Sailing Palawan

What an incredible place. The scenery is magnificent, the villages small, very few tourists and if there are some they are in concentrated areas. The winds have been perfect and temperatures a little on the warm side but being on the water makes a big difference as there has usually been a wind in the daytime.

Starting off in Coron (#1on the map) we made our way over to Coral Bay (#5 on the map) on Popototan Island. I would have to say quite a remote location but there on the
beach a very nice small dive resort but more stunning a selection of about 7 huge homes obviously built by foreigners.

Not one of them was lived in at that moment. Amazing what one comes across out here. Unfortunately Coral Bay Resort wanted 200 pesos to snorkel on their small reef but we did take them up on the showers they had on shore for which we got more than our 100 pesos worth of time under running water.  Oh yes, unlimited fresh water – the first in months!!

Next stop was Linicapan Island (#6 on the map). A remote anchorage that reminded us a lot of Mexico. A few small homes on the beach, drier landscape but despite the remoteness had great internet!  What a contrast. I have to say that the Philippines has the telecommunications

and you say you want to hook to the internet?

infrastructure down pat.

From Linicapan we headed off to another anchorage and this time off a small village to watch the cock fights, climb up to the waterfall, partake in a little rum with the local fishermen, watch the kids play and enjoy the incredible squid the fishboats were coming in with.  Now in El Nido – one of the backpackers musts in Asia.  Talk about feeling old!  This is a young persons paradise for diving, enjoying the limestone karst formations and generally hanging out aroud the beaches and small restaurants.  We’re here to meet up with Sierd and Elsbie from Victoria who are visiting from Victoria – stories of adventures to follow!