Phillipine Phiesta Pham

As the name suggests, another relaxing day. Mostly in part due to insufficient cash and also poor planning, but with us embarking on our next leg to El Nido, where there is going to be far more to do and see, why not enjoy the serenity and slow pace one more day?

We have our routine down now; wake up call by the roosters 🐓 at 5am, snooze until breakfast time, enjoy the view a mere few steps from our yurt, and then reading books on the lounge chairs until lunch.
As we had a terrible experience at the Beachhouse and its super overpriced, in addition to having debt collectors after us from the unpaid bill last night, we ended up back at ye ol reliable H Nice. Of course, we had an entourage of dogs at our feet and were super pleased to try the special of the day, pork burger and fries 🍟 🍔 😋

After lunch, we walked further than ever before, to the other end of the beach. We discovered a whole other world; a milk bar where we found yummy frozen treats called Ice Candy, which is basically frozen yoghurt as an icypole. Continuing on, more huts and the rest of the tourist population were down this end. And at the very end, a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Cove (it was a tough 6 minute hill in the heat but well worth the effort)!

Later, we decided to finally use the see-through kayaks to go out to the double storey floating bamboo platoon. Jay had to walk it, though, as one of the kayaks had a crack in it, and Lilly was not even keen to try to make it, so she sat it out, and Jay walked. It was very shallow and mostly scratchy sea grass. However, then it became quite rocky and corally. The water is crystal clear, but it's still hard to navigate and easy to roll an ankle.
The platoon was pretty cool. It's also apparently a floating restaurant, but at the time, we were the only ones on there. Downstairs is a sitting booth, and some fishing equipment and upstairs is where the diving board is. This is crazy because up until about 4 metres from the platoon, it was knee-high water and then suddenly an underwater cliff down to at least 8m 😅.

After a few bombs, we decided it was time to head back before sunset, not wanting to get stuck on the water in low light. Jay was very apprehensive to swim back with the reef very sharp, so he and Jess tried to get into the kayak as a test, but it kept sinking into the water. Several attempts FAILED, and a new plan was hatched. Esther and Jess headed back while Jay stayed on the platoon watching the fish below, and Jess returned with the cracked kayak towed behind her. She took the cracked one, and they both made it back before Jess was sunk!

Dinner was at a new place we discovered on our walk and it was the type of restaurant that was again run out of someone's house, and we never knew if the food was taking a while or never coming. It was all pretty tasty regardless, and we were lucky enough to learn how dogs mate and get stuck together for a period after.

Back at the yurt, we packed and organised for the morning taxi ride... (After the platoon incident, the debt collectors came, and after 2 failed attempts with a card, we had a successful payment)!

All in all, it was a relaxing day!Read more