After many years, I have returned to the Philippines. The last time I was in this stunning country was in 2013 when the horrendous hurricane Haiyan, known by the locals as Yolanda, struck Leyte Island, leaving destruction in its wake. I was volunteering, so consequently, I didn´t get to see much of the country.

On a whim and my need of getting away to peace and calm, I booked my flight from London to the Island of Palawan. A very long journey, but worth every mile travelled to experience pure and unadulterated beauty.

As my arrival was in the evening and I´m not particularly eager to travel at night. I stayed very near the airport, and the following morning I took the van to Port Barton.

I was with a crowd of young backpackers and a group of locals, all crammed into the vehicle to start the three-and-a-half-hour journey to our destination. In the first ten minutes, I was on the point of telling the driver to stop and let me get off. Holy Moly, he was the epitome of Hamilton competing in Formula One! I imagined the headlines in the British papers, ¨Backpackergranny dies in a fatal accident in Philippines¨. fortunately, an adorable young guy from Lithuania was sitting next to me, and we started to chat. (I am so easily distracted when it comes to charming males)

The journey was uneventful apart from the ¨Mango Control¨ Yes! Control of Mangos. Halfway through our trip, the bus came to a halt, and several men boarded the van to enquire if anyone was carrying mangos! Apparently, they were protecting the cultivation of their mangos, and the ones coming into that area could be contaminated with bugs and who knows what else. One of the girls had three of these delicious fruits and had to hand them over! She did make a sarcastic comment of ¨Bon Appetite¨, But we all laughingly reckoned that they would most probably sell them off to other tourists when we left.

Surprise, Surprise! We finally arrived alive in Port Barton. A small shanty fishing village. A backpacker´s haven. A back to basics with stunning beaches and numerous boats to transport you to many of the other wondrous islands

If you want sophisticated five-star accommodation and Micheline star restaurants, this will not be for you. However, this is a must-visit if you are searching for paradise, peace, and breathtaking beauty.

Port Barton is tiny, so basically, most hostels and guesthouses are within walking distance. Naturally, one doesn´t always know this on arrival. So many Tuk Tuks are waiting to whisk you up the road for 50 Pesos. (Approximately 0.73Pound sterling)

I arrived at my lodging, which incidentally is owned by a lovely Catalan couple from Barcelona. The place was great and had a perfect vibe. Unfortunately, there is no WIFI, so if you are a social media addict like myself, it can be upsetting when you can´t get your fix! In the evenings, I like to log into Netflix and devour the latest series. I check Facebook to see who has eaten what. Or insulting who, plus how many likes I have got from my latest photo! A sad soul that I am.

“Deep Moon Resort¨ It is right on the beach so you can´t miss it. Well, I survived my lack of internet and the following day, I found a fantastic place to eat and connect with the rest of the world. Should you think of going to Port Barton, this is where you must head to to get back into the real world.

I spent several days in this fantastic village and then it was time for me to leave.

My next port of call was up the coast to “El Nido” As I am a glutton for punishment and as far as I knew, I didn´t have an alternative option, I once again boarded one of those possible death traps called a ¨Van¨ OMG, the driver was a thousand times worse than the last one! I promise you he was a raving lunatic! And can you believe that when the other passengers asked him to slow down, he completely ignored everyone and continued to give us the most hair-raising journey I have ever had in my entire life. I later discovered that they have a bus service that takes twice as long, but you arrive in one piece with your nerves not fraught with a cinder. El Nido, as far as the town goes, is OK-ish! Lots of building work going on, which doesn´t enhance the first encounter to the place. But my first hostel there was just amazing! Brand spanking new, and the staff were terrific. There is even a rooftop pool where you can cool off and drink in the fabulous view of the surrounding islands. Much to my disgust, they could only accommodate me for one night. But Hey Ho, those are the things that happen when you go on speck.

The very next morning, I eventually found a nice enough hotel, checked in and then went to explore my surroundings. The beauty of “El Nido” is the fabulous boat tours that take you to visit the nearby islands. The scenery is breathtaking, and each island is entirely different. Should you decide to do any excursions, please be advised to buy the little waterproof bags for your bits and pieces and another for your phone. Also, don´t forget to hire water shoes as you will be wading through areas with large amounts of coral and sea urchins. One other thing, the island can fine you heavily for bringing plastic bottled water, so buy a water holder. (I am telling you all this, as generally, the sales reps seem to forget to give you this critical information.) Without a doubt, an “Unmissable!”