As the plane to Legazpi adjusted for landing most everyone was treated to a fabulous view of the local volcano Mt. Mayon. It's the "perfect" volcano and is striking in person. It's a solitary figure in the landscape of mainly low-lying fields for miles around. The volcano is still active with eruption (minor) every couple years. It's over-due for another eruption currently and when I was there but it was easy to see where the old lava flow had previously cruised down the side.
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| Legazpi City (facing away from Mt. Mayon) |
When I arrived the volcano was totally clear of all clouds. I was informed later that this was out of the ordinary as typically the volcano wears a veil of cloud-cover. Since I didn't recognize my fortune I just walked off the flight and neglected to snap any photos from the runway, which was situated in clear sight of the volcano. Thankfully I was able to snap some photos a couple days later.
In Bicol, my volunteer friends tell me, it rains like no other. I can now say there's no exaggeration in this statement. In my city it's been dry for about 2 months straight. It might rain but typically at night for maybe an hour so when I went South I wasn't prepared for what I found. I found heavy rainfall. It was light during my stay of four days accroding to my friends but to me it felt intense. Imagine it raining so much that you can expect your umbrella to be heavily battered and where some people just give up and just allow themselves to be fully inundated. At least it's warm.
Speaking of warm, in Bicol if it's not raining it's hot. So this puts you in an awkward prayer situation, do I want to wet from sweat or from a torrential downpour?
One interesting touristy spot I was able to visit while in Legazpi was Sagsawa (First Picture). This was a destroyed church of a massive size that saw it's demise thanks to one particularly catastrophic volcanic eruption. From what I recall there were hundreds of people within the walls of the stone church when the eruption nearly razed it completely. All that remains now is a skeletal framework of stones that resemble walkways and rooms, with the largest structure being the surviving belfry. A sad story but a beautiful place to visit, not surprisingly in direct sight of Mt. Mayon (the volcano).
On my last day in Legazpi I was able to see my friend Kaiti's YMCA camp on it's first day of a week long work camp. It's nice to see the ideas and hard work of a friend payoff so well. I have plans for my site too and seeing a success in person is all the more encouragement I can use back at site.
