Our day adventure was nearing it's end, and at last we reached the Quezon Island. As soon as we arrived, the boatman asked us if we want to do kayaking because he had some contacts there and were bound to have great discounts. We said yes and voila! There we are in the picture holding the paddles and wearing the vests.
Luckily the waves were not that strong yet and we didn't have to row so hard. We teamed up in twos and raced to our hearts contents and had a great time. One thing I could say is, it's very tiring! But even this fact becomes insignificant when you see the number of beautiful islands around you. It just makes you wanna tour 'em all. Sadly out time wasn't enough to tour all the hundred islands and realistically it would be an impossible dream for me.
As the sun was setting in, romance also came into play. Take a note on this one, try bringing your girlfriend here(as I did) and you'll experience a truly romantic site. Here's what you should do...1. First, of course rent a kayak. =)
2. Don't forget the time of the day. Do this at about 5 p.m to achieve maximum effect! Or you can also do this early in the morning
3. Then row away until you reach a kind of deserted area where there are only islands and as few visible people as possible
4. When done properly, you'll feel a sudden feeling swelling up in you (as cheesy as i felt it). Probably, this could be roughly compared to riding-a-gondola-in-Venice-during-a-calm-moonlit-night. This is the time where you should tell her/him about what you really feel.
(we are not the ones in the picture)Well, this is where you should take your time planning about your trip to the Islands, and think about the things you're gonna say at the peak of your romantic kayak adventure.
Kayak fee: Single kayaks - Php 250 per hour
Tandem kayaks - Php 175 per 30 minutes or Php 350 per hour
Life's Sweet Moments: Priceless
The Hundred Islands National Park, actually 123 islands, is believed to be at least about 2 million years old – the islands were part of an ancient coral area that extended inland, a large area that used to be part of an ancient sea. When the sea levels lowered, the islands were exposed, whilst hundreds of thousands of years slowly eroded the base of these islands invariably forming the mushroom shaped limestone islands filled with lush vegetation and strips of white sandy beaches in the middle of stunning emerald waters.Out of the many islands, 3 are primarily developed for tourism. Quezon Island (named after former president Manuel L. Quezon whose statue can be seen among the islets) is probably the most visited due to the various establishments it houses. Another well-developed island is Governor’s Island in which the Big Brother house is located; this is most likely the first island your guide will take you to. Last but not least of the 3 main islands is Children’s Island where the water is shallow enough for little kids to swim.(Governor's, Children, Quezon and Cuenca. L-R)
Sometime ago, fishermen used to fish with dynamite and trash was all over but with some swift action from the local government and with help from the University of the Philippines rehabilitation strategies were formed and the islands are regularly patrolled so it would return to its rich marine grounds.
Now the trash has been greatly reduced and care of the islands now seems to seep into the consciousness of the locals whose main livelihood also happens to depend on tourism. Dynamite fishing also disappeared and fishermen started to fish at night time, if you ever happen to see a light in the water it’s probably the friendly local fisherman.
Maxine by The Sea During The Day
If you are the type of person who wants to stay at the mainland, Maxine by the Sea Lodge & Restaurant is a place you may want to consider to stay. Our group for one stayed at Maxine by the Sea. Upon reaching Maxine by the Sea Lodge & Restaurant, we immediately saw souvenir shops at its entrance to the right and the place where the boats parked to the left. There might be a chance that you will be greeted by boatmen willing to render the services of their boat if you plan to venture to the islands. That actually happened to our group. But before renting the boat, we wanted to get a room first to have a place to rest and store our things.
Front Desk
Inquiring the front desk of their rates, some of us checked out the rooms we were supposed to be staying at. Some of us on the other hand, stayed near the front desk checking out the other things Maxine had to offer. From the front desk, there was a waiting area, a restaurant area spanning two floors, and even an al fresco like area where you can eat out rather than the usual restaurant area. Each room in Maxine by the Sea is air conditioned and has two beds that could cater two people per bed and a bathroom in each room. And with a group consisting of five people, we were able to stay in one room and just rented an extra bed for the fifth person.
Though if you are the adventurous type or want to experience staying at the islands, there are islands where one can stay either through camping or staying at some houses built specifically as a place to stay at the island. If you want to rent a house in an island, there is one available, the Big Brother house. Originally used for Pinoy Big Brother as a house for the housemates, this house can be rented for ten thousand Philippine pesos (PHP 10,000.) We were able to see the house when we docked in Governors Island where the house is located. Yet, we were unable to look inside the house since there were people renting it that time. On the other hand, if you are the camper type, wanting to sleep in tents in order to admire the night sky without the lights from establishments in the mainland, one can camp out on Quezon Island for a smaller price than on lodging at resorts.
Here are some pictures of Maxine: Lodge and Restaurant
Their logo
shops in front of Maxine
the fresco wing
the sala
the mess hall
their presidential table
Price and Reservation:
Rooms: Php 2,000.00 (4 pax)
Additional Pax/Bed: Php 300.00
Contact:
Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan
Telephone: +632 75 551 2537
Mobile: +63 9216428551
Email: maxine@maxinebythesea.com
www.maxinebythesea.com