Palaui Island Trip Day 2: Island Hopping Tour

My sister and I woke up early the next day to attend the INC Sunday morning worship service. After the service, we texted our boatman and hired a trike to San Vicente Port, where we will meet them. At the port, Manong Peralta was already waiting for us and we were introduced to our guide and boatmen for the Palaui Island Tour.

The first stop for our Palaui Island Tour was at Engano Cove.

The rocky part of the alluring Cape Engano Cove!

It was the starting point for the short hike to Cape Engano Lighthouse. Upon arriving at the cove, we were directed to a booth where we were required to hire a guide worth Php300.00. One guide is only good for 4 tourists. Much as I want not to hire a guide since the lighthouse is already visible from where we were standing. We decided against it because on a second thought, the guide fee will help the locals especially those whose only source of income is the budding tourism of the island.

The Batanes-esque feel of Palaui Island! 

CARAGA Northeastern Mindanao – Siargao (Day 2): The Three Islands

Island Hopping is one of the many activities you can try at Siargao Island aside from surfing. There are three islands included in the island hopping activity. The Big, Small and Naked Island, each have its own beauty that will surely captivate you!

Our first stop for the island hopping was not really an Island, it was a snorkeling site. The boat stopped in the middle of nowhere and the guide told us that there are colorful fishes and corals in that area. I forgot to take a picture of the underwater action though because I was busy playing with (following) the fishes.

Naked Island! You have to be naked to enter!

First island for the island hopping tour was Naked Island (Time to get Naked! LOL). The island is called "Naked" because it is a dome of sand in the middle of the lagoon. The local name of this sandbar is Pansukian. We were really lucky when we went there because we had the island for ourselves. There were no other people during that time.  The island was really bare and only a small coconut tree was present. The best time to visit Naked Island is in the morning when the sun is not too hot and still not harmful.

The only one present when we went to Naked Island! LOL

Palawan Day 3: El Nido (Island Hopping Tour C)

I came back from the Taraw Cliff Climbing unscratched but with sore limbs and muscle pains. Tay Miloy recommended that I should take Alaxan FR (Pacquiao’s pain reliever after a boxing match. LOL), so I bought 3 tablets from a store nearby. Since I arrived ahead of time, I decided to lie down and rest a bit, while waiting for the person who will fetch me up for the Island Hopping Tour C.

At exactly 9:00 AM, I heard a knock from ate and she said that my sundo is ready to take me to the boat for the island hopping. Upon boarding the boat, I noticed that everyone in the group except moi is foreigner (Oh good, language barrier cum nosebleed alert! Hahaha). In a way, the situation is favorable because I don’t need to mingle with everybody and I can just close my eyes and take my rest from the tiring taraw cliff climbing while waiting for the boat to arrive at our first island destination.

Unfortunately, after 15 minutes on board, the couple (they said they’re not but they look like one) next to my seat started talking to me.   They are originally from France but they are currently working at Malaysia. The ‘rest’ which I was dreading to get went to lala land and never came back that day. Our conversation focused mainly on work, travel, food, culture and many things. I thought to myself that this is a good opportunity for me to practice in preparation for my solo backpacking trip to Indochina in February 2014. 

The first stop of our island hopping was the Secret Beach, a good spot for snorkeling!

Secret or Hidden Beach?

Fishes! and sands? haha

Palawan Day 2: El Nido++, Philippines (Island Hopping Tour A)

The plan was to wake up early to catch the sunrise at Bacuit Bay, so as early as 6:00AM, I was already on my feet ready to catch the magnificent view of Bacuit Bay’s rising sun. Sadly though, I was not able to capture it and just decided to walk around town.

Early morning at Bacuit Bay!!! minus the sunrise.. :)

Walking around town

Right on the center of El Nido is where the parish is situated, where a lot of locals can be found.

The town was starting to get populated and establishments were starting to open for business, and so I just decided to walk along the shore of Bacuit Bay on the way to my friends' lodge. As I was walking, a fisherman approached me and offered his catch during the night. It got me curious so I looked into his bucket and saw bundles (is this the right term?) of crabs that made my mouth salivate thinking that steamed crabs are perfect after a whole day of island hopping tour.

So I asked Manong Fisherman, how much each bundle costs, to which he answered Php150.00. I was really surprised at the price he gave me because as I counted the number of medium-sized crabs in the bundle - it ranges from 8-10 pieces. I immediately bought one bundle consisting of 9 above medium-size crabs and took it at Tay Miloy’s Inn hoping they could help me steam it later in the afternoon.

Since it was still early, I continued to walk around town trying to look for the entrance of Taraw Cliff, my next day’s planned activity. Taraw Cliff is the limestone formation which can be seen on the left side of the town, which on first glance is impossible to climb.