My Caliraya Adventure (Day 1)

I was invited by a marketing executive of a leading pipe maker Atlanta Industries Inc., owner of Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort, to attend a bloggers' event courtesy of the resort. As part of the resort's marketing campaign, the objective of the event was to increase awareness about Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort using the Internet as a medium of information dissemination. The former name of the resort is Caliraya Springs Golf & Marina Resort Complex, now the resort owner would like to repackage the resort brand into making it more sporty and adventurous. The resort would like to expand their customer base by targeting groups of individuals and corporate clients, positioning the resort as a perfect place to conduct their team-building activities.

The event I was attending to is actually the third of a series of bloggers' events. Of course, as part of my due diligence, I made some online researches to arm myself with some basic knowledge about the resort before going there. I just saw a couple of blogs and browse the resort's website. I was just wondering at that juncture that if the event was already on its third batch how come there is not much online hype about the resort. Uh-ohh, maybe the bloggers ahead of us have not yet posted their write-ups, I just assumed.  

Accessibility    

Caliraya Lake is situated in the towns of Lumban, Cavinti, and Kalayaan in Laguna. Its tranquil blue waters and the cold mountain breeze that blows from the Sierra Madre mountain and Mount Banahaw make Caliraya Lake a perfect place to relax away from the bustling metropolis. 

Caliraya could be reach by public or private transport. But, as always, whenever I would like to write a blog about an out-of-town place, I would always choose to commute going there. Because first in my agenda is the place's accessibility. So, I took public transport when I went to Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort in Cavinti, Laguna on September 27 to attend the overnight bloggers' event. Actually, it was originally scheduled on September 21, but due to Typhoon Mario, it was moved to another week.   

A rule of thumb when travelling sans a private vehicle is to "travel lightly". So, I and my companion didn't bring too much clothes and unnecessary stuffs with us. The write-up is meant for a blog, anyway; hence, instead of bringing a DSLR camera, I just brought my mobile phone and iPad mini with me. Their five-megapixel graphic resolution is hi-res enough for publication online. I didn't bring any jewelries as well just my water resistant Mossimo with red straps. I didn't bring maong pants as well for they are heavy in the bag. Just a couple of light fabric walking shorts, a pair of ultra-lightweight Voit sneakers, a denim jacket as insulation for cold temperature, a pair of rubber slippers, and my Eastpak travelling bag.      

Going back, there are several ways to reach Caliraya. But since I'd be coming from Manila, this was the route I've taken: I rode a Greenstar Liner bus in Buendia Avenue, Pasay City, going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna via South Luzon Expressway. The bus fare was Php140. Travel time was approximately two hours from the Buendia terminal going to Sta. Cruz.  

I got off the bus a few meters away from its Sta. Cruz terminal. There I asked some folks about going to Caliraya. The most convenient way, I was told, was to ride a tricycle, but the fare is Php300. I thought it was a rip-off; thus, I opted to take the other option--two jeepney rides. One was taking me to the terminal where all the trips were going to Caliraya. The fare was just the minimum Php8.50. At the terminal, I have to ride another jeepney that would take me to my destination. There were several other jeepneys plying to Caliraya, but I was told to take the one with the Caliraya (Lumot) signage, not Caliraya (Junction). I paid Php28 for the ride. I told the driver to inform me when we arrived at Caliraya. Travel time was about an hour.  

I didn't get bored during the trip because I enjoyed watching the rural scenery--seeing cows and carabaos, "bahay-kubo", mountain ranges, tall trees and vast greenery, among others--as the jeepney drove uphill.     

At long last, the driver told me to alight for it's already CRC, the term they've used to call Caliraya, which actually means Caliraya Resorts Club. but when I called up the event organizer to inform him about my presence in the vicinity, I was told that it wasn't the right place for I was in their competitor's lair. I was told that Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort was far ahead and would take about a 20-minute ride. Oh, well! The trip was getting more exciting, I psyched myself. The trip alone was already an adventure on its own. 

As I talked to some folks there, I've learned that whenever one mentions Caliraya to jeepney drivers they would assume that one would be going to CRC. But in my case, I should have told them "golf course". So, lessons learned. "Caliraya" is for CRC or Caliraya Resorts Club; "golf course" is the local name recall for Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort.

After a quick rest with matching merienda at the CRC canteen, I looked for any public transport that would drive me there at my destination. I was worried that time for I was late by almost three hours. Suddenly, there was a tricycle and the trike driver was offering to bring me to Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort in the resort's clubhouse for a fare of Php300. Whoa! That's truly a rip-off. The fare of the trike driver in Sta. cruz was actually a bargain! So, I haggled and the fare went down to Php200 but it would be just at the gate of Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort.    

But, wait, how about this old trike driver, whom my companion was dealing with, who was willing to take us to the gate of Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort for only Php80. Okay, that's reasonable, so I turned down the younger trike driver. As we are about to close the deal with the old trike driver, suddenly, a jeepney was fast approaching. It stopped right there on where we stood to allow some passengers to get off. Without wasting any time, we hurriedly boarded the jeepney. The fare was only Php8.50 from CRC to the "golf course".  

Arrival 

After an hour, we finally reached our true destination. There I saw a billboard at the center island showcasing the water sports and adventure one could experience in Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort. Then, on the left side, there is a "Caliraya Springs" engraving. "So, this is it!", I exclaimed.

I immediately called the event organizer and he dispatched a van to fetch me and my companion. The sight of a sprawling landscape and rolling hills and the smell of weeds and grasses have brought a calming effects to my numb legs and asses. 

The Hyundai van carried us to the Marina or activity center of the resort. There I saw the majestic appeal of the serene waters snaking through the lake and the bluish water in the infinity pool. I took some snapshots of the mountain ranges and the vast landscape. After all, our "adventurous" rides were all worth the while.

We were given a bottled water each as our welcome drinks, but it would be more refreshing, I told myself, if we were offered the Basil with Tarragon in Lime Tea--the chosen welcome drink for that day as stated in the event's itinerary. It is customary for me to taste cuisines and drinks native or special to the place I visited. 

After a brief talk with the event organizer, I was led to my Amihan Villa by a member of the resort staff. The villa is on the other side of the lake, so we crossed a zigzag wooden bridge. While crossing the bridge, I saw some white ducks wading in the waters, a couple quietly paddling their kayak, and the sun beginning to fade.  

The villas are actually "bahay-kubo" or nipa huts. These spacious villas can each accommodate up to eight persons. they have no windows, just doors made of strong fabric and a see-through curtain. But what is interesting is the pillars that support the bamboo structure for they are made of PVC pipes. "How innovative," I wondered. The resort owner Atlanta Industries Inc. has incorporated their products in the design of the villas.

The villas are all lined up along the lake shore where the obstacle course is also set up. On the back of the villas is a phalanx of trees and mountain ranges, serving as natural fences.

Since I was late, I wasn't able to join any activities lined up for that day. I just to a short nap. Then, we were called to gather in the clubhouse for our dinner. The van took us, bloggers, to the site.  

We proceeded to the View Deck. I've seen some more event participants there, but there were no familiar faces. No introduction was made by the event organizer to introduce one another for familiarity sake. A moment of silence, and finally, dinner was served: yang chow fried rice, hainanese chicken, inihaw na dory, chop suey, and the special Caliraya Spring bulalo were the main course. The dessert was pandan salad. The food was great!

Nightcap

After dinner, I was toured in the clubhouse by the marketing executive who invited me to the event. He showed me the entertainment facilities (billiards and videoke rooms), accommodation (hotel rooms), locker rooms (made of wood), and the sauna and massage area. I heard him offering me to try the spa and have a relaxing massage, but when I was about to nod he immediately turned about by saying there was already a group going to use it. Oh, well. Such would supposedly serve as a perfect compliment for a tired body. I just took a sigh.    

After taking some snapshots of the place, we went back the Marina. We gathered there to have a bonfire activity. Then, we headed back to our respective villas. We would start our activities at 7:00am tomorrow, so we better have an early good night sleep. 

At the Amihan Villa, I took a half bath, brushed my teeth, and put on Off Lotion to my arms and legs (to repel insects and mosquitoes). I drank the bottled water given to me earlier as my welcome drink bottoms up to cap the night.    

  

The cool breeze that kept wafting through my hair while I was lying on one of the mattresses made me feel sleepy. Suddenly, my eyes closed gradually 'til I went into a deep slumber. The chirping of nocturnal birds and rustling of leaves served as my sweet lullaby. Surely, I would feel rejuvenated the moment I wake up. The fresh air, cool temperature, and serene atmosphere made me feel like sleeping in a hotel suite with acoustic walls cooled by a 2-hp air-conditioner. But the only thing is, when I'm "lucky", I will end up snuggling some creepy crawlers. Because I saw earlier before going to sleep two fireflies, a moth, a giant bug, and three big ants roaming about on the villa's bamboo floors and mattresses. I just shooed them away before turning off the lights. And that's the wonder of nature within reach at Caliraya Springs Mountain Lake Resort.

Watch out for the next blog, My Caliraya Adventure (Day 2), to be posted soon.