Palawan on a Holiday

It was in 2013 that I hastily booked a ticket for a holiday in Palawan. Being the last frontier in the Philippines, Palawan is truly a part of my dream destination. 

Detour in El Nido

When I landed in Puerto Princesa, I was racing against time for an Underground River Tour. Unfortunately, the local staff told me that the office was closed with a fully-booked Underground River Tour.

I was silent for a moment and a bit sad. I could have arranged my trip months before my scheduled flight. However, I was also thinking of El Nido and its majestic turquoise waters. I told myself that I must be there.

"Excited to see what's in store for me in Palawan"

"Race against time so I managed to have this jumpseat going towards El Nido"

"This is the morning after I slept on the seashore. I happened to visit their flea market."

So, my 6-hour ride commenced. 

I got there in El Nido past midnight. Admittedly, it was a tiresome trip without any accommodation room to rest my worn-out body. I dragged myself to the seashore with cold sands serving as my refuge. I laid down my bags and turned my sarong to a bed. It was hilariously naïve for me, but the experience was all that clings in me forever. With crabs tickling my feet while I was half-awake the entire dawn, I had never thought of whatever negativities in my mind. I conquered the fear of the unknown while daring time (concluding that the seashore in El Nido is a safe place to stay overnight). 

Taraw Peak

I tried looking for food in the morning when I met a young man who told me about Taraw Peak, a limestone karst that stood mightily in El Nido. The teenager told me that it is a great spot for climbing. So, I did not hesitate to say "yes" when he offered me that he would serve as my guide for the morning climb. I could not even imagine now that I had the stamina climbing dangerous ravines, sharp and pointed limestone mountain that might eventually jab me to death.  With just a cup of coffee and biscuits, the young guide and I daringly climbed Taraw Peak.

"Looking straight ahead at the peak"

"Not the usual climbing outfit"

"Starting my trek up to Taraw Peak"

"At the top of Taraw Peak"

Taraw Peak is the most unusual mountain that I have climbed so far. It was all rocks and limestones. But behold the beauty it possessed as it offers a breathtaking view of Bacuit Bay.

"Literally clinging my life on these ragged and rough limestone"

"Never regretted my decision climbing Taraw Peak"

My Very Own Version of Island Hopping

After an awesome and nerve-wracking climb of Taraw Peak, I decided to take a hearty and real breakfast at a native restaurant. As if my adrenal gland kept on releasing epinephrine that I never felt any exhaustion at all. 

So I walked around the town of El Nido with another thing in my mind - an island-hopping adventure. El Nido is proud of its limestone karst scattered like droplets in their astounding seas, so this goes the same with many tour packages. But I opted not, I had a different plan in mind. Instead, I managed to negotiate with an operator who willingly toured me around my preferred island. 

"I didn't avail for a packaged island hopping trip, instead I went on my own with a guide."

"Big Lagoon"

Stunning. Majestic. Breathtaking. Not a word I could describe the turquoise waters of the Philippines' premiere sea - El Nido, truly world-class and nature's best-kept-secret in the country. El Nido Palawan is far beyond words I could describe. It all left me stunned and amazed!

"Only a few tourists knew the little secret of this island - a spelunking adventure"

"Getting inside the little crevice of Shimizu"

"A utter surprise in Shimizu Island"

"Angel's Postcard for Keeps"

"A typical beach paradise"

Back in Puerto Princesa

If one asked me how I went back to Puerto Princesa and still got to enjoy a tour hours before my flight. I would say that I was a heck of a daredevil that I took the midnight van in El Nido and did a little negotiation in Puerto Princesa. 

Here is how I did it: I saw a flicker of light of a certain Vietnamese restaurant the moment I arrived at dawn in Puerto Princesa. I was hungry and thirsty that I went straight to that restaurant and managed to order two bowls of Vietnamese noodles and drank maybe a pitcher of water. 

Maybe the owner was my guardian angel in disguised that he asked me if I was tired from a trip. 

I saw hope from his kind eyes and told him my feats in El Nido. 

"Ikaw'ng bata ka. Napakadaring mo," he jokingly scolded me. 

"Opo, Tay. Pero ang ganda talaga ng El Nido," I replied like a child.

"Sya...pahinga ka muna dito tapos pwede ka nang gumala sa Puerto pagmaliwanag na," that was my signal that I dozed off in his restaurant without being bothered. 

Not only that, he called his friend who was a tricycle driver and drove me in different spots in Puerto Princesa (given the ample time I had left before my flight). Not only that, I got to enjoy their famous Tamilok at Baker's Hill while the other people were filming me. 

"Ay parang yan ang kinain ni Anne Curtis," I heard the little miss uttering those words while watching me gobbled those fresh tamilok (wood worms) right in front of them. 

I smiled at the thought realizing that my Palawan Trip on a big Holy Week turned out one of the best adventures in my life. One that reminded me to trust people, humanity, and guardian angels. 

Prologue:

I was having a pizza dinner with my mom and younger brother a day before my Palawan trip. I saw a picture hanging on the wall that signifies Palawan. 

I looked at the picture and said the phrase out loud, "Anha unya ko (I'd be there.)

My mom looked at me and asked, "Kanus-a na pud na Jek? (When would that be?"

Confidently, I answered, "Ugma (tomorrow)."

Then, I heard no objections while finishing our get-together dinner.

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