Island hopping and diving in El Nido and surfing in Boracay

What is more typical of the Philippines than dreamy beaches with turquoise-blue water? Finally, we set off to the coast, but traveling in the Philippines is not as easy as we thought. We assumed that there would be a good ferry system, but we only realize once we are there that we have to cover most distances by plane. It is simply cheaper, much faster, or even the only option. So we fly to Palawan Island, to Puerto Princesa, and then take a minivan for a six-hour drive to El Nido. We are here because we want to visit the Barcuit Archipelago, a huge collection of small islands, all consisting of dark gray limestone cliffs, each with picture-perfect beaches and beautiful turquoise-clear water. Our drive takes us mainly through green, hilly landscapes, and after leaving Puerto Princesa, we don't encounter any other cities. Then, after a long day of travel, we finally arrive in El Nido. When we arrive and want to book our boat tour for the next day, it is almost a catastrophe when the receptionist tells us that everything is fully booked. With some effort and after a lot of discussion, we finally find a tour operator who offers the so-called "Tour A," which is the most popular and probably the best tour. What a relief!

During an evening walk through El Nido, we notice that the town is partially hidden behind a huge rock wall, as the shadows of the wall are dark against the beautiful starry sky. We are so excited to see everything in daylight! And we also realize that we have arrived in a real tourist town again, where the entire infrastructure is geared towards tourism. But well, El Nido will still remain charming in the next few days.In the morning, we are picked up by a tricycle - these look completely different from the vehicles we used in Manila and Santa Juliana: a motorcycle with a sidecar that is practically "enclosed" with a casing, so the tricycles look like rides at a fair - we find it funny. After arriving at the beach/harbor and waiting patiently, we are allowed to board the ship. We are a group of eleven people, which is quite pleasant, as we are only half the size of most groups on the small boats. As we set off, a paradise view opens up in front of us - the beautiful water and the islands that we pass by or visit for snorkeling - the archipelago is truly a sight to behold, and wherever you look, you see wonderful photo opportunities.

First, we stop at a large lagoon and jump into the sea there with masks and snorkels - and it's amazing! Directly below us, in the clear water and clearly visible, we see coral gardens in all shapes and colors, along with some fish that live among the corals. Unfortunately, what we also see and feel on our skin are jellyfish! The water is practically full of small jellyfish floating through the water every few meters - and it's impossible not to encounter them. So the enjoyment is somewhat overshadowed, as the touches from the jellyfish are not very painful but itchy and very unpleasant. So we search for our boat, which is not that easy because there are about twenty boats in front of the island, and they all look the same. Eventually, we succeed and are relieved when we continue. On our tour, we make stops at four more islands or lagoons, swim, snorkel, and marvel at the beautiful water, trying to take the most beautiful photo. Our lunch is prepared directly on the boat on a grill and then balanced by the boat crew to the beach - a buffet with fish, crabs, some meat, rice, fruits! In the late afternoon, we return to El Nido, happy and exhausted from all the sun.Then comes another highlight that we have been looking forward to for a long time: diving. Claudio has been diving for several years and has already had some great dives, while I (Elena) cannot dive and usually spent the half-days doing something else when Claudio was diving. But today is different because I am joining! And I'm excited! Because diving looks so equipment-heavy and complicated, with weights, straps, and hoses that I don't understand at all! But I really want to try it and ignore my concerns as much as I can. I dive with three other beginners and a female dive master who first gives us the essential theory - then it's time to go. Before I know it, I'm sitting fully geared up on the deck: wetsuit, weights, scuba tank on my back, and buoyancy control device, along with all kinds of hoses, facing away from the water, the breathing apparatus already in my mouth, and 1,2,3 - I fall backward into the water. The first moment is unforgettable! I'm breathing underwater! There is a fizzing sound in the sea, which is a passing boat, and then I'm amazed at how my exhaled breath flows through the breathing device and tickles my face in the form of bubbles before rising to the surface. And in addition, I see the blue water and the colorful corals beneath me, and the fish performing their dances below me. What a world, and I'm right in the middle of it! After diving a few meters, I feel like I'm taking a moonwalk! Weightless, I glide through the water, only hearing the hissing sound of my breath through the regulator, and everything else is quiet. Now I know what it feels like to dive, and I immediately wonder why I always had so much respect for it - it feels incredibly easy and natural to me!

We do two more dives in El Nido that day, and they are wonderful and really beautiful - with great visibility and several schools of fish that we encounter! I wonder: if I could have a superpower, would I rather choose to fly or to breathe underwater? I want more and immediately sign up in the evening for the scuba diving course in Bohol, where we will soon be heading. We say goodbye to beautiful El Nido and embark on a long journey (we have to take two flights and have a layover in Manila) to Boracay. The island of Boracay was completely closed to tourists for six months between April and October 2018 due to the devastating effects of tourism on nature, prompting the Philippine government to take action! The reason why so many people want to come here is obvious when we arrive in Boracay: the White Beach. And indeed, the beach is a scenic dream, with bright white sand, shallow turquoise water, and lined with coconut trees, without any concrete buildings built along the coast. It is truly paradise here!

Since the rest of the world also knows about the beauty of the island, we are not alone here - the island is full of tourists, most of them Koreans, as we heard - definitely many Asians, but also representat{ive} of other nationalities. In the following days, we mainly have one thing to do: windsurfing (Elena) and kitesurfing (Claudio). We both do quite well, although Claudio is better, and at the end of three days of surfing, we are physically exhausted and battered, with blisters and open wounds on our hands and muscle aches everywhere, so we can only tiredly laugh when the masseuse asks us on the last day if we have any physical complaints. Yes, but all in all, we both really enjoy surfing - hopefully, we can deepen our skills in the future!

Next, we are heading to Bohol, Panglao Island, to Alona Beach.