It’s a BEAUTIFUL day here in Libmanan, Bicol. I was joking before I left that 2006 would be the year I get two summers. Today, that comment becomes reality. It’s got to be about mid-80’s today with plenty of sunshine and blue skies.
Before I go on I need to emphasize that the Philippines’ baseline desciptor is “beautiful.” So when I say “amazing” or “gorgeous” you can just let your mind race.
Over the weekend we found an amazing hotspring resort about an hour-and-a-half drive away. At first the whole thing seems suspcious. You have to drive off the main highway onto this gravel path. You pull into this muddy parking lot (muddy ’cause it’s been raining for two days) tended to by 3 guys who you swear are going to rob you for all your worth. But they assure you all you have to do is go “down those stairs.”
150 stairs later (mom counted 150+) you’re in your own private heaven. The river from Mount Mayon rolls buy as you marvel at three or four man-made swimmng pools plus three more man-made “ponds.” I don’t know if you are allowed to swim in the ponds but some of the ponds had been stocked with fish. The ponds were filled with black sand that came from ancient lava flows.
After taking in the scenery we jumped back in the car and crossed the highway to find the Mt. Mayon skyline park. It was quite a drive up the volcano considering the turns, twists, rain, and steepness of the drive. All-in-all, it was a hell of a fun time. Once at the top we couldn’t see anything because of the heavy rain clouds passing over the volcano (and us of course). After twenty minutes we went back down, the sun came out and we just enjoyed the view from the car as we returned home.
