To Catanduanes and beyond

After putting off the trip to Catanduanes for several times I finally decided to make it happen on September 28. Getting to Araneta Center was a breeze since traffic was light from Parañaque all the way to Quezon City. Upon arriving at the bus terminal in Cubao I headed straight to the ticket booth of RSL Transport.

I was hoping to catch one of the regular buses (non-aircon) of RSL bound for Virac, Catanduanes. At the ticket booth I was told that the last regular bus of the day has already departed. Had no choice but to take the aircon bus that will depart at 6 p.m. Regular bus would only cost me P560 but since I had to take the aircon bus I had to shell out P825. The bus will arrive at the terminal at 7 p.m. due to the number coding scheme.

Having plenty of time to kill, I went to National Bookstore in Ali Mall to buy an EZ Map of Camarines Norte and replenished some meds at Watsons.

Came 7 p.m. and I was boarding the bus bound for Virac. Twenty something minutes later we left Araneta Center to pick up the rest of the passengers waiting at the other terminal of RSL along ESDA also in Cubao.

Traffic was moderate until Magallanes and travel was a breeze from there on.

The bus made stops in Calamba, Laguna and in Tiaong and Calauag in Quezon Province.

Stopover in Calauag, Quezon Province

At 5:30 a.m. we were at the Port of Tabaco, Albay. The clear early morning sky greeted us as we got off the bus. I boarded M/V Calixta 5 after paying for the ticket and terminal fee. The ferry will take us to San Andres, Catanduanes.

At the deck of M/V Calixta 5 the picturesque Mayon Volcano looms over Tabaco City. I’m in luck. Mayon is without any clouds hiding her beauty.

A perfect backdrop - Mayon Volcano

Kids diving after the coins thrown by passengers

Past 7 a.m. the ferry departed the Port of Tabaco. The sea was calm and the sky was sunny. I was expecting the weather to be gloomy since tropical typhoon Quiel is approaching Luzon.

A ferry heading to Tabaco City

Two and a half hours later we disembarked M/V Calixta 5 at the Port of San Andres. We boarded the bus and twenty minutes later we were in Virac, Catanduanes. I took my backpack and got down the bus. Can’t wait to see the famed Majestics of Puraran, Baras.

The coastline of San Andres, Catanduanes

Disembarking M/V Calixta 5

Port of San Andres