To the last frontier, El Nido, Palawan

♪♫♪My heart is sinking as I'm lifting up

Above the clouds away from you.

And I can't believe I'm leaving

Oh I don't kno-kno-know what I'm gonna do.

But someday, I will find my way back 

To where your name Is written in the sand. ♪♫♪  

 ~Simpleplan ,Summer Paradise:)

It was January 2013 when Ate Grace, one of my ex-housemates at my boarding house in college came back from Oman. She told us that she is going to Palawan with her then boyfriend and now husband, Kuya Vanjow. She asked us if we, ex-housemates of Bahay ni Tatay might want go to Palawan and meet them there. Ate Grace had worked in Palawan as nurse for a year or two before working abroad. Only Ate Rachelle and I had agreed to come. 

We were lucky because that time, there was still direct flight from Davao to Palawan. We have paid about P2,400 per head for the airfare with Cebupacific. That's for back and forth. We have arrived at Puerto Princesa at 9am. We have noticed that there were many tourist guides waiting for their guests outside the airport. Some have rented vans to take them to their destinations. As for us, we walked a bit, and then rode on a tricycle to RORO Bus Terminal Station and headed North.

El Nido is 229.4 km north from Puerto Princesa. We had a short stop over at Taytay where ate Grace and Kuya Payat are waiting for us. It took us 6 to 7 hours to get to Taytay. I forgot how much is fare. It was so funny because when we arrived at Taytay they told us that we have just rode unto the most antique or the oldest RORO Bus there. But it's okey because it will cost us time if we will wait for the next available bus.

With the ostrich at Ate Grace's sister's house in Taytay.

With ate Grace and kuya Vanjow

We have seen this sunset on our way to El Nido

At Residencia Katrina, it seems like we're busy with our own business. :)

We rode on a van from Taytay to El Nido. It took us 2 hours or less. We had stayed at Residencia Katrina Bed and Breakfast. We had paid P 2,000 for the room accommodation good for 4 pax. I remember that I was still having tutorials then. Teaching Korean kids English online (via skype). After my tutorial for an hour, we went out for dinner by the beach. 

We went Island Hopping the next day. They have package tour A, B, C and D for lagoons, islets, coves and caves. We, however have availed of only one package tour because we only have one day to stay in El Nido. We have paid P800 per/pax for the package tour inclusive of lunch. 

While waiting for our food :)

Ate Rachelle waiting for the go signal for us to eat. 

View of Snake Island from the top. 

I'm not a fan of Life Vest :p

Passing the narrow entrance of Cudugnon Cave

Inside Cudugnon Cave. They say it used to be a hideout of
Japanese Soldiers during WWII

Pinagbuyutan Island

I'm definitely coming back to this paradise :)

Bucket List 101: Catch a Wave and Surf Up (Mati, Davao Oriental)

It was April 2012 when I requested my friends to go Mati with me for my birthday. I have heard that the beach there is amazing and the waves are perfect for surfing and skim boarding.

Mati is located in Davao Oriental. It is three to four-hour bus ride from Ecoland Terminal, Davao City. Bus fare is at around 250 pesos. From Mati town center, it is 20 minutes habal-habal/motorcycle ride to Dahican Beach resorts. As for this trip, we didn't commute but rode on our friend's Sedan.

With Phil and Sheen

Picture of the land formation called the Sleeping Dinosaur

Trying to wake the Sleeping Dino with a kiss haha

We have arrived there early in the afternoon. The weather was so hot back then and we ran out of mineral water. We got so thirsty and so we have stopped by a sari-sari store and I remember Sprite never tasted that good! It was like in it's TV commercial that would make want you to say BRRR! (Haha Sprite should pay me for saying this. lol)

 It was not my first time to be in this city but it is my first time to be in their beaches. We had bought water melon along the way.

   

The weather was perfect and the waves were good and so we've started surfing. It was my first time to surf. We have paid PHP 300.00 for the surf board and assistance. We were trained by the popular Amihan Boys in Mati. One of them is the local boy wonder Sonny Boy Aporbo, a.k.a Bayugyug. He had brought home championship trophies from competitions abroad like Hongkong and Malaysia. 

Mati boy wonder Bayugyug showing off his surfing skill.

Picture with the Amihan Boys

My first time to stand on a surf board. haha I'll do better next time. :)

Okey, for accommodation, you may bring or rent a tent with you. There are several tourist there who had used tents. Us, however  have stayed at Dahican Surf Resort. We have rented a "kubo" for 400 PHP with three bed space available. My friend hang a hammock at the center of the cottage. And I slept at the hammock for the entire night for a cat was screeching outside the kubo near my bed.

There I have also experienced one of the best sunrise in my life. We went skim boarding later in the morning and went back home to Davao City in the afternoon.