OF VOLCANOES AND ISLANDS

After 17 years in the tourism industry, I finally got to make my first trip to Bicol. The board of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) was invited to spend a night in Legaspi at the posh Misibis Bay Resort on Cagraray Island for its monthly board meeting. Suffice it to say, it didn't take long for me to make up my mind whether I was going or not. I was definitely not missing this.

But before I get ahead of myself, allow me to take you on a blow-by-blow account of how the day progressed.

The day started early as we met at the Terminal 3 airport in Manila to take the early Cebu Pacific flight to Legaspi  in the province of Albay. It was a relatively short hop of less than an hour from the time we took off to the time we landed. The flight was mercifully smooth and we landed in Legaspi to very good weather. As one gets off the plane at the airport, the sight that greerts you is the iconic and majestic Mayon Volcano that looms in the distance, its once-perfect cone usually hidden by low clouds. On this morning, however, the old man seemed determined to show off and gave us an unobstructed view of its splendor.

Mayon Volcano

With that view, I was convinced that I was in Bicol. Scratch an item from the Bucket List. Mine eyes have seen Mayon Volcano.

We were met at the airport by our hosts from Misibis Bay and taken to one of their newest properties in the city, The Hotel St. Ellis for breakfast and an short inspection. Just recently opened, St. Ellis is strategically located on Rizal Street and about 5 to 10 minutes from the airport. We could still the detect the "new hotel" scent as we entered the lobby. We were led to the Crossroads Cafe where a buffet breakast lovingly welcomed our still-sleepy bodies. The spread is modest by Manila standards yet more than adequate for a good breakfast to start the day. Of all the items, it was the tapa that made me come back for seconds and thirds. The coffee was also strong enough to jumpstart our sluggish senses.

Crossroads Cafe

Street View of Hotel St. Ellis

After a very satisfying breakfast, a short hotel inspection was in order. The rooms, while not overly spacious, were comfortable and utilized bright earth tones to give the feeling of warmth. Like most hotels, the St. Ellis offers options for single, twin and double rooms. They also have suite rooms for the more discerning travellers who like to travel in style. 

Twin Room

Double Room

Finally, it was time to head off to the places of interest in and around Legaspi. The first stop was the centuries old Cagsawa ruins. Once part of the Cagsawa Church, the structure was destroyed by an eruption of Mayon Volcano in 1814 killing 1,200 townspeople who sought refuge from the flowing lava. Today, only the church belltower remains as the solitary witness to the tragedy. The ruins are almost always part of pictures taken of Mayon, showing the two most prominent symbols of Bicolandia. 

Cagsawa Ruins

One interesting and novel things about visiting the ruins is the presence of some youngsters who will offer to take "trick shots" of you against the backdrop of Mayon and belltower. The kids are very well-meaning and actually knoweldgeable about the area. They do not badger tourists but rather offer their services in a non-intrusive way which I rather like. Give them an opportunity to do their work and I guarantee you that the results will bring a smile to your face. They are also surprisingly handy with the cameras and know what to do with them. A tip of P50.00 is good for the number of pictures they can come up with. 

Sample "trick shot"

              

Next on the list was the Daraga Church, a Baroque-style church built in 1773 by the Franciscan Order. After the destruction of the Cagsawa Church in 1814, devotees of that church transferred to Daraga Church. It was later dedicated to Nuestra Senora de la Porteria (Our Lady of the Gates) in 1854. In 2007, it was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Historical Institute. 

Sculpture on the facade of Daraga Church

Daraga Church

Right after lunch, the group headed to the Hotel Venezia for an inspection of the hotel before heading off to Misibis Bay. Venezia, oddly enough, is located inside a subdivision in Legaspi. When asking our hosts why this was so, we were informed that the owner of the hotel happened to be the owner of the subdivision. Nevertheless, this was the first time I saw something like that.

Hotel Venezia is a 40-room affair with a number of standard and junior suite rooms. The lobby is very homey with a lot of creams and browns as the color motif. The Caffe San Marco, the hotel coffee shop, is spacious and offers a good selection of entrees.

Hotel Venezia facade

Front Desk

As we toured the rooms, I was impressed with the warmth each room generated. Very simple but classily furnished, the accommodations gives one a feeling of being home away from home. Again, the earth motif pervades all the rooms and gives a soothing feeling. Rooms are configured to be for single occupancy, twin beds or double-bedded.

Twin Room

Double Room

Finally done with the inspections, we were finally on our way to Misibis Resort. We took a 10-minute ride to the pier where we boarded a fast craft towards Cagraray Island where the resort is located. The ride took about 30 minutes or about 6 songs on the videoke machine we had onboard. Despite the fact that the airconditioning on the boat wasn't working too well, I don't think anyone noticed because of the all the singing.

Arriving on the island, we were met by the resort activity staff and taken to the main arrival area by coaster where a local song and dance number was being performed to welcome guests. On taking in the resort for the first time, one senses that a good time awaits and a special experience is in the offing.

The reception area is located in a building mostly made of glass and immediately sets the tone for the resort. With its native furnishings and helpful personnel, one is immediately put at ease. The welcome fruit drink was refreshing and quite welcome as it was a bit hot that day. Checking in was relatively quick and the staff eager to show guests to their suites.

Reception Area

We were led to our beachfront one-bedroom suite which faces the Pacific Ocean. The room was actually big enough to house four people comfortably as there were two beds in bedroom and a daybed which could fit two more people. The suite had its own dining area, mini bar and kitchenette and an LCD television. We were also informed that once we got to the room, guests got a footwash which was actually a 15-minute foot massage. A wonderful idea for people who may have been travelling for hours and need something to soothe them after long day.

Anteroom with kitchnette and daybeds

The footwash basin

View from the veranda

The bedroom was the coup de grace as far as I was concerned. With a fantastic view of the beach and ocean from the bed, I could see myself actually staying here for about a week. The rooms are generously-spaced with very comfortable twin beds, another LCD television and an iPod dock for your listening pleasure. The rooms are tastefully done with being overdone. All around, this was a haven built to encourage people to stay for a while and exhale.

Beachfront Junior Suite

View of the beach from the bedroom

Another view of the room

An important room feature to me is the bathroom. I don't care if the room itself is not all that good but the bathroom has to be clean for me to stay. Call it an obssessive compulsive thing but that's just me. To my happiness, the bathroom of the suite met my standards. It may not be as lavish as some resorts I've stayed at but it was more than satisfactory as far as I was concerned. And one thing I really appreciated was the peppermint soap in the shower. Being a hot day, taking a shower with a peppermint bar of soap was refreshing and literally left me with a tingling feeling all over. First time I've ever used that kind of a soap. The bathroom has a separate shower space, a bathtub and two sinks which is convenient for couples or families.

Bathroom

Bathtub

After freshening up, we decided to go for a short walk around the resort just to get a feel of the whole place. The resort is pretty much self-contained and most of the attractions like the swimming pools, restaurants and recreation areas are within walking distance.

Poolside Suites

The main swimming pool

Lounge chairs by on the water

An important facet of any beach resort is the beach itself. I've been to places where the beach is nothing great but because of the resort facilites, people come walking away with the impression that the place is great. I'm of the opinion that if you want to be near the ocean, the beach must be good. While I'm not about to say that Misibis' beach is anywhere near Boracay's, it's no slouch either. The sand is not white nor powdery but has a character of its own. It borders on the brown/pinkish hue which is a good change of pace if one is used to white sand. The beach is set up for people who may want to get a nice tan, chill out while reading a good book or just listen to the sound of the ocean as the day goes by. Lounge chairs and are plentiful and there's ample space to spread around.

The water is clear but do be careful as there are some rocks that you can step on once you get into the water. For those with sensitive feet, I would recommend wearing some water moccasins just to be safe.

Lounge chairs and massage cabana

The beach

Lounges in the sand

As the afternoon wore on, we had to take care of business and do our meeting but tomorrow would be another day. Dinner was near the poolside and the buffet featured some local dishes as well as choices like a grill station for those who are a less adventurous with food. The food was so good that I literally went back for thirds and fourths despite being full.

The following morning, we had a great breakfast at the Spice Market, which is the main dining area of the resort. We then decided to take an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) ride around the resort which is part of the activities they offer. We were given a short briefing on how to handle the ATVs and given our safety helmets. On a trip of firsts, this was the first time I've ever handled an ATV.

On the ATV

It's about an hour's ride around some parts of the island. We were taken by the activity officer to the team-building area which includes a short zipline which I also did for the first time. I was less afraid than I thought I would be. The experience left me wanting to do a longer one in the future. We were taken to a ridge where some people may want to do a sunrise ride and catch the birth of a new day while sipping on some coffee or hot chocolate. If you're into photography, bringing your camera is a definite must.

Ampitheatre

View from the ridge

Enjoying the view from the top

As all good things go, the trip quickly wrapped up after our ATV escapade as we headed back to the resort to pack up and catch our flight back to Manila. Although we were at the resort for less than 24 hours, it felt like we had been staying there for a week.

I have heard much about this place and I'm extremely happy to say that what I've heard is mostly true. The warm and friendly staff, the luxurious accommodations, the serene ambiance and the great food - one actually has to find a reason NOT to go to Misibis Bay.

For more information about the resort or for bookings, please give us a call at Worldwalker Destinations at +63 2 470-8591 or 96. Or simply send us an e-mail at info@worldwalkerdestinations.com.

All photos taken with my trusty Nikon D90.