Lebanon Beach

The trek to Lebanon Beach is not the easiest. For those with wobbly knees, the descent is something short of torture. After all, one has to pick one's way through boulders and a steep incline.

But the beach is well worth the hassle of going there. The powder-fine sand is a treat for sore feet, and the crystal water is just perfect. On windy days, the beach lends itself well to surfing.

Located in San Juan, Bacon District, Lebanon Beach is virtually unspoiled. The surrounding granite mountains mirror those of Palawan's. And the soft breeze that blows from the distant mountains is perfect for a day of ease.

Truly, life is a beach.

El Retiro

Sorsogon boasts little pockets of serenity. They are everywhere: in gardens, by the beach, in parks, even in unexpected places.

El Retiro, tucked away in a quiet corner of Cabid-an, is one of these. Built primarily as a home for the religious, it has lawns lovingly tended by praying hands. A few meters up, there's the Monastery of St. Clare. The chapel and the surrounding gardens mirror monastic calm, making El Retiro a touch of heaven on earth.

Pepita Park

When I was much younger and the world was much bigger, it never occurred to me that Pepita Park was just 15 minutes away. Going there seemed a huge production number. We would dress up, stock up the old Volks, lock up the house and go. The drive would often be interrupted by bouts with motion sickness.

Sorsogon is a lot smaller now, and Pepita Park isn't really that far: it can, in fact, be reached via tricycle. Between then and now, Pepita has lost its park appeal. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are gone, and so are the swings and the slides. The Balay na Kasag is no longer as fascinating. Its once sprawling garden has been turned into a communal clothesline.

But some things never change. The grotto is still the best viewdeck, and the park still opens into a perfect view of Sorsogon Bay.

Suhi, Buenavista

There is no shortage of surprises in Sorsogon City. A bend, a curve, a fork in the road often leads to sceneries that cool the senses and nourish the spirit.

The trek up and down the slopes of Sitio Suhi in Buenavista is made a lot more refreshing by the spring that wends its way past trees, rocks and lush vegetation. More than just cooling the secluded hamlet, the spring also cloaks the hidden gem in an enchanting shade of green.

Bacon Beach

Bacon is perhaps the most accessible beach in Sorsogon. A 15-minute ride from the city proper--through smooth roads framed by rice fields--and there you are. Right smack into a picture-pretty beach.

Sorsogon Bay Sunsets

There's always something about watching Sorsogon sunsets that gives me that happy-to-be-home feeling.

Sunsets at the Rompeolas are a wonderful thing. As the sun sets--was it Emily Dickinson who said one ribbon at a time?--Sorsogon is suddenly awash in a variety of colors: pale pinks, fiery reds, glorious oranges, hazy purples. It is in these quiet moments that makes me look forward to the next day. And the next...

Pili

A bowlful of shelled pili nuts. Yummy, if eaten in moderation.