The highlight of the second part of the tour is the Kayangan Lake. After meeting the fish of Calachuchi Island, which they also refer to as Coral Garden(s), the boat then takes you to a fishing village five minutes away where you would commence your hike to get to the lake. The Kayangan Lake area is probably the most photogenic in Coron. If you search for pictures of Coron in the Internet and see that popular cove that always comes up, then you would know what I am talking about.
As already mentioned, you stay on
the boat. You arrive after five minutes. By then, your cameras must be ready
because there would be a series of endless photo-ops. That is pretty much
guaranteed unless you have no camera with you. You would not be able to help it
since the views are rather stunning. Anyway, let us stop trying to put into
words what pictures say best. Just look. Before the hike, a few minutes would
be spared for briefing with matching map and all for props. I did not really
listen. I was busy taking photos of the place.
The hike is challenging but not
that long, not even close to a mountain hike. Besides, there are steps made of
rocks, which I guess makes everything even more slippery. Make sure you wear
some footwear with good grip. There is an obligatory pause midway through the
hike because you would reach a part of the trail with a cave to the left,
diverting from the steps going down to the lake itself. It is in that detour
where you would see the cave and that cool spot which is said to be the most
photographed in Coron.
After asking and giving favors
related to everything picture taking, we finally went back to the trail and
descended towards the lake. Kayangan Lake is a looker, but just like Hidden
Lagoon before it, the lack of activity makes it seem all boring. Do not be
fooled though. The good thing is that you would be wading through fresh water
now. No more salt! The problem is, you would no longer float here so yes, make
sure you bring those life vests with you.
The depth is also an important
issue because this lake IS deep. You see a couple of boring rock formations
underneath, while several of those elongated fish swim on the surface. I have
not seen any hisser or crawler in there, which was a good thing although there
was always this lingering thought that a reptile would suddenly sneak behind me
and eat me alive.
We did not stay at Kayangan Lake for long although I was able to enjoy fresh water swimming for a while. The hike back up was a bit difficult because my stomach was already asking for lunch. Come to think of it, I should be doing more activities like this. It seems to renew the passion for food that I thought I never had. Another five-minute boat ride to Bulungan came after our Kayangan Lake excursion. After feasting on the delicious lunch, we were back under water, this time at Twin Peaks.
We did not stay at Kayangan Lake for long although I was able to enjoy fresh water swimming for a while. The hike back up was a bit difficult because my stomach was already asking for lunch. Come to think of it, I should be doing more activities like this. It seems to renew the passion for food that I thought I never had. Another five-minute boat ride to Bulungan came after our Kayangan Lake excursion. After feasting on the delicious lunch, we were back under water, this time at Twin Peaks.
At first, I though Twin Peaks
were some sort of tall rock formation which would be another
point-to-that-tourist-attraction kind of thing. That thought turned out to be half
true when we passed by a pair of islets which one of the boatmen referred to as
Twin Peaks. Okay. The catch? It is yet another coral garden, and a livelier one
to boot.
No one really wanted to jump
because we just ate lunch. I mean, come on. Some siesta time was deserved at
the very least! However, the sea beckoned. The vision of a colorful fish
playing beneath the surface was enough to make me forget that I just pigged out
at Bulungan. And so, I jumped.
And here goes the anecdote. In
spite of the rabid hunger we felt during lunch time, one of the really yummy
grilled fish remained to be finished. I was guessing that there was still one
fourth of meat to be devoured from that fish. After lunch, it already
disappeared to wherever, and I would not have given much of a damn except that
it reappeared while I was trying to find the fish at Twin Peaks. Apparently,
they threw it over as fish feed. Let me tell you now that the sight of floating
carcass, whatever animal it used to be, being feasted upon by fish is not a
very lovely sight. Witnessing it gave me a jolt because the fish really swarmed
to it and began nibbling. Do not get me wrong, these fish are colorful and
aesthetically pleasing to look at but even that wonderful thought is erased once
you see them devour their own kind. Piranhas come to mind even if the scenario
all seems illogical in salt water.
And so I surfaced for a bit and
hollered, Cannibalism lang?! They
laughed as a reply, and I was relieved for a bit at least before I descended
again. The feeding event helped establish a good foundation for a photo-op
though because the fish seemed more preoccupied with lunch rather than the
human being going all paparazzi on them. Corals also abound the area, even more
than they were at Calachuchi. Perhaps my biggest regret was not finding out sooner
that the part under the boat where the ladder was actually had a shallower reef
which would have made my life easier as a frustrated underwater photographer.
Once again, I was hounded by my efforts to stay submerged because the sea water
would not stop from pushing me up. As I once again found myself strapped to
that ladder through my hamstrings, I realized how easier everything was. And
then I abused Pentax and that was the end of the story. Or not. We still have
CYC.
CYC Island proved to be the most boring part of the itinerary for me. The beach is fine and I would not be the one to discount the fact that it is a rather perfect family getaway because of the water’s depth. Well, we did not dock all the way to the shore because even far away from it, the waters would not even reach your waist. The weird thing is that it is also the spot for beginner divers to practice, and one of the boatmen was saying that there was a part of the sea somewhere that was deep. I imagine it to be some kind of a big water hole where you would just suddenly drop if you take the wrong step.
CYC Island proved to be the most boring part of the itinerary for me. The beach is fine and I would not be the one to discount the fact that it is a rather perfect family getaway because of the water’s depth. Well, we did not dock all the way to the shore because even far away from it, the waters would not even reach your waist. The weird thing is that it is also the spot for beginner divers to practice, and one of the boatmen was saying that there was a part of the sea somewhere that was deep. I imagine it to be some kind of a big water hole where you would just suddenly drop if you take the wrong step.
After taking photos of the
island, I just came back to the boat to rest and wait for the trip back. Good
thing the trip was not as long as yesterday’s. Everybody was tired. I was
hungry. Again. Improvement! And so I ate early dinner at the floating
restaurant again before going back to the apartelle to finish my pending work.
This work while on vacation thing is lovely. It is tiring but it is working,
and I know that a part of me wants it to be a permanent deal. We will see. We
will see.
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