I left early the next day to travel to Sorsogon. The vans depart from SM Legazpi, and the fare was Php 140.00. The van terminal is at SM Sorsogon, so I looked for a tricycle to hire there. I asked about the cost of a city tour and showed them the places I wanted to visit. They wanted Php 2,000.00, but I said I couldn’t afford it and bargained, saying my budget was only Php 1,500.00. They refused, saying the places were far apart and involved a lot of uphill travel. I offered Php 1,600.00 as my final price, and someone agreed. However, the driver who agreed was a senior, and once we were on the road, he asked if I knew the places we were visiting because he didn’t. I just laughed and said I didn’t know either. He said he would ask for directions along the way since he wasn’t usually hired for tours.
Along the way, we passed by the oldest church in Sorsogon, located in Barcelona.
Our first stop was Bulusan Lake, and I paid an entrance fee of Php 275.00. It was okay, but different from what I expected. Maybe my expectations were just too high. After Bulusan Lake, we went to Balay Buhay sa Uma, which I found out was famous because of Chiz Escudero. The entrance fee was Php 100.00. I walked around a bit and left shortly after. There was a restaurant inside, but I didn’t eat there since there were no other customers. Instead, the driver and I had lunch at a place we passed by.
Next, we visited the Sorsogon Sports Complex, which was indeed very large. After that, we went to Museo Sorsogon. The entrance fee was Php 20.00. The museum was nice, and there was a staff member who explained the exhibits in each section.
I took a van from SM Sorsogon back to Legazpi, with the fare being Php 140.00, and then took a tricycle back to the hotel for Php 50.00.
The next day, I planned on going to Farmplate. I wasn’t going back to Manila without visiting this famous place. I asked the receptionist again how I could save money on the trip since it was expensive to get there due to its uphill location. One of the staff offered to accompany me after her shift since she hadn’t been there either. We agreed to leave after 4:30 pm and rented a tricycle for Php 250.00, which was cheap because the usual rate was around Php 400-500.
Since we were leaving in the afternoon, I looked for something to do in the meantime. I went to Pacific Mall to try archery. It was my first time, and I found it challenging, especially since I had shaky hands and needed to focus on the target. But I enjoyed it.
After wandering around the mall, I returned to the hotel, rested, and packed my things since I was leaving the next day. Around 4 pm, the staff who was going with me called to confirm if we were still going, and of course, I said yes. I went down at 4:30 pm, and we headed to Farmplate. I was happy because I made a new friend, and the place was beautiful. It was perfect for relaxing and unwinding, with a large area to explore. We had dinner there and bought food from the stalls. I tried the Bicol Express and Pinangat, famous local dishes. They were delicious.
We took a tricycle back, and luckily, we found a couple to share the ride with, so we each paid Php 200.00 since the total fare was Php 400.00.
I got back around 9 pm. My departure was early the next day, so I rested. I called Kuya Joseph to see if he was available to take me to the airport, and he agreed for Php 300.00, which was a good deal since renting a ride was usually expensive.
Overall, my stay in Legazpi was worth it. It was my first time traveling alone to a distant place. The people were kind, it was safe to walk around, and as a bonus, I frequently got to see the full view of Mt. Mayon. Mayon was truly beautiful.
Here are some tips if you’re traveling to this place:
- Prepare an itinerary if you’re a solo traveler like me. Don’t just list the places you want to visit without making concrete plans.
- Bring sunblock because it’s very hot.
- Keep yourself hydrated during the tour.
- Bring extra money since expenses can add up.
- Take a lot of photos because the place is beautiful.
- Start your day early to make the most out of it.
- The best time to travel is from March to May for good weather.
