Another Windsurfing Trip to Caliraya

Usually, when we go windsurfing at Caliraya Lake, we'd find a bunch of windsurfers and kiteboarders / kitesurfers milling about and camping in Surf Kamp with their trailer campers and cars. Most of them are the same people I've worked with during the 2008 FunBoard Cup in Boracay although I rarely interact with them when I go there. I'm the loner type if you must know and I rarely interact with people unless they talk to me first. 

We had the lake all to ourselves! 

So anyway, this particular weekend that we went to Surf Kamp, my husband and I were surprised to see that no one was around. The caretaker of the property actually told us that  the windsurfers are now camping somewhere else. This new campsite doesn't have a name, but it's just right across Surf Camp's Lakeside. Going by car, we'd have to exit Surf Camp and turn left. We followed the road until we saw another narrow road on our left where there is a big house with red roof. There's a small parking area there but we'd still have to ride a barge to cross the lake until we reach this new campsite allegedly owned by Michael Palacios according to the person we came across with while parking in the second location. The wind and kitesurfers now go here since they're like an exclusive club and they like to come together every weekend.

Caliraya Windsurfing, Japanese Garden, Isdaan Trip

What happens during a Caliraya Windsurfing Trip?

Driving from Alabang to Caliraya Laguna takes about 4 hours so we usually head out early on a Saturday or Sunday morning to avoid traffic, hoping to reach Surf Camp between 10-11 am.

For directions on how to go to Surf Kamp in Caliraya, please go to this link:
How to get to Surf Kamp

Entrance per person in Surf Kamp is Php75.00. Once inside the premises, you can check the place first, take some photo ops, and see if there's enough wind power in the air to help you windsurf later on. Well at least, that's what we usually do. We scout the area, see if there are already windsurfers and kite surfers enjoying the lake, or camping around, plus we test the water temperature. Usually, the lake water is quite freezing in the morning so instead of renting a windsurfing board out right, we schedule afternoon lessons instead with Noni (my instructor) and come back after lunch. You can contact him at this number: 09194999634

Windsurfing and my Journey to Better Fitness

Oh hi there dear travel blog. You've taken a backseat for so long and I'm sorry. I've just been so caught up in my own workaholic world coupled with some health issues (GERD and other emotional issues) which I needed to take care of, plus you know how much time it usually takes me to post a travelogue here --- 4 hours! Yes, and that's just the minimum. Perhaps, I must learn how to chunk my posts into bite-size pieces so I can update you more.

Windsurfing @ Surf Kamp, Lake Caliraya

Being on the surface of the water has always been very appealing for me. This is why I prefer snorkeling more than diving, why I swim with my head up all the time, why I did wakeboarding a couple of times, and why I got hooked into surfing.

Windsurfing at Lake Caliraya Surf Kamp

The following is a post I drafted while we were staying in Casa San Pablo last Feb. 14, 2010. Can I just say that so far, this has been the best Valentine weekend celebration of my entire life?! ^_^

For those who want to read this Valentine travelogue from the beginning, please clickthe link below:

Valentine 2010

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While figuring out where next to go, we saw this cottage-like dining place. We remembered this was the same food stop we've been to some 4 years ago, when we first did our Laguna road trip with Ate Rose. The place was already much bigger but it has the same scenic view of the lake at the back. I wondered if the food is still the same --- scrumptious, affordable and comes in large servings. It is!

Bye FunBoard Cup 2008!

For all entries relating to this post, please click the link below:

Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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As I was on board my tricycle ride to the Port (left) and my banka ride to Caiclan, I was thinking of Jana. She decided to stay and spend one more night at Bora. She actually had a free massage at Mandala Spa together with Robby Swift, sponsored by Action Asia Magazine. Wow! I was so happy for her! As for me, I juts couldn't wait to go home.

Here are some nice views of port...

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 6 (Jan. 11, 2008)

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Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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I am smiling here in the picture coz I've had quite enough of the Funboard Cup. It's just this one last day and I'm going back home to my baboo (Peter). Yay! I think all my energies spent partying, drinking, meeting new people and simply having a fantastic time for the last four consecutive nights drained my mind and body that I just felt like being quiet that Friday morning. I spent a lot of time in this hammock reflecting on the days that passed, thanking God for this wonderful opportunity of fun and adventure. Despite being tired, I did hope to get invited again next year.

The others were in he same mood as well... The winds were down and there was nothingelse to do but eat, talk and simply hang out and enjoy the beach.

Because it was our last day and Jana was in such high spirits, she requested to be photographed with each person we saw.That's Boyet Sison of ANC's Hardball.

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 5 (Jan. 10, 2008) Part II

For all entries relating to this post, please click the link below:

Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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Honestly folks, Jana and I came to a point that we got tired of partying. It was our fifth (free) night in Bora. And every single night since we got there, we went to a different (free) party. It was definitely fun mingling with all these interesting people from all over the world while getting free drinks at it. But we're human beings after all. And we get tired too. So, after marshaling the entire day, Jana and I decided to first hang out inside our room, ordering room service (for free) and watching HBO. Harvey was texting us non-stop, asking where we were. So we invited him to our room for a threesome (wait for it...) private room party! Hahaha! It's not what you think, you green-minded people! We just hung out for a while, talked, ate, watched TV...stuff that normal adults do. Hehehe.

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 5 (Jan. 10, 2008) Part I

For all entries relating to this post, please click the link below:

Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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Despite the fact that the party the previous night was a blast, all kiters and windsurfers still managed to wake up early the next day and greet the clouds and wind a very happy surfing morning!

While marshals went about their duties, surfers prepared their gears...

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 4 (Jan. 9, 2008) Part II

For all entries relating to this post, please click the link below:

Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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Indeed, it was time to pahtee!!! On the way to the venue (Summer Place), I was stopped by this guy who offered to give me henna tattoo for only P25.00! To think that the butterfly tattoo was a big one! So I got suspicious. Normally, a tattoo this big would cost around P100. So I asked the guy what the catch was. He said that he's just utilizing the last drops of his ink and that he was going home soon... So i said, "ok..It's your ink anyway." And all the while I was thinking that I was just simply attracting good things right then and there no matter how small they may be.

When we reached the venue, we were immediately offered free rum coke by the guys.. :-)

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 4 (Jan. 9, 2008) Part I

For all entries relating to this post, please click the link below:

Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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It was an awesome day for me and Jana. The sun was shining brightly so early in the morning and it wasn't that windy (which is actually bad news for all the kitesurfers and windsurfers by the way, tsk, tsk. But good news for us, hehehe.)

Since there was nothing left to do for us hardworkinmg marshals, I took the time to get my much needed tan...

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 3 (Jan. 8, 2008) Part II

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Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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One of the things I liked about being a part of this major kite surfing and windsurfing event is that every night, they always have something different, fun and exciting to offer us. This particular evening, which is already our third night in the Boracay Funboard Cup, Freddie Palacios sponsored a barbeque event held by the pool side of Laguna de Boaracay. Apparently, he always does this every year. On a particular day he chooses, he wakes up early, goes to the market, buys all his ingredients and prepares his dishes. Come late afternoon, at around 5:30 pm, he grills them on his pre-heated charcoal just like the gool 'ol days. Add his home-made salsa into the picture, sandwhiched between a folded pita bread and you get a traditional Mexican cuisine!

(L-R: Tony, me, Jana, Virge, Ernie)

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 3 (Jan. 8, 2008) Part I

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Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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The 3rd day of the Funboard cup was again perfect! It was sunny and windy plus we didn't have to work as hard since we already know the routine by this time --- marshalls' meeting at 9:30 a.m. and skippers' meeting at 10:30 a.m. And when the wind condition reaches the desired number of knots, race is a go! So naturally, I had more time to take pictures of the wind and kite surfers around me... Since it's basically become routine for us to do this kind of thing, let me just bombard you with the pictures I took on the third day:

Bora Angels, as the boys called us then... Jen, The Sexy Nomad and Jana, the Sparkling Bubble

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 2 (Jan. 7, 2008) Part II

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Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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Dinner Party at Acanthus Resort along Angol Beach was slated at 7:30 p.m. Having plenty of time to burn, we again walked all the way down to D'Talipapa and hailed a tricycle to Budget Mart, our supposed meeting place. The resort's multicab was going to bring us all the way to the said far away resort. We were there at around 5:45 p.m. in time for the 6 p.m. pick-up. More and more kiters and wind surfers flocked outside the famous mart waiting for our ride. Tick-tock... tick-tock... It was way past 7p.m. but no one turned up. We were all getting anxious and it was starting to drizzle. Bummer!

Tired of waiting, with our tummies growling in the background, a decision was made to just hail tricycles for all of us. I volunteered to pay for the ride and after a long one, we finally made it --- to the pit stop. The tricycle couldn't go any farther. As it was raining cats and dogs by then, we rested a bit under the shed and thought of what to do. "Ah, what the heck! Let's walk under the rain and find this resort. I'm hungry!". Down the narrow rocky path, all the way to the beach, past several mini resorts and at last, we found it, all wet and more hungry than ever. That was quite an adventure, my dear friends. I hope to do it again. I caught some pictures of cozy-looking beach houses along the way. They reminded me of our new house in Alabang and how I wish I can just fly our house out here where it really belongs. Hehehe. I must be hallucinating from all the walking and adrenaline rush back then.

20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 2 (Jan. 7, 2008) Part I

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Neil Pryde Funboard Cup 2008

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Oh Happy Morning

I woke up this day, elated and just full of gratitude in my heart. For one, it's a brand new day in the land of paradise and two, the sun was actually shining and it wasn't raining anymore. The Law of Attraction was indeed working (and continues to do so until now, thanks to The Secret)! When I claimed that it would be sunny and windy in Bora even if it was raining the previous day, I believed and received this blessing in my head and in my heart. True enough, on the Funboard Cup's 2nd day, it really happened! Woohoo!!!