The Pinay Solo Backpacker

Before the rise to fame of  CWC, Caramoan and the Whale sharks of  Donsol, there’s Mt. Mayon in Bicol.  Tourists flock to Albay , the location of the Mayon volcano to witness this volcano known in the world for its almost perfect cone.  I was lucky to be born and raised in Bicol so I’ve seen her for the nth time, but I don’t have a picture of  Mayon Volcano.  When something is always there, you tend to take it for granted.  So that’s how I ended up on a night bus to Naga.

The most famous place to view the majestic Mt. Mayon is in Cagsawa Ruins in Daraga, Albay and the recently developed Lignon Hill (pronounced as”Linyon”). I managed to see the majestic Mayon  from both location and while I was enjoying the fresh air  on top of  Lignon Hill and waiting patiently for the clouds to clear off and show the Mayon volcano in it’s full glory, two guys approached me. I didnt speak to them in my native tongue, Bicol by the way is one of the dialects that has many variants, I only speak Bisakol, it’s a pormanteau  of Bicol and Bisaya but I can understand all the Bicol dialects.  I can easily detect if they are fooling me if they are unaware that I can understand their dialect. 

The boys offered me to try the zip line in the lava flow, and showed me a clear book full of  pictures of  Mayon volcano where tourists trekked the lava flow.  I was more interested in trekking because  I thought it was challenging and I don’t wanna do the zipline sporting a short yellow dress.  Later that day, I met the owner of the Lava trek tour who happens to be a photographer, I bought a copy of his  famed picture of  Mayon during it’s last eruption in Dec 2009.

Our bike swayed past some  small villages in the countryside leading to a rough pyroclastic road formed by past eruptions of   the  active volcano.  We we’re traversing a boulder-strewn landscape made of  black volcanic turf, the area is  surrounded by  tall grasses, gullies and almost-dry rocky streams.  That’s the route being used for  an off-road romp in an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) which they offer for Php 2,500.  Oh well, I’ve pretty much enjoyed the hellish yet fun bike ride without helmet and at the end of the day I’m almost covered by dust!

The driver is in a hurry since it’s already late in the afternoon, we have to be at the lava flow before it gets dark  The son of the Brgy.Captain and his friend collects Php50 as entrance fee to the lava flow, on the gullies there are some bamboo huts for tourist.  The lava wall is just a few steps away from their makeshift gate. I would’ve sworn it’s not that tall that if  I was wearing a proper outfit I would’ve easily made it on top without the boys help. But I wasn’t (kase akala ko magpapa-cute lang ako sa Cagsawa Ruins at sa Lignon Hill!) ,so talk about effort!

I  feared that she won’t show her full glory while we we’re out  there trekking the lava walls, when we left Lignon Hill, her peak is covered with puffy clouds, while in Daraga, I had to wait a few minutes for  her peak to show up and when it finally did, it lasted for about 2 minutes!  Lucky me because the moment I  reached the top and I’m still catching my breath, the clouds cleared off at the peak of  Mt. Mayon.  The boys smiled and said, ” She likes you.”  It is said, that the locals believe the majestic  Mt. Mayon only shows her full self (especially the peak) to good-natured people and virginal ones.

Mayon in Bicol is associated with the Bicol word Magayon, meaning beautiful.  And I’m struggling to find the right words to describe her.  Her beauty is simply sublime!  I can’t help but be mesmerized to see her up close, what more if I’m viewing her from the top while riding in a helicopter, a tour  offered by Misibis Bay for  a hefty price of  Php 70,000! Dream on Gael!

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*********************************************************************************************** About the Blogger : Gael is a Filipina solo adventurer, a dream chaser and a student of life.  Her (mis) adventures are documented in this blog. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For advertisement, partnerships and sponsorship, click here. or email me at thepinaysolobackpacker(at)yahoo(dot)com. **********************************************************************************************

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