THE white crystals that cascade from the stretch of the shoreline and the blue skies kissing the salty, green waters spell as a perfect picture to relax and enjoy.
The scorching heat of the sun will make you tip toe and rush for the nearest shade until you realize that summer comes once in a blue moon, and like anyone else, you need to fix some tan lines in your shoulders.
Few more days and your summer credits will come to close, grab your bag and swim your way to Lakawon, a familiar place worth rediscovering.
A recent visit to the jewel island afforded me a quick glance of what it has become today. Unfortunately, I was not among the first to step foot in its refurbished version when it opened few years back. But like any smart tourist who are reliant of feedback and "stars" from well reputed bloggers and sites, I have literally opted to sail after the "tides are down."
And so the day came, packed with eagerness to see the transformation since my last visit some nearly two decades ago. With a good company of young professionals geared to get their feet rough in the sand, I hopped in the boat before sunset, my choice of a laid back, cozy experience.
As if the golden sun is brushing my hair with its gold dust, I can feel the island vibe, good thing, I quipped, it was not lost despite the many buildings sprouting in its white sands.
True to its promise, Lakawon Island Resort is a piece of heaven on earth: relaxing, rejuvenating. The 16-hectare island remains spacious despite the many comfortable amenities it offers: nipa huts, family rooms, honeymoon settings, small group functions.
Mind me, the family is expanding the area to become a place of luxury and a great experience in itself as a perfect island persuasion.
Another attraction is appealing to celebrities and A-list guests because of magnetizing peace and quiet. Tawhai Floating Bar is the biggest floating bar in Asia that allows visitors to plunge in the water. It didn't disappoint, with me doing the casual dive while being a little tipsy from a wide selection of cocktails for the ladies and yes, a complete line of whiskey and scotch for heavy drinkers. It's mandatory to fall off from the boat cum bar, a perfect way to wash of the alcohol that is slowly putting your senses to sleep. I hope the management prolongs its bar operations, though.
As for the sides, well, a dash of more onions and maybe greens alongside the Hungarian cuts will make it more appetizing. But anyway, you come to the floating bar to be entertained with the whispering air and the kind of tranquility from the clouds dancing above your head. In two years time, it will be shadier with trees going sturdy and leafy.
At night, the island transforms more tranquil and quiet. This is not the usual case though as parties and midnight DJ's are more often found in the area energizing a sea of party people with their dose of entertainment.
However, our share was different, a small number of guests are found wading if not dipping. Others are playing guitars while some are strolling at beach front barefooted. Oh, what a great scene to be away from the bustling highway of the metropolitan without getting yourself aboard a plane. Indeed, the jewel island is a treasure in Negros that is worth revisiting a thousand times over.
Lakawon is close to perfect when you need to catch the sun and ride the tides to ease your senses. It has etched its name as a top tourist site Negros that local and foreign tourists alike can never beg off to visit.
For us Negrenses, it's a treasure we need to check on every now and then, a haven for busy people to unload and yes, as they say, "throw it to the sea and let the waves carry it somewhere else."