Category Archives: Recreational Water Activities

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.

Bosphorus Strait Cruise (Istanbul, Turkey)

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Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait

After a 12 hour, 35 min. long flight from NAIA international Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, our Turkish Airline (Flight Number TK265) arrived at Istanbul International Airport by 12:30 PM, Sunday, June 16.

Check out “Istanbul International Airport”

The Touristanbul counter at the Istanbul International Airport

Before visiting Turkey, we obtained an e-visa ($30 per pax) at the www.evisa.gov.tr/ website (check your country’s requirements to see if it is necessary to obtain a visa to enter Turkey). If you are eligible for an e-visa, you may obtain it from the Turkish Airlines Sales / Ticket Desks before or on the day of your departure.

Boarding our Touristanbul bus at the airport

Our connecting international flight to Edinburgh Airport, Scotland was still 18 hours and 45 minutes later so we took advantage of our complimentary Touristanbul service to discover Istanbul, the city that never sleeps, during our layover time. According to the time frame best suited to your flight arrival and departure schedule, we selected the 6:30 PM-11 PM tour, one of the eight carefully arranged and planned tours offered by Touristanbul for those with a layover between six and 24 hours.

BUDO Eminonu Pier

With such an abundance of historical sightseeing spots in Istanbul and too little time to squeeze them all into your short holiday, an unforgettable cruise, between two continents (Asia and Europe) along the 32-km. long Bosphorus Strait (not a river) is probably the most overlooked Istanbul tourist attraction. After our Turkish Airlines connecting international flight landed at İstanbul Airport, we proceeded all the way through into international arrivals (past baggage claim), turned right and walk to the end of the hall to TourIstanbul, opposite of the arrival hall of the Turkish Airlines and opposite the passport control at the Transfer Desk.

Boarding the Naral Istanbul

Upon arrival, we all signed up for the free Touristanbul tour at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of İstanbul Airport (you can also sign up at the Touristanbul Desk Office in the Transfer desk area), using our ticket number issued by Turkish Airlines ticket number starting 235, and got a ticket for the queue.  Istanbul Airport only provides one-hour free wi-fi to fliers that are in the Departure Area.

Paula, Selena, Jandy and Grace on board the Naral Istanbul

The author (right) with Jandy and Grace (photo: Selena Sta. Maria)

Touristanbul is available for Turkish Airlines’ flights, including code share flights. There is no hotel offered. If a guest is unable to make their flight, in cases that are their responsibility, they will ensure that the passenger reaches their destination smoothly via the next flight.

Galata Bridge, the fifth on the same site, was built in 1994. The bridge was named after Galata (the former name for Karaköy) on the northern shore of the Golden Horn. This bascule bridge is 490 m. (1,610 ft.) long with a main span of 80 m. (260 ft.). The deck of the bridge is 42 m. (138 ft.) wide and has two vehicular lanes and one walkway in each direction. Tram tracks running down the middle of it allow the T1 tram to run from Bağcılar, in the western suburbs to Kabataş, a few blocks away from Dolmabahçe Palace.

After signing up and booking our tour, we were picked up by a friendly and well-informed guide named Eray and boarded an airconditioned tourist bus with about 40 other guests. Before joining the tour, we stored our heavy luggage at the luggage office next to the hotel desk ($18 per piece) and just brought our hand-carried bags with us which were stored in the boot of the bus.  The 42.2-km. bus ride, from the airport to the boat landing near the Golden Horn Metro Bridge, took us around 45 mins.

Bosphorus Bridge, the oldest and southernmost of the three suspension bridges spanning the Bosphorus strait, is a gravity-anchored suspension bridge with steel towers and inclined hangers. The aerodynamic deck hangs on steel cables. The bridge is 1,560 m. (5,118 ft.) long, with a deck width of 33.40 m. (110 ft.). The distance between the towers (main span) is 1,074 m. (3,524 ft.) and the total height of the towers is 165 m. (541 ft.). The clearance of the bridge, from sea level, is 64 m. (210 ft.).

The tour covers a lot of territory.  During this unforgettable, two-hour tour experience on board the 24 m. long and 7 m. wide pleasure craft Naral Istanbul, cruising at an average speed of 7.2 knots, having a fabulous view of the legendary Bosphorus Strait and saw some of Istanbul’s most notable and iconic historical sites, structures and monuments. Its rolling hills are covered with a mix of ancient and modern architecture, all of them overlooking the water.

The Maiden’s Tower between Europe and Asia

The Maiden’s Tower (Kiz Kulesi), built in 1725 0n a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus Strait, between the European and Asian sides, is one of the landmarks and most storied structures of Istanbul.

Maiden’s Tower, a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 200 m. (220 yds.) from the coast of Üsküdar, has a café and restaurant with views of the former Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman capital at Sarayburnu. Private boats ply back and forth between the tower and the shore throughout the day. The tower appeared on the reverse of the Turkish 10 lira banknote from 1966 to 1981.

Formerly an observation terrace, a tax collection area for merchants, a hospital and a lighthouse, it now houses a café and restaurant. Recently, it was featured in the 1999 James Bond film The World is Not Enough. From 1966 t0 1981, the tower also appeared on the reverse side of the Turkish 10 lira banknote.

Hatice Sultan Mansion, a historical yalı (waterside mansion) located at Bosporus, in the Ortaköy neighborhood, was named after its original owner Hatice Sultan. It is used today as a water sports club’s building.

Naime Sultan Yalisi was given to Sultan Abdul Hamid II’s favorite daughter Naime upon her marriage to Mehmed Kemaleddin Bey in 1898.

The Bosphorus Strait is home to many beautiful and historical mansions (yalilar).  Many designed by members of the Balyan family (Armenian architects for the Ottoman court for five generations), they are considered an important cultural heritage of Istanbul.   Of the original 600 mansions, about 360 are still standing, with 150 preserved in their original form, each reflecting a particular era and architectural style.

Dolmabahce Palace was home to six Sultans from 1856, when it was first inhabited, up until the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924: The last royal to live here was Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi. A law that went into effect on March 3, 1924, transferred the ownership of the palace to the national heritage of the new Turkish Republic.

Gracing the edges of the Bosphorus Strait, on the European side, is the beautiful and elegant Dolmabahce Palace, the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire (from 1856 to 1887 and from 1909 to 1922), was built from 1843 and 1856 and was home to the Sultan up to the end of the Ottoman Empire.

Beylerbeyi Palace, an imperial Ottoman summer residence built between 1861 and 1865, is now situated immediately north of the first Bosphorus Bridge. It was the last place where Sultan Abdulhamid II was under house arrest before his death in 1918.

The Beylerbeyi Palace, at the Asian side, is an imperial Ottoman summer residence built between 1861 and 1865.  Designed in the Second Empire style by Sarkis Balyan, it is now a museum.

Ciragan Palace, built by Sultan Abdulaziz to replace the old Çırağan Palace which was at the same location, was designed by the Armenian palace architect Nigoğayos Balyan and constructed by his sons Sarkis and Hagop Balyan between 1863 and 1867. It is now a five-star hotel in the Kempinski Hotels chain.

Four Seasons Istanbul Hotel, formerly the Atik Pasha Palace, is a renovated 19th century Ottoman palace that sits on the European bank of the Bosphorus Strait. Now a hotel with 170 guestrooms and suites, it has magnificent views of the hills of Asia.

Former 19th century Ottoman palaces, on the European side of the Bosphorus, that have been renovated and converted into hotels include the five-star, 317-room Ciragan Palace Kempink and the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul. On the other hand, the Shangri-la Bosporus is a restored 1930s tobacco warehouse with a Neo-Classical façade.

Shangri-la Istanbul Hotel, located between Dolmabahce Palace and Naval Museum on the European coast of the Bosphorus, emulates a modern art museum, showcasing more than 1,000 European and Asian pieces.

The city continues its long history as the center of architecture as diverse and rich as its past, with new buildings also being built upon the ancient landscape. The 400,000 sq. m. Galataport Istanbul, a world-class, innovative underground cruise ship port stretching 1.2 kms. along the coastline, is a mixed-use development housing around 250 shops and restaurants, a Peninsula hotel and other cultural and entertainment facilities.

Galataport has space for three large cruise ships to dock side by side behind specially designed screens that rise to ensure that no one can leave the ships without passing through the Customs and Immigration facilities but that are retracted when no ships are in port. Customs and Immigration facilities are located underground, with most of the overground space taken up by shops, restaurants and offices.

Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, inaugurated on December 11, 2004, it is Turkey’s first modern and contemporary art gallery. Focusing on Turkish artists, it is a private venture under the umbrella of the nonprofit Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts.

It also incorporates the Istanbul Modern Art Museum (designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano along the waterfront zone of Karaköy, it was opened last May 2023), the İstanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum of the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and the restored Paket Postanesi (Parcel Post Office), now a symbol of Galataport.

Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, established on January 1, 1882 under the leadership of Osman Hamdi Bey, as the College of Fine Arts, the Ottoman Empire’s first educational institution for fine arts and architecture.

Parcel Post Office (Paket Postanesi), built from 1905 to 1911, was designed by engineer S. Saboureaux. It is one of the oldest structures of the port area and one of the finest in the city with its characteristic slate dome and roof, unique spaces and facades. The restored Post Office, now featuring 73 boutique stores facing the interior and exterior courtyards, has a 180-m. long coastline overlooking the historical peninsula.

Atop Little Camlica Hill in Uskudar is the futuristic, 369 m. high (221 m. of which is a 49-storey reinforced concrete structure with 18 m. below ground) Camlica TV and Radio Tower, the highest structure in Istanbul.

The Camlica Radio and TV Tower has panoramic elevators rising from the ground floor to the top floor. Located on both sides of the main building, these elevators symbolize the Bosphorus, which both separates and integrates the Asian and European continents.

Completed in 2020, this telecommunications tower has observation decks and restaurants.  Designed by Melike Altinisik Architects (MMA) firm, the building was inspired by the tulip flower, a symbol of the Turks during the Ottoman period

The 936 m. long, €146.7 million Golden Horn Metro Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge carrying the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro, is the fourth bridge across the Golden Horn. Entering service on February 15, 2014, its eventual design pays homage to the city’s maritime heritage with support towers shaped to look like horns and hull-shaped supports for the platforms..

The cruise also passed by some of the iconic bridges spanning the Bosphorus River.  The 490 meter long and 80 meter wide Galata Bridge, the fifth on the site, is a bascule bridge completed in December 1994. At the underside of the bridge are a string of restaurants.  The 1,560 meter long and 33.4 meter wide Bosphorus Bridge (officially known as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge), the oldest and southernmost of the three suspension bridges spanning the strait, was completed in 1973.  Underneath it is the Ortakoy Mosque.

The Golden Horn Metro Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge carrying the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro across the Golden Horn, connects Karaköy and Küçükpazarı on the European side of Istanbul. The bridge enables a direct connection between Hacıosman metro station in the Sarıyer district (at the northern end of the M2 line), and the Yenikapı transport hub in the Fatih district (at the southern end of the M2 line.).

Ortakoy Mosque with the Bosphorus Bridge behind it. The mosque was designed in a mixed or eclectic style incorporating contemporary European Revivalist trends such as Neoclassical, along with some details and overall design elements drawn from the earlier Ottoman Baroque style.

Completed around 1854 or 1856, it was designed by the father-and–son team of Garabet and Nikogos Bayan (who also designed the aforementioned nearby Dolmabahce Palace).  It is distinguished from other mosques of the period by its particularly ornate stone-carved decoration.

Besktas Anatolian High School, located on the European side of Istanbul, is one of the best schools in Turkey. Built for Abdulaziz in 1871, the building was an addition to the Çırağan Palace and later used as a harem room.

Another of the best known sights of Istanbul is the Suleymaniye Mosque, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture and the largest Ottoman-era mosque in the city.  From its location on the Third Hill, it commands an extensive view of the city around the Golden Horn.

The iconic Blue Mosque and its six minarets. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1985 under the name of “Historic Areas of Istanbul,” it was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today.

The iconic Blue Mosque, another popular monument of Ottoman architecture built between 1609 and 1617, is the second mosque in the world, after Mecca, with six minarets.

Suleymaniye Mosque, commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520–1566), was designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan. One of the best-known sights of Istanbul, from its location on the Third Hill, it commands an extensive view of the city around the Golden Horn. Considered a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, it is one of Mimar Sinan’s greatest works and is the largest Ottoman-era mosque in the city.

Many schools, colleges and universities are also located along the banks of the Bosphorus Strait. They include the Kabatas Boys’ High School (one of the oldest and most prominent high schools in Turkey), Galatasaray University (widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and notable universities in Turkey), Besiktas Anatolian High School (one of the best schools in Turkey), and Kuleli Military High School (the oldest military high school in Turkey).

Kabatas Boys’ High School. one of the oldest and most prominent high schools in Turkey, was established in 1908 by the Ottoman sultan Abdulhamid II.

T.C. Galatasaray University, built in 1871, during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, was designed by Ottoman Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan. The building was used as a dormitory for the female students of the Galatasaray High School until 1992, when it was inaugurated as the Galatasaray University.

Normally, guests also experience a taste of the city by sampling a traditional and authentic Turkish and Ottoman cuisine at an elegant restaurant (depending on the time you choose, you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner but, in our case, we had dinner) but this wasn’t available so, instead, we had our dinner of a Turkish crepe (washed down with soda) on board our coach. After finishing our dinner, we were driven back to Istanbul International Airport.

Kuleli Military High School, the oldest military high school in Turkey, is located in Çengelköy, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus strait. It was founded on September 21, 1845, by Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I.

Touristanbul: E-mail: touristanbul@thy.com. Website: www.touristanbul.com

Ilagan Sanctuary (City of Ilagan, Isabela)

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Members of media at Ilagan Sanctuary (photo: George Buid)

From Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc., it was just a short 4.7-km. (6-min.) drive to the the 200-hectare Ilagan Sanctuary which we were to explore and have lunch.

Check out “Sagittarian Agricultural Philippines, Inc.”

The author at Serenity Hill Calvary.  Behind is the giant steel cross

Part of 819-hectare Fuyot Springs National Park (which extends from the City of Ilagan to Tumauini), it is the most visited spot in the City of Ilagan.  Located along the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range, it was developed in 2004 and offers every ecotourism activity imaginable.

The pavilion

Most of these developments were completed in the early 2009 through the initiative of Ilagan Mayor Jose Marie L. Diaz.

Chinese Temple

Capilla de la Serenidad

Muslim Mosque

Under the program, 28 locally-based, non-government organizations signed a memorandum of agreement, where they pledged to take responsibility for the sanctuary’s protection, maintenance and preservation.

The giant concrete rosary laid on the grass

Grotto of the Virgin Mary

Other government and national agencies were also rallied to help with the place’s conservation.

Choo Choo Train

Golf Cart

At the parking area, located just outside the gate, we proceeded to the pavilion near Serenity Hill Calvary (Prayer Mountain), with its serene views and peaceful surroundings. Serenity Hill has 14 Stations of the Cross, a Grotto of the Virgin Mary, a giant steel cross and a large rosary, made of concrete, laid on the grass.

Elvie, Amadis, Ann and Mich on board an open-sided cable car

It also has places of worship such as a quaint chapel (Capilla de la Serenidad) for Catholics, a mosque for Muslims and an ornate temple offering a glimpse into traditions and beliefs of Chinese Buddhists.

Ilagan Sanctuary Map

Other attractions inside the Ilagan Sanctuary include a number of natural parks (Willow Brookside Park, Scented Gardens Park, Rain Forest Park and Hidden Springs Falls Park), Butterfly Park, Animal Kingdom (a mini zoo), fish pond (with Nile tilapia), swimming pools, picnic huts, Sta. Victoria Caves and a natural spring pool.

Exploring Sta.Victoria Caves

Aside from these things, the sanctuary also offers an environmental school (where you can listen to lectures, receive certificates and get seedlings to plant), a botanical garden and a herbal plantation.

Convention Hall

Members of our media group tried out a number of the activities offered.  Azrael, Cris, Mia and photographers John and George, and I tried out the Tree Top Adventure and did some spelunking at Sta. Victoria Caves; Nicole tried out horseback riding within a horse trail; Lea and Minerva braved the bike zip at the boating area, beside the swimming pool; and Rosary, Elvira, Amadis, Ann, Mich, Roel and Minerva did some sightseeing on board a cable car.

Gazebos

After spelunking, Azrael and Mia cooled off at the swimming pool while Minerva, George and John went go carting.  After all these activities, we had our lunch, al fresco style, at picnic tables near the fish pond.

Check out “Ilagan Sanctuary: Tree Top Adventure and Sta. Victoria Caves”

Climbing Wall and Cable Car Station

Other activities inside the sanctuary include bird viewing, wall climbing & rappelling on a 50-ft. high wall, boating or kayaking (in a man-made lake), ziplining, and biking. Some activities in the sanctuary will require you to ride on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) at a clearing, at the edge of the park. A 1.5-km. hike, open for guests, to Pinzal Falls, takes about half an hour.

Fish Pond

Two 350 m. long, 700 ft. high, thrilling ziplines, said to be the fastest (you travel at 80 kms. per hour) in the country, were inaugurated last May 2012 (the 326th founding anniversary of the province). You have to climb 250 steps up a hill and the ride takes about a minute long. Participants have to don a helmet and harness.

Swimming Pool

Animal Kingdom, a zoo, houses a variety of animals such as two Bengal tigers (brought here when they were cubs), wild boar (locally called alingo), ostriches, exotic birds, an eagle, graceful deer, snakes, playful long-tailed macaques, an Asian palm civet (locally called mutit or musang in Ilocano), sheep and three Philippine freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus mindorensis). A 120-kg., 17-year old female reticulated python (the world’s longest snake) named Maria Jesusa can be caressed and carried by 10 people.

 

Bengal Tiger at Animal Kingdom

For those who want to stay overnight, there’s a Family Cottage (Php4,000, for 8 pax) and a Couple Cottage (Php3,000 for 5 pax). Extra Bed is Php500/pax.  You can also rent the Administration Building,  with 2 airconditioned rooms, conference table, toilet  and living area, for Php5,000.

Lea and Minerva bike zipping

Rates:

  • Zipbike – Php150/pax
  • Zipline and Cable Car – Php250/pax
  • Horseback Riding – Php300/30 mins.
  • E-Bike – Php250/30 mins.
  • E-Scooter – Php250/30 mins.
  • Kiddie Bikes Php150/10 mins.
  • Kiddie Scooter – Php20/30 mins.
  • Cable Car – Php100/pax
  • Tiger Petting – Php150/pax
  • Fish/Pigeon Feeding – Php10
  • Bouncing Animals – Php10/30 mins.
  • Swan Boat – Php200/boat for 30 mins.
  • Motorized Boat – Php300/boat for 30 mins.
  • Fishing Rod (red tilapia) – Php50 (unlimited time)
  • Go Cart – Php150/10 mins., Php200/20 mins.
  • Golf Cart – Php350/30 mins.

Minerva on a Go Cart

Packages (inclusive of entrance fee):

  • All Rides – Php1,200
  • Adventure Rides – Php500 (cable car, zipline, zip bike, horseback riding)
  • Water Adventure – Php500 (swan boat, motorized boat)
  • Land Rides – Php600 (E-Bike, E-Scooter, Golf Cart, Go Cart)

Boating Lagoon

Rental Fees:

  • Gazebo (2 x 2 m.) – Php200
  • Gazebo (2.5 5 m.) – Php250
  • Gazebo (2 x 3 m.) – Php300
  • Gazebo (3 x 3 m.) – Php500
  • Bulwagan (near zipline are) – Php3,000
  • Pavilion(near Prayer Mountain) – Php3,000
  • Sound System – Php2,000
  • Tables – Php60/piece
  • Chairs – Php20/piece
  • Exclusive use of Children’s Playground – Php4,000
  • Function Hall (near Children’s Playground) – Php3,000/day 

Nicole on horseback

Filming Fees

  • Movie/Video Documentary – Php3,000 (8 hours)
  • Pictorial (Rentals) – Php1,500 (pre-nup and other pictorials with 4-hour use of 1 cottage, additional Php100 for every succeeding hour, couple entrance is free)

Mia and Cris crossing a hanging bridge at Treetop Adventure

Ilagan Sanctuary: Junction National Highway/Sta. Victoria Rd., Brgy. San Andres, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Open 8 AM to 6 PM (Mondays to Thursdays) and 8 AM to 10 PM (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).  Admission: Php150 (adults), Php135 (sister municipalities), Php130 (Ilaguenos  and solo parents), Php120 (senior citizens and children) and Php250 (child with guardian). The parking area is located just outside the gate and golf cart and trains brings you, from the gate, to any point in the sanctuary.  A choo-choo train carries passengers from the zipline  area into the Animal Kingdom, passing through flowering shrubs.

City Tourism Office: 2/F, City Hall Bldg., 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 624-1511. E-mail: tourism@cityofilagan.gov.ph.

City of Ilagan Tourist Information and Assistance Center: Bonifacio Park, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 324-7769.  E-mail: ilaganinfocenter@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Tourism Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-3146.  Mobile number: (0917) 317-3820.  E-mail: isabelatourismoffice@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Information Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-0248.  Mobile number: (0927) 395-7555.  E-mail: letters_info@yahoo.com.

How to Get There: The City of Ilagan is located 429.3 kms. (an 8-hour drive) from Manila and 35.5 kms. (a 1-hour drive) from Cauayan City. The park is located 9.3 kms. from the City of Ilagan. Take a ride on a northbound bus, a jeepney or a van and alight at the junction, where you can then hire a tricycle to take you to the sanctuary.

Abuan River Adventure and Eco Park (City of Ilagan, Isabela)

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The author at the Abuan River Adventure and Eco Park

On the morning of our fifth day of our stay in the City of Ilagan, we visited one of the gems of Isabela – the newly-rehabilitated Abuan River Adventure and Eco Park.

The Abuan River as seen from the viewpoint

Located at the eastern part of the city, it is a favorite place for villagers and tourists who do picnicking, whitewater rafting (it is said to be the nation’s next big whitewater destination), rappelling, waterfalls trekking, hiking, scaling cliffs and falls, swimming, rafting, kayaking and other water activities. It is part of the vision of the City Government of Ilagan to be a livable city by 2030.

Media group at Abuan River Adventure and Eco Park (photos: Azrael Coladilla)

The beautiful, crowd-drawing, 65 km. long  and pristine Abuan River, the clearest river in the province, is located 82 m. above sea level, at the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (considered one of the most important of the protected areas system of the Philippines), where one of the widest remaining tropical rainforest, rich in flora and fauna (like Philippine hawks, crocodiles and eagles), in the island of Luzon, can be found.

Its cold, crystal clear water is an essential conduit channel inside the 50,625-hectare Abuan Watershed and the water from the stream is used in water irrigation for the crops and rice fields in the province..

A standing pedalboard and plastic kayaks and a boat

A number of pedal boats, a plastic kayak and and a crystal-clear kayak

In the past, it was once regarded, by the Department of Interior and Local Government, as the “cleanest river” in Cagayan Valley in the 1990s but deforestation, due to illegal logging, poaching, charcoal production activities and land conversion, has led to the loss of ecosystem services in the Abuan watershed which could displace almost 130,000 families living near the river.

It now provides a wellspring of work and alternative livelihood to past loggers and timber haulers, otherwise called bugadores in layman’s term.  Local people such as some Agtas living near the tourist spot were also hired as life guards and tourist guides while others maintain the cleanliness around the park.

The big all-terrain vehicle (ATV) we rode getting up to the viewpoint

The viewpoint

Periodic cleanup and rehabilitation is done, the last starting on January 9, 2024, when the river was closed, as many people, who have flocked to the area, have been polluting the river with garbage and other waste.  Upon the recommendation of the World Wide Fund and urban planner Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox, for almost a month, it was rehabilitated by City Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz who had the river dredged and installed riprapping along the river banks.  Additional facilities for water adventure rides like kayaks, boats, pedalboats, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were also provided.  The park was reopened on March 11, 2024.

The wind farm

View of the Ilagan countryside

The 23 blue and white houses of the local government-funded resettlement area for the Agta who  were hired as lifeguards and tourist guides

Using one of the big ATVs, we were brought up, along a dirt road, up to the viewpoint where we had a bird’s eye view of the Abuan River, the 23 blue-colored houses of the local government-funded resettlement area for the Agta, and the rest of the Ilagan countryside. Further up, at the highest point of the hill, is a wind farm with another view deck called Pagwanawananti Ilagan (Ilagan Watchtower).

Boat ride along the Abuan River

The swimming area

Back at the river, we boarded boats, piloted by former bugadores, and bought, past rock formations, to a shallow swimming area with a quite strong current.  Here, we dipped our bodies in the cool, crystal-clears waters. Later, Cris, Mich, Sydney, Lea and Ann tried out jetskiing.

Mich, Elvie, the author, Ann and Leony cooling down (photo: Nicole Paler)

Back at the cool shade underneath the Abuan Bridge, we feasted on sweet corn, sandwiches, sliced watermelon  and halo-halo (Php20 each) before returning to our hotel for a late lunch.

Lea enjoying her jetski ride (photo: George Buid)

Abuan River Adventure and Eco Park:Sitio Bintacan, Brgy. Cabisera 10, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Admission: Php45.

Rates:

  • Cottages: Php500 for 3 x 3 m., Php300 for 2.5 x 2 m.
  • Canopy (280 x 480): Php500
  • Umbrella: Php150
  • Pedal boating: Php150 for 30 mins.
  • Boating: Php200 for 45 mins., maximum of 8 pax
  • Kayaking: Php150 for 30 mins.
  • Crystal-clear kayaking: Php150
  • Paragliding (15 mins.): Php2,500
  • Paramotor (15 mins.): Php2,500
  • Jetski (15 mins.): Php1,200
  • Motorboat (15 mins., maximum of 6 pax): Php500
  • Water tubing (maximum of 6 pax): Php500
  • All-terrain vehicles (ATV): Php250 (small, 15 mins.), Php400 (small, 30 mins.), Php300 (big, 15 mins.) and Php500 (big, 30 mins.)

City Tourism Office: 2/F, City Hall Bldg., 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 624-1511. E-mail: tourism@cityofilagan.gov.ph.

City of Ilagan Tourist Information and Assistance Center: Bonifacio Park, 3300 City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 324-7769.  E-mail: ilaganinfocenter@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Tourism Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-3146.  Mobile number: (0917) 317-3820.  E-mail: isabelatourismoffice@gmail.com.

Isabela Provincial Information Office: Provincial Capitol Complex, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel: (078) 323-0248.  Mobile number: (0927) 395-7555.  E-mail: letters_info@yahoo.com.

How to Get There: The City of Ilagan is located 429.3 kms. (an 8-hour drive) from Manila and 35.5 kms. (a 1-hour drive) from Cauayan City.

Garry Point Park (Richmond, British Columbia, Canada)

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Garry Point Park

This 30-hectare (75-acre) Garry Point Park, a public open-air coastal park situated on the Sturgeon Banks of  the Fraser River, was opened in 1989. This popular picnic destination, at the southwestern side of Richmond, near Steveston, is fringed by a sandy, log-strewn shimmering and expansive waterfront, the park’s main appeal. Located next to the Salish Sea, it offers gorgeous and relaxing panoramic views of the Fraser River’s South Arm; the low-rise silhouettes of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands and the sunset from across the water.

The park’s southern edge has a string of small, log-strewn sandy beaches backed by tangles of driftwood logs where you can sit and watch the fishing boats, tugs and pleasure vessels coming in and out through the fast-moving waters of the Steveston Harbor.

It features a modern sculpture (Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial), a Japanese garden (Kuno Garden), beach access, good washrooms, a picnic area and plenty of benches. The area was used as a location for filming of the Netflix series Midnight Mass.

The gently rolling grassy areas of Garry Point’s are also ideal for spreading out an impromptu picnic blanket. At the eastern edge of the park are two seasonal concession stand counters -Timothy’s Frozen Yogurt (for sweet treats) and local legend  Pajo’s (serves delicious fish and chips).

The park’s understated flora includes colorful bluebells, vibrant azaleas and, every April, the park’s Cherry Tree Garden, undertaken in 2000 during the 35th anniversary of the friendship of the cities of Wakayama, Japan and Richmond, British Columbia.  It features more than 250 carefully cultivated cherry trees that form a canopy over a walkway, making this a magnet for cherry blossom fans. During Garry Point’s annual Pacific Rim Kite Festival, in June, you can watch and kite flying, typically flown from a buggy or a board, taking full advantage of the unobstructed breezes.

Dogs are allowed in the park, but they must be leashed; and feeding wildlife and picking plants is not permitted. Dotted around the park are several well-written plaques, some with excellent black and white photos that transport you right back to the Richmond of yesteryear.

Kuno Japanese Garden

Near the entrance of the park is Kuno Garden, a Japanese garden established in 1989 by the local Japanese community in celebration of the centenary of Gihei Kuno, the first Japanese immigrant from Wakayama, Japan who arrived here in 1888, one of many thousands who fuelled Steveston’s fishing industry.

Donated to the city as a part of the centennial project, it is filled with Japanese horticultural features, symbolic stone structures, lantern and rock carefully placed to achieve the ultimate state of Zen.

Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial

The striking, 25-ft. high, aluminum, bronze and stone Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial, towering over the waterfront, recalls the importance of fishing. Shaped like a giant fishing net needle, it’s a stirring public art reminder of those who have been injured or lost their lives to the industry over the years. Its base is engraved with the names of hundreds of fishermen who lost their lives for their communities. Created by artists George Juhasz and Georg Schmerholz, it was unveiled to the public in 1996.

Along the park’s circuit trail is Scotch Pond, a historic moorage site on the north end of the park that is an evocative reminder of the past.  Home of the Scottish Canadian Cannery, it is one of more than a dozen similar operations that once dotted the Steveston shoreline. Built in 1899, there are still remnants of the raised wooden walkway that once led across the water to this cannery as well as a large, barn-like structure, on piles, that  once housed a busy, family-run boatworks that was constructed here in 1905

Garry Point Park: 12011 Seventh Ave., Richmond, British Columbia V7E 4X2. Open 2 hours.  Tel: (604) 244-1208.

How to Get There: Garry Point Park is a short stroll from the centre of Steveston Village; reach it on foot via a wide walkway that runs alongside the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site. Steveston is easily reached by public transit.

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.).

Deep Cove (North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

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Deep Cove

On afternoon of our 2th day in Vancouver, our whole family drove to Deep Cove to again escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a more relaxed, rural vibe.  Formerly known as Deepwater, this small but beautiful and picturesque local, waterfront-oriented West Coast village centre at the far eastern edge of the District of North Vancouver, within Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park (formerly called Indian Arm Park), was just a short and easy, 15-km. (25-min.) drive away from our place.

Panorama Park

As it was a weekend, Panorama Park, a picnic shelter, large grassy lawns on a hill and a popular children’s play area slightly to the north of the shops and restaurants, was packed and it was some time before we found a parking spot as well as a suitable, shady spot on the grass for our late picnic lunch.

Picnicking at Panorama Park

Bounded by the Seymour community to the west, and the wilderness forests of the North Shore mountains, Deep Cove, is on the southern end of the Indian Arm, (its proper First Nation’s name is Sleilwaut or Səl̓ilw̓ət), the southernmost glacial fiord in Canada which is over 20 kms. (12 mi.) long. And if you head just a few kilometers (1.8 mi.) further south, you’ll hit the Burrard Inlet which separates the city of Vancouver from North Vancouver.

Deep Cove Marina

Home to world-class recreation opportunities for locals and visitors alike, it is one of the most scenic spots in the Lower Mainland and is one of the few in Indian Arm which has both a sheltering shape and the shallow bottom required for overnight anchorage of pleasure vessels. The Deep Cove area includes, besides Deep Cove village, Cove Cliff, Dollarton, and Indian Arm neighborhoods.

Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Center

Deep Cove (or simply “The Cove” as the locals say it), home to some of North Vancouver’s and the entire Lower Mainland’s most expensive real estate, is a wonderful place for walks and hikes or simply to enjoy the views, with a couple of nice parks along the waterfront which, on Friday evenings in the summer, plays host to free live music concerts.  The village’s “downtown” consists primarily of a single street lined with restaurants, an ice cream parlor or two, coffee shops, unique boutiques and galleries.

Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Center

Deep Cove is host to a number of interesting events each year, including the following:

  • Penguin Plunge– a New Year’s swim outdoors in the frigid waters takes place every January 1st in the early afternoon. About 300 participants take part each year, with many of them in costumes.
  • Summer Concerts at Panorama Park– free live outdoor concerts take place in the village on Friday evenings in the summer. (Similar concerts are offered elsewhere in North Vancouver on the same day as well, including in Lynn Valley and Edgemont Village.)
  • Carol Ships Shoreline Celebration– a winter holiday event with a community bonfire, music and boats with Christmas lights in December.

Kayaks by the beach

You’ll also be hard pressed to find a better place to do kayaking, boating, canoeing or stand up paddle boarding and, since we also brought the two inflatable paddleboards, Bryan and Kyle did stand up paddleboarding up Indian Arm at the sheltered bay (also called Deep Cove).  As it was summer, there were also kayaks, paddle boards and canoes that can be rented at a rental shop (Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Center) to the south. Beyond is more parkland.

Bryan and Kyle on their inflatable paddle board

Deep Cove’s sandy beach was small but nice for swimming. In town, a paved pathway runs all along the water, with Deep Cove’s pier and the marina in the middle.

Deep Cove: District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

How to Get There: From Vancouver, take the #211 bus from Burrard Station in central downtown.  The trip takes about 50 minutes in total.

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.

Subic Pink Sand Beach (Matnog, Sorsogon)

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Subic Pink Sand Beach

Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour

After our enjoyable tour of Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary on Juag Island, we again boarded or boat for the short 20-min. ride to Calintaan Island. On this island is pristine Subic Beach (locally called “La Playa Rosa”), one of two places in Sorsogon (the other is Tikling Island) with sand that has a pinkish hue. This is due to a combination of creamy white sand with crushed organ pipe coral (Tubipora musica).

Check out “Juag Lagoon Fish Santuary“

Calintaan Island

There are actually two adjacent Subic beaches – the quieter and less developed Subic Liit (Little Subic) and a longer stretch called Subic Laki or Subic Dako (Big Subic), both separated by a short stretch of land.

Landfall at Subic Dako Beach

We landed at the latter, the more popular of the two due to the presence of basic amenities that allow visitors to rent native-style nipa huts with anahaw roofing for day use (Php400), pitch tents and cook their own food.There are also sari-sari stores and grilling stations.   Potable water is also available. 

There are also two or three resorts (the best is Holy Trinity Beach Resort which has airconditioned rooms and a swimming pool) for overnight stays, .   Calintaan Island  has electricity thanks to a wired connection with Matnog town in the mainland.

We stayed at this so-called “Boracay of Matnog” for about 45 mins., swimming its calm and crystal-clear waters or just taking pictures as we enjoyed its beauty. You can also snorkel here (bring your own snorkeling gear).

Picnic huts

Too bad we didn’t have time to explore the hidden lagoon at the back of the beach and the old lighthouse (parola).  Despite recent developments on this beach, it still retains its pristine charm and it is my hope that it would remain that way in the future.  Truly, it was a picture-perfect example of a tropical island paradise.

Rustic accommodations

More modern, airconditioned accommodations

Back at our boats, we proceeded to Murong Burongan Island where we were to have lunch.  About 10 mins. into our trip, we passed by Calintaan Cave, a small cave opening into a one-of-a-kind cove, amidst cliffs at the southeastern end of the island, with green vegetation and a flat, grassy terrain with coconut trees.  A great site for snorkeling, under ideal conditions you can enter the cave.

Check out “Murong Burongan Island Resort”

Calintaan Cave

Subic Beach, Calintaan Island, Brgy. Calintaan, Matnog 4708, Sorsogon.

How to Get There: Matnog is located 575.9 kms. (a 13.25–hr. drive) from Manila and 61.2 kms. (a 1–hr. drive) from Sorsogon City, both via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26..

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

Matnog Tourism, Culture and Arts Office: Brgy. Camcaman, Matnog 4708, Sorsogon. Mobile number: (097) 231-8168. Facebook: www.facebook.com/Matnog Tourism.  Fees: Environmental Fee: Php20/pax and Php16 (senior citizens). Registration Fee: Php320 (foreigners), Php70 (locals) and Php40 (senior citizens).

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

Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary (Matnog, Sorsogon)

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Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary

Part of Sorsogon Countryside Tour

After breakfast and checking out at Residencia del Hamor Casiguran, we again boarded our coaster for 56.4-km. (1-hr.) drive to Matnog Port, the jump off point to the southern Philippines and vice-versa. From here, we were to explore the three of the town’s outlying islands – Juag Island  Calintaan Island and Murong Burongan Island.

Check out “Hotel and Inn Review: Residencia del Hamor Casiguran”

Matnog Tourism Office

Upon arrival at Matnog Tourism Office, we had to first register ourselves.  Then, we attended a 5-min. briefing (on proper waste disposal and the importance of keeping the beach clean) before boarding our respective motorized outrigger boats at Matnog Port. There were seven of us plus two boatmen and a security escort. Our first destination was to be Juag Island where the Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary is located. The boat trip from the port to the island took about 20 mins. and, as we neared the island, we were greeted by a stunning scenery of white sand beaches, mangrove tress and coconut trees.

Matnog Port

Privately owned and maintained (by the Geneblazo family headed by Mr. Alex Geneblazo, Juag Island has an area of 572 sq. m. and is home to 40 fish species.  It was started in 2000 with a few pairs of bangus (milkfish) fed with seaweed.

The author (right) with is companions

Despite being privately owned, the family decided to open it up to the public to educate and entertain, thereby contributing towards the conservation of aquatic species and marine environment by protecting several aquatic animals and plants in a sanctuary.

Making landfall at Juag Island

Residing on the shore of the sanctuary, he and his family are and have made great efforts in providing the marine creatures with a healthy habitat and environment to grow and multiply. The Geneblazo family does not charge an entrance fee to the property but donations for the maintenance of the sanctuary are very welcome.

The ladies at the first platform

The sanctuary, nothing like a fish farm, aims to make people aware of as well as to protect and conserve aquatic life, helping tourists understand the importance of marine biodiversity.  It prides itself with a wide variety of beautiful marine animals and aquatic species.

Transferring to the second platform via bamboo raft

To protect the variety of species enclosures of bamboo are built inside which the species move freely in herds. Each enclosure holds different aquatic creatures that are raised by Sir Alex and his family, along with their caretakers. Touring the sanctuary made us experience the significance of protecting the beautiful marine life.

The author (left) with the others at the second platform

The first bamboo platform is used for briefing the visitors on what not to do while exploring the sanctuary. Here, we got to view underwater coral fishes, reefs and other aquatic weeds and plants.

View of the fish from above ……

No diving is allowed since it might distract the fishes but visitors are allowed to swim with the fishes as long as the influx of travelers is controlled. They allow tourists to go there by batch.  Here, we got to feed the fish with fish pellets, small fish and bread.

When it was our group’s turn, we hopped on this bamboo raft and, guided by ropes, crossed the sanctuary leading, from the owners’ hut, into a second bamboo platform  on stilts in the middle.

Fish feeding time

This platform contained the real giants of Juag – namely large baraka/lapu-lapu (brown marble grouper), mameng (Napoleon wrasse) and mamsa/talakitok (trevally or big-eyed jack) as well as bangus (milkfish), dugso (long nose emperor), saploran/maya-maya (emperor red snapper), loro/kalolong (parrotfish), pasingko/maynila (Goldman sweetlips), bayang (long-fin batfish), angelfish, labahita (surgeonfish), alatan (harlequin sweetlips) and maramara/samaral (orange-spotted spinefoot).

The author all geared up for snorkeling

Donning our snorkels, we were allowed to swim with the fishes in the shallow, crystal-clear waters.  However, they have a strict no-sunblock policy to avoid poisoning the fishes.

The view from below…..

A batfish

I also posed for the camera carrying a huge balat (pineapple sea cucumber, Thelenota ananas), There are also pawikan (sea turtles), starfishes, banagan/banahawon (tiger lobsters) and taklobo (giant clams).

The author holding a huge  balat (pineapple sea cucumber)

Juag Lagoon Fish Sanctuary: Matnog, Sorsogon.  Mobile numbers: (0907) 957-7748 and (0918) 304-5437. Fish pellets can be bought (php35/kg.) from a sari-sari store near the feeding area.  Facebook page: http://juaglagoon.wix.com/sanctuary
https://www.facebook.com/JuagLagoonMarineSanctuary

How to Get There: Matnog is located 575.9 kms. (a 13.25–hr. drive) from Manila and 61.2 kms. (a 1–hr. drive) from Sorsogon City, both via the Pan-Philippine Highway/AH26..Manila to

Matnog by Bus:
There are several bus liners going straight to Matnog including Philtranco, Penafrancia, Raymund and Amihan. The trip takes 12-15 hours depending on the traffic.

Manila to Legazpi City by Air:
Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines fly daily to Legazpi City from Manila. Legazpi City is about an hour travel by plane from the capital.

Legazpi City to Matnog:
To get to Matnog from Legazpi City, ride a tricycle going to the bus terminal located near Gaisano Mall. Ride the bus bound for Sorsogon. From Sorsogon, ride the jeepney heading to Matnog and ask to be dropped off near the port. From Matnog Pier, it is a 20-min. motorized boat ride to Juag. 

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. 

Matnog Tourism, Culture andArts Office: Brgy. Camcaman, Matnog 4708, Sorsogon. Mobile number: (097) 231-8168. Facebook: www.facebook.com/Matnog Tourism.  Fees: Environmental Fee: Php20/pax and Php16 (senior citizens). Registration Fee: Php320 (foreigners), Php70 (locals) and Php40 (senior citizens). 

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