Bicol's own: Bigg's diner!

Apart from Pampanga, Cagayan, Bacolod, and Gensan, Bicol is one more of the destinations where I don't frown on food. 

I have been in Bicol quite a few times, but as I am saving on budget, rarely do I try out on the restaurants. normally just eateries on any corner.

Tonight, I have a little bit of freedom on budget so tried out Bigg's Diner. 

Apart from pictures of accomodations I stay in, i make it a habit too to post details about some restaurants I eat at. Along with the taste, As a budget traveller, I'm quite wary of the price. Below are prices of the food at Bigg's diner (photos taken in Naga Coty Branch).

Here's my dinner for P194. Ehat is said to be the local favorite: Pork Cordon Bleu with a cheesy potato on the side (which I should've ordered anymore because that, which I thought on the picture as a muffin, happened to be a baked potato).

Apart from Pampanga, Cagayan, Bacolod, and Gensan, Bicol is one more of the destinations where I don't frown on food. 

I have been in Bicol quite a few times, but as I am saving on budget, rarely do I try out on the restaurants. normally just eateries on any corner.

Tonight, I have a little bit of freedom on budget so tried out Bigg's Diner. 

Apart from pictures of accomodations I stay in, i make it a habit too to post details about some restaurants I eat at. Along with the taste, As a budget traveller, I'm quite wary of the price. Below are prices of the food at Bigg's diner (photos taken in Naga Coty Branch).

Here's my dinner for P194. Ehat is said to be the local favorite: Pork Cordon Bleu with a cheesy potato on the side (which I should've ordered anymore because that, which I thought on the picture as a muffin, happened to be a baked potato).

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Ice cream meets Bicol

We just got back from our exploratory trip to La Manok island in Cawayan, Masbate (with a sidetrip to Buntod Reef Sanctuary in Masbate City) and my travel buds aren't due to go home to Manila til midnight.

It was about 6pm when we got off the jeep from Pilar Sorsogon.( If I may just mention, I was freezing from the jeep topload while the driver has forgotten that there was a passenger up there and he was running at, I'd bet, with humility and no exxageration, 80 kms/hr.)

Mayon volcano was on me the whole time of the trip. I regret i didn't do this on a daytime, all i have was a silhouette. Ten again, seeing such a huge perfect cone in itself us so refreshing, id ine in a while grt hit by some of the tree branches because im like dull struck at sight of mt mayon.

Meanwhile, in Daraga, Its a sunday and I noticed the facade of the daraga church was lit. I asked my buddies if they'd like to have a look.. Well, no plans really for the night so anything is just fine.

Beside the Daraga chuch is a restauant, and we attempted to order the sili oce cream. Unfortunately, they didn't have it available. We also tried Bigg's diner but they don't serve it. So, I asked around; we were pointed to 1st colonial grill in te town of Albay and an P8 jeep away.

When we opened the menu, other than sili, they also have other interesting flavors; they have malunggay, baileys, pili, calamansi, tinutong, and salabat. We were going to order one flavor each til we were told we can actually mix up in one P79-3 scoop order, so we tried all.

The chili don't taste anything different that the regular vanilla ice cream, except that once it gets to your throat, you'll begin to ask for water (and i remember that chili flavored chocolate bar too).

The salabat has that scratch too, but they top it with camote slices to ease the spice a bit.

The tinutong was great. Of all the flavors, i thought this flavor can be commercialized for mass and regular consumption. What I am trying to say is, the chili, salabat, malunggay, we're more of to put a twist, just for the sake of trying, but the tinutong had a similar taste as that of coffee crumble.

Other than the ice cream, we also ordered burger and pasta. The pasta's top garnish was sili (chili). The burger, on the other hand, has a dressing that's much like atsara.



Looking for where to stay in budget in Legaspi city? See my P525 peso room

We just got back from our exploratory trip to La Manok island in Cawayan, Masbate (with a sidetrip to Buntod Reef Sanctuary in Masbate City) and my travel buds aren't due to go home to Manila til midnight.

It was about 6pm when we got off the jeep from Pilar Sorsogon.( If I may just mention, I was freezing from the jeep topload while the driver has forgotten that there was a passenger up there and he was running at, I'd bet, with humility and no exxageration, 80 kms/hr.)

Mayon volcano was on me the whole time of the trip. I regret i didn't do this on a daytime, all i have was a silhouette. Ten again, seeing such a huge perfect cone in itself us so refreshing, id ine in a while grt hit by some of the tree branches because im like dull struck at sight of mt mayon.

Meanwhile, in Daraga, Its a sunday and I noticed the facade of the daraga church was lit. I asked my buddies if they'd like to have a look.. Well, no plans really for the night so anything is just fine.

Beside the Daraga chuch is a restauant, and we attempted to order the sili oce cream. Unfortunately, they didn't have it available. We also tried Bigg's diner but they don't serve it. So, I asked around; we were pointed to 1st colonial grill in te town of Albay and an P8 jeep away.

When we opened the menu, other than sili, they also have other interesting flavors; they have malunggay, baileys, pili, calamansi, tinutong, and salabat. We were going to order one flavor each til we were told we can actually mix up in one P79-3 scoop order, so we tried all.

The chili don't taste anything different that the regular vanilla ice cream, except that once it gets to your throat, you'll begin to ask for water (and i remember that chili flavored chocolate bar too).

The salabat has that scratch too, but they top it with camote slices to ease the spice a bit.

The tinutong was great. Of all the flavors, i thought this flavor can be commercialized for mass and regular consumption. What I am trying to say is, the chili, salabat, malunggay, we're more of to put a twist, just for the sake of trying, but the tinutong had a similar taste as that of coffee crumble.

Other than the ice cream, we also ordered burger and pasta. The pasta's top garnish was sili (chili). The burger, on the other hand, has a dressing that's much like atsara.



Looking for where to stay in budget in Legaspi city? See my P525 peso room

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My P525 room in Legaspi City, Albay

I have started posting pictures and some info of the rooms and rates of some accomodations in various cities I have tried for the benefit of my co travellers.

Herebelow is where I stayed today in Legaspi City.

I took the aircon matrimonial and stayed until 5pm for an additional P150 (30/hr after the 12nn check out time).

Travelling Philippines? Follow @CheapBedsPH on Instagram for geotagged backpacker accomodation below PHP400 (US$9) for easier searches.

I have started posting pictures and some info of the rooms and rates of some accomodations in various cities I have tried for the benefit of my co travellers.

Herebelow is where I stayed today in Legaspi City.

I took the aircon matrimonial and stayed until 5pm for an additional P150 (30/hr after the 12nn check out time).

Travelling Philippines? Follow @CheapBedsPH on Instagram for geotagged backpacker accomodation below PHP400 (US$9) for easier searches.

Read More »

Rapu Rapu Island: Finally

(sequel to the sorsogon trip)

Rapu Rapu Island, Albay

In Sorsogon City, just along the way, there was a COLORUM van driver who asked us if we're bound for Legazpi. He offered a Daraga trip which was a jeep away fr legazpi. Luckily, it did not get any more passenger other than us three and three others so it was a comfortable nap time. I owned the long seat at the far back of the passenger van.

From Daraga, we paid P8 for legazpi and asked the driver to drop us where we can get a cheap lodge.

In legazpi, we were dropped in an Inn which least expensive room was P600 (and does not even seem to be worth it). We were not amenable to spending that much so instead, we asked around and we were pointed on another corner where we found Hotel Xandra (And in front is Hotel Rex).

The rate was around P400 for 4 of us, but further bargaining, we were given a 2-bed fan room in the 4^th floor for P350. The hotel wasn’t well maintained but for the price, this should be OK. After all, we’re leaving very early to catch the Rapu Rapu trip in the Legazpi Port.

Took a shower, and while the 2 fellow travelers preferred to go ahead to sleep after shower, my fatigue is needing a Red Horse treatment. So, I walked back to the road, walked a bit, and since I could not find any nice beer place close by, rode the Legazpi-Daraga jeep again all the way to the Municipal Hall. I sat at Chicken Inn; That was probably the best there is at that day, hour, and distance.

After some 3 bottles, I decided to go back so my body can rest a bit.

It was about 6 am when we woke up the next day, and did not really bother for a shower as it was already late and we’re heading to the beach anyway. The boat is to leave at 7.

The port is just a few blocks away so it was just the right time when we arrived. The boat is loading and just in a few minutes, we left the Legazpi Port.

Legazpi Port and Boat bound for Rapu Rapu Island, Albay

“The boat will take 3 hours to get to Rapu Rapu” they said. Thus, it is expected to arrive at 10am. By 1pm, the same boat will sail back to Legazpi City, and the next one will be the next day.

At the boat, we all three of us were deeply asleep. I didn’t even notice that half my body was already wet due to the splash of the wave. Water was coming all the way to my seat. Most of the baggages were heavily wet.

It was already past 10am when we got to Rapu Rapu island. Had breakfast very quickly, and asked what we can check out. The locals were pointing us to Cheska. As we can’t waste any time, I haggled for the habal services and went straight to cheska.

It took us less than 5 minutes to get there, and just a few seconds to turn back. There is no beach but rather a shore.

I asked the habal service for what else we can see. This time, we checked out what they call as the irrigation, which is actually a falls (among the other bigger falls they claim as farther in and upland)

Worried that we might not get a bus seat back to Manila (due to the plight of passengers for the All Saints day holidays) if we spend an overnight in the island, we decided to go back to legazpi through the 1pm. So, after the “irrigation”, I asked that we move back to the port quickly so we can check out the 2 rock islands next to the port.

While the locals would rather walk the shallow bay to get to the 2 rock islands, I asked for a smaller boat to save time. I was also hoping that after getting some pictures of these boulders, we could go boat to the shores of Rapu Rapu and just hop to the passenger boat on the somewhere along the shore. However, time wasn’t enough. When we got to the port, the passengers were already on their seat, and it’s just that some stuff have yet to be unloaded. I asked the boat staff if, while unloading, we could check out the rock islands. He said yes since he’ll literally have to yell a bit to catch our attention and ask to be on board once ready.

by the time I come back, this is probably sailing Legazpi - RR

I really regret I did not get to swim in the “R-R” (local’s refer to it this way) shores. The camera did not even catch the unique (blue) shade of the water en route to the pier.

It was about 5pm when we docked in Legazpi Port; Hurried to take a trike to the bus station to book a ticket and rush to Cagsawa for a quick pic of Mayon and Ruins.

(sequel to the sorsogon trip)

Rapu Rapu Island, Albay

In Sorsogon City, just along the way, there was a COLORUM van driver who asked us if we're bound for Legazpi. He offered a Daraga trip which was a jeep away fr legazpi. Luckily, it did not get any more passenger other than us three and three others so it was a comfortable nap time. I owned the long seat at the far back of the passenger van.

From Daraga, we paid P8 for legazpi and asked the driver to drop us where we can get a cheap lodge.

In legazpi, we were dropped in an Inn which least expensive room was P600 (and does not even seem to be worth it). We were not amenable to spending that much so instead, we asked around and we were pointed on another corner where we found Hotel Xandra (And in front is Hotel Rex).

The rate was around P400 for 4 of us, but further bargaining, we were given a 2-bed fan room in the 4^th floor for P350. The hotel wasn’t well maintained but for the price, this should be OK. After all, we’re leaving very early to catch the Rapu Rapu trip in the Legazpi Port.

Took a shower, and while the 2 fellow travelers preferred to go ahead to sleep after shower, my fatigue is needing a Red Horse treatment. So, I walked back to the road, walked a bit, and since I could not find any nice beer place close by, rode the Legazpi-Daraga jeep again all the way to the Municipal Hall. I sat at Chicken Inn; That was probably the best there is at that day, hour, and distance.

After some 3 bottles, I decided to go back so my body can rest a bit.

It was about 6 am when we woke up the next day, and did not really bother for a shower as it was already late and we’re heading to the beach anyway. The boat is to leave at 7.

The port is just a few blocks away so it was just the right time when we arrived. The boat is loading and just in a few minutes, we left the Legazpi Port.

Legazpi Port and Boat bound for Rapu Rapu Island, Albay

“The boat will take 3 hours to get to Rapu Rapu” they said. Thus, it is expected to arrive at 10am. By 1pm, the same boat will sail back to Legazpi City, and the next one will be the next day.

At the boat, we all three of us were deeply asleep. I didn’t even notice that half my body was already wet due to the splash of the wave. Water was coming all the way to my seat. Most of the baggages were heavily wet.

It was already past 10am when we got to Rapu Rapu island. Had breakfast very quickly, and asked what we can check out. The locals were pointing us to Cheska. As we can’t waste any time, I haggled for the habal services and went straight to cheska.

It took us less than 5 minutes to get there, and just a few seconds to turn back. There is no beach but rather a shore.

I asked the habal service for what else we can see. This time, we checked out what they call as the irrigation, which is actually a falls (among the other bigger falls they claim as farther in and upland)

Worried that we might not get a bus seat back to Manila (due to the plight of passengers for the All Saints day holidays) if we spend an overnight in the island, we decided to go back to legazpi through the 1pm. So, after the “irrigation”, I asked that we move back to the port quickly so we can check out the 2 rock islands next to the port.

While the locals would rather walk the shallow bay to get to the 2 rock islands, I asked for a smaller boat to save time. I was also hoping that after getting some pictures of these boulders, we could go boat to the shores of Rapu Rapu and just hop to the passenger boat on the somewhere along the shore. However, time wasn’t enough. When we got to the port, the passengers were already on their seat, and it’s just that some stuff have yet to be unloaded. I asked the boat staff if, while unloading, we could check out the rock islands. He said yes since he’ll literally have to yell a bit to catch our attention and ask to be on board once ready.

by the time I come back, this is probably sailing Legazpi - RR

I really regret I did not get to swim in the “R-R” (local’s refer to it this way) shores. The camera did not even catch the unique (blue) shade of the water en route to the pier.

It was about 5pm when we docked in Legazpi Port; Hurried to take a trike to the bus station to book a ticket and rush to Cagsawa for a quick pic of Mayon and Ruins.

Read More »

Tentative Itinerary for 2012

I have given up the idea of savings and whatever nonsense long time and short time goal I have; For my pleasure is my pleasure...

I have given up the idea of savings and whatever nonsense long time and short time goal I have; For my pleasure is my pleasure...

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