View from our room: Mayon, also known as Mount Mayon or Mayon Volcano, is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay in Bicol Region on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Mayon is renowned as the “perfect cone” because of its symmetric conical shape.

Stopover at a turo-turo, Eleanor’s Seafood Restaurant, somewhere in Region 5 (Camsur). Our first meal of the day featuring PA-GE (stingray) in the middle beside the squid. Some sorta grainy, tastes like catfish. Mej. My first & last, lol. Kinunot is a spicy appetizer which ingredients include sting ray meat.

Yung isa (boy) kaskasero kaya ramdam namin lahat ng lubak. Yung isa naman (girl) mahilig mag-overtake, kaya KAPIIIIT bayaaan, hay. #stresssachest So Kap & I grew several white hairs in the course of our 12-hour drive, gawd!

The Cagsawa Ruins are the remnants of a 16th-century Franciscan church, the Cagsawa church. It was built in 1587 but was burned down by the pillaging Dutch in 1636. However, it was reconstructed again in 1724 by Fr. Francisco Blanco. Behind it is the majestic Mayon Volcano, which was hiding behind clouds, boo!

The Sili Ice Cream comes in 3 levels. Level 1 has a ticklish kick of spice sliding down your throat and can be eaten by children -and Kap na duwag sa maanghang hehe. Level 2 has a tickling turned pinching sensation, while Level 3 which is for the brave & mighty (like me!) has a great big kick of spice –yung tipong luluha ka! When in Bicol & on an adventure, live it up & go for Level 3! 😉

First introduced by the homegrown restaurant 1st Colonial Grill in 2004, the sili ice cream, which major ingredients include “siling labuyo” and coconut milk, has become a hit among locals and tourists. Other kakaibang flavors followed suit. Kap like the tinutongan ice cream.

The Oriental is probably one of the nicest hotels in Legazpi, Albay. <3 At only 7.5k/night for a regular room or 8.5k for one with a view of Mayon -buffet breakfast included, super affordable & such a pleasant surprise after a grueling roadtrip. Kap got 2 rooms so may honeymoon kaganapan kami, lol. ;P

My favorite travel buddies. ;)) Thank you Honey for our Bicol adventure. We love you! :-*

Hello Mayon, I finally saw you up close & personal What a sight to behold from our room’s balcony. You did good my Kap! May premyo ka.. EXTRA RICE good for 6 months hehe.

Home is where you are. <3 Preferably somewhere nice though hehe.

Balay Cena Una, or sinaunang bahay (old house) is a 300-year old spanish-style restored ancestral home turned into a restaurant. Built on March 2, 1702 by the great, great grandmother of the late Antonio Loveria. The house, located along F. Lotivio, Bagumbayan, Daraga, Albay has withstood carpet bombings by the American liberation forces, and the deadly typhoons that often visits the Bicol region. It is one of five houses that survived the war, after every house and well known structures were leveled to the ground in Daraga. Our server even pointed out bullet holes on the windows & doorway on our way out, indicating an exchange of gunfires between Japanese soldiers and the liberating forces.

Its present owners, Filipino husband-and-wife team Sheldon and Med Villanueva, have transformed the place into a world-class restaurant any tourist visiting the place would certainly enjoy. We most certainly did! <3

Any tourist coming to the Bicol region will enjoy visiting this old house as it serves international cuisine by executive chef Bert Clemena who has trained as a chef in France. No wonder we super enjoyed our meal, world-class naman pala ang Pinoy chef! 😉

Balay Cena Una has an extensive intercontinental cuisine without forgetting its roots: the presence of sili, pili and gata in most dishes. Of course being in Bicol, we chose to go native & ordered all things Bicolano. 🙂

Wild Fern Salad 125 php (x2). The crunchy Pako is available year-round and we enjoyed the light, refreshing, and zesty taste of our appetizer. It may not look it coz of the quality of my yellow photo, lol, but this was definitely a winner. \m/

One of our many favorites at Balai Cena Una, the (R) Lumpiang Tinapa 130 php. Crepe wrapper stuffed with smoked fish (tinapa) & deep-fried until crunchy & golden brown. Also in the photo: (L) Pasta Cena Una 195 php. This pinangat pasta is lemony and nutty, with layers of flavors, including that of anchovies and smoked fish. And Pasta Ratatouille 195 php. A vegetarian pasta topped with Herbes de Provence and the extra virgin olive oil. I love how attention to detail was given to the Mayon-shaped rice (R). 🙂

(L) Cena Una Marinated Boneless Chicken 190 php. Marinated in lemon juice overnight with Balai Cena Una’s own spices, and then grilled for that juicy taste. The sauce is a reduction of the marinade with wine, and fresh garden herbs are also added. (R) Bicol Express 215 php. A bicolano specialty stew made from siling mahaba, coconut milk, shrimp paste, onion, pork, and garlic. Fiery & tasty just the way I like it. <3 (R) Beef Pepper Steak 290 php. Beef generously sprinkled with coarsely ground black pepper, sauteed in butter, and served with sauce made from pan drippings, stock wine and cream flavored with brandy.

(L) Chicken/Pork Adobo in Rosemary 215 php. Exclusive from Cena Una, this version has additional secret ingredients that make it taste more like a local dish. Kuha ang panlasang pinoy but wth a twist sure to enjoyed by visiting foreigners too. (R) Pork Cordon Bleu 230 php. One of Balai Cena’s specialties, soft and tender cut of pork oozing with melted cheese and the aroma of smoked ham and herbs. (R) Tanigue 245 php. We always order up a feast, don’t we? We are such foodies, haha.

DJC Halo-Halo. Address: Landco Business Park, Barangay Bitano, Legazpi City, 4500 Albay, Philippines Phone: +63 52 480 6868 Only 90 php for a special/supreme halo-halo! What’s not to love?

The cheesiest, yummiest halo-halo I’ve ever tasted in my life, zomg! <3 I am highly recommending this place to you.