• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Destinations
    • Philippines
    • Japan
    • Indonesia
    • Malaysia
    • Singapore
  • Guides
    • Hikes
    • Beaches | Lakes | Rivers | Falls
    • Hotels & Resorts
    • Cities
    • Restaurants
    • Parks & Walking Tours
    • Travel Essentials
  • Stories
    • Reflections on the Road
    • Life As a Writer
    • Parenthood
    • Womanhood
    • Quarantine Series
    • Events
  • Poetry
  • Letters to Lia
  • Contact
Our World in Words

Our World in Words

Postcards: Albay In A Glimpse

Where do I begin? 


The butt-numbing 14-hour road trip. Lia’s record-breaking, three-day, in-car vomiting spree. An epic fail of a trip to Pilar, Sorsogon. Major facial sunburn.


Sumlang Lake, Camalig




They are misadventures, alright. But they are misadventures I love to keep, because they were found on a land that tugs the heartstrings in all the right places. 

I don’t know about Xian Lim, but to me, Albay is one of those places that keeps surprising you no matter how many times you’ve been there – and one I’d be more than happy to promote.


Matnog fields, Daraga, Albay.

It’s a bewitching province that’s perfect in every sense. It’s cold enough for the summer, yet distinctively tropical in charm (read: sprawling grass and coconut trees everywhere). In each town, there’s a natural attraction or two tucked away from mass consumption; yet they’re accessible and near each other, it won’t pain you to get there from point A or B. 


Joroan Church, Joroan, Tiwi.

And, and, whether you’re in the city center or in farther Camarines Sur-bound Tiwi, you’ve got captivating Mayon in the blue horizon.


While I’m still swimming in my daydreams of perfect cones on sunny afternoons, here’s a sampler of our recently concluded 6-day jaunt in the province of the most magayon. 

View from roadside view deck in Tiwi.
Foothills of Mt. Malinao.
Vera Falls, Malinao.
Life on the field, Matnog.
Quitinday Green Hills Formation, Camalig

9th Station of the Cross. ‘Round the rim of Kawa-Kawa Hill in Ligao.
Sunset at Kawa-Kawa Hill to cap off a trek.

in Uncategorized # Albay, Luzon, Philippines, Travel

About the Author

Gretchen Filart

Gretchen Filart is a writer from the Philippines, where she weaves poems and creative nonfiction about motherhood, love, healing, nature, and intersectionalities. Her works have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net, received distinction from phoebe’s Spring Poetry Contest and Navigator’s Travel Writing Competition, and share space in local and foreign publications. Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky @gretchenfilart. She’s usually friendly.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recommended Reads

Endings and beginnings

We need to need people more

Returning to our personal forest on International Forest Day

Latest ‘grams

Footer

Legal Stuff

  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright

Any part of this website may not be reproduced on another website or platform without the author's written consent. All applicable copyright and intellectual laws apply. Copyright applies to all posts, images, and pages of this website, unless otherwise stated. To seek permission for reproduction, contact the author at [email protected].

Explore

  • Destinations
  • Food & travel guides
  • Stories
  • Letters to Lia

Sign up to be the first to receive updates from us!

2021 © Our World in Words. All Rights Reserved.
made by soulmuse