Our 2nd day was mainly beachineering. It was supposed to be Whaleshark watching in Donsol, Sorsogon, but then, there are change of plans that happened the night before and so our group had to be divided. 2 of them went to Caramoan, which was not our plan, so me and my buddy still went to Sorsogon. But because we were just 2, we thought that it was out of our budget to shoulder everything (boat fees and etc for whaleshark watching) with just the 2 of us, concluding that there will be minimal tourists and we are unsure if they are willing to share expenses with us plus the fact that we were not sure if there will be a chance to have a sightings of these butandings(whalesharks). So we have back-up plan though, and it was to just go beachineering at the far end of Luzon which is Matnog, Sorsogon.
This is the crossing to the town of Matnog, it is also called as Trece
From Mayon Backpackers Inn, early in the morning we walked towards the Albay Church and from there, we rode a jeepney heading to Pacific Mall / Gaisano Mall where the terminal for passenger bus/van/jeepney to different destinations are located. We then chose the Queen's Express bus that is bound for Bulan, Sorsogon. Anyway the bus will first passed a fork(refer to the photo above) which the way to Matnog Pier. We paid at P165 each for a one way trip. From that landmark, you can see tricycles parked and waiting for passengers bound up to the Matnog Pier. But in our case, we waited not so long and boarded a jeepney that is bound also to Matnog Pier for 25 pesos each. Travel time is less than 30 minutes from the drop off point
Arriving at Matnog Pier, we then meet our boatman Tatay Manong Eddie. He then instructed us to take our lunch first before our Island/Beach Hopping activity so we can have our full energy to do so. We took our lunch at the carinderia near our boatman's home so that we can sail straight later on. I am still craving for Bicol Express and asked this carinderia if they sell so. Luckily she told me they have it and it was already on displayed. I was surprised that she was referring to the one which looks like Pork Binagoongan to me haha. She told me it was their Bicol Express so I immediately took an order of it plus a rice.
After our lunch we again went to Tatay Manong Eddie and did some haggling for the package because we were on a tight budget for shouldering the whole boat rate as we were just two travelling together (not to mention due to our 2 companions who decided to go Caramoan and left us HUHU!)
Matnog shore near our boatman's home, where Matnog Pier can be seen not so far
Tatay Eddie was so kind enough and agreed to everything about the package. We settled our things, and did change clothes before started sailing. We were five on the boat: Manong Eddie as the captain, his 2 boatmens, and me and my travel buddy.
At the Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary
Our first stop was at the Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary. There are a plenty of fishes and in different kinds that you can found here, you can go snorkeling also. I forgot the names and kinds of fishes that was mention by the caretaker, but anyway you can view more about this post HERE.
Subic Beach Big
After the sanctuary visit, we sail again and time for some beach hopping, first was the Subic Beaches. There are 2 kinds of Subic Beaches. One is Subic Beach - Small, and the other one is Subic Beach Big. For more information about these two, You can view my blog post HERE.
Tikling Island
Lastly we visited Tikling Island, which I think was way nearer to Matnog Pier than the previous two beaches mentioned above. For more of this Tikling Island, you can also visit the same link as above. Or you can click HERE.
After our beach hopping experience, it was time to go back to Legazpi, we cannot stay longer here in Matnog due to our insufficient personal supplies. We also have our baggages back at Mayon Backpackers Inn so we really need to find our way to get back as soon as possible. But failed to ride back a jeepney to the highway so we were told by Manong Eddie to just ride a bus from the Matnog Pier. Those buses came from RORO ships from the port of Allen, Samar, and these buses were heading back to Manila so for sure they will pass by Daraga, Albay.
While we were waiting, we have a little chitchat with our beloved boatman. And as soon as the buses came, we were told to ride and just pay for not more than 200 pesos per person. But then, there is this person who kept pestering us that he will get us a bus ride back home. Since we thought that he was just trying to help us, we just agreed with it. Not long after, he got us a bus straight from the RORO boat so we rode it but then he told us that the bus fare is 300. He kept persuading us as he said that there are no more buses left and if we don't ride, it will take us a longer time to get a bus ride back to Daraga. We called Manong Eddie, and he told us to not ride the bus as it was just overpriced by the man itself who we thought was helping us. We meet up with Manong Eddie back to the port an this time, he personally negotiated for us to get a bus ride. Good thing they helped us as we were able to catch a bus going to Manila for a fare of P250.
Just goes to show that whenever you go, there are always people trying to scam you, good thing are people like Manong Eddie. That is why if ever you would avail of the island hopping in Matnog, Sorsogon, don't hesitate to negotiate with Manong Eddie as he is the best boatman you can hire for that job!
Manong Eddie
Matnog, Sorsogon island hopping contact
+63 926 140 4577
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