People would have assumed that since I love going to the beach they might have thought I'm a good swimmer. Well guess what? I can't swim!
Hahaha!
Well in fairness to me I can swim though on a swimming pool, as long as I can touch the flooring of the pool I'll be fine but when I start to float then that's where the problem arise!
Helicopter Island, na mukhang turtle island to me =P
When me and Floro visited Kalangaman island last year I bought my own life vest for the swimming but after sometime (from Donsol to Siquijor trips) bringing this vest is a hassle!
And on our day 2 of El Nido trip to my utter surprise we were about to swim on an OPEN sea going to the hidden lagoon on the farthest island in El Nido.
What??Me? Swimming? No alalay or bangka that will bring me inside the cave?
The guide told me the kayak won't make it inside, and the only way to get in was to swim.
I tell you I want to back out, but since i'm with my girlfriend (who are more enthusiastic than me hahahaha) shempre I have to go din. Baka maumpog kasi sa mga bato at matauhan LoL (peace babe!)
Are you ready to swim?
Somewhere on those rockies ar the entrance inside the hidden lagoon
The swim was hard for me! And the water is infested with small jelly fish which makes the swim even harder. Me and Mikko got lots of sting from the jellyfish, and if not for the lifeguard bouy i don't think I can ever make it to the lagoon and back to the boat hahaha!
Getting inside the lagoon is even harder, we have to check the tide and the wave befoer entering the lagoon. C.R.A.Z.Y. but once inside you'll just say to yourself "it's all worth it".
"We shall return, pag magaling na kami lumangoy =P "
Mini caves with lots of bird's nest (for Nido soup daw)
After the death defying swimming, we headed next to an deserted island with grotto and unfinished structures. The view here is magnificent. This is one of the best locations in El Nido.
Crystal clear water, calmness after the storm
Tourist abound!
Grotto amidst the seas
Some unfinished business here
There is a small hill on this island, which shows this spectacular view.
And the back of the grotto leads to the beach part of the island naman. Perfect for intimate swimming for couples (wink wink).
Ehem, here's another MAGNIFICENT beauty. My baby Mikko =D.
Postcard worthy shot (naks!)
We did stop to another island for lunch but unfortunately we have to ride a kayak to get to the island and the water is so unstable hence we decided not to bring our camera.
It's a good decision thank god, because my kayak overturned when i was about to land on the shore. Hahahaha. So i got this bruise on my right leg as a souvenir for this trip =(.
After lunch, we headed to this (another) hidden lagoon, but unfortunately due to strong waves nobody dared to swim. Only the middle age foreigner woman wants to go inside the lagoon (but her husband persuade her not to go hahaha).
Last but not the least, our guide reserve the last for the best beach. Helicopter island has the finest beach sand in all El Nido beaches. Same quality of sand just like in Calaguas but the water are strong and rough. But still it was fun to okay under the sun and the beach padin =).
"Tower ng bangka"
All in all, though the vacation might not be a perfect one (broken boat, brownouts at the hotel, scary swimming, jellyfish sting and what not), spending alone time with my girlfriend erased all the hassles of this trip. Sulit na sulit ang vacation when she's around =).
