Coron Island, Palawan

What was supposed to be a two day exploration of a new island turned into a 24 hour whirlwind. At that time, Typhoon Basyang was in the southern part of the Philippines, and even though we were far from the Typhoon and safe, we were feeling the effects from it. Our ferry ride from El Nido to Coron was cancelled due to high winds and heavy rain, so we had to rearrange our travel plans for the next two days. We had to seek out new bookings and at the same time cancel existing reservations. We ended up staying in El Nido for an extra night and headed to Coron on the ferry in the early AM. We got to the port around 4am and it was an unorganized madhouse, as hundreds of people were dealing with the same travel problems. I was freaking out quite a bit because I thought we were going to be stranded for another night. Thankfully we were able to get on the ferry and we were off to Coron. The ferry ride was comfortable and smooth and calmed my nerves. Four hours later we finally arrived to Coron Island.

We arrived to town around 11am after disembarking from our ferry and retrieving our luggage. We were able to book a last minute room at a place called Patrik & Tezz Guesthouse right off the main access road of Coron-Busuanga. The guesthouse was a small wooden structure raised on stilts that sat above the water overlooking the Coron Harbor. It had only 6 rooms and a shared bathroom for all the guests to use. This was definitely not Cadlao Resort, but it was one of the only bookings available as we scrambled to find a place to stay last minute. The owner was great with communication and was very understanding. They actually stayed on site but unfortunately, we missed them during our stay.

We tried to take a nap but it was blazing hot with no air conditioning in our room. The small oscillating fan just wasn’t cutting it. The completely open window didn’t help as we could hear everything outside. The manual flush of the commode from the next building over wasn’t the most ideal sound to listen to over and over again. This wasn’t exactly what we had in mind for our stay, but at that point we were just thankful to have accommodations. After a short rest, we were back on our feet. We now had less than a day to explore Coron.

The town was beautiful. It was a lot slower than El Nido, not as congested. It had a homier feel to it. The tropical essence of El Nido was now replaced by lush green mountain peaks, more similar to the what we would see back on the east coast in the States. We wandered down to Bayside Plaza in what looked like an abandoned park. We decided to sit on a bench and take in the expansive views of the harbor. We were the only ones there. It might have been the stressful 24 hours we had, it might have been overall travel fatigue, but we were so content with the stillness. The calmness of the Plaza was well needed and refreshing.

As you approach Coron, the first thing that you can see in the distance is a giant cross that overlooks the town. The cross sat upon the peak of Mt. Tapyas with giant Hollywood sign like letters next to it spelling out Coron. We made our way to Mt. Tapyas and what stood between us and the peak was 721 stairs that zig zagged all the way up to the top viewing area. This was the most visited tourist destination on Coron except for the island hopping tours which we were unable to partake in with our condensed schedule.

The hike up wasn’t too taxing. There were several rest points and there was not one bad view of the town. The weather was somewhat cool as it was already later in the day. It was great to get moving and some exercise. 700 feet later we made it to the top. There were endless views of the town and the surrounding island summits. Bright yellow and orange hues highlighted the partially cloudy sky as the sun fell into the mountaintops. This was supremely stunning. The beauty on top of Mt Tapyas is something I will always remember.

Our flight was early the next day so we had to get in everything we could that one night. On the way back to our guesthouse, we did stop by a few markets to check out the local vendors. The streets were quiet and peaceful, and restaurants and bars seemed to be spread out on different streets. We stopped at Get Real Bar & Restaurant, a Mexican Filipino fusion restaurant. This was an open air restaurant with modern decor and tables that allowed us to look out to the street. The food was pretty decent. We ordered Adobo Beef Nachos, a Four Cheese Quesadilla and a Chicken Adobo entree. The mix of cuisines was an innovative touch. We searched for dessert after and found Pedro’s Gelato. It was a great way to end the night and our short stay in Coron.

Previous: El Nido Island Hopping Tour A

El Nido Island Hopping Tour A

After a great day of rest and relaxation, we were ready for our rescheduled excursion to the islands. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. The weather was perfect. The sun was shining and we were ready to take in the beauty of Palawan.

We met at the center of the El Nido beach front. Several colorful bangkas filled the bay past the sandbar waiting for the hundreds of people that were ready to embark on the different island tours. The tour was about $23 a person, which included a lunch and about eight hours out on the sea. We organized with our group and tour leaders and actually had to head to Corong Corong Beach to head to our specific tour. We shuttled further down south and finally reached where our group pick up was. We put on our lifejackets and made our way through the water to find our home for the next eight hours. We had a group of about 20 other passengers and 3 crew. We went over some very very loose rules: you can put on your lifejacket if you want and if you drop your phone we’re not stopping, lol. The tour hit 5 different stops: Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, and 7 Commando Beach. We settled in and headed to our first location at Small Lagoon.

Every where you looked there was beautiful turquoise water and enormous limestone cliffs - it was so serene and yet I couldn’t help but think I was in a movie. The rock formations on the islands looked like a secret lair for a bad guy in a James Bond movie. It was mind blowing as we passed along each island because it reminded me just how massive the Earth actually is. In that moment I felt so small, but that moment was so massive in my journey as a human being.

When we arrived to Small Lagoon we docked in the water about half a mile from a little cove and a small strip of sand. They gave us some goggles, snorkeling gear and sent us on our way for about 45 minutes of free time to explore. This small section was packed with different tours (probably why they recommend booking a private tour) but it never felt overcrowded. We swam over to the little cove and waited in line to see what the Small Lagoon was all about. We waited on top of black rocks on the side of the mountain as the waves washed up little sea creatures I’ve never seen before. We climbed through a small entrance which lead to this hollowed out cave with waist deep water. Sun peeked through the open ceiling. It was magical. We swam around for the rest of time, visited the “beach”. Then we headed back to the boat to get ready for the next stop.

Our next stop was Shimizu Island. Here we stopped for our Kamayan lunch as we floated in the middle of the sea. They prepared everything on the boat right before our eyes. The menu consisted of grilled chicken and fish with rice. There was a cucumber salad and plenty of fresh fruit. Boats docked right next to us selling fresh fruit and San Miguel beers. This was also free swim time as we spent about an hour and a half here. It was perfect.

After our filling lunch break we headed to Big Lagoon. This was the kayak portion of our trip. The lagoon was a long narrow channel surrounded by the limestone cliffs. There were kayakers, divers, and smaller boats making their way through the channel. The water was shallow and clear enough to see all the way to the bottom. The cliffs towered over us providing shade at times from the midday sun. To be directly in the middle of that was just incredible.

We had two more stops on our tour but as a group we decided we wanted more time at the last destination, 7 Commando Beach. The beach was gorgeous and full of life. Coconut trees, swings, shops, bars and different vendors lined the interior of the beach. We walked around, took in the sights and we sipped on an ube shake as we people watched. We got the call to head back. Our group piled back on our boat and we coasted back to Corong Corong beach as we watched the sun set. It was a long and packed day but it was absolutely worth it. What an expedition.

Previous: El Nido, Palawan

El Nido, Palawan

We said goodbye to our little jungle abode at Erlittop Garden and headed to the Maligaya area in the main tourist part of town. This time we opted to stay in more comfortable accommodations. We traded in the mountainside wilderness for the lavish and modern Cadlao Resort. After two nights of sleeping in fear of blood sucking mosquitos and having lizards as roommates, we absolutely needed this. This may have been one of the most beautiful resorts I’ve ever been to.

We arrived at Cadlao and were immediately greeted with warm hospitality and an ice cold mango smoothie. We toured the grounds as they prepared our bungalow. The rooms outlined two gorgeous pools which both looked out to the El Nido Bay. Mountain tops from the adjacent Cadlao Island stared back at us in the distance. Lounge chairs and palm trees filled the grounds. Smells of the on site spa filled the air. Our room was absolutely beautiful. Large, wide doors gave us the perfect view of the resort. Clean pressed linen fitted the most comfortable king bed. We had instant hot water, fast wifi and AIR CONDITIONING. This was a welcomed paradise.

After taking some time to relax in our room we were ready to explore. Cadlao was nestled along the upper coast and it was about a half a mile walk south in to town. When we arrived into town, the streets were lively and energetic as this was definitely a hot spot for tourists. Different businesses and vendors lined the crowded streets and alleys. We found an adorable coffee shop called Botanica Cafe. We had an amazing ube latte with ensaymada and a calamansi bar. Our next stop was Happiness Beach Bar, a Mediterranean restaurant which was a surprise after eating so much Filipino food for the past two weeks. We were back to civilization and and normalcy; it was especially refreshing after our time spent at Erlittop in the jungle. We continued to explore the town and take in the sights and culture. The streets were so colorful and different. Each corner was filled with friendly people from all walks of life. El Nido is one of the most popular destinations to visit on Palawan and we could definitely see why.

Previous: Nacpan Beach, El Nido

Nacpan Beach, El Nido

The overnight storm from Typhoon Basyang caused us to rearrange our schedule while we were at Erlittop. The rains came down so hard during the night that the next morning the travel company was reporting mudslides and unsafe highways that led into the city of El Nido. We previously planned on doing the island hopping tours, but we were unfortunately forced to reschedule those to later in the week. Thankfully, there were still some roads that were drive-able. The travel company suggested visiting Nacpan Beach and Nagkalit-Kalit Falls. We had no other choice as those were our only available options. We hopped back on another terrifying van and we were ready for our beach excursion.

Our first stop was Nagkalit-kalit Falls. We came to a stop on the side of the main road. A number of small shacks lined the highway and what looked like someone’s Lola (Grandma) greeted us. Our guide handed us walking sticks and said we had to follow him to get to the falls. I was expecting a short stroll past the shacks. Instead, what we got was a 45 minute hike through the actual jungle, all while in our flip flops and swim suits. We were prepared for relaxation on the beach but were surprised with an impromptu hike through shallow rivers and rough terrain. It was unexpected, at times it was tough, but it ended up being a wonderful journey. It felt like we were transported to Jurassic Park with the open fields and beautiful landscape. It was an experience like no other. The end of the path finally led us to a pair of waterfalls. There was a small waterfall that welcomed us. We were able to swim in the plunge basin. It was refreshing and cool as the heat of the day started coming down on us. To get to the second waterfall we had to climb up the side of a steep incline, overlooking the first waterfall, using a slippery rope. I was not going to risk bringing my DSLR or my iPhone, so I left those behind with one of our guides. This path was maybe a quarter of a mile up that led to the main falls. The Nagkalit-kalit Falls were absolutely gorgeous, a literal hidden gem, and an overall amazing adventure to get there. We took some time to be immersed in the falls and hang out and enjoy the water. Then we made our trek back to our van to head to Nacpan.

It was a short drive west to reach our destination. There were some sketchy parts of the road due to the storm but we were able to make it. When we finally arrived to Nacpan Beach our jaws just dropped. The views of the beach were breathtaking. Bold blue water matched the blue skies. Lush greenery contrasted with the clean and clear sand. Massive islands outlined the sea in the distance. This was a sandy stretch of Heaven. It was the most picturesque postcard. There were a lot of people but there were long stretches of beach that were just untouched and peaceful. There was a large gazebo and a rock jetty that stuck out in the middle of the ocean extending pretty far out. We took the time to soak in both the beauty of the beach and warmth of the sun and just enjoy our time.

We were ready for some lunch and some drinks. There were a couple different options directly on the beach. We stopped by Sunmai Sunset, a more modern looking outdoor restaurant compared to the other establishments. This place was buzzing with a live reggae band and party atmosphere. The food took a little long as it looked like the kitchen was slammed. But the drinks were flowing quickly, Mango Margaritas, San Miguels, Pina Coladas, and of course, a whole coconut with a straw. Such an awesome find.

We didn’t even plan on coming here but I’m so glad we did. The rainstorm was a blessing in disguise, and led us to this beautiful beach with the most amazing views that I will never forget in my life.

Previous: Erlittop Garden, Sibaltan, El Nido

Erlittop Garden, Sibaltan, El Nido

Our next stop on the island of Palawan called for us to head north to the town of El Nido. We booked a small B&B nestled on the northeastern coast of the island called Erlittop Garden. The most recommended way to get to El Nido from Puerto Princesa was a van transfer (pretty harmless, right?). A 15 passegner van picked us up mid day in Puerto Princesa - we were the first ones to be picked up for the journey. The van didn’t take long to suddenly feel cramped and claustrophobic. We went from stop to stop and slowly the 15 passenger van began to fill up with other tourists, locals, and what looked like deliveries that needed to head north as well. With the van now full, we were ready for our six hour trek up north. Those next six hours were probably the most frightening six hours I’ve ever experienced. We were on a single lane highway with no speed limits and a driver who drove like he was in a Nascar race, except this race included dodging stray dogs, weaving around jeepneys, motorbikes, and at times gaping holes in the middle of the road. With each turn and each hill we went over, my grip on the handle and seat tightened more and more. It also didn’t help that the proximity of the road to the mountainside cliffs that led into the ocean was practically nonexistent. To make matters even more nerve racking, we drove through a tropical rainstorm as the entire island was feeling effects of Typhoon Basyang that was currently over the southeastern part of the Philippines at the time. It was absolutely terrifying but at the same time exhilarating. I don’t know how the driver could see in the downpour but he was just trekking along. I just had to close my eyes and pray. We had a few stops on the way to break up the anxiety of the trip, but by that time the ride was just more fun to see if we were actually going to make it to El Nido. Thankfully we did.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

We dropped off passengers in the main tourist area of El Nido, which was on the western coast. We, on the other hand, had another hour east to travel to our accommodations at Erlittop Garden. It was a long treacherous trip but we finally arrived. It was pitch black dark when we arrived, and we had no idea where we were but we were just glad to be alive and out of that van. We followed a dimly lit, steep stair path that led us to their welcome/dining area, and we were quickly greeted with warm hospitality from all of the staff. They arranged welcome drinks and a delicious dinner as we waited for our room to be prepared. A calamansi shake and a Red Horse paired well with a fresh vegetable salad and a pork sisig. After dinner and some general information, they led us to our room down a path of perfectly arranged stepping stones. We gazed at the tall trees that lined the path, while walking by various tents and open air huts. We could barely see with the sparse lighting and our phone flashlights. We got to our room and it hit us - we were on the side of a mountain, in the middle of the jungle, sleeping in a mosquito net, next to a gigantic lizard who so thoughtfully greeted us. It all started to sink in as we stood in our room, enjoying the last bit of light as the electricity allotment for the B&B was coming to an end for the day. We were definitely out of our comfort zone.

Welp, as you probably could have guessed, no, that was not the best night of sleep I have ever gotten. We were hot. We were sweaty. There was zero breeze. And of course, there was our large reptile friend watching over us all night. It was definitely one of the longer nights I’ve experienced. We did finally catch a break in the wee hours of the morning when the storm from earlier came back around. The winds and rain picked up, giving us a bit of relief from the heat. All different types of sounds were coming through the bamboo windows and the mosquito net was the only thing keeping us safe. What. A. Night. What a day!

Morning came. We survived. Everything was calm and everything was beautiful. Suddenly everything was at peace. Erlittop was our beautiful home for the next two days. The grounds were gorgeous. The different huts were spread across the mountainside and surrounded by abundant greenery. There were hammocks and gazebos placed throughout. Stray dogs and chickens roamed around the property while travelers from all over the world did the same. The staff was welcoming and friendly as our favorites, Albert and Kasey, always made sure we were taken care of throughout our stay. The food was great and we were extremely thankful for the strong Wifi at the welcome center, as we planned our next activities for the coming days. The views were simply amazing overlooking the Sibaltan Bay. We were in a different world. I will have to admit, we were quite a bit unprepared for this rustic experience and yet, it was everything we were hoping it would be. Some of our best stories came from our time at Erlittop, and at the end of the day, we wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Previous: Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

After a couple days spent in BGC catching up with family and getting over our jet lag, we were off to start our journey to the island province of Palawan. When we flew into Manila earlier in the week, it was in the middle of the night and there was nothing but darkness out of our windows. For this trip we had an early morning flight and our eyes were glued to the window the entire time. The endless blue seas highlighted the thousands of islands that make up the archipelago of the Philippines - it was simply a sight to see. The short one hour flight was certainly not enough time for us to take in the beauty that 30,000 feet above the ground could provide.

We arrived to the City of Puerto Princesa or “The City of the Living God”. This was our first experience without the guidance of my parents, and without the comfort of the city life we got accustomed to in BGC. We touched down and immediately noticed the removal of the high rises, the bustling businesses and most importantly, the excruciating traffic of Manila. Just like that, everything was different - it felt like we were across the world in a completely new land. It was slow, the air was fresh and it felt like we traveled back in time. There were roads that weren’t paved, undeveloped areas, old buildings and lush greenery. We grabbed the first tricycle we saw (which is the best mode of transportation, by the way, and so much fun) and we took a short ride to our hotel, the Blue Lagoon, which was located right on the main street of Rizal Avenue. We settled in and immediately got right to exploring the city.

Rizal Avenue runs right through the city, it was about a 3 mile stretch from end to end. The day was absolutely beautiful and the sun was beating down. We walked the streets, observing all of the different businesses, local restaurants and people. We came across a few blocks of different markets and vendors. You could buy a fake Supreme shirt, freshly caught fish and freshly baked pandesal all at the same time. There was anything you could possibly need (and want!). We wandered over to the west end and found the City Baywalk Park. It was a beautiful landmark that housed a sense of eeriness. We couldn’t quite tell if the park was abandoned or just not open yet. Nonetheless, we had the entire park to ourselves to take in the views that overlooked the mouth of the Sulu Sea. There was nothing but silence, a light breeze and stunning views. What a blessing it was to be there, we were able to sit in peace and take in everything.

We walked back down Rizal Avenue and visited the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, where to our surprise there was a mass being conducted. We visited Plaza Cuartel, which was a Japanese controlled military fort during WWII. In 1944, American POW’s were tortured and eventually killed by their capturers, later becoming known as the Palawan Massacre. The Plaza looked like an ordinary park, but with its dark and devastating history, it was hard not to feel the overwhelming somberness.

We finally arrived back to our hotel for a quick nap and a refresh.

We only had one night to enjoy Puerto Princesa, for we had an early morning trek to El Nido the next morning. After doing some TripAdvisor research, we found our must go to’s for the evening. Our first stop was for coffee at Eightynine Cafe. What an awesome find. I think we missed it the first time we walked by. It was a small, modern cafe that could’ve been found in any big city, but instead was nestled in the small town of Puerto Princesa. I had to get the instagram worthy Rain Cloud Coffee. They bundled a cotton candy “cloud” above a hot cup of coffee where the steam from the coffee made it “rain” into the mug. It was awesome! We ventured a couple streets down to Haim Chicken for dinner. This was a large outdoor restaurant full of local art, with smoke from the kitchen grills flooding the air. We ordered Fresh Lumpia and the best Lumpia Veggie Shanghai I’ve ever had. We followed that up with the famous Haim Spicy Chicken Leg and Pancit Bihon. Absolutely delicious. It was the perfect way to end our short time spent in such a great little city. Day one down of our island hopping adventure, and we couldn’t wait to see what was in store for us ahead.

Previous: BGC, Manila, Philippines

BGC, Manila, Philippines

We touched down around midnight Philippines time, a whole 12 hours ahead of the East coast, my body clock was just all confused as we literally time traveled into the future, lol. I was pretty delirious from the long plane ride and the whole day spent in Taipei. I was completely exhausted but at the same time so excited and anxious as I didn’t quite know what to expect. We arrived to the Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport and it was instant madness. It felt like every plane arrived at the same time and every single person had to go through customs and there just weren’t enough customs agents filing the crowds through. It was a lot of people and not enough space/help/organization.

We finally got through customs, got our bags and made it outside. We did it! After a short wait, my parents were there to pick us up. The look on their faces of pride and joy and pure happiness of me actually being in the Philippines is something I will always cherish. Being in my parents’ homeland was something I had only dreamed of and could only imagine; but there I was, finally in their home land and what I had only heard of for 34 years was now a reality.

We got into a chauffeured van and began our trek to Bonifacio Global City, or BGC for short, where my parents live. It was a short 20 minute ride. Our first encounter of Manila was through tinted windows at 1am. Everything was dimly lit except for the Resort World casino which was right next to the airport, and a spectacle in itself. Immediately following were slums, shanties and people just everywhere on the streets and sidewalks. Famous Filipino Jeepneys filled the streets, alongside tricycles and different street vendors. Every now and then a Jollibee was sprinkled right in between the streets. All these sights were brand new (except for the Jollibee’s - I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some chicken). Then everything changed. The slums disappeared and high rise after high rise appeared. The dim streets turned into a lit city skyline. We were in a foreign land completely across the world, yet it felt like we were right back in America. Suddenly there were Starbucks and Coffee Beans and McDonald’s. There were billboards and lights everywhere, restaurants and bars. The contrast of the landscape was just so drastic and mind blowing. We finally arrived to our high rise. Security led us to the lobby and the door lady greeted us with a warm welcome in the middle of the night and finally we made it to my parents skyrise condo overlooking Manila, just incredible.

After a short night’s rest we got to exploring BGC. What used to be an old Philippine Army camp was now transformed into a bustling rich district in Metro Manila. We explored High Street which was full of every business and restaurant you could imagine. We walked block after block until reaching Market! Market! which was a sight in itself. Market! Market! consists of an outdoor market with fresh produce and street vendors and street food. The outdoor market sat opposite of the mega mall where 100’s of people were shopping and hanging out.

We walked over to SM Aura which is a Super Mall that has premium and upscale brands. I don’t know why they need a Super Mall right next to a Mega Mall but we went anyway, it was literally a four minute walk. We explored all the different shops for a bit. I got to visit with the homies from Commonwealth at the first Manila location, it was awesome. SM Aura wasn’t as crowded as Market! Market! and was a little more enjoyable to walk around. We went all the way to the roof of the mall and visited the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel. The Chapel was amazing and the view of both BGC and the rest of Manila was breathtaking. From that vantage point you could look west and see all of BGC, with high rises and development. You then look east past the interstate and all you could see is poverty and miles and miles of slums. The difference was night and day and quite shocking to see.

For the next four days BGC was our home. We met with new family, ate a ton of amazing food, relaxed and enjoyed the lavishness of BGC. We got familiar with our surroundings and adjusted to the time difference, all while preparing for the next part of our trip to the island of Palawan.

Previous: Taipei, Taiwan

Stacy

We found this dope little coffee shop called Communal Coffee right on University Ave when exploring the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. The bright white walls and greenery and all the outdoor seating made for a lovely backdrop. Stacy was dope as always. I’ll be back in So Cal in December. Hit me up for all inquiries!

Instagram: @stacy_doodle