Friday, January 29, 2016

Mabuhay 2015: Palawan

Ok, it's only taken a little over half a year, but I'm finally finishing my diary of the Philippines. I'll admit this is not my best blog work, but rather a big photo dump with minimal captions and detail.

After our time in Baler and Dipaculao, we made our way back to Manila. On our way we visited the Ninoy Aquino Museum. He was a former politician in the Philippines and was assassinated on the tarmac of the Manila National Airport and now the airport is named after him. There's a lot more to the story and it's definitely worth reading, but I won't tell it here.
Ninoy Aquino Museum
 The next morning we boarded our plane for the island of Palawan. 
I look stunning. 
 We landed and drove in a car for I think 2.5 hours, but we made it and we were starving. First stop, lunch on the beach. I forget the name of this one...I'm pretty sure this dish is sisig. This was one of many piña coladas for me.


We booked our stay at the Sheridan Resort for 3 nights and the packaged included a couples massage, a tour of the underground river, and a paddle boat tour. Sadly, I got sick pretty much the day we arrived, and I couldn't open my mouth without coughing, but I tried to make the most of it and do all the activities we planned to do. 

Underground River tour! It is the largest navigable underground river in the world!










Here we are waiting for our couples massage. I've always wanted to get a massage with Blake but he never really felt like getting one. In my mind I thought they were relaxing, but turns our they're just torture for the ticklish. 





And then Blake picked up a guitar and I snapped this super artsy and picture.







We ziplined across the ocean and it was incredible. Maybe one day I'll attach the video.




Paddle boat tour! Our tour guide told us about all the animals and plants that live in the area. 


The gorgeous pool with the really cool swim up bar where I ordered more piña coladas. 


More hanging out:


The ocean was the perfect temperature. I wish I could got back now. 




On our last night I finally got up the courage to dress myself in something besides athletic gear and throw on some makeup so we could enjoy a romantic dinner together. 




And just like that our stay came to an end and it was time to leave the resort so we could fly back to Manila. 

We woke up early to catch our ride to the airport and took in our last sunrise in the Philippines.






a 2.5 hour van ride can be exhausting.


 Since the vans only left a couple times a day, we had to take the early one and kill a lot of time before our plane took off, so we went to the local crocodile farm for a quick tour.








One of the highlights was visiting the temple in Manila on our last day. 



We were able to do a session with one of Blake's mission friends and his wife. It was the perfect end to our adventure.


So sad we are leaving the Philippines...Until we meet again!