CAMSUR Roadtrip Day 3&4 - CWC & Naga City

Lago del Ray, CWC

April 11, 2009
Black Saturday

Who would miss going to CWC when you are in this part of the world? So, being our last day, we decided to make this day our CWC day.

From Sabang to Naga, CWC in Pili town is along the way. It is right smack in the middle of a field. You actually have to go inside a residential subdivision to get to this place.

We arrived CWC around lunchtime..so as expected on a Black Saturday, the place is packed! No available tables...the line for wakeboarding is likewise looongg!...so we decided to take a look around the place, take some photos before heading out to the newly opened Lago Del Ray in CWC.

CWC

CWC

Pretty much makes sense to have something like this...especially if they want to make CWC a family place. The kids and non-wakeboarders (is this the right term?) can hang out here.

Lago del Ray opened last Feb'09. It is an artificial freshwater lake with lots of inflatables to choose from. Kayaks are also available.

Lago de Ray

Lago del Ray

Lago del Ray

CAMSUR Roadtrip Day 2 - Caramoan here we come!

Lahus Island

April 10, 2009
Good Friday

We left Naga around 7am for the 66km drive to the Port of Sabang (nope! not the Sabang of Puerto Galera), the jump-off point to Caramoan. Took us about 1 1/2 hours drive.

Good thing I was able to find a safe parking for Pinay and found very helpful porters. After buying our fresh fish for lunch, and after a slight delay, we were off to Guijalo Port in Caramoan for the 2-hour ride by 11am.

Makeshift waiting area at Sabang

The ferry is almost the same as those in Puerto Galera. Only thing is, Sabang does not have a decent port, so the ferries dock on the beach.Thus, passengers are carried by porters on the shoulder to and from the boat! Pretty scary experience you know...

Guijalo Port, Caramoan

As we arrived Guijalo Port, it was already low tide, so we have to take another little banca ride (one were you use an oar---no motor) to the port. whew...! But....our sundo made up for it. We were surprised to find out that our service car (yes, car, not tricycle which is the mode of transportation here) is a red Ford Escape!..what can you say...an SUV in the middle of nowhere!

West Peninsula Villas

We reached West Peninsula Villas in no time. The place is in the middle of rice paddies and has only a few rooms and most were taken up by Survivor crew. Our room was impressive for such a small place. Clean, fresh sheets, aircon and cheap too (by Manila standards)...what more can you ask?

Since we arrived past 1pm, we decided to have our fresh fish cooked and took our lunch in the "resort". By 2pm, we were on our way to Bikal port by tricycle on rough roads. Bikal is where the bancas for hire are for island hopping.

CAMSUR Roadtrip Day 1 - Visita Iglesia

Penafrancia Basilica Minore

April 9, 2009

After weeks of planning, finally! Started the day very early. Left Manila at 3AM, gased up at Petron SSHwy and early breakfast for an hour.

Finally off a little past 4AM. Original plan of catching sunrise at Atimonan coastline was scrapped because we left Manila an hour late. By 5AM we were already in Sariaya with almost all vacationers on the road.

Atimonan - a great view for sunrise, but we were too late

Passed the towns of Lucena, Pagbilao..stopped at Atimonan coastline for some photos..then Plaridel and Gumaca. By the time we reached Gumaca it was already 8am. So breakfast again (since our next stop will be Naga already for late lunch).

Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala

After breakfast, we started our Visita Iglesia---at Gumaca's Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala. A rustic, centuries old church with beautiful ceiling. "Its first establishment was in 1582, on its present site. It was transferred to Silangan in the island of Alabat in 1638. It was burned by the Dutch forces in 1665; reconstructed and beautified in 1846. It is known as the biggest and oldest Catholic Church in the province of Quezon. It is located in Brgy. San Diego Poblacion near the Municipal Government office (from wikipedia)".

Altar of Gumaca Church

By 10am, we were off to Naga...passed Lopez, Calauag...the arc welcoming one to Bicol...and here the very rough road begins up to Tagkawayan and some portions of Camarines Sur.

The whole Quirino Highway is under construction and some portions have damaged cemented roads...so extra caution is advised otherwise, you will end up "flying" or with a blown tire. If you plan to take this route, be ready with 1 peso coins to give to kids/adults dotting this road directing motorists since most roads are one way...and I mean there's a lot of them!

One more thing, gas up at Tagkawayan because that is the last decent gas station all the way to Naga.