Category Archives: Lakes

Loch Ness Cruise (Scotland, U.K.)

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Loch Ness Cruise

Part of Scottish Highlands Tour

The highlight of our Scottish Highlands Tours was our cruise of Loch Ness courtesy of Cruise Loch Ness which has been operating from Fort Augustus since May 1968 as an e-RNLI lifeboat carrying 12 passengers.

Check out “Fort Augustus”

Grace and Jandy waiting to board the Spirit of Loch Ness

One of the leading tour providers in the Scottish Highlands, it offers a range of boat tours on the loch, including scenic cruises and exhilarating high-speed RIB cruises (which can carry 12 passengers). The scenic cruises run daily, all year round, and they are a great way to see the sights of the loch.

The 210-pax Spirit of Loch Ness

The smaller, 108-pax  Legend of Loch Ness

The 56 sq. km. (22 sq. mi.), Loch Ness, an elongated freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands, is the second-largest Scottish loch by surface area (after Loch Lomond), but due to its great depth it is the largest by volume in Great Britain. Its deepest point is 230 m. (126 fathoms; 755 ft.), making it the second deepest loch in Scotland after Loch Morar.

Now boarding …..

It contains more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, and is the largest body of water in the Great Glen, which runs from Inverness in the north to Fort William in the south. With a capacity of 23,000 cu. ft., it is almost three times that of Loch Lomond and more that three times that of Loch Morar.  Its surface is 16 m. (52 ft.) above sea level. There are nine villages around the loch, as well as Urquhart Castle.

The author (left) with Grace and Jandy

L-R: Manny, Paula, Selena and Sean

We boarded the Spirit of Loch Ness, one of two custom built vessels (the other is the smaller Legend of Loch Ness which can carry 108 passengers). It had a top speed of 20 knots,  can carry 210 passengers and had a fully-stocked bar.  It was still raining and quite foggy along the loch when we left the dock.

Loch Ness View Point

The River Oich carries water from Loch Oich (to the SW) to Loch Ness (to the NE) and runs in parallel to a section of the Caledonian Canal for the whole of its 9 km. (5.6 mi.) length.

Loch Ness is best known for claimed sightings of the legendary  cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, a cryptid, reputedly a large unknown animal, also known affectionately as “Nessie,”  and both ships have state-of-the-art sonar equipment (with 14 sonar monitors) on board, which beams live images from beneath the water.

Eilean Muireach (Cherry Island)

We departed Fort Augustus by 3 PM. Our daytime cruise was to take around 50 minutes.  We cruised past the over 150 year old, 3-storey Inchnacardoch (meaning “field” or “meadow”) House which was formerly a hunting lodge built in 1878 by Lord Lovat and, later, used as a base for the Royal Air Force during World War II.  Today, it is now the 3-star Inch Country House Hotel, with 17 rooms and a restaurant.

Inchnacardoch House

In front of the Inch Hotel is Cherry Island, the loch’s only island. Also called Eilean Muireach, meaning Murdoch’s Island, it is located 140 m. from the shore of the southern end of the loch.  The island, an example of a crannog (a man-made island composed of loose rubble stones, was originally 49 m. by 51 m. but is now smaller since the level of the loch was raised when it became part of the Caledonian Canal.

Fort Augustus Abbey (left) with the Boathouse (a restaurant) on the right

We also had a loch-side view of the impressive Fort Augustus Abbey, a former Benedictine monastery begun in 1876 and completed in 1880.  It has been transformed, in 2012, into The Highland Club, a luxury hotel consisting of 97 apartments and 12 cottages.

Steamship Landing Stage

We also passed the Old Pier, built for paddle steamer ferries, which was built in 1896 and closed in 1924.  Behind is the Old Pier House.  Formerly a small cottage built in 1903 to accommodate the railway station master, it was renovated into a home of the MacKensie family in 1977. It now provides guests with accommodation both in the house and in three log cabins.

Old Pier House

Loch Ness is a clear example of a U-shaped valley (like a bathtub), a characteristic feature of the higher ground in the Scottish Highlands.  This valley was eroded, along its length, by glaciers into a series of rock basins now occupied by the loch.  Its shores are so steep that aquatic vegetation is virtually non-existent.

The steep granite cliffs

When the fog cleared, we saw some of the almost vertical granite cliffs along the sides of the loch, with slight grooves and scratches made by rock fragments as they were dragged along the ice. The absence of islands in the loch shows the power of ice scouring.  It is also too rocky for agricultural improvement.

The diverse flora in the coastal forest includes Caledonian Scots pine, sessile oak, hazel, downy birch, rowan, eared willow and quaking aspen.

Cruise Loch Ness: Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus, PH32 4BD, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0)1320 366277. E-mail: info@cruiselochness.com  Website: www.cruiselochness.com. Rates: £20 (adult), £13 (child), £18 (concession) and £60 (family).

Old Pier House: Fort Augustus PH32 4BX, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 7593 580373.  E-mail:  bookings@oldpierhouse.com.  Website: www.oldpierhouse.com. 

Inch Country House Hotel: Fort Augustus, Inverness-shire, Scotland PH32 4BL, United Kingdom.  Tel: 44 145-450900.  Fax: 44 1320-366248.  E-mail: happy@inchhotel.com. Website: www.inchhotel.com.

The Highland Club: St.Benedict’s Abbey, The Highland Club, Fort Augustus PH32 4BJ, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 20 3478 3897. E-mail: reservations@thehighlandclub.co.uk. Website: www.thehighlandclub.co.uk. 

The Hairy Coo:  Suites 6 & 7, Administrative Office Only, St. John’s Studios, 46A Constitution St., Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6RS, United Kingdom.  Tel: +44 131 212 5026.  E-mail: contact@thehairycoo.com. Website: www.thehairycoo.com.

How to Get There: Fort Augustus is located 161 kms. (100  mi.) from Edinburgh and 692 kms. (430 mi.) from London. The village is served by the A82 road and lies approximately midway between Inverness (56 kms.) and Fort William (51 kms.) in the Scottish Highlands.  Coordinates: 57.1432°N 4.6807°W.

Harrison Lake and Lagoon (Harrison Hots Springs, British Columbia, Canada)

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Harrison Hot Springs

On the morning of our 32th day in Vancouver, our whole family drove 122 kms. (a 1.5-hour drive) to the resort community of Harrison Hot Springs, east of downtown Vancouver, were we were to join a relaxing picnic with some Vancouver friends.

Parking area along Esplanade Avenue

It is home to soothing, natural mineral hot springs, a long sandy beach and beautiful Harrison Lake and Lagoon. Both town and lake were named after Benjamin Harrison, a director (later Deputy Governor from 1835 to 1839) of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Lillooet Avenue

Upon arrival, we parked near the Harrison Hot Springs Village promenade, a paved walkway that runs parallel to Esplanade Ave..  It connects the beach, spa resort, retail shops and restaurants.

Rendall Park

Public Washroom and Fitness Area

Along the promenade, we set up our picnic spread at the lakefront Rendall Park, a large grassy field with picnic tables, port-a-potties, barbecue pedestals, colorful gardens and big, old shady trees at the east side of Harrison Village, just past the boat launch.

Killer’s Cove Marina

Harrison Village Mall

Located near the Harrison Yacht Club and Ranger Station Art Gallery, the park had good views of Harrison Lagoon and the Marina, on one side, and apartments, condos, hotels and restaurants on the other.

Public Mineral Pool

The Public Pool is centrally located at the junction of Hot Springs Road and the Esplanade.

Harrison Lake

The largest lake in the southern Coast Mountains of Canada, cozy Harrison Lake is located in the beautiful Fraser Valley east of Vancouver.  It covers about 218 sq. kms. (84 sq. mi.) in area and is about 60 kms. (37 mi.) in length and, at its widest, almost 9 kms. (5.6 mi.) across. It has a surface elevation of 10 m. (33 ft.), an average depth of 151.4 m. (497 ft.), a maximum depth of  279 m. (915 ft.) and a water volume of 33 sq. kms. (27,000,000 acre⋅ft.).

The author with Harrison Lake in the background

The lake is the last of a series of large north-south glacial valleys tributary (the others to the west are the Chehalis, Stave, Alouette, Pitt, and Coquitlam Rivers) to the Fraser along its north bank east of Vancouver, British Columbia. East of the lake are the Lillooet Ranges while to the west are the Douglas Ranges.

Beach volleyball

Children’s Playground

During the busy summer season, Harrison Lake is popular its beautiful sandy beaches along with picturesque parks, swim areas, playgrounds, beach volleyball and a wide variety of water activities (boating, kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, jetskiing, sailing, etc.) situated along the beach (or you can just hanging out in the water and on the sand).

Harrison Watersports

There’s also an amazing inflatable water playground (Harrison Watersports), with its trampolines and bumper boats, out in the lake that’s open (for a fee). A glacier-fed lake, Harrison Lake can be very cold. There are no lifeguards on any of the beaches in Harrison Hot Springs.

Harrison Lagoon

Harrison Lagoon (on the southern tip of Harrison Lake), on the other hand, is an artificial water body created in the 1960s.  It is divided from Harrison Lake by a man-made berm built with rock and sand and designed to allow for water to come through the rocks into the lagoon from the lake. Because of this, it is a natural water body and you will notice the lagoon rise and fall with the level of the lake.

The manmade berm

The lagoon is a popular swimming hole during the summer as it gets quite warm. On hot days, there can be upwards of 400 people swimming, tanning, and wading here. It is also safe for kids to swim and play as it is protected, shallow and warmer than the lake.

We tried out our two inflatable stand up paddle boards, first at the lagoon and, later, at the lake itself. Both lagoon and lake have a cordoned off swimming area. 

Kayaking and stand up paddle boarding at Harrison Lake

We also hiked the generally easy, 1.4-km. (0.9-mi.) loop trail near Harrison Hot Springs, a very popular area for birding, mountain biking, and running which took me 20 mins. to complete. Along the way, while exploring, I encountered joggers, walkers and pet owners (dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash).

Harrison Lake and Lagoon: Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia V0M 1K0, Canada.  Tel: (604) 796-5581. E-mail info@tourismharrison.com.  Website: www.tourismharrison.com. Coordinates: 49°30′N 121°50′W.

Harrison Watersports: Admission: $40 CAD ($31 USD) for a 2-hour pass to the waterpark (wetsuit not included, but you can rent one for around $6 CAD). The second package is $57 CAD ($44 USD) and it includes a 2-hour pass, transportation to and from the waterpark, a wetsuit, and a 30-minute bumper boat ride. Open from early June until early September, 11 AM to 6 PM daily.

 

How to Get There: Harrison Hot Spring is located about 30 mins. northeast of Chilliwack, 8 kms. (5 mi.) north of Agassiz, on the Lougheed Highway 7, and 123 kms. (77 mi.) east of Vancouver (1-½ to 2-hour drive).  From Vancouver, travel along Highway 1 and take Exit # 135 to head north up Highway 9 through Agassiz. Continue for another 8 kms. ( 5 mi.).

Deer Lake Park (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)

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Deer Lake Park

On the late afternoon of our 12th day in Vancouver, my daughter Cheska brought my wife Grace, my son Jandy, grandson Kyle and I to tranquil,  207-hectare Deer Lake Park, a 5.5-km. (12-min.) drive away, where we were to have a picnic dinner with  some U.S. friends.  From Sperling Ave., we parked at a lot closer to Deer Lake beach area.  Right across were two tables with benches where we had our picnic. An accessible washroom is located on the east side of the lake, near the parking area.

Parking lot along Sperling Ave.

Nearby, on the east end of Deer Lake, is a sandy public beach for play, along with swings for children. Plus, there’s a dock where you can launch small boats, like kayaks and canoes during the spring through the fall season. Those arriving with a kayak or canoe on their car top carrier, can launch it from the dock. From the dock, (on the western edge of the park), at 5435 Sperling Ave., there’s also Deer Lake Rental, a rental service for non-motorized watercraft such as rowboats and pedal boats as well as canoes and kayaks.

Deer Lake Park Map

Europeans who came here, not having seen caribou before, called the caribou “deer,” Caribou, in great numbers, could be seen crossing the lake from north to south, hence the name Deer Lake (the park’s namesake).

Boat Launch Dock

Situated in the central heart of the city, Deer Lake, along with Burnaby Lake, is home to resident populations of wildlife like many species of ducks, song birds (flitting through the meadows), otters and, just maybe, beavers (hard at work building dams in the marshy areas to the west of the lake) which one might glimpse them as one walks or runs along the trails that circle the lake’s 2.4-km. perimeter.

Deer Lake Rentals

You can also climb the wildlife viewing tower, near the southwest corner of the lake, to watch for endangered Western painted turtles sunning themselves on logs or basking on rocks in the ponds.

Deer Lake Rentals

Year-round resident birds in the park include red-tail hawks (circling the sky for prey below), black capped chickadee, spotted towhee, majestic great blue herons (fishing in the shallows), Anna’s hummingbird, Bewick’s Wren and Stellar’s Jay.  Summer breeding birds include Northern Harrier, March Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Swainson’s Thrush, Common Yellowthroat and American Goldfinch.  Winter & Migratory birds at Deer Lake Park include Dark Eyes Junco, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Mountain Bluebird.

Kayaks for rent

The temperate rainforest, the vegetation natural to the area, is dominated by trees considered particularly tall for the Lower Mainland, with conifers such as Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata). Deer Lake and the surrounding park is a highly altered habitat and while cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, stickleback, sculpin and crayfish were likely native to Deer Lake, most of the aquatic animals are introduced species and invasive species include bullfrog, ictalurid catfish and carp.

Deer Lake Beach House

Beaver Creek, flowing under the wooden boardwalk, is used by fish for feeding and as a refuge from predators such as larger fish, mink, otters, herons, and kingfishers. Young Coho salmon use this stream as they grow before their journey to the ocean. Most of the wetlands along Beaver Creek are wet meadows and open water pond area, and a remnant bog area on the Western lakeshore. Trees that can tolerate these wet conditions are Sitka Spruce, Birch, Willow hardhack, Sweet gale, Black twinberry, Dwarf dogwood, Labrador tea, Salmonberry, Sedges and Bulrushes.

Deer Lake Beach House plaque

To the north of Deer Lake, you’ll find Burnaby’s cultural centre for art and culture – Burnaby Art Gallery (located Fairacres Mansion at 6344 Deer Lake Ave.),  Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (just a short ways further down the road at 6450 Deer Lake Ave.), Burnaby Village Museum (an excellent outdoor museum at the northeast corner of the park at 6501 Deer Lake Ave.) and more. It’s a hub of activity during the busy summer season, hosting concerts and festivals on the Festival Lawn.  The park is also home to Burnaby Village and Hart House (a historic building and present-day restaurant at 6664 Deer Lake Ave.).

Check out  “Fairacres Mansion,” “Burnaby Art Gallery,” “Burnaby Village Museum” and “Shadbolt Centre for the Arts“

Located in Central Burnaby, not far from Burnaby City Hall and halfway between Burnaby Lake and Metrotown, it is one of Metro Vancouver’s largest and most popular city parks, with walking trails and wide open spaces, and is a very popular area for birding and running (you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring).

Even if the skyscrapers of Metrotown rise above the lake, Deer Lake Park still provides a unique nature escape in the middle of Burnaby. It’s a great place for hiking, boating, spotting wildlife, and learning about history and culture.  Just below the Burnaby Art Gallery, the Deer Lake Park Festival Lawn is an ideal spot for a picnic on the grass or at the picnic tables near the wide paved path leading to Deer Lake.

The lake itself, in the middle of the park, has a lovely, mostly finely crushed gravel and hard packed dirt (in some parts it’s a wooden boardwalk) main walking trail along the water’s edge and through the forest (this map shows all the trails and their surfaces). Some of the paths may be too steep for some users and tree roots crossing the trail also pose a tripping hazard.  Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

The park offers a variety of many connecting trails (open year-round and beautiful to visit anytime and routes (more of an outdoor urban walk than a hike) that surround the lake:

  • Deer Lake Loop Route
  • Hart House Mini Route
  • Oakland Flats
  • Royal Oak Meadow Route

Wooden Boardwalk

You can do a small loop which runs around the edge of the lake for most of the way and takes about 35 mins., depending on how fast you walk.  You can go past the end of the lake though and continue on the larger loop (which takes about 45 mins.) which then makes its way back to the lake and the last part of the smaller loop. Doing both loops, considered an easy route, in a figure eight (where you walk along the middle section twice on your way round), is about 4.5 to 5 kms. long and takes 55 mins to an hour or so, from start to finish. Bikes are not permitted on wooden boardwalks.

Dirt and crushed gravel trail

A number of annual events take place at Deer Lake Park.  They include the following:

Canada goose

The park was a nice place for families with small kids, folks looking for a nice nature trip, or a good loop outside (if you are short on time). To enjoy the gardens in bloom, visit Deer Lake Park in spring. To enjoy many different flowers (including rhododendron, Burnaby’s official flower), visit Century Garden, next to the Burnaby Art Gallery, or the city-owned Eagles Estate Heritage Garden, on the southeastern shore of the lake, which dates back to 1929 and includes Japanese maples, rhododendrons, and magnolias.

Check out “Century Gardens“

Sunset over Deer Lake

Deer Lake Park: 5435 Sperling Ave., Burnaby, British Columbia V5E 2L8.  Tel: (604) 294-7450.

How to Get There: From Vancouver, take Highway 1 east. Use exit 33 to Kensington Avenue. Turn left on Canada Way. then right on Sperling. There are several options for parking. Continue on Sperling for another block to a large parking area. Or turn right onto Deer Lake Avenue. This road runs through the east side of the park and leads to parking areas on the southeast shore of Deer Lake next to the Burnaby Village Museum, the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, and the Burnaby Art Gallery.  This map shows the parking areas noted below. The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby Art Gallery and Burnaby Village Museum parking lots are accessible from Deer Lake Ave. There is a parking lot on the west side of the park off Royal Oak Ave.  Parking isn’t permitted in the residential areas around Deer Lake Park.  Parking lots close at 10 PM every night.  Get directions or visit TransLink Trip Planner.

Deer Lake Rentals: Website: www.deerlakeboatrentals.com. Tel:  604-839-3949.

  • Kayak Charges: 1-person kayak ($16.07 plus taxes per hour, maximum total weight should be 350 lbs. or 160 kgs.), 2-person kayak ($19.64 plus taxes per hour, maximum total weight should be 450 lbs. or 205 kgs.)
  • Rowboat & Canoe Charges: 2-person rowboat ($19.64 plus taxes per hour, maximum total weight should be 400 lbs. or 180 kgs.), 2-3-person canoe ($19.64 plus taxes per hour, maximum total weight should be 500 lbs. or 230 kgs.), 4-person canoe ($31.25 plus taxes per hour, maximum total weight should be 850 lbs. or 390 kgs.)
  • Pedal Boat Charges: 2-person pedal boat ($19.64 plus taxes per hour, maximum total weight should be 600 lbs. or 270 kgs.), 4-person pedal boat $31.25 plus taxes per hour, maximum total weight should be 850 lbs. or 390 kgs.)

Dry bag rental is $1 per hour.  Last rental is 1 hour before sunset. The last 1.2 hr rental is 1/2 hour before sunset.

Bulusan Lake Eco-Tourism Center (Sorsogon)

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Bulusan Lake Eco-Tourism Center

Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour

After our short stopover at Casiguran Settlement, we again boarded our coaster for the hour-long, 3.4 km. drive to Bulusan Lake in Bulusan town.  This would be my second visit to the lake, the first over ten years ago (June 26, 2012). Upon arrival, I was surprised by how much the park has improved since my first visit.

Check out “Casiguran Settlement” and “Eco-Friendly Kayaking at Lake Bulusan”

The new facilities include a 1,002.5-square meter, Php60 million Bulusan Lake Eco-Tourism Center to cater to tourists, with a road network and parking area.  Inaugurated, after a massive two-year restoration and rehabilitation, last March 5, 2022 by then Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Bulusan Mayor Michael Guysayko (with DOT Regional Director Herbie Aguas , DENR Bicol Director Francisco Milla, Jr. and other officials in attendance),  it is accredited by the Department of Tourism as a Tourism Recreation Center.

The author (left) on an E-jeep

The center has a registration booth, an alfresco coffee shop and a restaurant called Sagurong Restaurant, a spa massage spa, and a souvenir shop where one can buy pasalubong including local arts and crafts.

Lake Bulusan

 

Our coaster as well as other private vehicles are not allowed to enter the park so, from the Ecotourism Center, we all boarded e-jeeps (there are three available) that took us to the entrance to Bulusan Volcano National Park (dubbed as the “Switzerland of the Orient”), a 3,672-hectare protected landscape located at an elevation of 635 m. on the southeast flank of Mount Bulusan, an active stratovolcano, where Bulusan Lake, a small. Round crater lake, is nestled within.

For those who prefer to walk, the lake is a 20-30-min. hike. The natural park is also home to the Bulusan Eco-Adventours, which was launched coinciding with the blessing and inauguration of the tourism center.

Single and tandem kayaks for rent

The lake remained as peaceful and beautiful as I remembered it to be.  Aside from Lake Bulusan, the park also covers Lakes(Aguingay (where water accumulates during the rainy season) and Blackbird (found at the mountain’s crater) and its rainforests are home to endemic flora and fauna.

The upper view deck

Flora include the Forestia philippensis, Pinanga insignis and the newly discovered Schefflina bulusanicum (an aquatic plant) and Pronephrium bulusanicum (a type of fern); jade vine (Stronglylodon macrobothrys); ground orchids (Phojus tankervillea); tall, centuries-old tindalo (Afzeliarrhomboidea) trees and mountain agoho (Casuarina rumphiana).

Food bar and dining hall

Fauna found here include the Luzon Hornbill, Philippine Fairy Bluebird, Philippine Warty Pig, South Luzon Cloud Rat Spotted Wood Kingfisher, Philippine Frogmouth, etc.).

Imelda and I all suited up and ready to go kayaking….. (photo: Mr. Marlon Atun)

Multipurpose facilities were built near Bulusan Lake. They include a food bar or dining area with comfort rooms and ramps, waiting shed, souvenir shop, ticket booth and queue sheds.  However, its main feature was an upper view deck overlooking the lake which offers an overview of the lake and its surrounding mountains.

On our way…. ((photo: Mr. Marlon Atun)

Bulusan Lake was still a sight to behold. This emerald-green, still lake spans 16 hectares and is 33 m. deep.  As in the past, the best way to appreciate the beauty of the lake is to take a boat ride on the emerald green water.

Meeting up with a local fisherman

While the others enjoyed the surrounding from the park’s viewing deck, I geared up and rented kayak.  Five others rented a boat paddled by a guide.  Joining me at my two-seater kayak was fellow senior citizen Ms. Maria Imelda Favi. It was a tiring yet peaceful activity as we paddled our way around the lake, admiring the scenic and lush view of the surrounding rainforest.  In the middle of the lake, we met up with a local fishing for tilapia on his banca.  Check out our kayaking video here.

Paddle boating at the lake (photo: Ms. Joan April Chang)

Aside from boat riding, you can also try fishing and stand up paddleboarding.   You can also take a leisurely walk along the perimeter of the lake where the guides can help in pointing out interesting flora and fauna.

Bulusan Lake Ecotourism Center: Brgy. San Roque, Bulusan, Sorsogon.  Mobile number: (090) 505-0988. Facebook: www.facebook.com/bulusanlake  and www.facebook.com/ExploreBulusan.

Admission: Php50 (adults), Php25 (student or Bulusan resident with valid ID) and free (senior citizen and PWD with valid ID).  Environmental fee: Php10.  Shuttle service: Php35. Eco-guides fee: Php150/hr.  Massage: Php250. Paddling guide for kayak and stand up paddleboading: Php100. Trekking: Php10/pax.  Boating: Php00 for five pax, inclusive of two paddlers.

Parking fees: Php20 (motorcycles), Php30 (tricycle), Php50 (cars/SUV), Php60 (jeepney/coaster), Php70 (truck) and Php150 (bus)

How to Get There: Bulusan is located 557.3 kms. (a 13-hr. drive  via Pan Philippine Highway/AH26) from Manila and 44.5 kms. (a 55-min. drive) via the Junction Abuyog-Gubat-Ariman Rd., from Sorsogon City. From Sorsogon City, ride a jeep bound for Bulusan (1 hour). Then charter a tricycle to Bulusan Lake (about 15-20 minutes).

Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Culture and Arts Office: Ground Floor, Capitol Building, 4700 Sorsogon City. Mobile number: (0968) 624-6279. E-mail: tourism@sorsogon.gov.ph.  Facebook: www.facebook.com/sorsogonprovincialtourismoffice.

Bulusan Municipal Tourism Office: www.facebook.com/ExploreBulusan.

Ur Place Travel & Tours: OLV Pangpang, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon.  Mobile number (Viber): (0927) 950-3927 (Ms. Annie Gueb).  Facebook: www.facebook.com/urplacetravel.

Cultus Lake Provincial Park (British Columbia, Canada)

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Cultus Lake Provincial Park

On our 20th day in Canada, Grace, Jandy, Bryan, Cheska, Kyle and I were invited to join a family picnic hosted by our Vancouver friends Nene and Lito Del Rosario, with their children, sons-in-law, grandchildren and family friends, to be held at the 656-hectare Cultus Lake, one of the most popular destination areas in the Lower Mainland.

Tintin Del Rosario-Legaspi, Grace, Cheska and Kyle with our dog Luffy

We were picked up at Burnaby by Jullius and Tintin Legaspi, son-in-law and daughter, respectively, of Lito and Nene.  The 91.3-km. drive, via the Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1 E, took almost 1.5 hours. From the Trans-Canada Highway, we turned at the Yarrow (you can also turn at the Sardis Exit) Exit and drove a further 16 kms., along the Columbia Valley Highway, which lead directly into the park.

The Cultus Lake community

The placid Cultus Lake,  the source of the Sweltzer River, is a large, warm freshwater lake within a 2,729-hectare provincial park amidst scenic forest-clad Skagit Mountain Range in the Fraser Valley region of southern British Columbia.

Our picnic spot

At one time, the lake had a sawmill and booming ground until it became a provincial park on February 10, 1948. Cultus Lake, an important place for spirit quests of the Sto:lo people, was named with the Chinook Jargon word meaning primarily “bad,” “worthless” or “good for nothing,” though the same word can also mean “free,” “without purpose” or simply “nothing.”

The packed Main Beach

The wildly popular, generally calm lake is located 11 kms. (6.8 mi.) south of the Chilliwack River, near the city of Chilliwack and approximately 80 kms. (50 mi.) east of Vancouver.  The park is almost evenly divided between the mostly undeveloped northwest and the visitor-oriented facilities confined to the southeast sides of Cultus Lake.

Children’s playground, well within eye and ear shot to all the picnic tables, where kids can play while parents relax and enjoy lakeside lounging

The area, a popular recreation destination, has four campgrounds (Clear Creek, Delta Grove, Entrance Bay and Maple Bay) managed by British Columbia Parks/Sea to Sky Park Services in the area (in addition to a few privately-owned campgrounds), a large day-use area for swimming, picnicking and boating, and ample opportunities for fishing, water skiing, wind surfing, wakesurfing, kayaking, standup paddle-boarding and hiking.

Paddle boat, paddle board and kayak rental shop

As we visited during August 1, British Columbia Day (a public holiday), the tiny associated resort community of about 1,100 people grew considerably in size as folks like us flocked to the region to enjoy the lake, park and the area’s numerous outdoor activities.

The path leading to Jade Bay

The water, the picturesque views and the sandy beaches are what feed the park’s popularity during the warmer and busy summer months.  However, in the off season, it gets pretty quiet.

Paddle boats, paddle boards and kayaks for rent

As we arrived early in the morning at the Entrance Bay Campsite, we had first choice among a plethora of picnic tables in an expansive, flat grassy field offering plenty of shade from tall Douglas fir trees.  Nearby was a small children’s playground; toilet and changing facilities and a quick public boat launch.

I am guessing these are sculls

Our late breakfast was homemade pan de sal with spam and scrambled eggs while lunch was to be grilled pork liempo, hotdog and fish; igado (an Ilocano pork and liver stew), fried chicken and fried wonton.  For dessert, we had fried turon (banana lumpia).

The author taking a hike along Cultus Lake

After lunch, I tried to burn the calories by hiking all the way down to Jade Bay which is easily accessible from our campsite.  It laso has additional bathrooms and a boat ramp.

Main Beach Iced Coffee

The broad, roped-off swimming area had a long, pebbly and gently sloping beach with clear waters ideal for the kids. Our hosts brought along their inflatable stand-up paddle boards and kayak plus a unicorn-shaped party island for the kids. Jandy and I, as well as the others, tried kayaking.

By lunchtime, the area soon filled up with vacationers and, by late afternoon, the winds grew stronger and the waters choppy, making stand-up paddle-boarding almost an impossibility. Still, nothing can erase the enjoyment of the children as they frolicked along the beach.

Luxury lakeshore homes

Nearby is the fairly modern Cultus Lake Adventure Park (opened in July 2014 as the expansion of Giggle Ridge Adventure Golf, it has 18 rides and attractions) and also in the area is the Cultus Lake Waterpark and the scenic 18-hole Cultus Lake Golf Club.

A public boat launch

Cultus Lake Provincial Park: British Columbia, Canada. All four campsites are open from April to mid-October and offer free hot showers and flush toilets.  Parking is free throughout the provincial park, but not at Main Beach. Tel: (604) 986-9371.

Lake Ashino-ko (Hakone, Japan)

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Lake Ashino-ko

We just finished our late lunch at Izumi Restaurant at Gotemba and we all had to rush back to our bus for the 30-min. drive to the Hakone area of Kanagawa Prefecture if we were to catch the last 4:30 PM ferry tour of Lake Ashinoko (芦ノ湖). It was still rainy when we left the restaurant. The lake is located on the Tōkaidō road, the main link between Kyoto and Tokyo. The bus made it just in time to Togendai-ko Harbor, the sightseeing boat pier at the lake’s northern shores.

Togendai-ko Harbor

The scenic Lake Ashinoko, also referred to as Hakone Lake or Lake Ashi, is a crater lake 720 m. above sea level that lies along the southwest wall of the caldera of Mount Hakone, a complex volcano that last erupted in 1170 CE at Owakudani. The name Ashinoko means “lake of reeds” in Japanese – ashi (芦) means “reed” while ko (湖  means “lake.”

Victory

The lake, situated some 723 m. above sea level, is the largest lake in Kanagawa prefecture.  With an area of 7 sq. kms., it extends 7 kms. from north to south and has a circumference of 19 kms. It is known for its views of Mt. Fuji, its numerous hot springs, historical sites and ryokan (inns).

Vasa docked acrossed from Victory at Togendai-ko Harbor

Royal II docked at Hakonemachi-ko Harbor

At Togendai-ko Harbor, we all boarded the Victory  (modelled after the 18th century British warship, the HMS Victory) one of three ships inspired by the design of sailing warships (the other two are Royal II, a replica of the 18th century French warship, the Royal Louis, and Vasa, a replica of the 17th century Swedish warship) of Hakone Sightseeing Boats, one of two companies (the other is Izuhakone Sightseeing Boats), that operate pleasure boats that traverse and cruise the gorgeous lake between four ports (Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi and Togendai and Kojiri) at the lake’s northern end.

The passenger cabin of the Victory

It stopped raining when we left the pier but the skies were still overcast. The boat cruise from one end of the lake to the other takes roughly 30 minutes. The lake, with Mount Fuji in the background, is the symbol of Hakone. However, as with our tour of Mt. Fuji, clouds and poor visibility block our view of the mountain. Visibility tends to be better during the colder seasons of the year than in summer, and in the early morning and late afternoon hours.

Still, the view and cool breeze from the wide open-air decks, with plenty of comfortable viewing spots, was still scenic, with small towns in the east and north and a couple of lakeside resort hotels lining the shoreline framed by the nearby mountain range that includes the famous Mt. Fuji. Legend has it that Lake Ashinoko was home to a nine-headed dragon which is presented with an offering of traditional red rice at the Hakone Shrine Lake Ashi Festival on July 31 every year.

Hakonemachi-ko Harbor

Our tour ended at Hakonemachi-ko Port, at the lake’s southern shore, where our bus waited for us.  On our way back to Tokyo, our bus made a short stopover at Odawara Shinkansen Station where a number of passengers took the super fast shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo.

The author with Kyle at Hakonemachi-ko Harbor. In the background is the Victory and Royal II

Outside the west exit of the station is a bronze equestrian statue of Hojo Soun (1432-1519), first head of the Later Hojo clan, one of the great powers of the Sengoku period.   It shows him with flaming torches tied to his oxen and fooling his opponents that his troops were three times more than what he actually had.

Odawara Station

Back on our bus, we continued on our long haul drive back to Tokyo. Once in Tokyo, we made a number of stopovers at a number of hotels to drop off passengers before being dropped off at the Akasaka Excel Hotel.

The equestrian statue of Hojo Soun

Lake Ashinoko: Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun 250-0521, Kanagawa Prefecture.

How to Get There:  Frequent buses connect Odawara, via Hakone-Yumoto, with Moto-Hakone and Hakone-machi. The trip from Odawara takes about 50 mins. From Hakone-Yumoto, it takes about 35 mins. The Hakone Free Pass is valid on Hakone Tozan buses (bus line H) but not on Izuhakone buses (bus line Z).

There is also a frequently served Hakone Tozan Bus line from Odawara via Hakone-Yumoto to Togendai  (bus line T). The trip also takes about 50 mins. and is also covered by the Hakone Free Pass. From Hakone-Yumoto it takes about 35 minutes.

A slow and scenic way of approaching Lake Ashinoko, from Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto, is taking the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora, followed by a cable car and ropeway ride to Togendai. From Togendai, you can continue to Moto-Hakone or Hakone-machi by sightseeing boat . The whole journey is covered by the Hakone Free Pass.

The Colorful, Sound of Music Town of Mondsee (Austria)

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Mondsee

After our short photoop stopover at the Salzburg Lake District, we again boarded our tour bus for the final destination of the Original Sound of Music Tour – the scenic and lovely, Baroque Upper Austrian  lakeside town of Mondsee in the Vöcklabruck district.

Check out “The Original Sound of Music Tour”

Peter briefing tour participants upon arrival at Mondsee

Located at the northern banks of Mondsee Lake (one of Austria’s last privately owned lakes), it is named for the lake’s crescent-moon shape. One of the biggest (and the warmest) of the Salzkammergut 76 lakes, Mondsee lake is 11 kms. (6.75 miles) long and 2 kms. (1.25 miles) at its widest.

Cheska at the town square

At the town, our Panorama Tours guide Peter allotted us time to avail of lunch as well as explore the lemon-and-white, twin-spired Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, the cloister collegiate church of the historic medieval Mondsee Abbey (founded in 748).

The author (left) with the Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in the background

The interior of the church hosted the wedding of Maria (played by Julie Andrews) and Captain von Trapp (played by Christopher Plummer) in the famous 1965 Austrian-set musical film The Sound of Music.

Grace and Kyle at a fountain beside the church

It has made the town the go-to wedding destination of the region, with 400 weddings taking place throughout the year.

Check out “Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel”

Colorful townhouses

Apart from its connection with the movie, charming Mondsee is a riot of gaily painted townhouses, mostly restaurants and stores selling handcrafted wares, bordering its main square and along its streets.

The Rathaus (town hall)

Right outside the church is the city tram stop where trams bring visitors to the lakeside promenade which is lined with several highly rated and elegant restaurants and cafés serving traditional Austrian fare (such as local apple strudel and freshly baked rye bread from a traditional mill) as well as modern cuisine.

Drachenwand (Dragon Wall) MountainA stunning backdrop is formed by the craggy rock face of the impressive Drachenwand (Dragonwall) at the southern shore of the lake.

Schlossbräu Mondsee,

Mondsee is also home to a series of Neolithic pile-dwelling (or stilt house) settlements discovered in 1864 in the lake.  Dating back 5,000 years, they are that are part of the Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kyle and Jandy

In the warmer months, Mondsee offers stunning scenery and, in December, charming Weihnachts (Christmas) festivities.

Mondsee Tourist Information Office

The town is a 28-km. (21 min.), drive, via the A1, from Salzburg and thanks to its proximity to the city, Mondsee is frequented by visitors every weekend.

Mondsee Town Square

Mondsee Tourist Information Office: Dr.Franz-Müller-Straße 3, 5310 Mondsee, Austria. Tel: +43 6232 2270. Website: salzkammergut.at.

The Original Sound of Music Tour (Salzburg, Austria)

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The Original Sound of Music Tour

The next day, after an early breakfast at our hotel, we again walked to Mirabell Gardens where we joined Panorama Tours “The Original Sound of Music Tour” with other tourists on board an airconditioned bus.  The Sound of Music is a movie based on a successful Rogers and Hammerstein Broadway musical that premiered in New York on March 2, 1965.

Our Panorama Tours bus

Panorama Tours started as Kleinbusse am Mirabellplatz which, for three months during the film’s shooting in 1964, provided six Volkswagen vans for director Bob Wise to transport his 250 stars and staff around.  In the 1970s, the company morphed into today’s Panorama Tours, doing two four-hour “Sound of Music” tours a day, every day, all year.

Check out “Mirabell Palace and Gardens”

During the 4-hour tour, we were to be shown the most important sights in and around Salzburg where the movie was filmed.  It was the biggest grossing musical of all time, if receipts are adjusted for inflation. Because of its core family values, hummable tunes and stunning scenery, the film turned into a worldwide success.

Our tour guide Peter Nussbaumer

Julie Andrews starred as Maria von Trapp, a real-life ex-nun who married Capt. Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), an Austrian naval officer, after she became governess to his children. Both musical and film are based on the “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers” written by Maria von Trapp in 1949.

Hohensalzburg Fortress

In Austria, the film ran only for a very short period and was subsequently dropped probably because of instances of Nazi complicity depicted in the film which were certainly too much to bear for the Austria of the 1960s, which was forging a new, democratic future for itself. In 1966, the first American tourists started arriving and were asking about the film settings from bemused locals.

Hohensalzburg Fortress as seen from the movie (www.pinterest.com)

Two dozen locations in Salzburg were featured in the film. At Mirabell Palace and Gardens, most of the “Do-Re-Mi” song was filmed. Throughout the trip, our Australian guide Peter Nussbaumer was very funny and made the tour entertaining.  Along the way, we passed by (but did not stop) at Nonnberg Abbey, Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mozart Bridge (Mozartsteg) where a number of movie scenes were shot.

Check out “Hohensalzburg Fortress”

Nonnberg Abbey

At Nonnberg Abbey, they include the opening part where nuns go to mass and Maria returns too late; performance for the song Maria” was staged in the courtyard and the children came to the Abbey’s gate to ask Maria to return to their home.

The Von Trapp children at the abbey gate to ask Maria to return to their home (www.pinterest.com)

The escape scene, with the Nazi cars parked outside the Abbey gate, was also shot in the original spot.

Mozart Bridge (Mozartsteg)

The Mozartsteg, a filigree Art Nouveau iron pedestrian foot bridge over the Salzach River, was built in 1903 by a private group called the Mozartstegverein to connect the Steingasse area to Mozartplatz. It was inaugurated by the Governor of the Duchy of Salzburg and the then Mayor of the city.

Georg Krimml, a wealthy owner of Café Corso, lobbied and donated the funds for its construction to increase customer traffic to his café.  Up until 1920, it was privately owned and you can still see the toll booth (now a tiny coffee shop) on the Mozartplatz side of the bridge. The bridge was used in the sequence, at the beginning of the My Favorite Things montage, where Maria takes the von Trapp children on the picnic in the mountains.  

From Mirabell, a short 4.3 km. (10-min.) drive via Leopoldskronstraße brought us to our first destination – Leopoldskron Palace (Schloss Leopoldskron), a rococo palace and a national historic monument in Leopoldskron-Moos, a southern district of the city. The palace, and its surrounding 7-hectare park, is located on the lake Leopoldskroner Weiher. The grounds, adjacent to those of Schloss Leopoldskron, were one of the main exterior locations and ten outdoor scenes were filmed there portraying the von Trapp home.

Mountain view from the palace

However, the interior of the palace was never used as the Von Trapp villa. Terrace scenes, using a replica of Leopoldskron’s terrace and “horse-gates” that lead to the lake, such as the family drinking pink lemonade (“not too sweet, not too sour, just too… pink!”), Maria and the Captain arguing and the children and Maria falling off the boat into the lake in the famous boating scene, were actually filmed on an adjacent property (known as Bertelsmann, at the time).

Terrace scene at The Sound of Music (www.pinterest.com)

For The Sound of Music, the pathway from the villa to the lake was constructed but was later removed. The statues, as well as the gate, remain.

Liesl at the terrace (www.pinterest.com)

Shots of the building itself, as well as the scene where the Captain watches the children arrive in a boat with Maria, were filmed at Schloss Frohnburg. As the Leopoldskron’s Venetian Room was smaller and too narrow than the ballroom in the film, the decor of the room was meticulously copied and recreated in the 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles for the waltz scenes in the ballroom.

The Baroness (Eleanor Parker), Maria Von Trapp (Julie Andrews) and Capt. Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) at the ballroom

In 1987, the “Sound of Christmas,” a special production starring Julie Andrews, John Denver, and Plácido Domingo was also filmed at the Schloss Leopoldskron. In 2014, the palace, home to Salzburg Global Seminar since 1947, and the neighboring Meierhof building, were opened as a privately owned Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron.

Hellbrunn Palace

From Leopoldskron, a short 4.8 km. (8-min.) drive, via Morzger Str., brought us to Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn), site of the Sound of Music Pavilion, the glass gazebo setting for the two main love scenes between Liesl (Charmian Carr) and Rolf (Daniel Truhitte), featuring the song Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and the kissing scene (Something Good) of Maria  and Capt. Von Trapp.

The author outside the Sound of Music Pavilion

The scenes were originally situated in the gardens of the Leopoldskron Palace. Only long shots of the Austrian gazebo are seen in the film as the gazebo interiors were shot on a Hollywood sound stage. At the end of the filming, the gazebo was presented as a gift to the city of Salzburg.

Rolf kisses Liesl inside the pavilion (www.pinterest.com)

After their numbers became too big for the business convention center housed there, constant trespassing resulted in it being moved and, in 1991, was reconstructed and shown publicly by the city council in the ornamental gardens of  Hellbrunn.

The tree-lined avenue where Capt. Von Trapp saw his children dangling from trees

Neaby is the tree-lined road leading to the castle where Capt. Von Trapp unknowingly noticed his own children dangling from the branches of the trees, to the horror of their father.

Lake Wolfgang and the town of St. Gilgen in the foreground

After our film-location tour within the Salzburg, we were driven out into the Salzburg Lake District Area (Salzkammergut) at St Gilgen, passing Lake Fuschl and Lake Wolfgang, where panoramic aerial shots and scenes of the picnic were filmed. The Salzkammergut extends over the entire area of lakes belonging to the Alps and Lower Alps and 3 Austrian provinces (Salzburg, Styria and Upper Austria) share this unique countryside. At our photo stop, we had a wonderful view down St. Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang.

L-R: Kyle, Cheska, Grace and Jandy

Nonnberg Abbey: Nonnberggasse 2, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. Tel: +43 662 841607

Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron: Leopoldskronstraße 56-58, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.

Schloss Hellbrunn: Furstenweg 37, 5020 Salzburg.

The Sound of Music Panorama Tour: Hubert-Sattler-Gasse 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.  Tel: +43 662 883 211-0 and +43 662 874 029

Lake Kayangan (Coron, Palawan)

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Lake Kayangan

Lake Kayangan

After a late lunch and check in at Asia Grand View Hotel, we all boarded our van for the first of two hotel-sponsored activities – an excursion to Lake Kayangan, one of seven enchanting lakes located in the center of Coron Island.  Kayangan is a Tagbanua word meaning “entrance.”  Lake Kayangan is the more popular of two lakes (the other is Barracuda Lake or Luluyuwan Lake) open and accessible to visitors.

Coron Port

Coron Port

L-R - Angelo, the author, Pete, Lindy and Mike (photo: Mike Potenciano)

L-R – Angelo, the author, Pete, Lindy and Mike (photo: Mike Potenciano)

However, before they were opened to the public, a meticulous ritual was performed by the indigenous Tagbanuas to transfer the spirits that are believed to inhabit the place, from Lake Kayangan and Barracuda Lake, to Lake Cabugao. Tagbanuas do not allow visits to the other lakes because they are panyaan (sacred sites) plus they do not want the swiftlet’s (balinsasayaw) nests to be disturbed.

Magnificent limestone karst formations seen along the way

Magnificent limestone karst formations seen along the way

Boat Landing Area

Boat Landing Area

After a short 5-min. drive,we arrived at Coron Port, beside the Coron Public Market, where we boarded a big outrigger boat that would take us to the lagoon.  The boat ride took us 30 mins.

Stairway entrance

Stairway entrance

The climb begins.....

The climb begins…..

Upon arrival at the boat landing area,   we made a short (10-15  min.) but steep and somewhat challenging climb up an uneven, 150-step  paved stairway up a hill to a small cave which is used by Tagbanuas as a shelter during storms.

The cave

The small cave

Cave stalactites

Cave stalactites

Here, we had a breathtaking view of the iconic, awe-inspiring and truly beautiful cove entrance, probably the most photographed site in Coron.  Justifiably, the view from the top is something to look forward to and we took our time taking photographs. From here, it is another 174 steps down to the lake.

The postcard pretty view

The postcard pretty view

Lake Kayangan is a volcanic mountain lake, with crystal-clear, turquoise, brackish and cold, 5-10 m. deep waters hidden among steep and jagged but spectacular and beautiful limestone cliffs.  It is served by a hot spring and has a halocline, a division between the much colder freshwater (70%) and the denser salt water (30%) below, at 14 m..   The lake is a Presidential Hall of Fame Awardee as the cleanest and greenest inland body of water for three consecutive years (1997-1999).

The wooden boardwalk

The wooden boardwalk

Upon arrival at the lake, we stashed our things at a little wooden walkway and platform, donned our mask and snorkel and went for a swim.  Diving is not allowed as the rocks underwater are sharp. Underwater, it was like a moonscape.  I felt like it’s out of this world.  With my snorkel, I saw schools of small (2-3 inches), odd-looking needle nose fish and shrimp swimming about the awesome rock formations.

The crystal clear waters of the lake

The crystal clear waters of the lake

The water does not seem to have any current or waves at all. I am not a qualified free diver with cave experience, but I joined Mike, Libby, Angelo and Ay Lyn as we entered a nice little swim through cave.  Diving is allowed in Barracuda Lake, said to be the home of a solitary, giant barracuda.  The lake is a short 5-10-min. hike along a tricky limestone path to the top.

Inside the swim through cave (photo: Mike Potenciano)

Inside the swim through cave (photo: Mike Potenciano)

The lake water’s varying blues and greens, with the limestone cliffs as backdrop, is just gorgeous. Describing Kayangan Lake as just enchanted is probably an understatement as it is, perhaps, the crown jewel among the best that Coron has to offer. A trip to Coron would not be complete without a visit to Kayangan Lake. Never miss the opportunity to kayak or board a bamboo raft to get to the middle of it. A PhP200 entrance fee, for maintenance, is collected by a Tagbanua guide. Visiting time is 8 AM to 4 PM.

The author

The author

How to Get to Coron: Skyjet Airlines has 4 times weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, 10:30 AM) flights from Manila (NAIA Terminal 4) to Coron (Francisco Reyes Airport).  Travel time is 30 mins.   

Asia Grand View Hotel: Governor’s Ave., Jolo, Brgy. 5, Coron, Palawan.  Tel:(+632) 788-3385. Mobile number: (0999) 881-7848. E-mail: gsd@asiagrandview.com. Manila sales office: Unit 504, Richmonde Plaza, 21 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City.  Tel: (+632) 695-3078 and 531-8380.  Mobile number: (0917) 550-7373 to 75 Fax: (+632) 695-3078.  E-mail: info@asiagrandview.com. Website: www.asiagrandview.com. 

Skyjet Airlines: Manila Domestic Airport, Parking A, Terminal 4, NAIA Complex, Brgy. 191, Pasay City, Metro Manila. Tel: (02) 863-1333. E-mail: sales@skyjetair.com. Website: www.skyjetair.com.

Sumlang Lake (Camalig, Albay)

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After our visit to the Natural Carpet Industries Factory, Brgy. Sumlang Chairman Felipe Noe M. Mapa, Jr. invited us to visit scenic and tourist-friendly Sumlang Lake, Camalig’s newest tourist attraction. To get there, Euden, Lito, Star, Oliver, Ida, Babes, and I rode on an SUV while Nestor, Rommel, George and Alex road on a red pickup as we negotiated the short distance, along a narrow dirt road, to get to the lake.

Sumlang Lake with the partly cloud-shrouded Mt. Mayon in the background

Sumlang Lake with the partly cloud-shrouded Mt. Mayon in the background

Upon arrival, we all sat on bamboo benches under shady coconut trees overlooking the lake, partaking of a merienda of  pinangat sandwiches, langka (jackfruit) and fresh buco.  While dining, we all enjoyed the majestic view of the partly cloud-shrouded perfect cone of Mt. Mayon and observed children flying their kites along the lakeshore.

Boarding our nicely furnished bamboo rafts

Boarding our nicely furnished bamboo rafts

Later, Felipe invited us to go cruising on the lake on board bamboo rafts. Accompanied by boatmen using long poles to move the raft, Mr. Jockey Serrano (of the Albay Provincial Tourism Cultural Affairs Office), Boyet, Ida, Babes, Lito and I boarded the bigger raft while Rommel rode solo on the smaller raft, seated on a woven wicker canopy chair.  The others decided to stay behind.

The smaller bamboo raft with Rommel on board

The smaller bamboo raft with Rommel on board

Crusing the lake on a bamboo raft (photo: Rommel Natanauan)

Cruising the lake on a bamboo raft (photo: Rommel Natanauan)

The raft ride on the placid lake was an experience by itself. On the raft, Jockey, Babes, Lito and I were comfortably seated on rattan armchairs and sofas with soft, white cushions and woven wicker canopies to partly shield us from the heat of the sun. Ida and Boyet tried out the day bed with rattan roofed canopy. A driftwood center table completed the rustic furnishings which are all products of Bicolano creativity and ingenuity.

The pensive Ida enjoying the rustic scenery

The pensive Ida enjoying the rustic scenery

Thus comfortably seated, we enjoyed the rural scenery of coconut, banana and fruit tree plantations; rice fields; water lilies; swimming ducks; grazing cows and occasional, roosting cattle egrets; all with postcard-pretty Mayon Volcano as a backdrop.  The lake is also an ideal spot for fishing as carp, tilapia and dalag (mudfish) abound. 

Lotus flowers

Lotus flowers

Sumlang Lake: Brgy. Sumlag, Camalig, 4502, Albay

Mayor’s Office: Municipal Hall, Poblacion, Camalig, 4502, Albay. Tel.: (052) 484-1965.

Municipal Tourism, Culture and Arts Office: Camalig Tourism  and Pasalubong Center, Brgy. 2, Camalig, Albay.  Mobile number: (0927) 621-3315.  E-mail: camalig_tourism@yahoo.com.

Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO): Albay Tourism Bldg., Albay Astrodome Complex, Capt. F. Aquende Drive, 4500 Legaspi City, Albay.  Tel: (052) 481-0250 and (052) 742-0242. E-mail: albaytourism@yahoo.com and albaytourism@gmail.com.