Backpacking

Dinner at fat cat for a Caesar salad

Breakfast at flow bar for some steak. Kayaking to coconut beach, sank, capsized, matt was the worst person in a crisis. My shirt literally floated away as I watched it, painful. Also saw deep at some point we saw dolphins/a marlin. Towed the boat across the shallows. Had a chicken Milanese with beers and Fred again in the background on the beach for late lunch. Red horse and free grinch cocktail back at the hostel followed by some ring of fire and hostel games. Then headed to fat cat for their special Christmas dinner. Got a bit short changed on the starters but everything else was lovely. Went back and watched office Christmas party to get me in the spirit

CHRISTMAS DAY! Woke up at went to Milans breakfast place for fruit salad and crepes then hit up the beach and met James and Annie from Moalboal/Bohol and drank with them until we went to the Boodlefight at Cocorico which was amazing. Played some Harry Potter dobble and some weird snap card game which I can’t remember before dinner. Smirnoff mules made this day. Played some jenga with rules after as a group then headed to the beach. Listened to Fred again Kelly on the way back to hostel to collect mums gift for a picture and had a think about how lucky I was for everything I’ve done on these travels. Came back to the beach, spoke to dad, FaceTimed mum and also FaceTimed Andrew and grandma. had a beach Christmas swim with everyone, had PLENTY more drinks, then just played games into the evening with Annie and James with more drinks and more swims. Super special day that I will remember for years to come. Came back and face timed dad with matt before B99 then bed.

Early ish wake up and breakfast pastry at Milano cafe before the boat tour with Annie and James. First stop was star fish bay, then we went to a snorkel spot before going to an island where they cooked us our amazing bbq lunch. After that we stopped at fantastic reef for some snorkelling and I practiced my free diving. We then went to the turtle spot to see 2 turtles. I had to go quite deep to get to them but obviously got the footage (also got a lot of stings). Then chilled in the bay of exotic island until I slept on the deck as we headed back. As soon as we got back we met Tej on the walk and he told us about his jewellery making workshop so we headed to Obra and did this for 40 mins which was rly wholesome, I think Mia’s was definitely the best. Then we went for dinner at Kusinero del Barrio with Annie James and Tej matt and Mia, followed that up with a magnum and scrabble back at the hostel with Tej matt and Mia before calling it a night. Port Barton has been beautLue lisää

Got here, had dinner at Athena’s with a crazy view, booked dives then got tricycle to zip line before chilling on los cabanos beach for sunset, we then hit up Maccies for a quick mayo chicken before maas for a dinner with Annie and James.

Woke up early and did our dive trip at aquanaut dive centre with Matt Mia James and Annie, amazing scenery and great dives. Got back and had a drink at safety stop whilst writing my log book, really taking in how lucky I’ve been this trip with everything I’ve done. We then headed back, showered and had unlimited pasta and 2 mai tais followed by a game of cards and shop bought rum and coke. Then played ring of fire then did horse races then went to town to the pangolin but it was dead so came back but was toasted. Had late night nachos at some random place before heading back.

Today was a bit of an explore. We rented bikes (a bit late because that tanduay rum absolutely knocked us down) and drove to duli beach on James’ suggestion. This is now my favourite beach of all time. It was nearly empty, so beautiful and had an amazing surf. James and I surfed for about an hour and a half and I kept catching some really big waves. It felt amazing. We got some burgers for lunch on the beach with some president before heading to nacpan beach. Forgot to mention my bike didn’t have a working back brake so getting to these beaches on dirt roads was a death wish. Basically had a nap on nacpan beach whilst listening to Coldplay under some coconut trees before heading to Lio beach for sunset. Gutted we missed the flyover from the nearby airport during the sunset. Ofc my trash bike didn’t have working lights so had a very dodgy journey back in the dark. Headed to happiness restaurant for dinner with Annie and James and got a mixed platter and some hummous chicken schwarma meal. Was unreal. Needed an early night tonight though.

Next morning we had the tour A boat tour. Waited on the beach for like an hour before we got on but set off to first snorkel spot - saw a turtle! Number 1000 of this trip probably. Felt like my freediving has improved massively in the Philippines. We then checked out 7 commandos beach, secret lagoon with a queue so long we didn’t go in (but did see a beach cat) and then the big lagoon which we kayaked into and saw 2 baby black tip sharks, a ray and the cutest baby bat fish from the kayak. Was awesome. Also had an ice cream from the travelling boat salesman, dived off the boat whilst waiting for everyone then had sunset on the way back. Last night with Annie and James so we hit up Maa’s kitchen again and got 2 bottles of tanduay, and basically repeated the night from 2 nights ago but was just so fun. Music played had to be related to previous song which was fun and we were all totalled. I’ll remember El Nido so fondly. Perfect 2nd last stopLue lisää