A Year in Travels February 2013 | El Nido Islands and Off-Beat Trails

My life in El Nido didn’t turn out as I expected it to be. My plan to stay longer got somehow waylaid due to unforeseen work circumstances. Though I no longer have work commitments I took it as an advantage to do more exploration in El Nido. Visiting more islands and off-beat destinations in the region.

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A Year In Travels January 2013 | El Nido Life

To change things up a bit, instead of a full year-end post, I’ll put in a series of post for the next 12 days for the 12 months of the 2013 in review. 2013 is such a special year of change and discovery, I wanted to focus more on slow long travels instead of micro-vacations, but bits and pieces of those are always welcome. 2013 started finding myself watching the humble but gorgeous fireworks in El Nido Palawan, temporarily staying with a nice family on where I was living in.

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El Nido Photo Tour January 2014 Festival Edition

It’s time to share what I love about Palawan and El Nido is definitely one of the reasons why it’s one of my top favorite in the country. To kickstart 2014, Backpack Photography will hold an El Nido Photo Tour, to make it more interesting, we’re coinciding the photo tour in time for the Ati-atihan festival, but this time on a little known town of Barotuan. It’s an added photo opportunity to participants who would not only enjoy the sights but the culture as well. Read on for the details.

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Quiet Mornings at Hotel Maya Culion Island

Sunrise at the Culion breakwater

I had no intention to wake up early. But hearing the aircon shut down after its rationed 5-6 hour run at night nudged me out of my sleep. I couldn’t get back the zzzs so I looked out the window to see what’s outside and saw the sun in a good mood, painting the clouds with warm colors. I grabbed my camera and went to the patio of Hotel Maya to see the day unfolding in this little town of Culion.

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La Immaculada Concepcion Church Culion Island in Detail

Facade of La Immaculada Concepcion Church in Culion

It may probably the first thing you’ll see upon approaching Culion Island. The red-colored walls of La Immaculada Concepcion Church is eye-catching from afar. It stands on a hill overlooking the sea and part of the town. It’s an even beautiful church up close and right beside it is Hotel Maya and a light house with war cannons pointing to the open sea. Since its nearby where we are staying, it’s easy to just visit this neighbor of a church and admire its wonderful details.

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At Lele Beach Culion, As Strangers We Came

Serene sunset at Lele Beach, Culion

Curious eyes stare as we step down the motorcycle. Kids who were playing around suddenly stopped and proceeded in caution to look who came. Fishermen by the shore securing their boat gave a quick glance. It seems the people here at Lele Beach in Culion Island don’t to see many visitors donning cameras and tripods that often. Thanks to our guide Hermie, there was a familiar face they can get comfortable with. He informed the small community that we’ll be hanging around their beach for the sunset.

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The Great Wall of Cabulihan Mangroves in Culion

Getting walled-in by the Cabulihan Mangroves

I was looking at the map and was quite surprised there are many islands and islets surrounding the huge main island of Culion. Pastor Hermie, our guide, pointed to the map and showed our path going westward then south to this snaking river opening up to the a large bay with islets which then exits to the sea. We were going to Cabulihan Mangroves instead of the original plan to Balanga Falls and Mangroves which he honestly says is now in a really bad state. We followed his recommendation to discover the southwest side of the island.

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