Interesting Places to See in Albay Part 2

INTERESTING PLACES IN ALBAY

Bicol has too many attractions for them to be discussed in a single article so here is a second listing of the amazing destination places in this region of the Philippines.

Aside from the mountains in the region, the area is also blessed with bodies of water which travelers should see. The region abounds with waterfalls and lakes worthy of notice and some which has yet to be discovered by travelers. Read More: http://www.my-own-travels.com/tag/palale-falls/

Palale Falls

Photo from: http://jessababes.blogspot.com/2015/07/palale-falls-remarkable-adventure.html

I slowly stepped down to the other side of the rock and finally there I saw again the beauty of Palale Falls. A tropical paradise teeming with lush surrounding. What amazed me here is the unusual kind of wall rock that enclosed the water basin which nature had wonderfully crafted to perfection. I have no idea how high this falls was, but certainly, it is higher than Vera, Busay, Majayjay, Kabigan, Hagimit and Daranak Falls.

Just like the other waterfalls, the water was freezing cold. The surging cascade was a bit strong. We sat on the rocks splashing water to each other. Later we headed to the lower pool which was hip-level deep. My hubby and Noel enjoyed the massage therapy from series of small falls spilling down their backs. The water was clear and really really cold.

There is no entrance fee to Palale Falls. No huts to sleep overnight. No bathroom. No electricity. Everything is basic. This is open to everyone who wants to escape from the stifling atmosphere. Read More:http://www.slippersandshades.com/tag/palale-falls/

Cagsawa Ruins

Photo from: http://dimple21.blogspot.com/2011/07/cagsawa-ruins-church.html

Once a glorious church peacefully overlooking the beautiful Mayon Volcano was a Franciscan church built in 1724, now widely known as Cagsawa Ruins.

It is always referred to as “The sunken church in Bicol” or “that bell tower in Bicol”, at least that’s what we called it from where I came from. And all of this was caused by the massive destruction brought about by the eruption of Mayon Volcano back in February 1, 1814, striking hardest in Cagsawa area.

An eruption so powerful it sunk up to a solid 9-meter height of ash which covered houses, establishments, institutions and Cagsawa Church being one of them, proved to be a living legend of all the tragedy. Read More: http://thequainttraveler.blogspot.com/2014/11/Cagsawa-Ruins-Albay-Bicol.html

Daraga Church

Photo from: http://pinterest.com

Regarded as one of the most visited old churches in the Philippines, the Daraga Church serves as one of the major churches in the province of Albay.

The Church of Daraga, also known as Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church, was established in 1773 by a group of Franciscan Priests. The church was made mostly of volcanic stones and its massive structure with belfry on one side and convent on the other side was built based on a Baroque-Rococo structure with Spanish influence.

The religious people of Cagsawa transferred here after the eruption of Mayon Volcano which has damaged a large portion of the town and left only a few remnants including the Cagsawa Church Ruins.

In 1854, the Daraga Church was then dedicated to the new patron, the Nuestra Señora De La Porteria. The church was then used by the Japanese as their headquarters and was damaged during the second world war in 1945. It was reconstructed in 1971-1973 and they made sure that the unscathed stones still exists and renovated only the damaged areas. Read More:http://www.phtourguide.com/daraga-church-our-lady-of-the-gate-parish-church/