Mmm, island time. A phrase I heard at least 5 times a day on Palawan. Very similar to my favorite Spanish word ‘tranquilo,’ in fact. Everything moves at a languid pace on Palawan, and the concept of rushing is something completely alien to the locals. Me likey.
My time in the Philippines was fantastic, and just the break I needed from the manic pace of Seoul. Palawan is as quiet and relaxing as Boracay is nutso and drunken. There weren’t a ton of travelers there, but that’s what I was wanting. Palawan is also known as a haven for adventurous and outdoorsy types, and it didn’t disappoint.
My days consisted of swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, hiking, and gorging myself on fresh pineapple and cashews. Pure bliss. The highlight for me was El Nido, a sleepy beachfront town in the north of the island, known for its perfect water and limestone karsts rivaling places like Vietnam’s Halong Bay.
I spent the majority of my time on the island there, and with good reason. I stayed at a place called The Alternative, and I can’t recommend it enough. The staff were all imported from a resort that shut down, so the food is fantastic and the people friendly. The 2nd floor is also open to the air, with two lookouts perched directly above the water. I ended every day laid out in one of ‘em, beer in one hand and a book in the other.
My buddy Don, the guy who mentioned ‘island time’ the most, was my tour guide and source of local info for the town. He took me out on tours of the islands where I got my best photos. El Nido’s Big and Small lagoons are 
the best sites, and perfect for swimming or snorkeling. Throw in freshly caught Yellow Fin for lunch, and you’ve got me hooked. I also rented a kayak to play out my own Robinson Crusoe fantasy, finding my own island to spend the day on. Who knew rum-soaked pineapple goes so well with your own private beach?
I also found the time to get some dives in, and it was a really great feeling to get back in the water after such a long break. Apparently the Philippines also have the cheapest PADI courses in Southeast Asia, so I’ll be heading back to get some more certs at some point.
This was my first taste of travel in Asia (besides a quick jaunt to Tokyo two years ago), and you can color me excited! I’ve only just whet my appetite, and trip planning will begin in earnest for this summer soon!
If you’d like to see more of my trip photos, feel free to check out my Flickr page.
