EDC-BGPF

Energy Development Corporation - Bacman Geothermal Production Field formerly PNOC is probably the most convenient ecotourism destination I have been to. It has a lot to offer in its premises making it a certified one-stop tourist spot. Flora, fauna, rare animals, breathtaking sceneries, natural resources....it's all in there.

the rig welcomes the guests

look at all the steam it produces!

the scenery

wall climbing facility

monkeys and wild boars

the butterfly garden

the famous botong twin falls

the really amazing inang maharang boiling mud lake

It is also where we could find one of the largest fruit bats in the world. Unfortunately, we hadn't had much time to explore the bat caves during our visit. But I would definitely won't miss it next time.

Cafe Rosita

i got hooked with the cozy little cafe in a nearby town the minute i stepped right inside and tasted their chicken paprika. i really craved for it that we would take that 20-minute drive to gubat, sorsogon to satisfy my taste buds.

save of course the fact that to get a change of feel, my hubby and my friends go here for chitchats, dinner, snacks or just to kill time.

the warm lights, the garden setting, the welcoming staff and of course cathy, the owner who at times serves us herself - these all are major bonuses to their already delectable treats.

being a wifi zone is also a plus...the internet cafe right beside it serves as entertainment for teeners who come with their parents on sundays while waiting for their orders

the flat screen tv attracted my hubby the most

the set of sungka did not escape my friends' interest. during a visit with my hubby, bro-in-law and his wife, hubby and kuya even had a sungka tournament ala olympics bringing out the child in them.

the little wood set and the little pond with kermit there (or frog prince) and the lone fish took my kiddo's fancy

i exceptionally liked the music they play which gives you a feeling of "aaaaaawww...." so soothing really.

it's just a perfect place to unwind and relax after a hard day's work in my own kitchen kingdom.

bacon beach, sorsogon city

i've been to bacon beach hundreds of times since birth but it never lost its charm as a place of relaxation, recreation and celebration. most probably because it had been a huge part of my 28 summers... a lot of fond childhood memories formed on this beach...


on this particular day, it was extra lovely. the water was warm and calm. the sand clean of seaweeds. the surroundings were so quiet and peaceful.

if it were up to me, i'd like bacon beach to be just like that...day and night.

Paguriran Island

paguriran island

the picturesque paguriran island is one of sorsogon's pride. although it had been featured in several print media, it has remained almost untouched. and this is what i love about this lagoon. the locals and visitors here seemed to be conscientious enough to have kept the island almost litter-free. if you're lucky, you can still go snorkeling and see schools of colored fish in these shallow waters.

swim or ride a banca going to the island

the white sand and clear water in paguriran beach resort is a plus in this already lovely place. if it's peace and relaxation you are after or a place for laid back family bonding, then this is perfect for you.

white sand and clear water

the best thing is, no rough road going here and not too tiring since it is less than an hour ride from the city proper. but be sure to bring all the things you need for your picnic. haven't seen any stores near the vicinity.

Rompeolas

last sunday, 2 close friends from legazpi city surprised me with an impromptu visit. being the gracious hostess that i am, i gave them a taste of the city tour (with my kiddo) while having the chance to snap a few shots of the nice places here in sorsogon city. one of which is our very own version of baywalk or more popularly known to locals as the "rompeolas".

i used to frequent this place for much-needed early morning jogs with my brother during summer vacations but it is even nicer in the late afternoon when you can enjoy yet another spectacular sunset while munching chicharon or roasted peanuts sold by roaming vendors.

during my pregnancy some three years back, my tita and i would come here late in the afternoon for walks and chitchats. we would even enjoy a film showing of the latest family-friendly, teeny-bopper movie in the big-screen set-up by the office of then city mayor sally lee. it was a nice a idea. reminded me of the free movies at the fort grounds in global city where we would just conveniently park our car and join the other movie-goers with their ooohs and aahhhhs while sitting on the grass. the sight of the cathedral on your left and bulusan volcano to your right also adds to the appeal of sorsogon rompeolas.

and then there's the giant pili which is the trademark product of sorsogon, a fruit that i learned to love with all the exposure to it (since birth...heheheh). it really has an exotic taste with the texture and all. more yummy when dipped in fish sauce or sugar. the pili nut is also addictive. it has a nice crunch but it isn't too rough. i really love it...you have to try it yourself to believe me. the pili shell on the other hand is not left to waste. we use it as a substitute for charcoal or wood when cooking in the restaurant since it gives better flame according to the cooks. we buy it for like Php2.00 per kilo. but pili should be in another blog entry =)


and so yes, we did have a fun time and my friends say they're definitely going back here =)

Sorsogon City Hall

a lone infrastructure along diversion road in cabid-an, sorsogon city, this is where the city mayor now holds his office and so do the other offices of the city goverment of sorsogon.

the city hall was formerly located at the shopping center building along magsaysay street. i do not know much about the specs of the building or its history but i have had an instant affinity to it. dunno why, maybe because it is indeed a pretty sight to behold specially during sunset or just because my visits to this place (for tourism council meetings) were all pleasant. have been strolling and roaming in its vicinity lately too since the motocross racetrack is on its right side and the airsoft (my hubby is presently into both) battle ground is in front of it.

i guess for me this had been a constant reminder of all the good things that are yet to come to sorsogon city.

by the way, found a news article about it. read on...

GMA presides over groundbreaking rites for Sorsogon satellite city project

SORSOGON CITY—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today presided over a groundbreaking ceremony for a P219-million New Sorsogon City Hall which will form part of a 21-hectare Satellite City in this capital of Sorsogon Province. The ambitious project, to be funded by the Sorsogon City government, would establish a City within a City Complex that would include a modern City Hall, integrated transport terminal, public market, and an employees housing project. President Macapagal-Arroyo who flew here from Catarman, Samar this afternoon, was joined by Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee, Sorsogon City Mayor Sally Lee and other provincial and city government officials at the proposed site of the new City Hall in Barangay Cabid-an, Sorsogon City. "As landmark decision after a series of consultations, the integrated project will simultaneously construct a city hall, integrated transport terminal, public market and socialized housing project. All this shall be built in one lot area for acquisition by the city government. The site shall be dubbed the Satellite City," according to project plan distributed to media by the Office of the City Mayor. Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) vice presidential bet Senator Noli de Castro would join President Arroyo in a Pulong Bayan at Sorsogon City Gymnasium, scheduled after the ground breaking rites. The "Gloria – Kabayan" tandem is expected to tackle important issues affecting economic activities, peace and order and government services not only for Sorsogon but also for the whole of Bicolandia. As early as 10:00 A.M. this morning, preparations had been in full blasts for the barnstorming of President Arroyo and Senator de Castro, in former Education Secretary Raul Roco’s regional turf.

(source: http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/archives2004/apr18.htm)

Sorsogon Capitol Park

being a bakasyonista myself for almost 25 summers before i married my super cute husband who is a local here, i have always enjoyed my "tambay" moments here in sorsogon's capitol park which is nicely situated at the heart of the city. if i weren't on the beach, pier or gulping on some yummy halo-halo downtown, i was in this park with my cousins chatting, playing ball games, badminton, biking around and eating what else...isaw and barbecue.

little did i know that this park would continue to be part of my life as it evolved into a place wherein i could hang out with my loved ones and talk about anything and everything under the sun - from how bad politics everywhere is or how cute the leading man for the newest koreanovela is to our business plans to how we see ourselves 10, 20, 30 years from now...all these while eating what else but isaw and barbecue (again!). i also used to jog here in the mornings with my cousin when the sunshine in the pier had become too hot for me. the trees here provided ample shades where i enjoyed half an hour of exercise and brisk walking. very minimal pollution is a big plus too.

it was here that my little girl learned her first steps and made new friends. now that she's 2 years old, i still bring her here with her bicycle and her ball and play games with her. in fact, we were here yesterday in spite of the bad hearsay that there is a syndicate that reached bicol region kidnapping children and making money from selling their internal organs!!! (that was really stupid) but i never worried because there were around 5 uniformed policemen roaming the vicinity of the park....so we played a little and bought guess what....isaw and barbecue to take to the motocross racetrack where my hubby and his buddies were practicing for an upcoming motocross competition.

it will always be my one of my favorite places here i guess. maybe because it really is a nice place, accessible, very laid back atmosphere, the old roman doric structure of the capitol building enchanting, the cleanliness, the smell of freshly trimmed carabao grass, the laughter of playing children and policemen watching out for your safety.

looking forward to more afternoon bonding with my kiddo here.

hope to see you here soon too.

Places of Interest

this had been so far the most helpful site i have found re sorsogon tourism.

Check this out!

http://www.sorsogontourism.com/places_of_interest.htm

Sunset

The best things in life are free...this is one of them...
(View from City Hall Cabid-an, Sorsogon City)



closer...



closer....



ahhhh! simply wonderful

Sorsogon accdg to Wikipedia

here's a link of factual info re Sorsogon. Coz all else will be subjective. All else will be according to my vantage point....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorsogon