Spices: A Spicy Treat in LEGASPI and DONSOL

The Bicol Region is known for chillies and the Pili Nut. Since I am a big spicy food lover, I excitingly looked forward for this trip.

Upon reaching Legaspi, Biggs Diner can be seen on every corner.  The place lights up a whole block and
made up to look like an American Diner. It is the biggest fast food chain in Naga. We went to Embarcadero and ended up dining at Biggs.

Biggs Diner

The resto's interiors has a nice nostalgic feel.

Inside Biggs Diner

The resto offered different Pinoy rice meals as well as American food fare. Prices are very affordable at around Php100 to Php150 a dish.

We ordered the following...

Ordering at Biggs

The Double Cheese Burger with so much extenders. Bad!

Double Cheeseburger

The Brick Oven Cheese Pizza was a big joke.

Cheese Pizza

They literally put an oven inside an enclosed bricked area.

The redeeming dishes were...

The huge two-piece Fried Chicken was nice and crispy.

Two Piece Fried Chicken with Rice

The vegetables rice topping tasted simple and filling.

Vegetable Rice Topping

Biggs Diner
Address: Found everywhere in Legaspi
Website: www.biggsdiner.com


After dinner, we headed to La Mia Tazza cafe which was right across Biggs Diner. If not for the signage, you would easily mistake the cafe for Starbucks. The interiors looked like a carbon-copy of the American franchise.

La Mia Tazza Cafe

The cafe served home-grown coffee as well as desserts. One of their specialties is the Pili Nut Latte.

Coffee and Desserts

Chunks of Pili Nut was mixed in with the cafe latte. I'm not a big fan of this.

Pili Nut Coffee Latte

La Mia Tazza Coffee
Adress: Embarcadero, Legaspi City



After a so-so 1st meal in Legaspi, we were awakened with the best Pandesal I've ever tasted. When we were in search for a bakery to buy bread for breakfast, everyone in the neighborhood was pointing to one place...Emong's Malunggay Pandesal.

Emong's

Upon reaching the bakery, a long queue greeted us as we took a whiff of the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread. To our surprise, the bakery was open for 24 hours and it only sells one item.

Freshly Baked Pandesal

When I took my first bite, I knew and understood how a bakery that's open 24/7 can survive by selling one thing alone. The bread has the right crunch on the outside with a soft and moist center. The balance of sweetness and saltiness is perfect. To top it all off, it was fortified with Malunggay (Moringa Leaves). Malunggay is supposed to be extremely nutritious which contains vitamins and minerals. Til now, I'm still craving for it!

Emong's Malunggay Pandesal -  Php 2.00 a piece

Best Pandesal: Emong's Malunggay Pandesal

Emong's
Address: Just ask the locals and they'll point you to the right direction


After the trip to Busay Falls, it was off to Waway's Restaurant to try some authentic local cuisine.

Waway's Restaurant

We ordered every local dish that we found. Each dish was cooked really well and tasted great. Aside from being spicy, another main ingredient that the Bicolanos use is Gata or Coconut Milk.

Waway's Spread 

Bicol Express consists of chopped chillies with pork bits cooked in gata. For spicy-food lovers, this is the dish to try and order.

Bicol Express - Php 68.00

Laing is Taro Leaves with chillies cooked in gata. Some people would shy away from this dish because the leaves has a slight slimy and chewy consistency but I suggest people to give it a try. You might surprisingly find it good just like the first time did.

Laing - Php 68.00

Pinangat is the same as Laing but the leaves are tied up with coconut leaves.

Pinangat - Php 68.00

Kinunot is a Bicolano delicacy that uses either Shark or Manta Ray meat mixed with Malunggay leaves and chillies cooked in Gata. I liked the Manta ray version better, the meat was more tender and has a geletanous feel compared with the tougher Shark meat.

Kinunot - Php 68.00

We also ordered other Filipino delicacies...

The Pritong  Lumpiang Ubod is a fried wrap with a heart of palm filling. Deliciously crunchy.

Pritong Lumpiang Ubod - Php 28.00

The Ginataang Kalabasa is a creamy mixture of gata and Squash. String Beans are often mixed in together with the choice of meat.

Ginataang Kalabasa - 1/2 order Php 60 

When we saw the Squid and Fish on the grill, we got tempted and decided to order the Grilled Squid.

Grilled Tilapia and Squid

The grilled squid was cooked perfectly. Soft and chewy with a subtle charred flavor.

Inihaw na Pusit (600gms) - Php 290

When our bill arrived, we were surprised on how cheap each delicious dish were. We definitely got a bang for our buck.

Waway's Restraurant
Address: Penarada Street, Legaspi City


After the our spicy lunch in Waway, we headed to 1st Colonial Grill to try a specialty ice cream that is only found in Legaspi. The Sili (Chillies) Ice Cream.

1st Colonial Grill

Aside from the Sili Ice Cream, we also found other interesting flavors.

Ice Cream Menu

Sadly the Pili Flavor was unavailable so we ended up with Sili, Malunggay and Tutong (burnt rice) Ice Cream. The Malunggay ice cream tasted herby, creamy and sweet. I was surprised the Tutong Ice Cream , it really has Tutong in it. The Tutong imparted a slight burnt and bitter taste to the sweet concoction.

Scoops of Tutong, Malunggay and Sili Ice Cream - Php 79.00

The Sili Ice Cream was a unique experience. When I was downing spoonfuls of it, I was wondering why it was called such because it wasnt spicy. After waiting for a minute or two, I felt heat coming out of my throat to my mouth. It was the happy spicy feeling I was looking for, I was eating something cold but yet it was exuding heat.

Sili Ice Cream - Php 79.00

1st Colonial Grill
Address: Old Albay District, Rizal Street, Legazpi City
Tel. No. 481-1212


In Dosol, Sorsogon, we only got to dine in a resto that is strongly reccomended in blogs....Baracuda Seafood and Cocktails. The place was filled with foreigners and tourists thus food prices are kind of steep.

Barracuda

When we settled down, Ms. Juliet Dela Cruz, the quirky owner of the resto came out with a big bowl of their fresh catch of the day. A couple of fish and huge prawns was in the bowl, we decided to order the more popular stir fried prawns.

The Prawns were divine, no wonder bloggers were raving about this. When I commented and asked Juliet how she prepared it, she blurted that it was a simple dish made with olive oil, garlic and a lot of love. The Prawns were lovely indeed.

Stir fried Prawns (350grams)  - Php 595 

The Pesto Pasta was a big failure. It came out too dry even after Juliet bringing out a whole bottle of olive oil and adding more of it.

Pesto Pasta - Php 200

The Herb Potatoes tasted ordinary, nothing special.

Herbed Potatoes - Php 80.00

We also ordered cocktails and we were surprised when Juliet cheered with glee.."Rum Shots for everybody!!!"

Mango Daquiri - Php 175

Margarita - Php 175

Free Rum Shots

Baracuda Seafood and Cocktails
Address: Dancalan, Donsol, Sorsogon
Mobile No.: +639266400863
email: baracudabar@yahoo.com


For spicy food lovers, the Bicol region is the perfect destination. It definitely left a pleasurable warm spicy feeling to me.

Sights: The Most Awesome Natural Encounter in LEGASPI, ALBAY and DONSOL, SORSOGON, BICOL

It was a grueling and tiring 12 hour bus ride to reach the city of Legaspi, Bicol. But after the wonderful experience I had, the excruciating long ride was worth it.

Mt. Mayon

Before heading for Donsol, we spent a night in Legaspi and headed to Busay Falls the next day.
A seven tier waterfall in the small town of Malilipot, Albay, four of which are easily accessible by hiking and climbing through the rocky and slippery terrain.

Busay Falls

For just a minimal fee of Php10 per head and parking fee of Php50, a guide would take you to four out of the seven falls. If one would decide to see all seven, I think you have to make prior arrangements for this would take a whole day.

Making your way from one waterfall to another was  challenging and exhilarating. This was no easy trek, one slip can cause serious injury.

Climbing down the rocks

Crossing a stream of water

Climbing up

The path covered with Green Vegetations

Each waterfall has its own traits and characteristics but one thing is definite. All of them are marvels to behold and adore. The spring water was cool and crystal clear, the guide even told us to take a sip of the refreshing nourishment. So we did.

Fall number One

Fall number Two

Fall number Three

Fall number Four

It was hard to resist to take a dip so we faced  each waterfall head on.

"Aummmmmmmmmm..."

"Im one with the water"

"Bring it On!"

After Busay Falls, we headed for Legazpi's bus terminal and rode a van to Dancalan, Donsol, Sorsogon. The two hour ride costed only Php80 per head.

Sunset at Donsol Beach

That night we were supposed to go to Donsol River to look at fireflies. But the tricycle driver suggested another site to do it. We were hesitant but after a lot of enticing, we agreed to go to Ogod River instead. The moon was hidden beneath the clouds thus it was a perfect setting to watch fireflies.

Bangka Cruising on Ogod River

We boarded a bangka (small motorized boat) and started to cruise along the river. The boat rental cost Php1250 for five people. The lights of the boats were turned off rendering total darkness around the surroundings. The stars were out and it looked like diamonds sparkling in the skies.

Total Darkness but the Stars were Out

A few fireflies would fly by creating a sense of excitement and anticipation. We drifted from one spot to another, the guide told us to wait patiently as we'll see a tree with more than a thousand fireflies. He also proceeded to tell us different facts about these magical insects.

Cruising from one spot...

...to another

And then....

Fireflies

It was an unbelievable sight! I found myself stunned and speechless, it felt like I was dreaming. It was a truly an unbelievable, calming and peaceful experience.

Fireflies lights up the Darkness

The guide got hold of one and I was lucky to get a photo of it before it flew away.

Firefly

Travel Tip: Make sure to put on insect repellant before boarding the bangka!!! Its a must!

The next morning we headed to the Butanding Visitors Center to register and watch a video regarding on the do's and dont's of swimming with the colorful Butandings (Whale Shark). Registration fee cost Php100, boat rental would cost Php3,500, each boat can fit 6 persons. Rental of masks, snorkels and fins would cost Php350. As we cruise away to the open sea with a boatman, a BIO- Butanding Interaction Officer and a Butanding Spotter, there was a feeling of excitement and anxiousness.

Butanding Interaction Officer

The Butanding Spotter

I put on my gear and waited for instructions from the BIOT officer. He told us to jump on his signal, we should jumped into the water without hesitation and look what lies beneath us.

Fins On

The spotter pointed to an area, we all placed ourselves on the edge of the boat then the BIOT officer shouted out loud..."Jump! Jump! Jump!"

At the Edge of the Boat

I quickly jumped in, only to see a glimpse of the Butanding as it quickly swam away. We boarded the boat again, The BIOT officer told us not worry, he's optimistic that we'll see one again.

Then on the second time....I jumped and looked below, my eyes widend and my chest tigthened. I couldnt believed what I was seeing. There it was, a huge spotted Whale Shark in its full glory and I was there swimming with it.

Butanding

The Butandings were huge and they can be intimidating at first. But like dolphins,they looked so gentle, happy and carefree. After following it and jumping off the boat a couple of times. It gave me a feeling of wanting to be near to pet and play with it. I dove and swam near to it, I could have touched it if I wanted to but since it is not allowed, I didn't.

Getting up close and personal with a Whale Shark

As I swam up and gasp for air, I could see my fellow swimmers all wearing a huge smirk on their faces. I turned towards a group of foreingners and said.."Isnt this amazing?". With their thumbs up, they said.."Oh yeah! It is!"

Some has said that swimming with the Butandings felt enlightening or even spiritual. To me it felt surreal, its one of the most beautiful things I ever saw. And whats more important, it made people appreciate the beauty of the sea and all its living creatures.

Swimming with a Whale Shark

As we head home, I was contemplating all the amazing natural encounters I experienced in Bicol. When all of a sudden a full view of Mount Mayon came to view, the volcano with a perfect cone was staring back at me. Locals say that Mt.Mayon will only show its 'whole-self' to good-hearted people. It was a humbling perfect ending.

Mayon Volcano

 The whole trip will be one of the most unforgettable experience I'll ever had. I consider this as one of my "I'm glad I did this before I die" experience.