After many years, I have returned to the Philippines. The last time I was in this stunning country was in 2013 when the horrendous hurricane Haiyan, known by the locals as Yolanda struck Leyte Island leaving destruction in its wake. I was volunteering so consequently I didn´t get to really see much of the country.
On a whim, and in much need of getting away to peace and calm, I booked my flight from London to the Island of Palawan. A very long journey to say the least, but worth every mile travelled to experience pure and unadulterated beauty.
As my arrival was in the evening and since I don´t believe it is safe to travel solo at night. I stayed very near the airport and the following morning I took the van to Port Barton.
There I was with a crowd of young backpackers and a group of locals all crammed into the vehicle to start the three-and-a-half-hour journey to our destination. In the first ten minutes I was on the point of telling the driver to stop and let me get off. Holy Moly, he was the epitome of Hamilton competing in the Formula One! I was imaging the headlines in the British papers, ¨Backpackergranny dies in fatal accident in Philippines¨ fortunately there was an adorable young guy from Lithuania sitting next to me and we started to chat. (I am so easily distracted when it comes to charming males)
The journey was uneventful apart from the ¨Mango Control¨ Yes! Control of Mangos. Half way through our journey we were stopped and several men boarded the van to enquire if anyone was carrying mangos! According to them they were protecting the cultivation of their mangos, and the ones coming into that area could be contaminated with bugs and who know what else. One of the girls had three of these delicious fruits and had to hand them over! She did make a sarcastic comment of ¨Bon Appetite¨ But we all laughingly reckoned that they would most probably sell them off to other tourists when we left.
Surprise, Surprise! We finally arrived alive in Port Barton. This is a small shanty fishing village. A backpacker´s haven. It really is a back to basics with stunning beaches and numerous boats to transport you to many of the other awesome islands
If you are looking for sophisticated five-star accommodation and Micheline star restaurants, this will not be for you. However, if you are in search of paradise, peace and breathtaking beauty then this is a must visit.
Port Barton is very small, so basically most hostels and guesthouses are within walking distance. Naturally one doesn´t always know this on arrival so there is an abundance of Tuk Tuks waiting to whisk you up the road for 50 Pesos. (Approximately 0.73 Pound sterling)
I arrived at my lodging, which incidentally is owned by a lovely Catalan couple from Barcelona. The place was great and had a very good vibe. Unfortunately, there is no WIFI, so if you are a social media addict like myself, it can be upsetting when you can´t get your fix! In the evenings, I like to log into Netflix and devour the latest series. Or check Facebook to see who has eaten what, or who is insulting who, or how many likes I have got from my latest photo! Sad soul that I am.
Well I survived my lack of internet and the following day I found a fantastic place to eat and connect with the rest of the world. Should you think of going to Port Barton, this is where you must head to, to get back into the real world. "Deep Moon Resort¨ It is right on the beach so you can´t miss it.
I spent several days in this amazing village and then it was time for me to leave.
