Exploring Bicol Region: Matnog 101
Good Morning Summer! No, I am not talking about Zooey Deschanel, I am talking about the season where the days are longer and the nights are shorter. When the sun is hotter than your crush! And the rays are much dazzling than your face.. Sooo how should we welcome this oh-so-good month? Well, travel with awesome people — READ ON: Friends.
It was in the month of January when we decided to go to Legazpi. It is located in the geographical center of the peninsula and between the two island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. Legazpi is the southernmost terminus of the Philippine National Railways Main Line South, though it will be extended up to Matnog in Sorsogon. It also services sea-going vessels through its port and is situated in the Bicol Region.*
We booked a flight around February, the cost is Php 600 MNL-LGP and Php 1,200 LGP-MNL. If you are on a tight-budget, make sure to avail the promo fares, yes, I am talking about Cebu Pacific's piso fare.
There are a lot of things that we can do in Bicol Region. So, even though our flight is to Legazpi, we decided to explore more. And so we spent our first day in Matnog, Sorsogon.
Meet the Gang!
First frame: Patricia, Pinky, Domeng
Second Frame: Patricia, Sheila (oh me!)
Third Frame: Ef, Keha, Pinky
Fourth Frame: Patricia, Ef, Keha, Pinky
The story was: We arrived at Legazpi around 7AM. We had our breakfast at a restaurant near the airport and our van picked us up there. The cost of the van is Php 75/head LGP-Sorsogon. If I am not mistaken, it took us around 2hrs to arrive in Sorsogon (If I am mistaken, I apologize, I was sleeping the whole time 
)
MATNOG
Matnog is a 4th class municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. It lies at the southernmost tip of the island of Luzon. Local elders say that the name Matnog comes from the word "matonog" (very audible) – that describes to the loud sound of the waves. The site of one of the busiest seaports in the Philippines, it is the jump off point to the Southern Philippines and vice-versa.*
There were two things that we did here: First, visited the Juag Sanctuary where we swam with big fishes. Second, explored Subic Beach.
Juag Sanctuary
You have to rent a boat that will take you to the Sanctuary and Subic Beach. The cost is Php 1,500 back and forth. Also, be prepared for tips. The locals are so good you can't help but to give them a few of your bills as a sign of gratitude — And they accept it! Just because this is really their livelihood. That is why tourism is very important in Sorsogon.
On our way to Juag Sanctuary
In Action! With Pinky & the fishes
Patricia, Keha & Ef having fun!
DOMENG WAS MISSING! – or not? She didn't want to swim so she stayed at a floating nipa hut. She can see us from there! 
Subic Beach
After a while, we decided to go to Subic Beach – they said that it is such a beautiful place, and yes, the rumors are true!
It is way beautiful than this photo
The Welcome Shot Haha
Side Dish: Keha was taking a shot of his new Billabong phone - the water proof, shock proof, under current proof, whatever proof phone & he used my camera. He was so smart that he's taking pictures near the shoreline. Then, a huge wave ate him up together with my Lumix FZ 100 cam. Prudence (my cam's name) died that day 
. For the pictures you've seen, they were shots by Patricia and I. For the rest, all will be Patricia's. That's all. Bow.
And just like any other good day, this, too, has to end
Do I still need to tell you that we had fun?! Watch out for more — The Firefly watching in Donsol and the search for the Whaleshark (Butanding). Will we see one? or will we end up sad like any other tourists who paid Php 3,500, searching for three hours, and going back to the land because they did not see one.. Again, watch out!
*http://ow.ly/a7dMA
*http://ow.ly/a7fpr
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