El Nido - Miniloc

We are back and we are so dark!

This is what we look forward to every end of May - our annual summer get away! Warning: This is a long read with lots of photos - can't decide which to post and not.

This year we decided to go to El Nido. It was a big decision deciding between the two - Lagen and Miniloc. Lagen had the swimming pool while Miniloc had the snorkelling sites. We can always take our dip at the pool so we decided to stay at Miniloc instead.

Our flight to El Nido was via Island Transvoyager, Inc. - a 19-seater chartered plane to El Nido. Flight was at 11:30am and we were checking-in at 9:30am - feeling international flight, di naman kami masyado excited. We were served snacks at the waiting lounge.

On our flight, Summer was such a good traveller. It was her first time to sit on her own seat- may bayad na!

At El Nido Airport, there were singers to welcome you and snacks were served once again. Since it was past lunch time already, we feasted on their palitaw.

We took the speed boat, transferred to a bigger boat to bring us to Miniloc, and tranferred to another speed boat to bring us to the pier of the resort. Summer was so excited wearing her life jacket, just like adults. She was shouting for excitement - not out of fear, riding the speed boat. Bankeros were amazed as other children her age would cry out of fear.

We had our late lunch at the resort. Wow! Mongolian! We then registered and checked-in to our rooms to prepare for our first activity at El Nido. My parents stayed at the SeaView Room while Kuya and I stayed at the Garden Cottage.

The guest activity coordinator brought us to the Big Lagoon. Joey showed us a carving at the limestone that looks like an image of the Mother Mary. The big lagoon was such a marvel to see with all the limestones around. We then went back to Miniloc to snorkel at their house reef and we saw lots of fish! Summer had fun swimming with the fish. We even tried their kayaks. We even tied our 3 kayaks one after the other - ours, Jenny's and Kuya's. Poor Omar have to pull the other two but it was a lot of fun! After dinner, the staff of El Nido gave the guests a cultural show. I even participated in their tinikling - battery of my digicam ran out so no photos for that one but memories. We then requested for a videoke. There was no swimming pool, bonfire was not allowed, so that leaves out to singing for our bonding time. Syempre di naman ako kumakanta, taga indak lang.

We have to start our day early the following day - para sulit ang bayad! We swam with their 1.5meter jack fish at their house reef as early as 6:30am. Kahit ganun kaaga, di nagreklamo si Summer to wake up that early. Then at 7am, we went to Lagen for our breakfast. After breakfast, we had our swim at their swimming pool.

Bernard, our guest activity coordinator, then brought us to Cugnon Cave. There was even a carving which looks like the head of Mickey Mouse! Game pa din si Summer dito! He then brought us to the Snake Island where we can take our dip and photo moments.

We then had our lunch at Entalula. Lunch was superb - lots of inihaw and fresh fruits! We also had our swim here after eating.

Then, we went to the Small lagoon - this I believe was the best part of the vacation! We were 6 kayaks who went inside the hole of a limestone to enter a small lagoon. The site was such a blessing! Omar had fun paddling for our kayak. We were with Summer in our kayak that's why I cannot help him paddle. For our last day, we went to Shimizu Island early in the morning for some snorkelling. This is where we saw a pawikan. Bernard was kind enough to bring the pawikan all they way to the shore for Summer. This time, Summer cried for fear and shouted, Yak! We had picture taking with the pawikan, and when we released him, he swam so fast back to the sea.

We had fun going to the El Nido and it was sad to leave the island. But we have to go back to work so we can have more summer get aways in the future. Thank you Mommy! Thank you Daddy!More photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/jrs404 and see the El Nido album.