One Sunday at the Taal Lake Yacht Club

Date: June 14, 2009
Location: Talisay, Batangas
Activities: Tandem kayaking on Taal Lake in the pouring rain, swimming in a big tub, hobnobbing with sailors
Participants: The thrill-seekers: Your writer and her partner-in-crime, Jen

The Paddlers

Your writer, quite eager to engage in yet another water sport

For the first time in ages, Jen and I had the same day off. So we decided to mosey on over to Talisay, Batangas, to engage in any water activity we could engage in at the Taal Lake Yacht Club.  We got to the club at around 4PM, which was already rather late. The proprietor, the very friendly and accommodating (not to mention charming) Joe Hagedorn, wanted all boats to be back in the marina by 5:30PM, to avoid having to rescue sailors/kayakers/tourists who may have ventured too far out on the water. But being the charming chap that he was, he allowed us to stay out until dusk. He said he didn’t want all the driving I did from Antipolo to Talisay to go to waste. So Jen and I got to do some tandem kayaking, in spite of the pouring rain.

Taal Lake on a dark and cloudy afternoon

A sailboat

I was hoping to do some wakeboarding or sailing on the lake. But since we arrived late in the afternoon, there wasn’t much left to do. We had to settle for kayaking, which, it turned out, was quite enjoyable. And the rain and wind, which picked up at around 5PM, proved to be somewhat challenging. It gave us a bit of a thrill, which was what we were seeking.

Here are some basics of  tandem kayaking:

• It involves a front paddler and a rear paddler.
• The front paddler sets the cadence. The rear paddler steers the kayak.
• Sit straight and relax your shoulders. Plant your feet firmly on the footrest.
• The basic stroke is called the forward stroke. This is used to propel the kayak forward. Basically,  you paddle on one side, then on the other side. (Whether you’ll paddle on the right side first or on the left side will depend on you and your partner.)
• To turn the kayak in the direction you want to take, paddle on the opposite side. For example, if you want to turn left, stroke your paddle on the right.
• If you want the kayak to move backwards, a backward paddling stroke is used.

The front paddler, Round 1

The front paddler, Round 2

After we surrendered the kayak to Joe (a bit hesitantly, I must admit, for we still wanted to stay out on the lake after dusk), we joined him for drinks at the kiosk. He then proceeded to give us a tour of the resorts fronting the lake. The inns looked more like country homes than inns, and the whole neighborhood had a community feel to it. I remember thinking that it felt like I was in an exclusive subdivision where the neighbors all  knew one another. I can describe the atmosphere as cozy, with everyone in the “neighborhood” making even strangers feel comfortable and familiar with the surroundings.

Needless to say, I loved the place. And I know for a fact that Jen loved the place, too, as well as the experience.

The view while we were docking at the yacht club

We had dinner at the Flamingo Lake Resort, Taal Lake Yacht Club’s next-door neighbor. There was a 4-foot deep pool that looked more like an enlarged tub or jacuzzi. But the water was warm enough, and in between swims, Jen and I spent the rest of the night taking pictures of each other.

The breast stroke expert, catching her breath

They call it a pool, I call it a tub.

We promised Joe we’d be back to do some sailing. And I’m certain we’ll deliver on that promise. After all, we haven’t really explored the lake yet, have we? There’s still a 3-hour boat ride around the lake that we’re planning to take. And I long to try wakeboarding behind a speedboat, which one can only do on Taal Lake, not at Lago de Oro or in Cam Sur.

If you want to check out the Taal Lake Yacht Club, just visit their website. It will provide you with information about their rates, facilities, and programs, as well as directions to Talisay. I would definitely recommend the place. The rates are reasonable, the facilities are clean, the programs cater to water sports enthusiasts, and the water is warm and tempting. Best of all is their customer service, which is superb. Joe personally entertains his guests. Even one of the manongs at the Flamingo Lake Resort went over and beyond the call of duty…and wouldn’t even accept gratuity!

Let me end with (what else?!) my mandatory sexy pose:

Showgirl

Till my next adventure/travel/new water sport, folks!