Palawan 2022 . May 27 (Day 5)

Even without the island view we still woke up st 5am because we are leaving El Nido by 6am. 

I never go out early morning so I forgot how peaceful morning in a little town looks like. 

It was nice to see and they bought coffee and pandesal for us then we are on the road again.

We stopped by at Taytay (not the tiangge) for a quick visit to Tito and got some snacks for the ride back to Puerto. 

Instead of going to the Hi-way, we went to the town proper of Roxas. 

We made it in Puerto right before lunch. 

We rest for a while before meeting Gem’s sister and before we go to VietVill for some Chaolong. 

We were so full after VietVill so we decided to go to SM to walk and after looking for some gifts to the girls, we decided to have some milk tea. Gem and I were craving for milk tea ever since it was mentioned on our first day in El Nido. 

We went home by maybe 10pm. As we are all tired, we did just changed our clothes then went to bed but then the girls joined us since Grace wanted to sleep beside me because as she said I’m silly. Lol

Then we watched videos of dogs on Instagram and we talked about my hair and then small  accident happened. We still end up watching dog videos before bed. Slept by 12mn and we need to wake up by 6am for our flight early the next day.

My Photographs: Palawan 2022

Palawan 2022 . May 26 (Day 4)

 The same but different day. 

Woke up at 5 to watch the sunrise then as we are just indulging the moment as calm as the sea, Gem asked me to kayak. Facing her fear. Yay! It was just 6am and we are leaving the island by 11am. 

Got to be the bigger person in this morning kayak activity since I know that she is scared and the way to the arc where we just originally planned to go is not easy. Lol

We made it to the arc and took some pictures then a caretaker saw us and asked if we’ve been to the cave and he said that it is just nearby. I know its not nearby since we went there yesterday and I asked Gem if she still wants to do it and she said go. Yay! 

The caretaker point us to the entrance of the cave but didn’t go with us then he said just be careful that he will just be on the beachside. 

Maybe we didn’t experienced it yesterday just because it will be for us, at least for now. Haha I’m glad that she enjoyed it because she hated how we get there and for sure on our way back. 

There was nothing spectacular inside just a rock formation but it was beautiful. Nature, sometimes it will just take your breath away. 

We took some pictures then we went out after and we have to face the 30 minute kayak going back. 

Paddling will be our next sport. Hahaha

Got back at almost 8am then had our breakfast then time to clean up and pack. 

We were ready by 9:30am but the kids are still swimming and I just took bunch of photos before leaving. 

It went by so fast but it was so worth it. 

I’m very thankful that it didn’t rain the whole time we were there. 

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Made it in town proper even we had some issue with the boat good thing we made it. 

We ate tapsilog for lunch and bought some mangoes and pizza. I had crepe just because I miss it while we wait for the pizza. 

It was a long morning for us and the only agenda was to go on Lio Beach for sunset and dinner. Got few hours spare and it rained a little which we thought that we will not be able to witness a sunset. 

We were a little late to be honest but sunset is still a pretty thing. 

I’ve never been to that side of El Nido and now we know where the airport is. As we joke that next time we can just go straight to El Nido rather than in Puerto. Hopefully but as of now, it is still expensive. Lol

Dinner at The Clay Kitchen and the food was so good. Never had too much lasagna in my system. Haha 

We drove back to town and decided to get some more gelato again. It was nice to walk around town but the night life is maybe not for us anymore. We head back to our rooms and took a nice shower it was so nice to have some good water pressure since we lack that in the island. Hehe 

We have good signal now compare to the previous days and hello, social media. 

Mostly, hello bed. Good night. Haha

Kudugman Beach Cottages 

My Photographs: El Nido

Palawan 2022 . May 25 (Day 3)

 This might be the long one to write in detail, but I will try. 

We slept 9pm the night before and I went to the bathroom by 3am the woke up just in time for sunrise. 

I dreamt that I was back in Manila that this current trip was over. Woke up in disbelief but then I’m still in El Nido. Hehe

Went out at 5am to watch the sunrise. 

This place that where we are staying was so peaceful and I still can’t believe that this is real. I haven’t wear a mask for a while now just breathing some fresh air. 

We had breakfast by 7am and since we didn’t pushed through the island hopping they say that we just try to do kayak and pass by the huge rock while the girls are still sleeping. Then we found an arc going through almost the other side of the island where we find another place that they owned and call it the Secret Beach then there is the Cudugnon Cave. This place sounds familiar because I watch the vlog of Vien and Junnie when they went to El Nido and they went there but it didn’t make sense to me that time. We didn’t find the entrance to the cave that time. We thought it was a huge entrance that is very noticeable but it was not. No one was there to point out to us where it is so we end up snorkeling then go back after maybe 30 min to 1 hour there. 

Gem was left behind since she was attending to an online thing and she volunteered to stay as well since the girls are still asleep and she’s scared with the kayak. Hehe I went with Ate Joy and we all survived that almost an hour trip on the other side of the island. 

It was better than island hopping since no one was with us and we can just waste our own time and no time limitations. 

It’s a day full of kayak and snorkeling. 

Going back is one of the most challenging in kayak since it is an open sea and it seems like we weren’t moving at all. We did survived though. Haha 

We were back and the girls were awake by then. 

We ate lunch at 12nn then we ate noodles by 3pm. Basically nothing to do but rest, eat and savor the beautiful view. 

All of us mostly wake up at 5am to catch the sunrise. We are somehow tired with our morning activities and after our snack the kids took some rest, Gem was still doing an online meeting and I got nothing to do so I decided to take a walk beach front and take some photos. It will be our last day tomorrow so might as well be sick with the beach which I will never be. Lol 

Got time to reflect but honestly I’m not thinking about anything that day. I just want to watch this view because how long will it be again to be able to surround myself with nature. Not every day that I have the open sea as a view with a nice sky and fluffy clouds. 

Living at the moment. 

I was in my rash guard from 9am till sunset. 

I somehow convinced Gem to do kayak and go around on the other side of the island and she agreed but then she started to panic when there was nothing to see. It was already late that going to the cave that afternoon is already impossible. Upon returning there are dark clouds that we thought it might rain hard so we rushed back since I don’t want Gem to panic more. 

I even say out that it was the weather in El Nido that I remember. As we returned we just stayed there and waited if it will be a rainy night. No, it was just drizzle and it just passed by then the sun is out again. 

It’s either we cleaned up by then or still went for a swim after. 

Then dinner as always and after Ate wanted to try if the fireworks that they bought during New Year is still working. We set up at the beach front and it worked. 

Happy Birthday, Amelia!! 

We had tea after then we head back to our room 

Such a good day and it was our last night in Kudugman. 

(Original plan was to head straight back to Puerto the next day but Kuya Zac said we should extend in the town proper one more night then just go drive back by Friday morning to Puerto. We agreed even we are in shortage of clothes. Haha and our flight will still be by Saturday morning)

We don’t have a stable internet and I’m enjoying being away from social media 

Kudugman Beach Cottages 

My Photographs: El Nido 

Palawan 2022 . May 24 (Day 2)

Woke up at 4am because we are leaving for El Nido. 

We arrived before 10am. 

I tried to stay awake during the drive but at times I still sleep. 

My first trip to El Nido was in 2014 and the last was in 2015. Both trip, I didn’t much appreciate the whole ride since it was always gloomy. This time was so different the sun was up even though the weather app says different as I checked a week ago. The road to El Nido those years was still bumpy since they are still doing road repairs and now, even with some aftermath of the recent typhoon it’s way better than in 2015. 

Honestly, I still don’t know what is the plan for this trip. Lol

My early trip to El Nido was always fast that I didn’t appreciate the town proper and as always, it was never sunny when I went there. You will not really appreciate to walk around because it is  always raining. 

I did remember where we ate lunch before and now that I was able to experience walking in El Nido, I slowly remembered some. It did have changes through the years but just few minutes later, it became so familiar. 

We ate brunch at a restaurant didn’t got the name. Then the girls wanted some gelato which was on the other side of the street where restaurant that we are in. It was maybe a 5 minute walk around town and it was so hot that day. I can complain on how hot it was but I tell you, it is way better than my last trips to El Nido and I’m thankful that it didn’t rain. Some says that it was always raining the past few days. 

Just going with the flow that I realized late that we will be staying in an island. As we wait we all reminisce how much that place changed. Still remember that wreck shipped that used to be in the middle and the water in that side of town is much clearer now than before. 

Our boat will be leaving by 1:30pm and upon waiting we saw a turtle swimming nearby. 

I think it was a 30 minute boat ride to the island where we will be staying for 2 nights. 

Boat ride will make you sleepy but I’m always and will be in the middle of witnessing all of it with eyes open or sleeping and I will always choose to open my eyes. I don’t regularly see this scene on a daily basis that it still feels unreal that I think that the whole scenery looks like a wallpaper from google. I had to sneak without my sunglasses to see the real deal and once again I’m appreciating my decision to had lasik.

We checked in and went to our room and the island doesn’t have electricity in the morning but who need that if it we are in an island and the beach is in front of you. 

After settling in we went out they changed to their swimming attire. While I’m ready whenever to jump in since I was already wearing some swimming clothes. A way to save a space in the bag. 

We don’t have anything to do other than eat, relax, swim and fortunately there’s a kayak and some googles for snorkeling. 

Since we already ate in town, after settling we didn’t rest and we did go straight swimming. We are 7 in total and apart from us and the owner of the island there is just another guest and we are just basically the guests in the island. 

I never tried snorkeling and diving but as I know how to swim without accessories, I’m not used on breathing just through my mouth. I get used to it the next day though. 

 

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I wonder how I will be doing my workout while on vacation but my exercise ring was closed during the ride to El Nido and since we do walk and move a lot I was able to close my rings right after we arrived in the island. I charged my Apple Watch while we decide to swim that afternoon and I’m hesitant to wear it while at the beach. We left our phones behind so there’s no major photos that afternoon. So hesitant to use our phones even it is water resistant. 

On one side of the island there’s a little area where there’s a sand and they decided to go there via kayak but Gem don’t like to kayak so we decided to tag along on one kayak while we swim and wearing life vests. 

I never thought of swimming in a deep water since I’m over thinker but we did it and I was able to swim then cramps. Lol. 

Not sure if we still swim going back or we rode the kayak already, I think we did the kayak. 

When we got back we are somehow done with the beach since we are all up early that day. The electricity is already on since it is almost sunset. 

After taking a bath brought my RX100 out and I started to regret not bringing the GoPro. I was so busy before leaving that im not sure if it still work and upon my return after the vacation, I tried to charge it and it is still working. REGRET. I was so hesitant to bring out the RX100 just because I don’t want the sand to get through it. If it is only possible, I love to take pictures again with the Canon 600D because it is so beautiful in there. 

It wasn’t that dark yet at 6pm so after we took a bath, we took some pictures outside and we saw a monitor lizard so quickly then minutes later there’s a monkey drinking a coconut juice while the coconut is still attached to the tree. Nature, amazed me and I concluded that this island is still healthy. Nature never failed to amazed me at times that I just can’t believe I’m seeing it with my own eyes. Im stunned with nature nonstop and pictures doesn’t even give the right justice to it. 

The girls love the camera and they started to take some photos while we wait for our dinner. 

The original plan was to do some island hopping but we end up on deciding to just stay in the island. At some point we want to do it but with kids it is a little more challenging and we somehow did that already before and staying in our own island was much better. We can also do kayak and snorkeling and it will be less tiring compare to a whole day island hopping. 

Dinner was so good and the fruits especially those mangoes. We were so full but then they said we should drink for the night and I never thought when was the last time I drank beer but I had 1 bottle. I finished my 1 bottle and I think I’m the only one who finished the beer. There was a Tuko on the other room and while that was being taken care off, the girls stayed with us. Right after they left we already dozed off before 9:30pm. 

The signal in our room is weak so there’s no other thing to do actually. 

Stayed at: Kudugman Beach Cottages

My Photographs: El Nido 

Palawan . Day 2

Alarm is banging at 3am and then Gem woke me up as if it was a halftime of a basketball game. 

We left for El Nido at 4am. 

It was a good 6 hours drive from Puerto Princesa to El Nido and another 6 hours from El Nido to Puerto Princesa. The road trip was fun because most of the time, Gem and I was asleep or it was just me. Hehe

When we arrived in El Nido, I checked Twitter and boom typhoon Mario was doing his job and in just a snap most places in Manila, Quezon City and near provinces are flooded. First, its weird to watch and hear the news when I'm being far from Manila or to my hometown but good thing schools and universities suspend classes early so I don't need to worry about my sister.

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It was raining in El Nido so island hopping was prohibited because of the current but after lunch time the skies somehow parted, there was a bit of sunshine and no more dark clouds so we were able to go to two islands. Yes, I have a reason why I need to go back to El Nido!

When we were on the boat, no one was talking as if we are all lost on our own thoughts and I was trying to remember everything I'm experiencing right at that moment that I don't see or do in my daily routine. I hope people from El Nido don't take that for granted, that place was amazingly beautiful. What more if I witnessed sunset in there. Every time that I go on a trip, there's always no sunset. Just like when we were in Boracay (2011) it was raining in July. Goal: to capture a beautiful Boracay and El Nido sunset. 

But Gem can't sleep when on our way back to Puerto Princesa because she was keeping our driver (her brother, JV) awake. If only I knew the way maybe I will volunteer to drive but their father was with us too to relieve JV and I know they will not allow me either so I just slept the whole ride back to Puerto Princesa. Hehe then we had Chaolong when we arrived at Puerto Princesa before going home. 

I didn't hold my camera most of the time in El Nido because it was raining but the memories will always be in my heart. 

Its been a week now after that El Nido trip and I'm missing the place so bad! - 09.26.14

DSLR are heavy but I don't like memories to be in a crappy picture just what I have on my iPad. To be honest, using a prime is challenging too. I just bought my 40mm just because what more if it was a 50mm? I'm still planning to buy a nifty-fifty. I also bought my TX5 but she had a seizure when we arrived in El Nido so she was suffering epilepsy since then. I'm planning to buy a GoPro hopefully on December so it will be a good replacement for my TX5. I'm so out of topic right now. I'll continue day 3 maybe tomorrow or the next day.

this was typed almost 2 months ago ... posting late is my forte at some point. lol but seriously, I'll post day 3 and 4 tomorrow or the next day. One post at a time.

My Photographs: Palawan

"I know places we can hide" - I Know Places | Taylor Swift