleyball isn’t that huge yet compare to basketball as I thought since it’s the Final Four already but coming from long time volleyball fans the crowd for this Final Four games is slowly growing compare to the previous years.
Men’s
NU (twice-to-beat) vs UST
FEU (twice-to-beat) vs DLSU
Women’s
FEU vs NU (twice-to-beat)
UST vs DLSU (twice-to-beat)
Finally another Men’s volleyball game to witness as well. So there were 3 games on the ticket that we can watch and thankful FEU games are back-to-back.
Wasn’t able to catch the first game because it was already staring when I left the house but NU won and we had lunch first before entering and when we went inside it was almost at the end of 1st set.
I may always want patron tickets for basketball but in volleyball it’s kind of good to be somewhere higher for better view. FEU men won the game in 4 sets and that still take some minutes before the women’s game.
~
It’s hard to imagine FEU will be winning against NU most especially that they’ve been together for so long and that chemistry is undeniable. It wasn’t an easy game but without a twice-to-beat advantage FEU still gave their all and give NU a good game. Game lasted up to 5 sets and that was the last game of FEU women’s.
Glad that Gem was able to enjoy it as much as we enjoy basketball. UAAP Volleyball gain some fans this season.
~
We are honestly not looking forward to a 5th set game since we haven’t pack for our trip and our flight is on the next day. Thankful that it’s not an early flight and it’s just a local trip.
Should we all be thankful that Marion got a flat tire some time last year that it lead to the whole thing.
I never ever thought that I will be able to see M2M live ever. I was probably listening to them when I was maybe 12 years old and really no one ever thought that the reunion will ever happening.
I was really looking forward to this that I waited for the ticket sale but then after just minutes, it’s sold out. Thankful that there was Day 2 because I was in panic mode when I couldn’t have Day 1 tickets. Eventually they still release some Upper Box and Gen Ad until the day of the concert.
Healing our inner child to see M2M live. Seriously.
They became active on socials and we honestly love all the updates until a week before tour starts, a tease of the setlist was seen on a short video that was posted. Someone also made a playlist on Spotify and later M2M officially posted a playlist that consist of the setlist.
For a band that hasn’t been play for so long I’m pretty sure that they will stick on the setlist since it’s probably hard for them to change it. Maybe add one or two song but major change on the setlist will probably not gonna happen.
There was a post about people singing along on the early tour and someone commented “wait until you play in Manila”. Oh boy, hopefully we didn’t disappoint them.
Played the playlist for a week or two prior to concert day and I somehow wonder how will be the transition since there’s a solo for each of them. I watched a snippet of Day 1 and that’s it I just can’t wait for concert day also thankful that’s in Araneta.
I left home early and was able to roam around the mall and I was also anxious because the next day will be the Final Four game of UAAP. Too much people in Araneta that I don’t know where to eat but I finally saw Salad Stop and I ate there. I asked the ticket booth if there’s available ticket for the game the next day. Only Upper Box was available and with my panic self, Upper box is okay than nothing. Bought tickets despite of my gut telling me that there will be still lower box tickets.
The concert was fine since there was already clips from the day before and the early shows before that.
Sad truth is that on every concert majority of audience really is there because of the bands hit songs. I can’t blame anyone or concert goers but spending much for just that? Oh well we have our reason and all. Next time you can be ready by searching the tours setlist. Its fun to be prepared (just my opinion).
I enjoyed it despite of being seated the whole time. I’m really not used to seated concert but that will do but I want to dance on some songs too.
So worth it to be able to see them and knowing that they also enjoyed doing this tour.
They were so happy and you really can see it.
Not sure if there will be another album or even another tour from them but really thankful for that flat tire. Lol
