Coron (Day 2)

Morning came and a rush of excitement washed over me. We packed up for our day trip and headed to the docks, met up and made acquaintances with our fellow voyagers on the trip. Brief exchanges of greetings and smiles ensued as the (compulsory) life vests were readied, cameras were taken out, and the anchor was reeled in. The boat motioned forward and we set sail to our first destination.

First stop: Kayangan Lake. To get to the lake, you have to climb up a steep flight of rocky steps with bush branches jutting out at the sides greeting you with a welcoming embrace.

The place was cloaked in a peaceful kind of quiet, with the occasional hushed tones of tourists. You can snorkel in the warm waters and discover a different kind world beneath its turquoise surface.

   

Back at the docks, you can meet a few Tagbanua tribe going about their daily business. If you stop by and start a small conversation with the locals, they'd be happy to offer you any information about the lake.

Our next destination will be a little cove called Beach 69. It is one among the many powdery white sand beaches littered all over Coron. It was one of my favorite stops. Never in my life have I seen such pristine and crystal clear waters. It's like one of those private getaways straight out of a fancy travel magazine. Aside from a group of 3 people who settled in before us, we had the cove to ourselves. It was the perfect place for a quiet lunch. Although the sun was unforgiving, the cool waters made up for it.

Our third and final stop was Twin Lagoons. It was a short ride from our lovely little cove. Limestone rock formations graced our sights more frequently as we neared our destination. As we cruised further towards the dock, the chattering died away. The silence engulfing the atmosphere of our merry little boat was almost tangible the moment we ventured into a gateway of limestone cliffs and shallow turquoise waters. The look of pure amazement and wonder was evident in each of our faces as we basked in the surreal ambiance of the famous Twin Lagoon. Despite having seen hundreds of photos and having read multiple blog entries about the place, nothing quite prepared me for the real thing. It still exceeded my expectations. One can never be prepared for the fascination that would grip your consciousness as you marvel at the masterpiece of nature that took a hundreds of years to sculpt. And yet once again, these mere photos could never give justice to the real thing.

The Twin Lagoons is a Coron staple. This body of water is known for alternating temperatures between hot and cold due the meeting of cold freshwater and the hot salt water. The docking area is the first lagoon. The second on is hidden between the limestone cliffs.

We docked at the outer lagoon where I parted ways my camera (because I didn't have any waterproof casing or even a dry bag---yes, how could i be so stupid). To get to the second lagoon, you can cross a very narrow bridge or, if you're a bit of a risk-taker, you can brave the small entrance beneath the bridge/underneath the rock when the tide is low.

By the end of our tour, we were worn out yet filled to the brim with satisfaction and awe. The entire day brought about many unforgettable experiences that will drown us with nostalgia one day and I am blessed to have had the privilege to take these memories back with me.

By nightfall, after a quick shower and a few valued minutes of rest, we went back to the town. No vacation would be perfect without experiencing the thrill of night markets and sampling street food in carts that only come alive when dusk begins to settle.