Paradise in the Philippines

By the time I reached the Philippines I had been bouncing around the world for approximately ten months. My travels included 23 different countries and to travel to these countries I had been on (approximately) 19 planes, 50 buses, 17 ferries, 12 trains and 5 shuttles!! So more or less I was on the move every 2.9 days with the longest period of time spent anywhere accumulating to only two weeks. Needless to say I was in desperate need of a rest and a place to unpack my bag for more than 2.9 days!

The place that we (my boyfriend and I) chose to spend this time was on a little beach called Las Cabanas outside of the town of El Nido, on the island of Palawan, in the Philippines. If you search google images of El Nido, Palawan the pictures that appear do the place justice! 

Las Cabanas beach is a short tricycle ride outside of the town of El Nido, about five minutes or so, but just far enough to eliminate any of the town chaos. You get dropped off on the side of the highway beside a grass hut where more tricycle drivers wait in hope to get some bussiness from tourists leaving the beach. The driver points you down a narrow path leading through the overgrown forest and coconut trees, which you can only assume leads you to the beach. At the end of the path you come face to face with complete paradise. Beautiful crystal blue water, soft golden sandy beaches and coconut trees overhanging the beach. There are lots of beautiful spots like this in the world but what makes Las Cabanas beach unique is that there are only two pensions as far as the eye can see, the rest of the area is left completely how nature made it (for now at least). There are many people scattered under the overhanging coconut trees or swimming in the calm rolling water. The rest of the beach is free.  

There isn't much to say about our time here. We slowed down our pace and took our time in simple pleasures. Reading, writing, walking, making music and sleeping. We ate fresh fish and mangos everyday; we made some new friends; we took a scuba course; but mostly we simply relaxed. 

This was our home for 18 days. 

The path to paradise 

Arriving at Las Cabanas beach in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines 

The view of the beach upon arrival 

Liam on the day we arrived in Las Cabanas 

Our new home for the next 2.5 weeks 

Orange Pearl Resort 

Our hut on the beach 

A view of inside our hut looking out

The hammocks infront of our hut 

Purely paradise!

Part of our morning routine. I would write and... 

Liam would serenade me on his ukulele

Local beers ~$1.00

The streets of the town El Nido

We saw many beautiful sunsets!
Some of the best sunset shots are below. 

L & L 

This was our entertainment almost every evening.

This was our last night there and the most beautiful sunset.
Pictures below :) 

Sooooo Haaaapppppyyyy! 

Like a painting! 

It just kept getting more and more beautiful.

Our last dinner at Orange Pearl 

Jeng, one of the staff and Orange Pearl, and I 

Dan, Cindy, Myself and Liam.

Amazing staff. Amazing memories. Amazing experience. 

Egypt

Our time in Egypt was full of excitement and whirlwind adventures. We arrived in Cairo in the late evening after a gruelling 36 hour journey from Eastern Europe.  As we meandered our way through the various custom desks, bought visas and collected our luggage, our weary eyes searched the arrivals lounge for our driver.  We were greeted by a smiling man who spoke only a few basic words of English. As we exited the airport the warm desert air refreshed our senses and the deafening traffic noise aroused our somnolent heads.  I immediately felt more alive and the bufferflies of excitement began to flutter in my belly.  This country felt familiar to me. It reminded me of India. Rickshaws speeding past us on every side with drivers continuously honking attempting to force the steady road block of traffic to inch forward.  Men screamed from the sides of the road advertising there baked goods for purchase or snickers that were for sale. Girls walked by hand in hand, some with head coverings others showing their natural hair, giggling and eating ice cream. I sat back, took off my flip flops pulling my feet onto the side, and stared out the window attempting to commit this unknown but familiar land to memory.  

With only six days in our pocket to explore Egypt Liam and I made the most of every day we had. We spent two days in the Sahara desert, camping under the stars, cooking our meals over an open fire and riding the jeep through the white desert, black desert and various oasis. A complete day was devoted to exploring the various pyramids. First off, we conquored the area of  Giza where we rode a camel around the Pyramid of Khunfu and kissed the Sphinx. Then we went to the ancient Step Pyramid of Djsoer which is the world's oldest substantial monumental structure to be built of finished stone. Finally, we went inside the Snofru's Red Pyramid which was scorching hot even in the middle of the Egyptian winter. We took a evening cruise down the Nile river, the longest river in the world, while eating delicious food and watching local dance. Somewhere in there we spent a day exploring the streets of Cairo, eating local ice cream, drinking tea at street vendors, tasting the local cuisine and embracing the various stares and comments from locals. Before we departed from Egypt we made a quick tour of the Egyptian Museum and bought some souviners to decorate our non-exisant home. Below are some photos from our whirlwind adventure in Egypt. 

The camp we did our desert safari with 

Preparing to leave 

White Desert National Park. Our first stop on the two day desert safari journey

Liam in the White Desert National Park. 

In the Black Desert. On top of one of the highest peaks. 

Mushroom pose. White Desert. 

Watching our first sunset in the desert. 

So beautiful! 

Setting up camp in the desert. 

Cooking our meal over an open fire.
BBQ chicken, spicy vegetables, sweet rice & bananas. 

Packing up camp after a cold sleep under the desert sky. 

The chicken and the egg. 

Pano view of the White Desert just before sunset. 

Our second sunset in the desert. Even more beautiful than the first. 

It's pyramid time! 

Inside the pyramid.

Liam and I outside one of the pyramids in the Saqqara area.

Outside the famous step pyramid in Saqqara area. 

Exploring the tombs!

Inside the tomb above. 

At the pyramids of Giza.

:)

Riding a camel around the pyramids. 

Liam and I with the six Giza pyramids behind us. 

Feeding our hungry camel 

New Years Eve in Cairo, Egypt with new friends.

Liam and I going for a cruise down the Nile River. Longest river in the world. 

Brushing up on our Egyptian history at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Checking out the protests in tahrir square in Cairo.
Looked pretty civilized to us.