Goodbye to SE Asia

I have been home for almost a week. I have been to work, 2 days, and been sick from work for 3 days. Sounds bad, but just my old and weak back that turned bad during a course in how to protect oneself in case of violent behavior from our young and promising teens. Are getting better, and are back at work in a few days. If I look away from my sore back and the early morning I had the first days home, it is pretty good to be home again too. The planning of some summer vacation have started off course, but since I have used all my vacation during this trip I will not manage to get much during the summer, just a little bit. More about that an other time.

Goodbye Palawan

I was leaving Palawan and heading for Singapore in my last blog post. The flight and entry to Singapore was painless, Singapore let me back in again. Had some nice flight neighbors one the plane from Palawan to Manila, a Philippino women with her young daughter and they insisted to share their cake and snack with me one the plane, very nice of them. They was also curios about where I was from and why I did not had my wife with me, which made me say ones more that I do not have a wife.

Shopping at Orchard

I checked back in at River City Inn hostel in Singapore, the same one as I stayed at when I arrived SE Asia 6 weeks ago. I slept in the big dorm this time, but nice an quite in it, and a good bunk bed in between 20 other bunk beds. After my check in and a shower I went straight out for dinner and then up to Zsofi tapas bar in Little India for a couchsurfing meeting. Lots of people attended, even several Norwegian and 4 of us was from Stavanger, how weird is that. Met up with Heidi there, and spend most of the time talking with her, always nice to meet her again, but also some of the other  CS’rs that was there off course. But way to much people to talk to most of them. I also had my first late night out  and a bit to many beers on this trip, since I left Zsofi around 01. Had a good time out, fun. The 2 next days I did my planned shopping, and some more shopping than the planned one. I also met up with Heidi and her friend again on my last day, Saturday, for Sushi, and good sushi it was. I also managed to turn over a full glass of water by the table at the restaurant over my shorts, the couch and floor. Embarrassing, and I never knew it a normal glass could hold that much water, it was very wet.

In Singapore, by the river

The last days my SE Asia trip this year was good, even I didn’t had that much to do in Singapore I still like the city, always nice to come back there. The trip it self have also been good, even if I have been a bit bored some of the days. I must also admit that I have missed some company some days, specially in the evenings over dinner I would have been nice to have some company. I am sure that I would have had a different vacation if Denise had been able to make it as planned, it would for sure been less diving and other activities on Palawan since she don’t dive. I would also have been interesting to travel with someone for the first time in my life, and I believe it would have been good. An other time.

Havaianas have been parked.

That’s it for this time and it is time to park the havaianas for some time, and hope they will come to use again here home during the summer.

Next year am I turning 50, and I do think that I should be somewhere very amazing and spectacular on that day, March 11th. 2014 it is
 

Any good idea?

Last days on Palawan

April 15th-18th

Dusty road outside El Nido

Moved out from El Nido on Monday 15th, and back down to Puerto Princesa. El Nido has been nice, and are happy about my stay there and that I choosed to stay there for so long. The journey on the van went well, most likely a bit of luck it did. The driver was overtaking other cars and tricycles on any blindspot that was on the road, almost hit the back of a parked truck on the dirtroad just outside El Nido, run out of water on the engine just south of Tay Tay, overheated engine and no working AC. But, we did not hit the truck or any other car, we got water for the engine and made it back to PP, no problem. Stil, I must say that traffic here is a bit crazy, how you overtake an other car, that nobody use seatbelt, that people can sit on the roof of trucks and busses, just hold the horn in when there is people or animals in the road and expect them to move, and not reducing the speed at all. I wonder what happen when someone do not move?

Blue Lagoon Inn, Puerto Princesa

My hotel in PP this time is very good, with AC, TV in my room with English movie channals and a swimming pool in the garden, it is very good I will say, luxus. I have not been doing a lot in PP this time. I spendt the first day on Robinson Mall, looked at the shops, had coffee and cake, got me a very cheap haircut, 180,- Pesos (25,- NOK) and had lunch. The rest of the day I spend reading at the hotel and in the swimming pool, just relaxing. It is just great to have some TV time again, have not had a TV since Bali, and that is some time ago. So yes, I have used the TV and enjoyed it after I have had my dinner at the hotel resturant, which is very quite, have not been much other people eating here than my some of the nights.

Ego at Underground river

On my second day, wich is today, I have been to the Underground River in Sabang, I was a bit unsure if my permit was good or not, but it was abviosly since I got in. Transport, permit and lunch was a total of 1600,- pesos. I do think it is the almost the only way to do it, organised, even if I had gotten my own permit 2,5 week ago, at least the guide pushed us trough the wating line as fast as possible. The cave and the underground river was very good, impressive and BIG cave system over the river. Lots of birds flying in the cave, bats hanging around from the roof of the cave, snakes laying on the rocks on land, it was very cool I will say. Also got to see some monkeys outside and 5-6 big lizzards. Was a great day, and it was also the very first, and last of my typical sightseeing stuff I have done this year.

Coming out of the Underground river cave

Since this is my last night in Palawan and in Philippines in total, it should be possible to write down some general impressions. It have been good to be here, as former blogs shows mine maine activity have been the diving here as well as on Flores. I have enjoyed it. It have been a lot quieter than expected, nobody is pushing you to buy anything as on some other Asian countries, and I have not at all felt unsafe at anytime anywhere. Sure I get ripped off by the tricycles drivers, but it is only small money, so not any big problem, just a bit anoying. The Philippinos that I have met have been very nice and friendly, and I have enjoyed meeting the locals that I have met. Women staff at hotels and restaurants have on some places asked me why I am travelling alone, and if I do not are married, and seamed to be a bit surprised about that. Why?   Food, I must say that I am not to happy about the food, I have not found anything special that I really like that I can say is Philippines, but I have had good food. But have not figured the food out I must admit.
Next and last stop - Singapore.

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As days go by in El Nido

April 9th-14th.

Colours of the underwater world

My last day in El Nido has arriwed, and I am sitting here on Hajibi resturant, on top of Submariner dive centre, who I have been diving with when I have been here. Tomorrow, Monday, I am back on the van taking me back to Puerto Princesa, where I will stay for 3 nights. One day by the pool at the hotel and one day to the Underground river.

How many lobsters do you see?

And diving is what I have been doing a lot of, a lot more then I planned when I decided to go here. I have been out diving 7 days, 3 dives every time which make a total of 21 dives, or 21 hours under water. That is a lot to say it nicely. The diving have been good, from fine to very good, and the staff at the divecentre have been nice, good and profesional to dive with. They are using morings to the boat on the divesite, so the corrals are protected, and I was really happy when I saw that. Sine a divecompany called Palawan divers is trowing their anchor on the corrals next to the morings. As I have said before in the blog, is the diving not as good as in Komodo, but it have been worth the time and money to log so much bottomtime here in El Nido. What have I seen then, and got photos of. The coolest photos is of, ornet ghost pipe fish, some tiny glassy shrimp that lives on the anemone, good photos of octopus´s, orangotang crab, big bumbhead parrotfish, lots of nudibrances (nudi´s) and also with two of them having sex, and I do think I have to lobsters doing the same since as far as I can see is it one on top of an other, have gotten lots of good photos and it will be a hard job to sort out the best ones for Flickr. The typical dive day is to meet up at the divecentre at 8:00, then we are on the move 15-20 minuttes later to the first divesite that is reached around 9:15, the second between 11 and 12, lunch around 13 at the beach on one of the islands, and the 3rd dive is around 14.30/15.00, and we are back at the divecentere around 16.30 most days. Free drink and logging of the dives at Hajibi and some talking about the dives till around 18. That is it, a 10 hours day dedicated to diving. It makes an old man tired, even if the the diving is easy and the water is nice an warm, so I have been pretty beaten after the dive days and had my dinner and gone to sleep around 21.30/22.00 at night, not more to give then.

Nudibrances making out

I said in my last blog that I had some tummy problems, had it for some days, but nothing serious and uncontrollable. Not sure if it because of something I have eaten or not. But all traveller know that " if you can not cook it, fry it or peal it, you should not eat it¨and off course you do not want any ice in your drink. Since I have broken all those golden rules it might be why the tummy has been acting out. But if you follow the rules, well you have problems eating and drinking and enjoying being on vacation. So my rule is be sensibel and a bit careful, but eat and be happy as long as food looks, taste and smell fine. Most of the time it goes well. One also get more careless after some weeks on the road.

Out kayaking

As you most likely understand, I have not had much time to do much else than diving. The off days have I spend doing almost nothing. I have read a lot, no tv, and internett limited to resturants. But I did manage to go out kayaking one day. Not the best kayak, but it worked. It was a bit windy, and some waves so I had a 45 minuttes trip each way to a beach, where I spend 3-4 hours in the shaddow of some trees reading, eating my lunch and getting some tan, maybe, in shaddow with factor 30 on the sunlotion. I also tested the snorkeling, but it was boring on the beach, not much to see. It was only me on the beach for most of the time, or at least after some locals had left, 2 adults with 8-10 kids. Some of the kids, some boys around 10, I guess, was curious on the white man, and was over presented themself and just hanging around me for a while, singing and playing in the sand. Not the long kayaktrip, but a nice day, and I think it is the first day I have spendt on any beach for a swim and tanning in Asia ever, on time on my 4th visit. :)

El Nido ocean view

I should off course have gone on one of the island hopping trips, and today was my last change for it. I decided not to do it, needed a day of doing nothing and also after what I have heard are all the boats going to the same places at the same time, which makes it very crowded and a bit stressful since one vistit 4 different places in 6 hours. And as one said, what is so secred about the secred lagone when it is 100 more people there together with you. I do not care that much about seeing different beaches either, a white sand beach is pretty much just a beach, and I have been on some of them, but different ones with the dive boat and also on one with the kayak.
My social life has been limitet to the diving sort of speaking, had some hope to meet some to hang out with after diving on the boat as well, but that have not happend. Still, the time on the boat and the afterdive drink has been good, and I have gotten the company that I need. But some company for dinner and a drink in the evening would also have been nice, but one just have to take what you get and I can not say that I have felt lonesome, even if I have been alone.
Thats it for El Nido :)

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El Nido

April 5th-8th 2013

El Nido archipelago

Have been in El Nido for almost a week, stayed at 3 different hotels as mention before. I have had the last 3 nights here at Casa Cecelia, and I like still it. I am very happy that I have the AC, the breakfast is on the hotel roof, with view over the ocean and the streets before one get to the beach. The breakfast is ok, not much to write home about, but it get you going in the morning and some hours into the day.
On Saturday and Sunday have I been waken up from the churchbell at 5-5.30 in the morning, and the the morning mass have started with singing and preaching, and they keep the singing and preaching going on for a couple of hours. Off course I have been waken up by churchbells at home as well, but that is at 10 or 11 in the morning on sundays, that is a bit more humane. :) Well, the early church bells have not been a problem really, I have been to bed early as usuall when I dive, at 22 at the latest. Having my breakfast at 7, and meet up at the dive centre a bit before 8,then we get back in town around 16.30. Just like working day.
Sick! Was not good in may stommac when I woke up on Sunday, but I did the dives and that worked out fine, but I was very tired in the evening. Today, Monday April 8th am I not fine in the stommac to say it nicely. I have a planned break from diving today. I found out that it was time to take a few Imodine this morning, I do not like it, but found out that it was smart to try it out. Then we see. Have hardly eaten during the day, small breakfast and small late lunch, and had me 2 coca cola. Now in the afternoon I feel a bit better, and will have me a small dinner to see if it sits ok in the system. Fingers crossed!

Swimming with fishes

The diving have been really good, I did not had any expectations about it after the Komodo diving, and I will for sure get back in the water when I am here. The group on the diveboat have been very nice this two last days. Social, and relaxing good diving without any stress. Have seen a lot of good stuff and gotten many good photos. When it comes to kayaking, I is not looking to promising at the moment, and I should most likely do one of the island hopping day tours when I am here, we see what happend.
Internett in El Nido is not the best, so I just have to wait for better wifi before I can upload more photos, on Flickr and on FB.

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First days of El Nido

El Nido bay

April 2nd-5th
I like this little town with no Atm´s in northern Palawan, seems lay back and relaxed after what I have seen the first days here. Have had my dinner on the beach this days, nor sure if it is more expencive then the streets inside, but it is nice to sit down there, even if the dinner have been by myself this days. That is a bit boring, but it is the way it is.
I was suppose to check in at Casa Cecilia the day after I got here, but I got myself a surprise when I got there, they had made an overbooking and had found another hotel for me the first two nights. Told them that I was very unhappy of that, but it was not much to do about it, and they took my by tricycle over to another hotel, The Big Greek Mansion on the other side of town. The other side of town meen maybe 10 minuttes slow walking, even it is was some construction around the hotel, and the hotel did not looked like it was finnished it was ok. Big room with tv and breakfast in the morning on the balcony outside the room. So the people of the Casa Cecilia took good care of me when they had done wrong, all credit to them for that.
Today, Friday, the staff from Casa Cecilia came and picked me up again and took me to my room for the next ten days, stay here till April 15th. I will not change hotel one more time in El Nido, 3 hotels in one place is enough. I like the one I have now, not a big room, but away from the main street on the back of the building, a good bed, breakfast on the roof, nice little bathroom with hot water, AC till at least 9 in the morning, by then I will be out most days. Not said that yet I think, they cut the power here in town at most places from 06-14 every place. Then it is good to have power till 09:) Happy with this hotel.

Underwater landscape

I can not say that I have been so active beeing here, read my ebook at different beach resturants, been out diving one day so far, will do that more times even if it is not extreamly good. But I have to remember that I have gotten spoiled at Komodo, will not get that here. And, for the first time ever I have had a Norwegian Dive Master as guide during diving down "here", that was a little surprise. A Oslo girl named Amanda.
I got myself an unpleasent surprise the evening before I went out diving, when I checked my flash I could not get it on, I opened the battery chamber and it was a mess inside. As it turned out I have had salt water in it from the the last dive in Komodo, a night dive a Canibal rock the day I got sick during night. Salt water an batteries do not make a good combination, I flushed it with fresh water in the shower, and the battery chamber is sealed off from the rest of the flash, there is some rust that need more attention, but I hope I have managed to stop the rust attac, and I have managed to get it working again, and hope it stays that way. Will test it during diving again tomorrow, and will check it after the dives if water have gotten in again.
I can not get over how hot it is, after some visits to south east Asia I should be able to remember it, but it do not seams like it. Sitting at the Art Cafe right now writing this sweaty words, the time is 19:30, and the sweat is dripping off me. It is really disquesting to feel how it is running down from the top of the head, down the back, and it is not anything to do about it. Or, at least as long as you want to stay outside of any AC, and I am not getting used to it. Yeah, I am complaining a bit of the heat, but I have no right to it since I have chosed, and kept on chosing to go to this hot humid climat, so I better keep my mount shot. :) I should really preciate the chill and cold I feel when I dive in 27 degrees Celsius and get cold, will try to remember that tomorrow,

Rainstorm over El Nido from Helicopter island.

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On the road - Puerto Princesa to El Nido

Rooftop ride

Had a early pick up from the Dallas hostel this morning, was suppose to be at 7.30, but the driver was waiting for me when I came down with my luggage, 30-45 minuttes before I was supposed to be picked up. Stressed me bit, but he gave me time for my breakfast, but no time for coffee. We did more pick ups on the way to the busstation, and after the van, a Toyota Hiace, was filled up with 13 passangers + 1 driver was seated, we finally started our drive to the north around 8:20.
The ride was of no big interest, pretty ok road till we got to Tay Tay, after that gravel road the most of the last 60 km´rs, rough gravel road. If I had been really challenging I should have been riding on the roof top of the bus, that is half price after what I know. Or, must also say, the nature and gardens of many of the houses is very nice. Lots of the gardens are decorated with nice flowers.
Arrived the Garnet Hotel in El Nida around 13.45, got a pretty good room, but I am changing to an other hotel tomnorrow, to Casa Cecilia. El Nido looks nice, nice seaview from the beach. Think is is a good place to stay for the next 2 weeks. Have checked out a divestore and a kayak rental, hope to get a overnight tour with the kayak company, but it have to be 3 more paddlers that want to go as well for them to do it. When it comes to divning I am not sure how good it is, but I will check it out for sure, then I will know. Gonna be hard to top Komodo NP.

El Nido view

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