#onukisland

[tales0fthenugget]

Finally, a Palawan Trip

I always feel on a high after a trip that I really enjoyed. I mean, maybe 60-70% of the time falls into that category. The average being pulled down by so many business trips I had to take for the last few years before pandemic.

Last week of August 2022 was my first time in Palawan. In one of my earliest posts in this tumblr, I have written that it’s one of my places to go. Plus I have a backstory where I was suppose to go there twice but I had to cancel. I already bought the ticket, first to Puerto Princesa to go to El Nido and the second time to Coron. Pre-pandemic there’s this travel group I would join sometimes because they usually go to off the beaten track destinations. They were planning to go to Balabac also in Palawan. I didn’t know about that place but I saw the pictures and said I wanted to go too. Plus it wasn’t as well known as El Nido or Coron so it’s appeal to me just sky-rocketed, lol! Then I looked at the travel dates and got disappointed because again I can’t make it.

So finally with a short lead time and unsure workload, I went ahead! It didn’t disappoint. A part of me was thinking if I feel really good about it is because it’s my revenge travel after pandemic stabilized. But let’s make the pictures speak for itself:

1. Place: See pics above. Plus as I said it’s not touristy so we had a sense of “privacy” as most of the time it is as if the whole island is ours! One watch-out I always give is that the Philippines is an archipelago so accessing islands would most most likely be via boat. As in long boat rides like 1-2 hours. And the waves can be unforgiving. I grew up here so in a way I am sort of used to it already. I think if as a country we help develop these places as tourism, faster boats can be used. Our campsite is only about 20km away from the Palawan mainland (Buliluyan Port) but it would normally take us up to 2hours.

2. People: We joined a tour group so 8/10 people are strangers. There were 5 in the bigger group and 3 in the other. The bigger group is very inclusive and made sure that o always include us in whatever activity or decision needed for the whole group. They do not keep to themselves as they reach out and talk to others as well. Every night is a drinking session though. Lol. But they do not pressure you if you don’t really like to. The other 3 are Spanish guys who are friends since they were 5! How cool is that now that they are in their 30s?! While they already have their own friends/family back in Spain, they took this “barkada” trip. They learned about the Philippines from another childhood friend and one of they previously went to El Nido and Boracay already a few years back. Overall, we had fun with each others’ company - lucky!! I mean you may have heard how your travel companions make or break your trips, right? That’s also why I have favorite travel buddies. Otherwise I temper my expectations such as in this so I was pleasantly surprised. Well, technically I am still ok now to go with whoever and make sure I am a responsible travel buddy. Only that by now I already know who I don’t want to go with if given a choice. Lol!! There are very few, don’t worry.

3. Food: The truth is I didn’t have any expectations. Well a little only. Like I know there will be seafood because it’s the beach. But I didn’t know they will make what we paid for worth it. We had 2 meals with crabs, 2 meals with shrimps and 3 meals with lapu-lapu fish (grouper I think). All freshly caught afrom 1-2 days. These are very expensive in the city where I am from. Of course for them, there’s less operational costs that’s why we can afford to have a lot of it. That’s exactly one of the things I really like in these local tours. Especially in Balabac where it’s not yet commercialized. Also Philippines’ seafoods are the bomb!!! It’s just on a different level, I promise!

4. Weather: I am not gonna lie - I was nervous going in August. It’s the rainy season. Days before it was raining and from what I heard there might be a tropical depression coming in the following week. But here in the Philippines, I already experienced not pushing through the trip because of the weather or just because the winds and waves are too strong even if there’s no storm or whatev. It would really depend right there and then if it will be ok. On the very first day of our island tours, it rained really hard on our way to the campsite. I felt a little down because that might be the story of our whole stay there. It was a disclaimer written in the tour operator’s ad. But it eventually stopped and sky was clear again and I was even to take pictures of the stars and the Milky Way :D We were graced by awesome weather the following days. There were a few rains but they all came and left very fast. And the winds also favored us especially on the last day where I realized the boat ride could really be fast had it not been against strong waves/winds. The weather has been different everyday that even how the sky and sunset look different. Our favorite is the last sunset we had on our campsite - the sky was like shades of pastel. We were all tired and wanting to take a shower so at first we didn’t notice. The sea was the calmest at that time so the reflection also looked different. I’d say it’s one of those miracle beauties. Something that happened by chance so again a welcome pleasant surprise. :)

5. Tour Service: We were very spoiled. Really good service. Especially on food. You will see and feel the thoughtfulness with how they prepare the food. The moment we get back to the islands, yummy snacks await us. We lived in a kubo (a nipa hut). And for me and my roommate we used the other empty kubo to keep our things so we have more room in our room. Hehe. The kubo has no lock so it is as if we just left our things in the open. When they saw it while we were away, they arranged it so it will be somewhat secured too.

Given the chance, i.e time and funds, I would love to go back! It’s my new favorite beach/islands in the world now. Lol!! So many beautiful islands in the Philippines that every time I see something new it will be my new favorite. Haha. I’ve been to many places in the Philippines already but there are still so many more I haven’t been. So many more I know are equally if not more beautiful than where I have been. Sigh. I wish that city life and economy can be better so I won’t feel the need to go away :(

[palawantours]

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[wanshishi]

Onuk • Onok Island #wanshishi #wanshiitravels #wanshigraphy #betterthanmaldives #allshadesofblue #balabacpalawan #balabac #onukisland #onokisland #beaches #goprohero8 #nofilter (at Onok Island, Municipality of Balabac, Province of Palawan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Mk4MUF_vATBwExou3-pvl1PIbUC6-cQhOgvY0/?igshid=1xrv71j06gnln

[graceelicious]

Constantly reminded of the creator’s wonderful masterpiece ☀️ #Travel #TravelPH #TravelPhotography #Beach #Wanderlust #IGTravel #TravelBlog #Vacation #Philippines #Palawan #OnukIsland #Onuk #TravelHub #InstaTravel

[markoholic]

#onukisland #balabac

[joysenacrytex]

Onuk Island, Balabac, Palawan.

[wanshishi]

Onuk • Onok Island #wanshishi #wanshiitravels #wanshigraphy #betterthanmaldives #allshadesofblue #balabacpalawan #balabac #onukisland #onokisland #beaches #goprohero8 #nofilter (at Onok Island, Municipality of Balabac, Province of Palawan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Mkyd9luFM-B47JgDXXgQ17zY_mPlxlgvxLUk0/?igshid=5elzpoav009b

[markoholic]

Going to this island comes with a pricey cost for me. But it's worth it. #travel #onukisland

[wanshishi]

Onuk • Onok Island #wanshishi #wanshiitravels #wanshigraphy #betterthanmaldives #allshadesofblue #balabacpalawan #balabac #onukisland #onokisland #beaches (at Onok Island, Municipality of Balabac, Province of Palawan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7MkomOlBING9qA-6JHFHNztVcEqhVYcJ0x6RQ0/?igshid=1dm1aadl7mwed

[graceelicious]

Good morning from the beautiful island of #OnukIsland ☀️🌴#Palawan #Philippines #Travel #Travel2017 #Travelgram #TravelPhotography #Beach #Wanderlust #GraceeTravels #Balabac

[graceelicious]

Long weekend and I miss this view 🏞 #Travel #TravelPH #Vacation #TravelGoals #Onuk #OnukIsland #Palawan #Philippines #TravelMore

[graceelicious]

The clearest water I've ever seen... so far ❤️🌴☀️ #Onuk #OnukIsland #Balabac #Palawan #Travel #TravelPH #Travel2017 #TravelBlog #Summer2017 #SummerDestination #Wanderlust #Philippines #Beach

[graceelicious]

#TakeMeBack 🏞🏝#Travel #TravelPH #Travelgram #Travel2017 #TravelBlog #TravelPhotography #Balabac #Onuk #OnukIsland #Palawan #PinasMuna #Beach #Philippines

[graceelicious]

God's filter never fails ❤️🏝 More details about #OnukIsland: How to get there and things to do via http://itsmegracee.blogspot.com/2017/01/onuk-island-how-to-get-there-things-to.html?m=1 #Palawan #Balabac #Philippines #TravelPH #PinasMuna #InstaTravel #SummerDestination #Vacation #IslandHopping #Beach #Travel2017

[graceelicious]

Good Morning! ☀️🏝 #Travel #Travel2017 #IslandLife #Vacation #TravelPh #OnukIsland #Balabac #Palawan #Philippines #Travelgram #TravelPhotography #Beach

[graceelicious]

No signal, giant waves and long traveling hours - yup, this island is definitely worth it ❤️ #Philippines #Beach #Travel2017 #Travel #Palawan #OnukIsland #Balabac #NoFilter