Posts Tagged ‘Boktor’
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY PART II (continued)
“If Legazpi, Albay is a jar, what would it contain?” is a question I never asked myself the first two times I traveled to that place. It is probably because my Legazpi, Albay trips have never been planned vacations.
On this third trip with Boktor, I ventured on asking myself that question and found that my answer is this: This jar called Legazpi, Albay contains an Elusive Superstar, a testament to the Filipino’s devotion to God, food trips galore, adventure and lessons in survival.
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY PART II (continued)
On the lava trail
This is a picture of Mr. Caloy Chan, the person who brought us to this lava trail. All around him, the rain is coming down in sheets and steam is rising from the earth. The jagged black rocks he is stepping on were once hot molten lava. Shrouded in the clouds behind him is the Elusive Superstar, Mt. Mayon. These were the circumstances we found ourselves in along the lava trail and this is my story.
Although it is not difficult to conceive that people actually hike up to Mt. Mayon, doing it never occured to me.
When Mr. Ketel invited Boktor and me for an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) ride to the lava trail, I thought that we would just be sitting in the ATV the whole time. So, I was happy to oblige. It was much later, when the arrangements were already set, that it dawned on me that the ATV would only take us to where the lava trail begins. From there, we would need to trek on the lava trail to get closer to Mt. Mayon. I came to this realization at 2:00 a.m., or four hours before we planned to leave for the lava trail. At that time, Boktor and I were still working, it was raining heavily, I was stressed, tired and wondering how I was going to drag myself out of bed at 6:00 a.m. and will myself to trek under the pouring rain. I voiced out my thoughts to Boktor and he too was worried about how we would survive the activity. (more…)
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY PART II (continued)
Smalltalk Cafe: Bicolizing Italian Food
Mr. Ketel took us to lunch at Smalltalk, a restaurant that serves Bicolano inspired Italian food.
Smalltalk looks like an Italian restaurant with a few small tables scattered around the place, a piano and old pictures displayed on the walls. The place was intimate and cozy. Smalltalk bestsellers include pasta with Bicol Express (shrimp and pork sautéed in shrimp paste, a.k.a. bagoong, coconut milk and chili), Laing (gabi leaves, pork and chili cooked in coconut milk) or the Bicolana Pizza (pizza topped with Bicol Express or Laing). I had the Bicol Express pasta and the pizzette. Both were good but I liked the pizzette best. (more…)
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY PART II
For the second time in a span of less than a month, Boktor and I were sent to Legazpi, Albay.
The sun was up when we left Manila and I expected to see the elusive superstar, Mt. Mayon. I am, however, learning that the weather in Legazpi is erratic. When we got there it was raining and Mt. Mayon was completely shrouded in clouds.
During this trip, we never got to see the elusive superstar in all her naked glory. The most we got was a brief glimpse of her mouth and her foot. In fact, I had the feeling that Mt. Mayon did not want to see us this time around. But, I will leave this story for later.
TO MONK: THE VIEW FROM BOKTOR’S ROOM
Monk: Boktor just sent me a picture of the view from his room at Hotel Venezia. Here it is…
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY (continued)
Mt. Mayon: The Elusive Superstar
Legazpi City, Philippines is on a plain. From almost anywhere in Legazpi, you will see Mt. Mayon on a clear day. It is a green mass rising from the ground to meet the sky. Not being part of any chain of mountains, Mt. Mayon is solitary. Mt. Mayon’s cone shape is almost perfect and it is undoubtably an active volcano. Smoke plumes are seen coming out of its mouth. (more…)
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY (continued)
The Ruins of Cagsawa: A Testament to the Filipinos’ devotion to God
Mr. Ketel took Boktor and me to Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay (a ten minute drive from Legazpi) where the ruins of what was once a huge church is located. According to the memorial plaque, the church was built in 1724 by Fray Francisco Blanco, OFM (Ordo Fraternum Minor, otherwise known as the Franciscans). The church stands at the foot of Mt. Mayon. When Mt. Mayon erupted on 1 February 1814, most of the church was submerged in lava. The only part of the church that was not buried is the belfrie and the top most portion of the church pillars. According to this article, there were about 1,200 people who sought sanctuary in the church and were buried alive there when Mt. Mayon erupted in 1814. If you want to read more about Cagsawa, click on this and this.
