Evenings at Lagen Island

Evenings at Lagen emanate a warm and intimate atmosphere. Each night was a peaceful celebration of delectable food, charming environment and great company. 

The resort has different dinner settings and themes for each night. One was a cultural night where the resort showcased the different traditional native dances of the Philippines. 

The guests were serenaded by a folk singer in the early part of the evening. Our group enjoyed dinner while listening to the singer's rendition of Ronan Keating's songs. His voice was really beautiful and relaxing! My aunt even made chika with him after his performance. 

We were then entertained by the resort's crew as they moved rhythmically to our country's traditional dances. Foreigners were invited to come up on stage and dance with them. My cousin 'bravely' danced Tinikling with the Lagen Cultural Dancers. :)

with the Lagen Cultural Dancers

We met the nicest people in El Nido. One of the couples who joined us during our lagoon tour was celebrating their anniversary then. They went to our table and gave us a slice of their complimentary cake from El Nido Resorts. So sweet. 

After our wonderful dinner, we headed to our room and found this. :)

Every night, the resort staff leaves a piece of paper with a unique Filipino "alamat" story printed on it along with a midnight snack. 

Good night El Nido. :)

Hobie Cat Sailing at Pangalusian Island

On our last day, we went to Pangalusian Island (one of the two beach clubs of El Nido Resorts, the other one being Entalula Island) to try hobie cat sailing. It was another perfect day. The sun shone at its brightest, the sky was clear with few slow-moving feathery clouds and the waves were still and calm.

Pangalusian Island does not fall short when compared to the beauty of its island siblings with its cerulean waters and golden sands that glisten in the morning sunlight. Here, I found it most peaceful and relaxing as we got the whole island to ourselves.

serene

preparing for hobie cat sailing

My first time on the hobie cat was out of the ordinary. 

At first, I thought I was just going to sit there, appreciate the view and basically do nothing. Boy, was I wrong. It was a lot of work. haha! You need to control the boat by leaning against the direction of the wind from time to time! Our feet were tucked under the rope for balance so we wouldn't fall while leaning. There was actually a point where I thought the wind was going to tip our boat over. It was both fun and thrilling. The guide was teasing me because I seem to travel a lot but I still don't know how to swim. 

I promise.. one day, I'll brave the waters of Palawan! =)

survived! =P

I joined my aunt at the bar for some refreshments after, while my cousin Robbie took a nap. I loooove buko juice. :)

 

Best R&R ever! :)

I know I've written quite a number of posts about El Nido but I honestly think it still doesn't come close to describing it as it is nor how it genuinely made me feel. While I was there, I found peace and tranquility. My soul was rejuvenated. I came back to Manila inspired, reawakened, grateful. I think that's what sets the 'traveler' apart from the 'tourist'. When you discover more about yourself through a certain place, you are a traveler of life.

"I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know it’s not some place you can look for. Because it’s not where you go. It’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something. And if you find that moment, it lasts forever."

Hiking at Lagen Island's Tropical Forest

There are tons of things you could do during your stay at El Nido Resorts. Aside from island hopping, you can go rock climbing, straw hat-making, kayaking, get a massage or just lounge by the pool. I think our three-days stay there wasn't enough to really see the entirety of Bacuit Bay (all the more reason to come back for a second visit, yes?) but nevertheless, we enjoyed our stay at Lagen Island to the fullest.

On our second day, my cousin and I got up early for a morning hike up Lagen's forest. Call time was 6:30 a.m. so it was a great deal getting my lazy ass out of the bed. We were joined by a couple (well, we assumed they were.. hehe) and our guide. 

Initially, I thought of leaving my camera in the room but I take my hobby seriously so I brought it with me. =P I'm the type of girl who's into details and I make an effort to document everything. I believe that the most perfect moments are those that are fleeting so, as much as possible, I try to capture them. yeah.. I'm bizarro like that.

It was a fairly moderate trail. Some parts were really steep. Lagen's tropical forest trail is said to be one of the best sites for birdwatching in El Nido. I saw a couple of monkeys, some swallows and a few exotic birds. It's really a good way to start our day and compensate for pigging out at the buffet the day before. 

The thick forest is rich with towering trees that block most of the sunlight  from reaching the ground. These trees serve as sanctuary to a wide diversity of birdlife. I don't often hear sweet chirping of birds in the morning so I found this activity very enjoyable and it was a great opportunity to commune with nature.

photo time:

At the end of the trail, we found ourselves at the other side of Lagen Island. The cool breeze was refreshing.
We were then picked up by a motorboat and it brought us back to the front side of the resort.
Robbie and I certainly had a hefty breakfast after. :)

photo by cousin robbie

I hope I can visit this place again. It'd be awesome to see more exotic and migratory birds using a scope. :)

My Cerulean Paradise : Big Lagoon & Small Lagoon

El Nido is everything I had imagined it to be and more. It's transcendental, serene and secluded. Being surrounded by the enveloping majestic limestone cliffs with shapes that were perfected over millions of years makes one feel like he/she has been transported to a different world. As we arrived on the mouth of the Big Lagoon, I found myself drawn to the pristine water, with colors transcending from different shades of blue to breathtaking translucent turquoise. I carefully found my way towards the front end of the boat and basked in what I quoted "My Cerulean Paradise". I'm sure many of you have watched the movie Avatar. To tell the truth, cliche as it may sound, it felt magically surreal here, it's as if bits of the movie materialized.

Dubbed as The Philippines' Last Frontier, El Nido, alongside with Taytay (Apulit Island Resort is located here) was declared a Managed Resource Protected Area in 1998. It's the largest marine sanctuary in the Philippines.

tip: to avoid having blown out skies and overexposed shots,
set your ISO and aperture to a low value
settings : ISO 200, f13, 1/125, 10 mm

I hope it stays this way forever. And I'm positive it will, thanks to the continued environmental efforts of El Nido Resorts through their Be G.R.E.E.N. (Guard, Respect, Educate El Nido) campaign which focuses on energy conservation, ecological solid waste management and water conservation (to name a few). El Nido Resorts also conducts coastal clean-ups and environmental education. At the airport, we were able to watch videos discussing the Be G.R.E.E.N. campaign. It's nice because tourists gain awareness which in turn helps preserve the beauty of the place & prevent damage so that future generations may still enjoy its splendor and charm in the years to come. Kudos El Nido Resorts! :)

For the local government to be able to protect and manage the resources, each visitor is asked to pay two hundred pesos as conservation fee.

our guide, kuya chris sharing trivia about the limestone cliffs

a batman formation on top of a limestone cliff

romper/cover-up : topshop
aviators : vintage ray-ban

my cousin robbie and i (thanks kuya chris for taking this photo!)

Before our lagoon tour, we were asked to fit flippers at Lagen Resort for our snorkeling activity. The guides made sure we were comfortable in them. Also, while on our way to the lagoons, Kuya Chris explained the do's and dont's when snorkeling in El Nido. He also described the different fishes and marine life that we may encounter. 

Nemo wasn't at P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. He's here! =P

Another trivia we learned while we were here was that all clownfish are born male. They have the ability to change their sex from male to female. They cannot however, change their orientation back.

Snorkeling in the Big Lagoon:

To get to the Small Lagoon, one has to go through a very small passage (we had to maneuver the kayak by grasping on the protruded rocks from the limestone opening and by pushing our way onto the other side). We didn't bring our slrs with us anymore. It's too risky. hehe.. Luckily we have an underwater camera so we were able to capture shots inside. 

Unlike in the Big Lagoon, the water was very still in the Small Lagoon. Once you get inside, you'll experience a different sense of calmness.

kayaked our way to the Small Lagoon

inside the small lagoon
Olympus uTough-3000
ISO 64 12mm f4.7 1/100

I was trying to upload the video we recorded there but I guess the file size is too big ( I'll try to figure it out. :) ). 

So there.. I really really hope you enjoyed this post coz this is my favorite spot in Palawan.

How about you? What place would you consider your 'Cerulean Paradise'? :)

Island Hopping in El Nido

I have an immense fascination with sandbars. It all started when I browsed through pictures of Maldives' beaches and sandbars while I was scanning a travel magazine. Since then, I've been itching to see one. The first sandbar that I caught sight of was the one in Virgin Island, Bohol. It was really beautiful.

When I was researching about El Nido months before the trip, I happened to read about Vigan Island. I was thrilled coz I will then be seeing another amazing sandbar formation.

Vigan Island is also more popularly known as Snake Island due to the curvature shape of the sandbar that extends outward off the island. 

The trip is just a short 15-minute boat ride from the Lagen Island Resort. It was low tide when we got there so the long stretch of powdery sand was clearly visible and we could walk from end to end of the sandbar.

Incidentally, there are two places that are named "Snake Island" in Palawan. The other one can be found at Honda Bay in Puerto Prinsesa.

photo by my cousin robbie

Sandbars are formed when two opposing currents pick up sand deposits. In due course, the sand builds up and results to the formation. The wonders of mother nature...

Luckily, our group was the first to arrive during that time of the day so we enjoyed the whole island to ourselves.

The island has a short hiking trail that leads to the viewpoint area at the top. We also passed through mangroves that surround the island.

After a short 15-minute hike, you'll see the entire stretch of the sandbar this amazing view:

maxi dress : topshop
bangle : from boracay
aviators : MNG

Our next stop was at a nearby island where the enigmatic Cudugnon Cave is located.

To be able to get inside the cave, one must maneuver himself while lying down (and stretching and bending) through a small opening (your yoga classes will definitely pay off here :P) . Our guide placed towels over the rocks so we'd be protected from some of the sharp protrusions. It was nevertheless  just a minimal effort coz once you get inside you'll be astounded by the illuminated high ceilings and the interior formations which seemingly looked like they've been sculpted by prehistoric men.

sandy beach of the island

Our guide shared with us that Cudugnon Cave is believed to have been a Neolithic burial site. The chambers in the cave were formed through erosion over millions of years ago. We were told that swallows use the holes on the wall as their sanctuary. We also saw bats that feed on insects inside.

I'll just post this picture as a preview. It's really nice when you see it in person. :)

Small Opening of Cudugnon Cave:

Our last stop was Cathedral Cave which is located at Pinasil Island. Some say it looks like a mushroom head but to me it looks more like a turtle. What do you think?

We weren't able to go inside because the opening is too small and our boat wouldn't fit the entrance of the cave. It's accessible through kayak though but make sure the tides are calm before going in. 

Did you know that there is a similar place in Hundred Islands that's also named Cathedral Cave? click me to see

We headed back to Lagen just in time to see the sunset. <3

“When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my

soul expands in worship of the Creator.”

El Nido Resorts | Lagen Island

Lagen Island Resort for me is a tranquil paradise tucked away intimately from all the other islands in El Nido. Surrounding the resort is a lush forest which serves as sanctuary for different species of birds and other wildlife. 

The place is ideal for honeymooners as it offers utmost privacy. Mok will definitely love this place. :) It also has the most romantic sunset views I've seen in Palawan.

As our boat drew closer, a line of water cottages came into sight.

...definitely a piece of heaven on earth! 

Lagen Island's Water Cottages

Santa Claus was on vacation! Hehe.. kidding.. We met this cute couple during our stay. I just feel genuinely inspired whenever I see couples that are still passionately in love with each other though many years have gone by. Yup, I'm a big cheeseball. :)

Front Side of the Resort


Here you can go swimming and snorkeling or avail the free use of kayak and explore the other areas of the island.

Just like in Miniloc, we were given refreshments by the hotel staff when we arrived.

Welcome Drinks and Snack

They gave us another necklace! :) This time the pendant is weaved to a shape of an angelfish.

We stayed in one of the forest rooms located at the edge of the tropical forest of Lagen Island.

The Bedroom

The room is clean, spacious and fully air-conditioned. It has a private toilet and bath which has this zen feel to it. I wasn't able to take photos though. I find it really nice that they already place the bath amenities in containers/small ceramic pots. They're really serious about their ecological and environmental advocacies. I hope other resorts would follow this effort as well. Oh and there's also a hair dryer which proved to be really convenient. :)

Three pairs of native slippers were given to us to use during our stay and/or take home as souvenirs.

Floors are made out of antique wood. There are also sliding glass doors which open up to your private veranda. Ours had a nice view of the sunset and the pool.

The room also has a mini-bar which offer a variety of drinks.

They also provided us with plastic bags for wet clothes and an eco-nido bag.

Our Veranda

View from our veranda

Hmm.. So far, so good!

We got settled for a few minutes and prepared for our next activity: Island Hopping :D

More to come!

If you're planning to stay at Lagen Island Resort, you can check the room rates here:

http://www.elnidoresorts.com/Lagen-island-package.aspx