coron: kayangan lake

The first time I went to Coron, the one spot that stuck with me long after the trip was over was the luminous Kayangan Lake. I was so enamored by it that I considered it the most beautiful place I have ever been to, in the Philippines. Four years later, it still got a hold of me, and I am amazed how it did not change one bit.

One thing to be noted though, the path to the lake is tricky. Her beauty needs to be earned, you know, by climbing up a hundred plus steps, and then descending to a hundred plus more of uneven stones. By the time you reach the wooden platform to catch your breath, it is going to be taken away again by the sight of the clearest waters surrounded by the rocky mountains and trees. Welcome to a pocket of paradise! :)

The best part: we had the lake all to ourselves until dusk. I carry with me a wonderful, peaceful moment lying down on the raft, softly paddling through the waters with my hands, and just being still and afloat. It was the perfect moment to cue in that Louis Armstrong song: And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Hahaha, it really calls for being highly dramatic.