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Philippines: Coron island-hopping tour (Part 1) – Siete Pecados, Kayangan lake

By Mithun Divakaran
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Dec 11, 2013
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Philippines, Travel

Date: 31st May 2013

I woke up today morning feeling quite hungry. I was going to be swimming and snorkeling a lot later today, so I needed some energy.

Bacon eggs breakfast Coron — I had a filling bacon, eggs and baguette for breakfast

After that, I was picked up by the tour operator for my island-hopping tour.

Tour boats docked Coron Palawan — We boarded our tour boat docked at Luahati Park

Tourists boat tour Coron — But it was a long wait before we departed because we were waiting for some more people

Tour guide Coron island tour Palawan — Eventually we did set off and begin our tour. This was our guide for the day.

Sleeping giant island Coron Philippines — This is the “Sleeping giant” island, not too far from Coron’s shore

Siete Pecados marine park Coron Palawan — Our first stop was at the nearby Siete Pecados Marine Park

Siete Pecados Marine Park Coron Philippines — Siete Pecados Marine Park is a snorkeling site

Snorkeling Siete Pecados marine park Coron — I took out my underwater camera and jumped in

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Philippines: Aerial view of Mount Mayon; arriving at Coron

By Mithun Divakaran
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Dec 01, 2013
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Philippines, Travel

Date: 30th May, 2013

Today was my last day in Legazpi. I had to head to the airport for my 12:40pm flight to Manila.

Backyard Legazpi coconut trees — Woke up to a view of the backyard not too different from what it’s like back home at my village

After breakfast, I checked my e-mails, packed my bags, said my goodbyes, and hired a cycle taxi to take me to Legazpi airport (I could take it easy as I had the time). Legazpi airport, like most regional airports isn’t very big and they weren’t even beginning the check-in procedures 1.5 hours before the scheduled flight time.

Legazpi airport Mayon volcano background — From the departures lounge I got to see Mt. Mayon… cloud-free

Magayon volcano smoke Legazpi Philippines — Still smoking

Legazpi airport runway Mayon mountain — At the time of check-in, I specifically asked for a window seat on the right-hand side of the plane, so that I could see Mt. Mayon at take off

Flight take off Legazpi — To head to Manila, the plane takes off…

Legazpi aerial view — And then turns around

Mount Mayon volcano full view from sky — Truly the world’s most symmetrical volcano

Magayon volcano full view from sky — I guess seeing it from an airplane is obviously the only way one can see Mount Magayon in its entirety

Here’s a video I shot:

Mount Mayon aerial view from plane — Goodbye epic mountain I had a tough time photographing without the clouds

I landed in Manila at 1:45pm and I had to then make my way to the next gate for my connecting flight to Busuanga Airport (Busuanga is the main airport serving Coron island). I had lunch from the airport itself as my flight would only depart at 3:15pm.

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Cagsawa church ruins Legazpi Philippines

Philippines: Lignon Hill Park, Cagsawa Ruins and Mount Mayon

By Mithun Divakaran
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Nov 24, 2013
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Philippines, Travel

Date: 29th May, 2013

Today I woke up to the sad sight of morning rains. Sad because I hoped for clear skies. Today I would focus entirely on Mt. Mayon (also known as Magayon volcano) — the main reason I came to Legazpi, and quite literally, the region’s biggest attraction.