Palawan Travel Adventures: Day 3 - El Nido Mangrove Eco-Park

On our third day in Palawan, we went to a mangrove eco-park in Marimegmeg, El Nido. The owners of the resort where we stayed, the Orange Pearl at the Marimegmeg Beach, owns another resort about a 3 to 5-minute drive from the Marimegmeg Beach.  It is located in a mangrove area.  The resort will open sometime this month, June 2014. According to the owners, and if I am not mistaken, the rates for their guesthouses would be around Php 5,000.00 per family room, good for 3 pax.  The owners also told us that they are planning a package that would include stays in both their beach and eco-park resorts.

Eco-Park Guesthouses

The owners constructed a narrow bamboo bridge amidst the mangrove trees that ends up at the water area leading to the open sea.  A small, motorized boat could ferry visitors around.

Walking along the bamboo bridge surrounded by mangrove trees is a first-time experience for me, as well as touring a mangrove area via boat.  The air is definitely cleaner, as the mangroves provide 10x more oxygen. I was glad we went there.  My spirit was refreshed, my mind got clearer, my heart was energized.  It was a leisurely, calming walk.  On the other hand, the boat tour was exciting, at least for me, since I was so looking forward to seeing the water widen into the open sea.

View from the boat ride

The open sea!

Since the Eco-Park is yet to open, I am not sure if tourists can go there on a whim.  Or if there is a fee to gain entry at the Park.  We were able to go to the Eco-Park because we were guests of the owners.  For inquiries, you may contact the Orange Pearl Resort.  They are listed at Agoda.com.

Palawan Travel Adventures: Day 2 - El Nido Island Hopping (Tour A)

Entrance to the Big Lagoon

The highlight of our Palawan trip: island-hopping in El Nido!

I was most excited to engage in this activity. After all, the limestone islands of El Nido are world-famous. And we get to snorkel, too. So, what more can I ask?  Well, another day of island-hopping, probably. 

We sailed on a motorized banca around 9am last Wednesday.  According to our guide, our first stop would either be the small or the big lagoon, depending on the tide.  And from our resort, it would be a 40 minute or so ride.

I guess, we were blessed that day.  The sea was as calm as it could be.  We were literally cutting through crystal-clear, glass-like sea.  There was not even a small wave or a ripple in sight.  The sea was so still that it perfectly mirrored the skies and the islands.  It was so serene and beautiful that I had to utter a prayer of thanks to the Lord for letting me witness the marvel of his creation.  I was glad to be alive.

The islands of El Nido are scattered quite a distance from one another unlike in Caramoan.  No wonder there are 4 types of island-hopping tours, tours a, b, c and d.  And each tour takes up a whole day which I think is perfectly fine.  It is better to enjoy and savor what the islands have to offer than rush from one point to another.

For Tour A, we went to the Big Lagoon, the Small Lagoon, Shimizu Island, the Seven Commandos Beach and the Secret Lagoon.

The Big Lagoon is located somewhere in Miniloc Island, the famed Ayala resort.  The Small Lagoon and the Secret Lagoon are located somewhere there, too. We were quite lucky since there were few tourists.  It was a Wednesday, after all, and the peak season for El Nido had ended in March.  

Limestone formation, Miniloc

Miniloc Resort

As with all the islands we visited, the Big Lagoon is breathtaking.  Achingly beautiful.  The waters in and surrounding the island were a myriad of colors: emerald green, turquoise, aquamarine, deep blue and the prettiest and stunningly vivid azure I have ever seen in my life.  

Anyway, we had a photo ops at the entrance of the lagoon, between two limestone cliffs, or island or whatever it may have been.  We just happily traversed the water on the safety of our boat.

View from inside the Big Lagoon

From the Big Lagoon, we went to the Secret Lagoon, a short distance away.  One by one, we entered a small, sort of triangular crevice.  To safely reach the Secret Lagoon, one must sit on top of the rock-opening, then slide the lower body towards the other side slowly, making sure that your head does not hit the edge of the opening. 

The docking site for the Secret Lagoon.
There is a small beach as shown in the photo.
And yes, the water is crazy clear.

View from inside the Secret Lagoon
Can you see the small triangular crevice?  That is the entrance.

Afterwards, we headed to Shimizu Island for a swim while we wait for our lunch to be cooked.  The boatmen and our tour guide took care of the cooking.

Shimizu Island
The beach is small but perfect for a swim.

The view  from Shimizu Island

Bring your goggles or snorkeling gear.  There are many fishes of various sort even in shallow waters at the Shimizu Island.  Apparently, the island was named after a Japanese scuba diver who died while diving in an underwater tunnel off some sorts per the request of the diver's mother.  If I have to die before an island is named after me, I'd gladly pass.

Fishes abound at the Shimizu Island.
The same is true in every island we visited.

To reach the Small Lagoon, on the other hand, we had to pass through another small rock opening.  For added fun, the tour guides would assist the tour groups in making a sea train.  The first person would be hanging onto a life buoy, with the next person holding onto the feet of the first person and so on and so forth.  The tour guide would then pull the life buoy and the train into the narrow passageway which is just enough for a one or two persons to fit in at a time.  Corny, but it was fun nonetheless.

Inside the Small Lagoon

Our final stop was the Seven Commandos Beach.  A resort is currently being constructed but the bar is open and fully operational.  They sell drinks at tourist prices.  The beach, though, is beautiful, the shoreline is wide, and the water, shallow.  Plus, the view is just so picturesque.

Seven Commandos

Still at the Seven Commandos

The skies turned slightly gray and the waves became bigger.  The fair weather was turning into a cloudy one.  Hence, the dark horizon as pictured above.  But the view remained beautiful.

I told you...the water on this beach is  shallow.
Crystal-clear.  The sandy shoreline, wide.

My office mates, who grew tired from island-hopping, wanted to return to the resort even though it was only past 2pm.  Oh well.  I just vowed to myself that I shall return to El Nido.

Post script:  Going to the Seven Commandos beach, I saw a pawikan swimming in the sea.  I thought it was a huge piece of plastic bag, colored green.  But when we got closer, it was a sea turtle.  Like a child, I squealed in delight.  To see one means you're lucky.  And I was the only  one who saw it in our group.  Yay!

     

Palawan Travel Adventures: Day 1 - Manila to Puerto Princesa to El Nido

Last week, I went to Palawan with my office mates.  It was an unexpected trip in the sense that I was not aware that it would happen.  I only knew we were going there when I was told that tickets for Puerto Princesa and back to Manila were bought online.  And that they bought me tickets without my knowledge.  Heehee.

At any rate, I had nothing to do with the planning of our Palawan trip.  I merely went with the plans of the group and I just gave them my advice re: travel time and road conditions from Puerto Princesa to El Nido as well as how many days we should spend at the very least in El Nido.  It seems that my advice was not heeded and we ended up spending a lot of our time tired from the long land travel.

The tickets my office mates bought did not maximize our time in Palawan.  We had afternoon flights to and from Puerto Princesa.  It would have been okay if we were to stay in Puerto Princesa on our first and second days but we had to go to El Nido straight from the airport.  Sadly, our first and last days in Palawan were spent for land and air travel.

When we arrived in Puerto Princesa, our driver, Kuya Roberto, was waiting for us already.  We paid Php 5000.00 for a one-way trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido.  Some of my office mates were forced to commute with other passengers since we could not all fit in a single van.  They paid Php 500.00 per person.

We were able to leave Puerto Princesa around 4pm via a private chauffeured van and we arrived in El Nido around 10pm.  By the time we got to El Nido, we were all wasted from the flight delay, the flight itself and the 6-hour grueling land travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido.  

You may wonder why I called it "grueling."  Well, for many reasons.  Firstly, it was my first time to travel that long via land, and 6 hours is really a 6 hour drive, with only a short stop for a bathroom break. Secondly, while the road conditions have vastly improved, as per our driver, there are parts especially in Taytay where the roads remain unpaved.  Thirdly, there are no street lights for most part of the way to El Nido.  The only light we had was from our own van and from the head lights of the vehicles we met on the road.  Needless to say, vehicles plying from Puerto Princesa to El Nido and vice versa are few, far and between.  It was sort of a creepy ride, driving in near darkness and in almost total isolation.

I told my office mates that it would not be a good idea to travel late afternoon since we'd be forced to drive in the dark but they just told me that arriving in El Nido by 10pm would still be relatively early.  I just bit my tongue and let them do all the planning.  And I guess, we all learned the hard way.  Teehee.

Anyway, the resort where we stayed was some 15 minutes away by car from the El Nido town proper. When our chauffeur suddenly made a stop on the roadside, we were all scared.  It was totally dark and the only light we had was again, from our van's headlights and the awfully amazing stars above us.  We had to wait for some 30 to 40 minutes for the resort personnel to fetch us.  Well, we had a hard time contacting them due to the poor cellular signal reception.  And apparently, the resort is some 600 meters away from the roadside and we had to travel on foot through a narrow, dirt road, again, in total darkness, save from the torch light brought by the resort personnel and our own cellular phones.   And the dirt road went uphill and downhill, almost an obstacle course, making walking with our luggage a little more difficult.  But when we got to the beach side, even in the darkness, we could tell that the water is crystal clear and when we finally reached the resort, we all heaved a sigh of relief.  There was light and electricity at last.  And warm food.  Buffet!






 

 

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Boracay! Day 1

     We went to Boracay almost a year ago, i.e., December 2011.  It was my first time going there and most of my companions were first-timers, too.  Well, I wanted to touch the famed fine, white sand and to see what the fuss is about Boracay.

     So, from Manila, we all boarded a Cebu Pacific plane.  However, since we were a big group (around 15), we were in 2 different flights: the super early one and the afternoon one.

     It was also my first time to board a plane smaller than the regular airbus, so I was kinda scared.  I asked if I could be seated in front and my request was granted.  I got seat 1, on the first row, but it was a seat facing all the other passengers!  So, I felt like a flight attendant.  It was an odd experience but a memorable one.  

     Anyway, when we got to Caticlan, our van service, courtesy of The Sands Hotel, was already at the airport to transfer us to the jetty port.  From the port, The Sands' own boat picked us up to take us to Boracay island.

 Jetty Port

Transfer Service

     What can I say?  We arrived in style.  Teehee.

    After another short ride from the Boracay jetty port, we finally reached the hotel, and I was so relieved.  I know that Boracay is supposed to be fun and full of people. However, since I'm one of those weirdos who seek tranquility while on the beach, I was hoping to that our hotel would be somewhere more secluded.  And I was not disappointed.  The Sands is located in Station 3, some 15  minutes away from the unbearably crowded Station 2.

The sand in Boracay are powdery white, but not in this photo!

The setting sun made the sand look beige. 

    Boracay's sand proved to be as soft as talc and as white as snow (almost).  And I don't know if I just have thick soles but the sand does not get unbearably hot.  I could walk around the beach barefoot even under the midday sun.  One thing I noticed though is that not all Stations have the same texture of sand.  Station 3 has the coarsest powder-sand and it gets finer going towards Station 1.

    Hmm...I was expecting Boracay to be crowded when we arrived mid-afternoon.  But apparently, most people were out riding the paraw, taking refuge from the midday sun or sleeping in.  Surprisingly, Boracay was relatively serene when we arrived.

     Starting 5pm, the crowd got thicker, and by sunset, Station 2 became the ultimate party destination.  Then again, partying has never been my cup of tea, so I just walked along the beach to watch the setting sun.

   

     

   

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Bataan - Day 2 at the Dambana ng Kagitingan

Dambana ng Kagitingan

   

     For our second day in Bataan, my family and I went to see the 00KM marker of the Bataan Death March, which is located nearby the NPC Village, before heading to the Dambana ng Kagitingan.  I wanted my little nephews and nieces to see the marker for their Philippine history studies. 

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Bataan - Day 1 at the Westnuk Beach Cove

Westnuk Beach Cove on a stormy afternoon.

     Our accommodations at the NPC Village includes a free day pass to the Westnuk Beach Cove.  It is located inside the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Morong.  Before, you cannot go to the Westnuk Beach unless you know someone from the National Power Corporation who could accommodate you as a guest.  But not anymore!  It is now open to the public, but for a minimal fee.  If I'm not mistaken, entrance for day-trippers is around Php 130.00 per person, more or less, with discount for government employees..

     Now that it is accessible to the general public, the secret of its beauty is now out!  And it says so in its website:

Hidden away in the heart of Morong, Bataan, Westnuk Beach Resort is the perfect getaway for weary travelers looking to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Our resort is only a two and a half hour drive from Manila. Getting there is an experience in itself as the roads you travel are filled with scenic views of where the mountains and the sea meet.

Even in its simplicity, Westnuk Beach Resort features comfortable accommodations with scenic ocean views. We cater to friends, families, and even companies seeking to have fun under the sun. For larger groups and company outings we can accommodate over five hundred people at our hotel at NPC Resort Village, a twenty minute ride via our shuttle service. That’s two venues to experience in one convenient package.

Be surrounded by nature unspoiled by man. When you’re not swimming, facilities for basketball, beach volleyball and karaoke are available for you to enjoy. Come and enjoy one of the Philippines most beautiful and unspoiled beaches for a holiday you’ll never forget.

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Bataan - Day 1 at the NPC Nuclear Power Village

     Since I am just a short post away from wrapping up my Macau travel adventures, I'm going to blog about my Bataan adventures since I've been itching to do it for a long time already.

     If you remember, last August 2011, the Philippines had a rather extra long weekend because of several holidays.  So, I was so flustered thinking about being stuck at home.  I wanted to go to Baguio but my reservation was put on-hold and when it was finally okay, it was already too late to go.  Anyway, my family and I ended up staying at the National Power Corporation's Nuclear Power Village in Bagac, Bataan.

It's More Fun in the Philippines - Blog Series

Cagsawa Ruins and Mt. Mayon, Bicol

     Although I have reservations about the Philippines' tourism slogan, I can do nothing about it.  Might as well find something useful about it.  So, I've entitled my Philippine travel adventure series, "It's More Fun in the Philippines."  

     Lately, I've been going around the country one tourist destination at a time.  I'll start blogging my adventures after wrapping up my Hong Kong and Macau adventures, but here's a sneak peek:

West Nuk Beach, Bataan

Boracay, Aklan

Caramoan, Camarines Sur

Pico de Loro, Nasugbu, Batangas

Punta Fuego, Nasugbu, Batangas