El Nido Town is for nightlife enthusiasts. It's not a crazy party place. It's still laid-back but it has the most pulsating vibe in comparison to its neighboring towns on the northern tip of Palawan. Staying within the town center or "bayan" is a practical choice.  The accommodations are cheaper. The beach side restaurant and bars will lure you. Time will melt away unnoticed. Everything in walking distance will guarantee savings from tricycle fares when eating out. The amazing number of tourists will make your travel a fun one. 

We were lucky to have arrived during  the season of "Fiesta."  15th  to 16th of March marks the peak of the week-long Balinsasayaw Festival in El Nido. It's a  yearly tradition where the entire community celebrates. Boat races, pageants, dances, colorful parades, games, and feasts will guarantee unusual entertainment. Streamers were everywhere.  In most provinces, fiesta means locals opening their homes to friends, neighbors, strangers and tourists.  Each home prepares a gigantic feast and everyone is invited! 

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

XOXO,

Arni

{P.S. This photo was taken along the 14 kilometer Long Beach in San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines}

Have you tried zumba?  The closest I've seen was a youtube video of a happy group dancing to Latin tunes until yesterday when I received a friend's invitation to join her at the gym,  Fitness 360 with a free 7-day guest pass. My husband is away on a business trip and I've been mostly running alone, swimming alone, or staying indoors reading while indulging in a detox diet for a few days.  I happily said yes.  After unexpectedly getting into an ab workout with her instructor, we later signed up for a zumba class.

The dance instructor, Lily greeted us with a big smile. There were just the two of us in the class.  We had the room to ourselves.  An elderly lady joined midway. We all danced breathlessly for an hour. I absolutely loved it! The feet started moving on their own and we managed to sway our hips in ways we never thought we could.

Today, we decided to go back to the gym, daring ourselves to try a belly-dancing class after a session of weight lifting.   Let's see how it goes..

We arrived at the bus terminal  next to a public market around lunch time after a long bus ride not knowing where to go next. My husband asked, "Shall we stay in El Nido town?" My answer was, "No, I'd like to stay in Corong-Corong beach. It's more quiet." 

Hungry and annoyed, regretting not booking anything, we slumped down into the wooden bench, staring at the sleeping bags.  Having skipped breakfast, we were both tired and hungry, unable to find anything to eat during the bus stopovers.  "They're all fully booked. It's tourist season. But...."