Saying goodbye to Manila didn't leave me feeling sad one bit, I knew full well that I would be spending one final night in the Philippine capital before flying back to China! Now, I don't spend enough time relaxing during any holiday, I wanted to change that because El Nido had me under some 'Pantropiko' spell! Oh, I needed some downtime from Manila's madness! Rum and Coke?
Without any mistakes made, I arrived at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport ahead of my Philippine Airlines flight to Puerto Princesa. I found out that passengers are required to show their flight confirmation or boarding pass if they want to gain access to that domestic terminal. My flight over to Palawan was swift, it was truly a blessing to feel my aircraft touchdown onto that island airport runway! Getting through that postage stamp sized airport took a matter of seconds after I retrieved my bag from baggage reclaim. After paying the remainder of my tour fee, I was able board a minibus that would be taking me to El Nido. I had checked on my maps to see how long the journey would roughly take but those island roads were about to tell me some lies! The minibus filled up, it was a tight squeeze but I was optimistic that the views would be worth the sardine like situation. Would that journey up to El Nido really take 6 hours? With a small service stop, it was nightfall by the time I checked into my hotel Oh, yes!
My holiday could officially start, the big city felt like a million miles away as I took a seat overlooking the darkened beach. I kicked off my evening with a cocktail because that bus ride from Puerto Princesa Airport had taken forever and a day! My hotel was called 'Stunning Republic' and to be honest it fitted the words 'Handsome' because the room was well formed with a beach-side location, I didn't have any complaints. I headed towards El Nido town in search of something eat before I called it a night, I enjoyed a stunning serving of 'Chicken Inasal' and you already know I needed to knock a back a few bottles of 'Red Horse' lager. The day had been long but it felt amazing to be in El Nido at long last, I had waited long enough to be 'Beside The Sea' in the Philippines! No lies told, I had the best sleep back at 'Stunning Republic', taking the long way from PPS was well worth it! Trying something new, it felt amazing to fully embrace those adventure settings! I already wanted it to be the morning! Sure, I wanted to hit the beach!
Waking up bright and early felt like the done thing, I left my 'Stunning Republic' hotel room with one thing on my mind! That one thing had to be my breakfast! I lucked out with the Filipino style breakfast buffet, I filled my plate high with 'garlic rice', 'Tocino' and a 'fried egg' because I was what? Hungry! The guy who had served me my first cocktail the previous night was in charge of that same breakfast the next morning, he was working hard for his tip! I couldn't complain because my breakfast tasted great and the view of the beach was phenomenal! With a free day on the beach, I had already ordered my first post-breakfast drink because that's also my style! I'm nasty like that! The bar closed and as for the guy, well he disappeared! Where would I get that follow up alcoholic drink from? I wasn't in search of a tan, I wanted to get drunk because I don't usually embrace the beach but I always embrace getting boozy! 'Getting Boozy Beside The Sea' certainly has a ring to it? I had made the right choice and that journey had been worth it, P!
Heading right onto the beach, it didn't take me long to find the next hotel along that heaven-like beach. I had my Philippine Pesos and I wasn't afraid to spend them up! I made my drink a double rum with pineapple juice, being the tramp that I am, I had to explain to the bartender that I wanted to mix and match with the local liquor and juice. Oh, I did have a cocktail or two before hand but they just weren't strong enough, that is why I did some investigating! I luxuriated in that moment, I had the whole beach to myself with that elevated beach bar perch as my plan for holiday domination, all I wanted to do was sip and survey! Getting suitably sozzled in paradise was a complete mood for me, I wasn't mad! I had my boat trip the following day, I wanted to make the most of my 'only day' on the beach in El Nido. I didn't feel the need to find another beach, once the tide had settled I was more than content with that tropical Pinoy view! Those double measures and juice were hitting right, indeed! An early lunch? Oh, for sure!
Did I stagger along the beach? Absolutely not, I allowed the sun-kissed breeze to make it look like I was doing fine! I chose 'Cala' to dine at for lunch, I fancied some classy Filipino food and by a mile 'Cala' exuded something swish! I noticed that the table parallel to mine had some other foreigners on it, their chat wasn't much to listen to if you ask me! I ordered the 'Adobo Chicken' served with rice because it's got to be rice in the Philippines! I chose to drink an ice cold glass of 'San Miguel' because those Spanish remnants were too delicious to refuse! My meal was exquisite, the service was great and the views were also sublime! I had known about 'Adobo Chicken' before I took my trip to the Philippines and I knew that I had a moral duty to fulfill that taste test! Every bite of that flavourful chicken dish tasted out of this world, the creamy sauce was a winner! I had some restaurant style 'Turon', that sweet treat was served up with ice cream! 'Cala' served up a wonderful two course lunch with a drink, it was worth every Peso! Yes, yes E!
Oh, those mix drinks had been served up at 'Doublegem' a beachfront hotel that had their own bar and restaurant. I backtracked to have a few more doubles because those local mixes tasted right! That day 'Beside The Sea' was absolutely perfect, the weather had truly enhanced my beachfront view. I couldn't really put it into words in that moment but it felt extremely correct! As the sunset approached, I was able to order a quick teatime treat from my hotels restaurant. Getting a nice double rum and coke in hand, it was time for the sunset to bring that perfect day to an end. I spent the longest time marveling at that dreamy view, it was truly a blessing to be staying directly on 'Corong Corong Beach!' Would my boat trip the following day stop me from sampling a few more rums in El Nido town? No, not at all! A choice that certainly was but I stood by that choice! A choice it certainly was! I really need to factor in a beach during every trip I take! Let's take this blog title to 'Cascais, Portugal' next? Yes, I most certainly will do that! Sim!
Stunning Republic? I Do Think!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
