Top 5 Things You Must Do in Palawan

             Palawan has been rated the most beautiful island in the world and it is easy to see why.  With so many white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, coral reefs, and tourist attractions it’s hard to decide just what to do.  So, I have put together a short list of my personal ‘top 5 things you must do in Palawan.’

5. Street Food

 

  

Puerto Princesa

              Puerto Princesa, located in the center of Palawan Island, is known as the greenest (due to the fact that they have four annual tree planting festivals) and cleanest city in the Philippines.  Whether you are in the mood for floating down an underground river, having a chill night walking the Bay Walk, or visiting a local craft brewery, Puerto Princesa should be your port of call.  

El Nido

Island hopping in El Nido

              El Nido is one of the most visited towns in Palawan and possibly the Philippinesas a whole.  It’s located on the northern end of Palawan Island in western Philippines. Palawan Island has been rated the most beautiful island in the world and El Nido is its defining city. 

First Week: Philippines

Jade and I in the Twin Lagoon, Coron, Philippines

              I started my new travels in the Philippines and have been at it for a little over a week and this is my story.  It’s a simple story of the confusion of arrival in a new country, excursions on tropical islands and beaches, and that one time we slept outside in the bottle storage area on the porch of a ticket office (yea that happened).  

Flight from Texas to the Philippines

Coron from a Drone

Compilation of drone footage taken at Twin Lagoon and Bahul Beach in Coron, Philippines.  Enjoy!!!

Coron Island Hopping

Banul Beach from the drone

              The town of Coron may be a sleepy little town for tourist’s standards, but the islands that surround the area are far from it.  The most prominent of these islands is the island of Coron (not to be confused with the city) just across the bay.  The island of Coron was the original site of the town till it was moved to its current location for more space.  The Tagbanua tribe still inhabit the island and have a title of Ancestral Domain over it, so all tourist that enter must pay a fee.

Coron

Panoramic of the bay from my hotel

            

              Coron is located in the northern most island of the Palawan island chain and is amongst the most visited areas by tourist in the Philippines.  The town itself is a sleepy little town with not a whole lot to offer in the food/nightlife/tourist scenes, but the tours outside of town are first-rate and are why Coron should be on everyone’s to-do list. 

Taal Volcano: Travel Guide

 

Tagaytay and Taal Volcano are great options for a traveler looking for something to do on their first day of arrival in the Philippines. They are a great introduction to this great country and it is not every day that you can say you saw the smallest active volcano in the world! Tagaytay’s most prominent point of interest is the Taal Volcano. Sitting in the middle of Lake Taal, Taal Volcano is the worlds smallest active volcano and the Philippines second most active.

 

 

Taal Volcano in the distance from Tagaytay, Philippines

 

My Next Adventure: Southeast Asia

Planned trip through Southeast Asia

              Having finished my Peace Corps services in Madagascar and having some down time with family and friends during the holidays, I am now leaving for my next big adventure.  This trip will take me to the other side of the world and through most of Southeast Asia.  Equipped with what I could fit in a backpack I have set out to chronicle the best of what Southeast Asia has to offer.  Travel along with me to read about my adventures to find out the top things to see and do and get travel tips for all of the places I see.

Charging our stuff and using wifi at the Manila airport

I start this trip with a three-leg flight to the Philippines, where I will spend one month (the extent a regular travel visa will allow).  Once I leave the Philippines, and continuing through the rest of this trip, I do not have any concrete plans on how long I will spend in each country but will stay either till my visa expires or till I am ready to move on.  Leaving the Philippines my plans are as follows: Taiwan-Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia-Thailand-Myanmar-Bangladesh-Bhutan-Nepal-India-Sri Lanka.  

The New Blog

 

This blog has always been about showcasing Madagascar’s culture and way of life, as well as chronicling my own experiences, both in my Peace Corps service and travels.  My goal as I move forward is to continue to journal my experiences around the world, but to also give travel advice from my own experience.  I want to share with you all of the amazing things there are to see in this world and some tips on how to travel more cheaply.

I have always had a love for travel but never thought that I could ever afford it, but after having spent three years living abroad with the Peace Corps in Madagascar my mindset of how to travel has been totally changed.  My service in Madagascar thought me how to live and travel cheaply. So equipped with this new-found knowledge, and what I could fit in a backpack, I have set off on my next new adventure to apply and share what I learn as I travel the world.  

              Be sure to subscribe to my blog so that you don’t miss any of my cool adventures and share it with your friends so they don’t either.

              Have some things you would like to read about or any questions you have?  Share them in the comment section below.