Busuanga Blog, Day 2 (of 3)

R.I.P., cap (L.A.S.)

SATURDAY, June 25, 2011: Breakfast was cold and fly-ridden (but not fly-infested, thank god).  Our day was spent swimming in bodies of water that had various degrees of saltiness.  Before our boat launched for Cayangan Lake the boat guy told me to take off the hat I borrowed from Marilyn because he said at the speed we'd be going it'll just blow right off.  My stubbornness and vanity made me switch to the cap Mom lent me.  Guess what got blown off my head a several minutes after we launched..?



When we arrived on the island we still had a bit of a trek before reaching Cayangan Lake.  Once there it was also time to give my sister's waterproof camera pouch a proper trial run, but man, is it difficult to use.  I liken it to putting the hide back on a skinned rabbit.  After some swimming and swimsuit photoshoots, it was off to lunch at Banol Beach, and it consisted of scrawny chicken and pork adobo, grilled fish, boiled veggies and salted egg.

Enz and Mari

My favorite stop was probably at the Twin Lagoon, whose waters shifted from warm to cold temperatures so much we wondered jokingly just how many visitors were peeing in the water.  The main body of the lagoon (accessed by a narrow opening during low tide) is surrounded by high limestone walls and is so calm and so blue that even w/ goggles you can't see the bottom.  Fortunately all of us had life jackets on, w/c took away much of the work of having to stay afloat so I could concentrate on more mundane actions like "standing" straight or "cycling" in the water.

Our last stop at Siete Pecados "Marine Park" was the saltiest, w/c made sense given it was actual ocean waters.  Our boat was docked near the perimeter and we were given an approximate radius of what areas we could safely explore for snorkeling.  While there were definitely more fish and coral to see, they were seemingly outnumbered by the numerous groups of Korean scuba divers swimming deeper than we ever could, all decked in oxygen tanks and underwater cameras.

When we got back to our resort funnily enough we took a dip in their swimming pool while waiting our turn at the showers (chlorine beats saltwater for sure).  We even tried out the hot tub, but it just a bubbling water bath w/ little therapeutic effect.  Dinner was a welcome change of beef, sotanghun, crabs and spring rolls.  Last night's drinking session was not repeated as the rest of the gang was busy watching a gecko about to eat a bug outside the girls' cabin, while I was inside said cabin finishing an episode of The Daily Show.  I'd like to think the level of satisfaction we received from our separate entertainment options was about equal, but only mine was air-conditioned.