7 Lakes

The first time we visited San Pablo, we tried to visit all 7 of the 7 lakes.  But we were only able to go to 3 because it rained on us like anything!  As if we never earned our lesson, we revisited the place, around the same time last year, hoping to get different results.  Fortunately for us, the weather cooperated, and although it threatened to pour many times during the photo trip, we stayed pretty dry the whole time.  Unfortunately though, we were able to visit only 6 lakes:

Bunot Lake

Our first stop was Bunot Lake.For some strange reason, everyone around the lake seemed to carry guns.  It was a little creepy, but I’m pretty sure they had very good reasons for carrying firearms.  We were also able to visit Bunot lake the last time, but dark clouds forced us to abandon the trek around it.  This time, we were able to

Lake Pandin/Lake Yambo

The lake we enjoyed the most were the twin lakes, Pandin and Yambo, separated only by a thin strip of land.  It was a treat, because we got to ride in a balsa, powered by 6 grandmothers!  We almost felt so guilty having these lolas paddle the raft for us, but they assured us that they do this regularly for a living and that it’s just a day’s work for them.  We even got to drink from a natural falls!  it was sweet water filtered by nature.

Lake Calibato

This is the lake that we missed, because according to our guides, the path getting there is too, and I learned a new Tagalog word, masukal. I thought, “It’s too sweet?”  Apparently, “masukal” means thick with vegetation growth or something like that.  So it’s pretty difficult to get to, especially with city slickers like us.

Lake Palakpakin

This is the lake where we got rained on the last time.  But the weather gods were smiling at us, it didn’t rain until we were safely under our blankets in the resort.

Lake Mohicap

This was also a quick shoot, we just went to one spot on the lake and shot some pics.  It was also possibly the most quiet, most still of the 6 lakes we saw.  Almost zero activity.

Sampaloc Lake

The most famous of the 7 lakes, and the most accessible.  I remember taking some of my earliest attempts on infrared photography on this lake.  This is also the busiest lake, with so many people living around it.

(Up next: The kids)