of Glassy Lake, Floating Cottage, Watersports and then Some
Nothing could come very timely than a chance to escape Manila’s gloomy weather. A typhoon just whizzed by the city and left a somber mood as bleak as the gray skies. An hour of buzzing through the southern highways leading to Laguna has revealed a sunny set of blue skies. “The weather is looking great, I thought it would ruin our trip” my friend Faith excitedly tells me as she steers the wheel of her car. Earlier in the week, an invite from Aquascape Lake Caliraya popped up on my inbox inviting me to visit their “small nature haven” located in the scenic surroundings of property at Eco-Saddle in Caliraya Lake. After a brief online introduction I said “Yes” and instantly, images of the lake stemming from earlier journeys to that part of Laguna came flashing back to my mind.
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| The Floating Cottage of Aquascape Lake Caliraya |
Revisiting Lake Caliraya, an Old Favorite
I first visited Lake
Caliraya back in college as a member of the UST Mountaineering Club. I
remembered boarding a jeepney from Crossing’s in Shaw Boulevard and alighting
off at the ‘Japanese Garden’ near the lake and going on a short trek to a
towering waterfall – we simply call “Caliraya
Falls”. Afterward, we went to the lake and laid out on the wide grass and
had our late afternoon lunch. A couple of jaunts later in the intervening years
had me seeing little changes in the place. More resorts were established but
the nature charm that first captivated me remains.
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| Inside the Floating Cottage of Aquascape Lake Caliraya |
Aquascape's Floating Cottage by Cottages and Many More
Placed above the
glass-like water of the lake is the main draw of the place; the floating
cottage where me and Faith spent a couple of nights. Reliving memories of similar
experiences spending a night on a moving boat in the backwaters of Kerala,
India and aboard the junk boats inHalong Bay in Vietnam; Eco Saddle’s floating cottage dishes a comparable vibe as it literally functions as a bedroom with a veranda – while it floats along the tranquil
waters of Caliraya Lake.
The company that manages the property, which includes the locals; Cottages and Many More tells me the idea behind the floating cottage.
“Our family has been into motor watersports ever since. We used to go to different resorts for the weekend and bring our water toys. The main problem was the distance of the cottages to the beach. My dad was inspired to build something that could take him anywhere to watch the sunrise and sunset. He could have just gotten a boat but he wanted something more. Something that will take our whole family out together to relax and enjoy the breathtaking views. Caliraya Lake's weather provides the perfect ambiance to this motorized floating cottage creation. We couldn't think of anything better than an actual bedroom that can move around and provide you with various views throughout the day.”
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| By night, you can turn the floating cottage into a party place :) |
Watersports and AUV Trails
While the surrounding environment that
envelopes Eco Saddle screams of a chill and Zen mode, a variety of outdoor
and watersports activities are readily available for visitors. On our first
day, Faith and I rode the resort’s Jetski and just blasted our way up to 60 kph
– zigzagging through the waters of the lake. We also rode the various inflatable floating rides – one of which is aptly called “Tsinelas” by the caretaker as
it is shaped like one. We boarded it by taking turns standing while the other lay down. Once we're both ready, It was then pulled at full speed by the caretaker driving the JetSki.
The aim of the ride is to throw you over so do not freak out when you find
yourself flying into the waters. Wearing a life vest and all – the ride is
perfectly safe for anyone to enjoy.
The next day, we literally
bathed in mud as we drove our respective AUV’s over the dirt road trails
located within the Eco Saddle Nature camp. Faith’s smile can’t be hidden as she
yells in delight even though her light milky skin was covered with dark gray
mud. The outdoor activities definitely capped the fun long weekend we had at
Eco Saddle's Cottages and Many More.
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| Faith is proud of her dirt mud |
Hanoi Vodka Night
Under a canopy of stars
and the gleaming half-moon, we popped open a bottle of vodka I bought from Hanoi. Seated
on the floor of the veranda with our feet dipped on to the water, we stared at the slight amount of luminous reflections on the lake. As we exchange shots of
vodka, a free-flowing conversation ensued which afforded us a lengthier time to know
more about each other.
Morning Cruise around the Tranquil Waters of Lake Caliraya
On our last morning, a staff of Aquascape Lake Caliraya by Cottages and Many More, started the engine of our floating cottage and steered it
over the vast expanse of the lake. Slowly moving over the still waters, we
witnessed the changing colors of the morning sky as the sun rises over. Along
the banks we spotted a few varying species of birds diving its wings over the
towering trees.
The sight of the lush
greens reflecting beautifully on the glassy-waters of the lake, yells for you
to do nothing but to just sit still amd just immerse yourself at the wonderful glow of everything around you. Surrendering myself to the charm of the
place, I sat on the veranda again and directed my gaze at the blooming
surroundings.
See
the Rest of Aquascape Lake Caliraya by Cottages and Many More
Just like our floating
cottage, the other cottages were built using native materials but peppered
with hints of post-modern look. The nipa-hut inspired architecture of the other
land-based chalets of Eco Saddle abounds with nature-retreat ambiances. Other cottages includes; the Tree House, the Mahjong Room, the Karaoke Room, Villa Terrace, Villa 4 and Villa 8.
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| The "Tree House" is good for 7 Pax / at 4,000 Pesos a night |
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| The "Mahjong Room" is good for 4 people at 3,000 pesos per night |
A Long Weekend Retreat It Was
On our way back to Manila,
Faith can’t thank me enough as she told me how the couple of days we spent at
Eco Saddle rejuvenated her and literally rid the stress from her system. "Running the daily operations of my (technology gadget) business can be very stressful, so I really needed an escape such as this" she tells me. Agreeing with her 101%, I found myself making plans for a return to this place in the near future. At Eco Saddle, I once
again amassed another set of memories that further bonded my affection
to the place encompassing the whole lake of Caliraya.
How
to Go to Aquascape Lake Caliraya by Cottages and Many More
Commuting: Ride
the Sta.Cruz Laguna bound buses from terminals in Cubao, Buendia and alight at
Sta. Cruz Laguna (fare is around 160.00 Pesos). Afterwards, flag a jeepney
going to Lumot, Caliraya and get off at Mt. Carmel aka Eco Saddle (fare is
30.00 pesos)
By
Private Car: We just trusted Faith’s Waze app just by entering “Eco Saddle Caliraya Lake” as our destination.
Travel time takes around
3-4 hours from Manila.
How
to Book: Keeping a low-profile online for now, the management though would welcome email interaction for inquiries
and reservations through their email: cottagesandmanymore@gmail.com.
