Timeless Memories of El Nido

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Timeless Memories of El Nido

13 February 2011 1,913 views 23 Comments

In 2009, I went to Palawan with a good friend. I had meant to write about my trip there, but somehow, I felt that I could never do justice to it. I did have a short post about our travel to El Nido once, but it was just full of pictures and of things left unsaid.

A view from one side of the beach in El Nido.

Two years down the road, with the memories only a soft whisper of what had been, I feel that I can already talk about how that lovely place has remained with me always, despite countless other places visited and other people I’ve been in company with. To me, El Nido would forever be associated with a future that was not meant to be.

Accommodation in El Nido

We arrived in Palawan to a rainy Puerto Princesa, and my friend and I stayed there for a day or two to see the sights, specifically the subterranean river and the Palawan mangrove. We had decided to go to El Nido, a small town north of Palawan which I first thought to be expensive.

A view from the El Nido beach.

When we arrived in El Nido, though, we learned that the accommodations were cheaper than we expected, cheaper even than the ones that could be had in Puerto Galera. We could have had luxurious rooms for P2,000 a night, but being backpackers, we decided to forgo the luxury and looked for budget-friendly ones. The cheapest we found was Ralf’s; at P400 a room, it was certainly a steal, given that it was also a beachfront cottage and listed in Lonely Planet to boot!

I am an über-budget traveler, but even I balked at the place when I saw it. Shared bathroom, depressing atmosphere, a rickety ladder (not stairs!) going up to the rooms—all these spelled disaster to me, so we decided to go to a medium-priced one instead. At P800/night, Rovic’s was perfect. It was beachfront, there were not too many guests, there was a private bath, and there was even a patio with a hammock to pass the time.

Things to Do in El Nido

We had a lot of choices of things to do in El Nido. There were the island hopping packages to the numerous islands and islets nearby, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, mountain climbing, hiking, and biking, among others. We booked the snorkeling tour to Miniloc Island (Big Lagoon) at El Nido Boutique & Artcafe for P700 each (inclusive of lunch).

Of the 10 or so passengers, I was the only Filipino, and when it was time for us to go to the Secret Lagoon, all the Europeans jumped into the water and swam confidently to the outcropping of rock that hid the lagoon. I and an American guy who was an English teacher in Japan were the only ones who had to wear a life vest first. (Yup, it was embarrassing not to know how to swim, given that I grew up in a coastal town!)

At the beach in one of the nearby islets in El Nido

There were not a lot of corals, but the view was magnificent. The beaches in Miniloc Island had fine white sand and the ocean was a calm blue green. We would have wanted to kayak too, but there was a storm the next day, confining us to the patio of the guesthouse.

Evenings were fun as well in El Nido. There was a live band at the El Nido Boutique playing 1980s song and we, together with two French girls we met, had a great time singing along. We had meals in Pukka Bar and Restaurant, too, a great place with tasty food and friendly staff.

The Timelessness of El Nido

Looking back on our trip there, I knew that from the outside looking in, El Nido is just like any other tropical beach paradise in the Philippines, with its requisite fine white sand beaches, blue green sea, and temperate weather.

I soon realized though that what made El Nido special was the seeming timelessness of the place. Nothing seemed to disturb its serenity; not the real-world concerns we had back in Manila, and not even the storm, which felt just right. I thought then that we could be happy there forever, enveloped in the magical charm of El Nido.

A picture of serenity in El Nido.

If I could crystallize all my experiences of El Nido into one sharp image, it would be of a picture of him on a hammock that day, seen in silhouette amidst the white sand, blue-green ocean, and the distant views of the nearby islands.

He’s been gone a long time, but I will always have El Nido with me.

This is my entry to the “Most Romantic Place in the Philippines” Blog Carnival of the Pinoy Travel Bloggers which I am hosting.

I am in Red Nomad Oz’s Round-the-World Extravaganza!

All photos and content here are intellectual properties of Aleah of SolitaryWanderer.com unless otherwise stated. They are not for reproduction without my knowledge and permission. If you would like to use any of my content or images, use the contact form on this site to ask for my permission.

23 Comments »

pinoy boy said:

i agree i think the place is really timeless. I haven’t been to Palawan but when i go there, i’d probably stay a very looong time.

# 13 February 2011 at 4:10 pm

lakwatsera de primera said:

El Nido is our dream place to retire to someday We adore this place – nothing beats waking up to that tropical sunrise, beautiful limestone cliff, small town vibe and gorgeous beach. I hope its pristine beauty would remain timeless as well.
lakwatsera de primera recently posted..Romancing Mt Guiting Guiting

# 13 February 2011 at 5:44 pm

AziL® said:

The place is so dang good! Good for you, Al. You’ve been to that place. I should visit the place…with my fiance…when we get the chance!

# 13 February 2011 at 8:10 pm

bridge said:

“He’s been gone a long time, but I will always have El Nido with me.” Sorry but I can feel the emotions… this is so heartbreaking. Affected much? Damn, every entry in the “Most Romantic Place Blog Carnival” is dissolving me into one big mush!

# 13 February 2011 at 9:58 pm

Ed said:

I can relate, Aleah. There are posts that we can’t write about right away. It’s always at the back of our head until the time comes that the thoughts would just flow freely and we can safely talk about them in our blogs.
Drama talaga tong Valentines. hahaha. Nice post, andami na nating nagiging mush dahil sa Blog Carnival na toh!

# 14 February 2011 at 3:42 am

Bonzenti [Con Tour Blog] said:

Dai Aleah. How about your travel tips on how to get there? If you dont mind.:-). El Nido is also our dream places. How much would we budget? Any post on that? Thanks in advance. Thanks for posting this, it just ignite again our interest to visit the place.
Bonzenti [Con Tour Blog] recently posted..Unexpected A Pre-Valentine Experience

# 14 February 2011 at 5:00 pm

Aleah said:

“Drama talaga tong Valentines. hahaha. Nice post, andami na nating nagiging mush dahil sa Blog Carnival na toh!”

Hi Ed, I guess we all wanted to be mushy this Valentine’s. This is our only excuse after all, to write cheesy posts! Hehe.

# 15 February 2011 at 1:46 am

Aleah said:

You and Gerald will really enjoy it there, Liz. It’s very quiet, very peaceful. I wish I could go back there too!

# 15 February 2011 at 1:47 am

Aleah said:

@Jerik: We were only there 3 days, quite a short time actually to enjoy the best of El Nido. Go when you have the chance, while the place is still relatively tranquil!

# 15 February 2011 at 1:50 am

Aleah said:

You can still contribute, Bridge. There’s one more day before the deadline. Give us another reason to read this month’s blog carnival!

# 15 February 2011 at 1:51 am

Aleah said:

@Claire: Alas, nothing lasts forever. When we were there, the community was fighting against the dredging planned there. I have no idea what the status is, but I certainly hope it did not push through!

# 15 February 2011 at 1:52 am

outonvacation said:

yay..going to El Nido this May doing another solo travel..bisyo na ito!

# 21 February 2011 at 4:46 pm

Aleah said:

@Outonvacation: I envy you. I miss El Nido so much! I’m sure you will enjoy it there. Looking forward to read your posts then

# 22 February 2011 at 12:04 pm

Aleah said:

Hi Bon. Yes, I can come up with a post on that:) Go na to El Nido!

# 22 February 2011 at 12:05 pm

Red Nomad OZ said:

Magic spot! I love how the good and the not-so-good worked so well together – a metaphor for life! Thanx so much for playing ‘Round the World’!!

Have a great day!!
Red Nomad OZ recently posted..Reds Round-the-World EXTRAVAGANZA! 1

# 2 March 2011 at 12:43 pm

Jim said:

Aleah, you describe it well. It’s an area I have never thought og going to, so keep on writing about the area. Need to know lots more.
Jim recently posted..Monday Feb 28th Memory Yes I am a wee bit late

# 2 March 2011 at 5:21 pm

TexaGermaNadian said:

Look at those clouds, this place looks magical! I stopped over from Red Nomad OZ’s hop (better late than never, haha). have a great one!

# 5 March 2011 at 8:13 pm

lance said:

El Nido is really beautiful! Also, try to visit the famous Underground river and Honda Bay.

Philippine Travel Blog
lance recently posted..List of Popular Beach Resorts in Bohol

# 30 June 2011 at 12:49 pm

Aleah said:

@Lance: I’d been to the Underground River; just hadn’t had the chance to write it yet. hay. So many backlogs!
Aleah recently posted..Things to Do in Ozamiz City—Cotta Fort and Bukagan Hill

# 6 July 2011 at 12:54 am

koen said:

Beautiful, nostalgic post…El Nido must have had a really special place in your heart…the whole post breathes a romantic atmosphere..to have shared that with someone you were in love with at the time must be unforgettable…

# 28 September 2011 at 5:59 am

Davao Information Site said:

It’s one of my dream destinations. Never been there. Your photos are spectacular.Thanks for sharing.
Davao Information Site recently posted..Schools in Davao: University of Mindanao

# 28 November 2011 at 6:30 pm

Aleah said:

@ Davao Information Site: Thanks. El Nido IS beautiful. Do drop by my blog again!
Aleah recently posted..Best Christmas Gifts for Solo Travelers

# 29 November 2011 at 2:32 am

Filipino Food Guide said:

If I had the money that would be part of my vacation, I would first tour all tourist spots here in the Philippines before even thinking of vacationing outside the country hehehehe.

Nice post by the way, and God bless.

# 30 January 2012 at 7:00 pm

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All photos and content in this blog are intellectual properties of Aleah of SolitaryWanderer.com unless otherwise stated. They are not for reproduction without her knowledge and permission. If you would like to use any of her content or images, use the contact form on this site to ask for her permission.

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