El Nido's Best!

El Nido's main attraction are the Big and Small Lagoons in the Minoloc Islands area. In both lagoons you will be in clean turquoise waters and surrounded by awesome limestone cliffs. There are a lot of dead corals in the Small Lagoon which makes it a bit of a disappointment.

We were lucky to be the only boat in the Big Lagoon so we were treated to a quiet and relaxing time to enjoy the best attraction of El Nido. The Big Lagoon is blessed with towering limestone cliffs and fine white sand that makes it ideal for moments of swimming and playful enjoyment in its clean and aquamarine waters.

I felt privileged to have the opportunity of being in this beautiful place which to me is a natural wonder this side of paradise.

Cruisin El Nido

As if to compensate for the long, tiring and difficult land travel to El Nido from Puerto Princesa, crusing around the islands of El Nido is simple, relaxing, and easy. This is because there are a number of reasonably priced island hopping tours being offered by boatmen, restaurants, hotels and resorts in El Nido. They are basically the same, price wise and in terms of the inclusions in the tours. Price ranges from US$ 12 to US $ 33 depending on the number and location of islands included, and duration, whether full day or half day. Lunch is included for the full day tours.

I opted to book my tours through El Nido Boutique and Art Cafe. Their tours require a minimum of four persons. The tours did not disappoint delivering everything stated as included in the package and their boatmen were sincerely friendly and helpful. Tips are appreciated but not a must. I had the same boatmen for 3 days and their friendliness did not change for the 3 boat tour packages that I took. So on my last island hopping tour with them, I gave them a generous tip. The foreign tourists who went with me during these tours did not give tips and they were treated with the same warmth and kindness.

The islands around El Nido are truly awesome with the towering limestone cliffs, white sand beaches and pristine turquoise waters. My personal favorites are the Helicopter Island which has the best beach, and Snake Island which is actually a sandbar, for the scenic views.

El Nido on a Budget

Not a lot of tourists go to El Nido because it is relatively expensive compared to the other beach destinations in the Philippines. A 3 days 2 night all inclusive ( airfare, accommodations, food, and tours) at the premier resorts in the area, Lagen and Minoloc, cost about US$ 700 per person during the off season.

However, you can still enjoy El Nido on a budget. There are actually resorts/ small hotels in El Nido town which are reasonably priced. Depending on the location and quality of accommodations, you can get a room from US10 to US 50 per night. Food is also cheap in the town where you will find a number of restaurants offering international dishes and fresh seafood.

The fastest way to fly to El Nido from Manila is to take the Island Transvoyager plane. But this 1 hour flight cost US$314 round trip. But if you are not willing to spend that much on transportation and find no problem with taking a long land trip on bad roads then there is a much cheaper option of flying instead from Manila to Puerto Princesa.

Flights from Manila to Puerto Princesa is a reasonable US $46 round trip on budget fare. From Puerto Princesa you will have to take a bus or van for the 8 hour trip to El Nido by land. Bus fare is only US$7 one way.

It is not easy to go to El Nido if you are on a budget. But the awesome scenery and natural beauty of the place is well worth the extra effort to get there.

Not So Sweet Butter Cake

One of my favorite cakes is a no frills butter cake which I buy from a house in New Manila, Quezon City. This butter cake is not so sweet and is even more appetizing when eaten once the cake becomes soft and moist at least 30 minutes after taking it out of the refrigerator. It goes well with a cup of brewed coffee.

This cake has become a favorite of friends and family whom I have introduced to it. It is homemade and is ordered a day or two ahead to ensure availability. The large size (8 x12) cost a reasonable P450.00 (US$4.50).

Bhaktapur: Saving the Best for Last

I came to Bhaktaphur expecting a lot because of the strong recommendations I read in the internet and from some people who have been to the place. What I saw and experienced exceeded my expectations!

Bhaktaphur is the best preserved among the medieval cities of the Kathmandu Valley. You therefore really feel that you are traveling back in time. Ancient houses, grand squares, and iconic temples continue to be inhabited by locals who go on with their lives observing ancient practices, traditions, and religious rites. It was like being in a theme park except that this one is for real!

The US$ 10 entrance fee is well worth the experience of living in the olden times. It was a wise decision for me to stay 2 nights inside the city of Bhaktapur for it allowed me to soak up the atmosphere walking through the cobblestone streets and observing local life at its ancient best.

Truly, Bhaktapur is the best place I visited in Nepal. And it was good I made it my final destination. I left Nepal with unforgettable memories of a country rich with ancient traditions, magnificent temples, awesome sceneries, and sincerely good, friendly and kind people.

Proud Patan

Patan is proud for a good reason. Its Durbar Square is smaller in area than the Durbar Square of Kathmandu. But its temples are much more ornate and elegantly designed that makes them the most visually stunning Newari temples in Nepal.

The temples date back to the 14th century and and is probably the finest collection of temples and palaces in Nepal. Patan is easily accessible from Kathmandu through a short 30 minutes taxi ride. The opportunity to visit this ancient city if your already in Kathmandu should therefore not be missed.

Sarangkot at Sunset

For truly spectacular and 360 degree views of the Pokhara area, the place to go to is Sarangkot. Here you get panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks, the Machhapuchhare, Annapurna, Lake Phewa, and Pokhara town.

I timed my visit to Sarangkot in the afternoon to catch the sunset instead of the usual sunrise views. Here I experienced the transformation of colors of the horizon from orange to red to blue as the sun disappeared and the moon made its early appearance, as the day changed into night. It was an awesome experience.