Fab Sightseeing: Sightseeing in Palawan - El Nido beaches and islands of paradise" (Day 1)

Day1 ( Jan, 24, 2013): Bound to El Nido Island of Paradise - Corong -corong and Las Cabanas Beach

I can't believe that we will go to Palawan, as for my new year travel. Indeed, another wish come true on my travel bucket list.

We'll thanks for my dear friend "Emy", i had meet her while i was in Dubai. She just came home from Qatar to wait for here visa going to the Canada as a Permanent Resident. While waiting for her visa, she want's to discover more of the Philippines. So one of her target is to go to Palawan. She contacted me 'coz she knows if travelling and adventure that's my game.

We have 3 months preparation for this travel - airline ticket booking, package tour inquiry, research hotel/backpacking accommodation and itineraries. The goal of this 5 days travel is to explore Palawan on a budget expenses.

Confirmed and the final day is here. We're at the airport Me, Jinky and Emy waiting for our 8:00 PM flight bound to Puerto Princesa it is 1 hour flight from Manila. After we arrive at the Puerto Princesa airport we will head directly to El Nido. We need to catch the last trip going to El Nido at 10:00 PM.

As we arrive at the Puerto Princesa airport, we hire a tricycle going to the Roro bus at San Jose Terminal bound to El Nido. From airport to San Jose terminal is around 20 minutes travel. As i have read on some travel blogs that the usual transportation in going around Puerto Princesa is tricycle but unluckily i forgot the usual fare.The 3 of us are strangers, the driver really took advantage on us, we paid almost 3x the usual fare.

We buy an advance ticket for the last trip (10:0PM) and eat our dinner while we wait for our travel schedule. Since this travel is on a budget, we look for some karinderia on the bus terminal. Eat our dinner on budget food that we can afford to buy.

Puerto Princesa to El Nido is 5 1/2 to 6 hours. Includes 2 stop-overs in Roxas and Taytay (15 mins each).

The fare is Php483.00 for A/C bus and Php 330.00 for non A/C bus. We will arrive at Corong -corong, El Nido at around 4:00 am. I had made an advance booking for our accommodation at the Alternative Inn. So, we are expecting that they have prepare our room as we need to have rest for this long travel.

We sleep on the bus for 6 hours travel, as there is no view to see to keep me awake along the roads 'coz it's night time. We arrive at Corong -corong, El Nido at around 4:00am, there's no electricity. It's so dark around, we're trying to get in touch on contact person of the Alternative Inn ask if how can we get there but they are not answering our call. There are some tricycle driver offering us for a ride if where we are going, goo thing that they the Alternative Inn.

We arrive at the Alternative Inn, still some of the staff are sleeping. And the room that i have booked still occupied, the check -out time is around 12:00 NN. So we waited on their restaurant overlooking on the El Nido shore. The electricity is cut -off during 7:00 PM until 6:00AM, we have candle light while waiting here.

Candle light ambiance while waiting for our room.

Even though we're tired on our travel and wanting to lie down to get some sleep, this was compensated by the morning view of El Nido shore. What greeted us is the amazing view of El Nido, we'll this is it! A relaxing view of El Nido that i have seen the most on some travel advertisements and travel blogs.

Breaking of dawn view at El Nido shore.

The blue hour or dawn time at Corong -corong, El Nido beach. View in front of the Alternative Inn while waiting for our room.

Early morning view at El Nido shore.

Sunrise at Corong-corong, El Nido beach. Boats are on stand -by like sleeping waiting for Tourists on the Island hopping tours.

Sunrise view at El Nido shore.

Jinky taking a pose, sunrise at El Nido.

Who could say no on this relaxing view.

Emy with background relaxing view and with refreshing drink.

Such priceless.

I never can't get enough of this kind of view.

Thanks Alternative Inn for this nice spot at your restaurant.

Jinky with her refreshing drink and with relaxing view.

We waited for so long to our room until noon time, the staff inform us that the room i had booked still occupied and the user extend another days. Partly, it is so disappointing. Good thing i have save some contact number that i had read on some travel blogs where we can ask for an accommodation.

I contacted Ate Neriz, she's the owner and manage Northern Hope Travel. I ask her if she has also available accommodation where we can stay. I had contacted her before for our island hoping on the next day. Most of the accommodation at EL Nido are good for backpackers, there are also some class hotels and resorts but it is too expensive. El Nido is a tourist place for foreigners so expect the price here is also Dollars.

Our accommodation is a backpackers room, good for 3 persons. It is Php1,200.00 per night for 3 persons with own toilet and bath. Somehow it gives us a relief and we can continue to rest.

It's almost noon time. The beauty of El Nido is showing off.

We're thankful to Ate Neriz, she also gives us some idea where to go aside from island hopping as we schedule on the next day. We have nothing to do on that afternoon, so we ask her where we can go that is only near and with affordable price. She has also transportation service where you can rent them.

We go to Las Cabanas Beach, it is around 30 minutes from Corong -corong. We rent her tricycle for Php 300.00 back and forth. It is 10 minutes walk from the main road going to the beach .Loo what we found as we arrive at Las Cabanas? Are still on the Philippines or in some foreign island? Most of the tourists that day are foreigners, they're enjoying sunbathing at the beach.