By Nathan Allen

About half way through my motorbike trip around Palawan Island in the Philippines, I stopped in El Nido, a stunning limestone cliff-studded island paradise. This was my first trip back since 4 years earlier, and I barely recognized the place. It’s amazing how much can change in 4 years. Entire neighborhoods have been built, along with countless new hotels and resorts.

Honestly, I felt a bit overwhelmed by all the changes. It seemed my little piece of paradise was gone forever. I navigated through swarms of people and tricycles crowding the narrow streets, slowly making my way to my new home for the next few nights–“The Nest El Nido”.

 
Here, with an absolutely stunning view looking out to iconic Cadlao Island, I was able to relax after a longggg ride in the sun. It was only then that my head cleared a bit, and the hotel manager informed me of something. He said that while the town has definitely grown, the crowds I experienced were probably just all the school kids getting out at the same time, temporarily choking up the streets. Whew!

Yes, there’s still paradise to be found…

Welcome To “The Nest El Nido Resort” in Palawan, Philippines

The Nest is a family-owned and operated resort situated in Caalan, on my favorite and more remote side of El Nido. This is the area I walked past each afternoon 4 years ago, when I would journey up the beach to photograph beautiful island sunsets.

The Nest Resort has a special place in my heart, and for several reasons. First of all, the design aesthetics are just my style. I love the tasteful blending of “modern” and “beachy”.  It’s truly a classy place, but with a nice, laid back feel to it. 

The garden landscape in the center of the resort is quite expansive, and beautifully designed. Gardening is a passion of the owner, and amazingly, she did all this landscaping herself!

Yes, this resort is a real family affair – a homecoming and a labor of love, all wrapped up in one. Keep reading and you’ll see why…

The outside villa windows are basically perfect mirrors, which not only insures complete privacy for guests inside, but also reflects the stunning beauty of the garden and views of Cadlao Island across the sea! It gives the cozy property quite a colorful and spacious feel. Nice touch!

I mentioned that the resort is family owned and operated, but I did not mention that it is Filipino owned and operated–something that is unfortunately rare for high-end properties in the Philippines, and even more rare because the land this property is on has belonged to this family for over 6 decades! Seriously, I loved hearing this story…

In the 1950s, a Man Stumbled Upon Paradise in the Philippines

He was a WWII soldier stationed in Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. After the war, stories of a wild and scenic paradise pulled him north. He kept going further and further, eventually reaching this fabled Shangri-La at the top of the island.

Aside from a few Chinese fishermen, the village of El Nido was unknown to the world, just a spec on the edge of a remote Philippine island. Here, in this enchanting paradise, the man saw potential. He put down roots…eventually fell in love and married a local girl. They started a family.

He became the town postmaster, and owner of its largest store, which he ran out of his own home. The store, called “IBR”, is still there today!

He was one of the only residents earning any kind of decent salary. As you can imagine, there wasn’t a lot to spend the money on in a sleepy seaside village, so he just started buying land. It was so cheap…the family thinks he purchased the land the resort is on for just $20! Think about how much it must be worth all these years later, being situated in the most sought-after part of the #1 island in the world!

Smart man, and it’s incredible that the family held on to it all these years.

(Continued below)

When his daughter grew up, she got married and started a family in Alaska, of all places. After the kids were grown, they left the bitter cold to return home to the Philippines, and live her dream of having a resort in the paradise of her childhood. Pretty amazing to find original land owners in El Nido going all the way back 60+ years!

Returning to Their EL Nido Roots, & Living The Dream

As mentioned, she handles all the gardening. The design and construction was carried out by her husband and her son Michael, who also does an excellent job managing the place (along with his lovely wife Christine). You can see the 3 of us posing for a picture below (along with much of the resort staff:) The family is incredibly humble and down-to-earth. They made me feel right at home.

(Photos of food & staff)

I visited before The Nest was even finished being built, and before they were offering lunch and dinner meals. However, I did get to do a taste-test, and was also able to experience a mouth-watering breakfast, including fruit that was locally grown across the water on beautiful Cadlao island! Did I mention I also ate some of the best bacon I have ever tasted in my life? Imagine the best bacon you’ve ever had, and that you’re eating it here:

I experienced a massage on the upper level here as well. You can’t beat the relaxing sound of island waves crashing during a blissful massage. REAL waves, mind you. This is not an iPod playing:) I think they also plan on having yoga classes up there…all with an absolutely stunning view!

Villa Room @ The Nest El Nido

My villa felt warm and inviting. The little details made all the difference in the world…things like the fresh, aromatic smell of the soap, and even the soft, oversized bath towels! I never realized a towel could smell so good. Bedding feels luxurious and inviting as well.

(Photos of villa room & bathroom)

Another thing I loved is the craftsmanship of all the furniture in the rooms and around the property–it’s all locally sourced, or made directly on site!

Day & Night Views of Iconic Cadlao Island

 *If you’re wondering, I took these shots with my Sony Rx100III. <–Amazon, but in the PHL you can find it HERE.

These views are my favorite part about being in El Nido. The daytime shot was taken directly from the resort restaurant, I believe. The sunset shot was taken at a nice secluded spot about 10 minutes north up the beach. You just need to keep trekking along the beach until the sunset comes into view.

The Nest El Nido – Contact Info, Reviews & Rates

Sorry if I can’t stop gushing about The Nest El Nido. I guess I left a little piece of myself there. I love everything about it–the story, the people who run it, and the neighborhood it’s situated in. I’m not the only one, apparently they are already booked solid for months out, and at the time of this writing, it’s not even completely finished yet!

Yes, it goes without saying that you should book as far in advance as you can. Enjoy this little piece of paradise, and please send the family my best!

Check rates and read reviews HERE

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

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Like my page to follow along with me:)  – Nathan

Goodbye, Gopro…I Finally Review the TG-4 Underwater Camera in the Philippines

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By Nathan Allen

Romblon province is made up of 3 Philippine islands, and Romblon island is one of them. It’s easy to get confused. Stone Creek House is located on the island of Romblon.

I had just stepped off the ferry from Tablas, which is the island west of Romblon. Dazed from a lack of sleep over the past few days, I stumbled through the streets looking for a good person to ask where Stone Creek House was. The trike (tuk tuk) drivers swarmed me to offer a ride.

To my surprise, one of the drivers asked me if I was Nathan. “Carlos is expecting you”, he said. I looked down and noticed his tricycle had a New York taxi cab design.  Having lived in NYC at one time, I took this as a good sign.

Arnold was the friendly drivers’ name, and 1 minute later, we had arrived at Stone Creek House.

I felt bad, because I had no signal on Tablas island, and wasn’t able to confirm to Carlos (the owner) that I was coming for sure. To make matters worse, due to my crazy schedule, I arrived a day earlier than we had discussed.  Carlos was very kind, and handled all this quite gracefully.

My Bedroom Suite

He showed me to my spacious room (it was a suite, really) with a private entrance on the ground floor. First impression was definitely good! Carlos explained that Romblon island is the “marble capital of the Philippines”, and I could see the elegant, white stone incorporated into the design around my room.

There was also an interesting cutaway stone design on the wall, as you can see below. It quickly became apparent why he chose the name “Stone Creek House”.

Carlos is Filipino by blood, but actually very much American. He was raised in New York, hence the NYC themed trike that dropped me off at Stone Creek. However, his family goes back generations here in Romblon, and he is quite a wealth of knowledge for anything and everything tourism related.

(By the way, if you’re passing through Manila on your trip to Romblon, I recommend clicking HERE for hotel options). Those interested in super cheap flights might want to check THIS out)

Self Taught Designer w/ a Knack For Repurposing

Carlos has a background in advertising, not design….but amazingly, Stone Creek House is all his own design. He did an excellent job repurposing old materials, such as the piece of jeepney (jeep) suspension above, which now functions as a towel rack in the shower. When you’re there in the room, also note the cut-open Italian Coca Cola dispenser, which is now the bathroom sink!

As you can see below , the room is quite spacious, and the elegant marble “headboard” above the mahogany bed frame is a nice touch.

Here you will notice more repurposing: The corrugated metal on the wall, along with another part of the jeepney suspension, which is used as a door handle in this case. If you’re wondering….yes, the bed is as heavenly comfortable as it looks. I think it’s even a tempurpedic mattress!

Room Decor – It’s All About the Details

This rustic old door has been refinished, painted, and now supports a series of shelves displaying decorative items. Apparently Stone Creek House even has its own custom scent (see spray bottle below): Grapefruit + Jasmine.

Carlos’ knowledge is not just limited to Romblon tourism…he is a dedicated history + Star Wars + trivia buff as well. An avid reader, he keep plenty of books in the rooms for his guests.

Of course you would expect a room of this caliber to include air conditioning, and it does. There is also a water heater in the shower…even a simple thing like that can be rare on a small provincial island like this.

The flat screen TV is loaded with cable channels, and the upper rooms are best for wifi, from what I’ve heard (the wifi was actually being repaired when I was there, but supposedly, Stone Creek House usually has one of the fastest signals).

The upper floor has a common living room space with great natural light. There is also a unique spiral staircase that leads up to the roof deck.

The roof deck affords an overview of everyday life on the streets, and in the market nearby.

Actually, I think the location–right smack in the middle of the local community–is part of Stone Creek House’s charm. My room actually had floor-to-ceiling windows that face the street. It is a perfect mirror from the outside, but a normal window from the inside (you can see people outside, but they can’t see you.)

This provides a unique look at every day life…people coming and going…visiting the small shops and market nearby. A bit of warning, though: At night people can see inside the room a bit, so make sure you close the curtains when you’re inside or when you leave.

Another tip: Bring plenty of cash with you, because there’s only 1 international ATM in town, and it isn’t always reliable.

So yes, this location really gives you the best of both worlds: Boracay-grade beaches (without the crowds), and  “big city” standards in terms of service + accommodation.

To top it off, thanks to the island’s small but tight-knit expat community, you can also find excellent + affordable international food options within walking distance! Of course, there are plenty of good Filipino options as well.

Yes, if you make the effort to explore, you’ll find that Romblon is really something special (look for my full post soon).  Stone Creek House represents the best this charming island has to offer.

I appreciate the opportunity  to share this experience with my readers.

Contact Info, Rates & Reviews

I’m not the only one who loves Stone Creek House, check the reviews on Tripadvisor…nothing but glowing praise – both for the hotel, and Carlos as a top-notch host.

Find Stone Creek House on Facebook HERE

Tip: You may be able to rent the entire building on Airbnb HERE

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My Qi Palawan Resort review…I stopped here on an unforgettable trip around the island. This is a particularly adventurous story!

Words & Photos By Nathan Allen

The Ride of a Lifetime: Pt. 6

I’ll never forget the very surreal experience of how I arrived at Qi Palawan Resort. I was on a mission to ride a motorcycle and photograph my way around the stunning island of Palawan, in the Philippines. I had just left Duli and Dialpila Beaches, and the weather had turned on me along the way. Having a laptop, hard drive, and a few cameras with me, I was worried about being exposed on the road in heavy rain.

I had been riding for quite a while, but eventually pulled over and had a nice chat with a local man who was kind enough to give me refuge from the storm.

I had a plastic bag that could cover my large backpack, but the problem was that I wouldn’t be wear it with the plastic concealing the shoulder straps. Instead, this kind man helped me cover the backpack and fasten it to the back of the bike with some packing ties.

This gave me some added confidence as I rode carefully through the pouring rain. The road was on the verge of being washed out at points, with a torrent of water flowing across it quite often. There was so much water flooded everywhere, I really had no idea what lay below the surface…could be large rocks, branches, who knows. I just stayed focused and did the best I could to avoid losing control of the bike.

Eventually I found the turn off for the resort, which made things even more challenging because it was a dirt road for 1 or 2 kilometers. By now there were large pools of water everywhere, and you can just imagine how slippery and muddy it was. I was on a road bike, which I chose, so I asked for it.

I was freezing cold and mentally exhausted from this very technical ride. To make matters worse, my bag kept sliding off to the side, coming dangerously close to the street and throwing my balance off as I rode.

Qi Palawan – My Very Thankful First Glimpse…

Somehow I managed to make it all the way there with no accidents, and in the pouring rain. This was the surreal part: Suddenly I found myself walking a beautiful path through what seemed like a dense jungle, to the open-air lobby of this incredible resort. I must have been a sight for sore eyes, being soaking wet and mentally and physically destroyed like that.

These pictures were shot with my trusty little Sony RX100III <–Amazon, but in the PHL you can find it HERE.

However, I was greeted right away by a very helpful staff member who was kind enough to forego my check in procedures and get me to a hot shower as soon as possible. I have never looked forward to a shower as much as I did in that instant. When he took me down the lush green path to my bungalow and swung open the door, I was in disbelief.

Check Qi Palawan rates HERE

It was my own beautiful and private refuge from the world. When he took me through the room to the washroom outside the back door, my jaw literally dropped.

It was a private outdoor shower with a covered ceiling that extended halfway, with the other half exposed…looking directly up to the jungle canopy above.

Showering in private, under the shade of coconut trees, was an island  dream come true–and a totally surreal experience for this poor weary traveler.

I really enjoyed the native-inspired bamboo and nipa design throughout my cottage. The villas have the same styling, but are just larger (they are better for groups). In case you’re wondering, the sink is just behind me as I took this picture…

After rejuvenating, I came back into my room and found a Bose sound system waiting for me to plug my iPod into. You might think I wouldn’t want to hear my everyday playlist form back home while I’m on the other side of the world on vacation, but in fact it was exactly what I needed.

Hearing my comfort songs with that big, room-filling sound was the finishing touch to make this cozy island paradise “home”. I looked over at my massive bed with down pillows and comforter, and I couldn’t help but smile to myself. I earned this.

Later I found out that the resort will provide you with a massive “flash drive library” of movies to choose from on request. You just “check out” a USB stick, watch it on the flat screen TV in your room, and return it when you are finished. Great idea. Did I mention that Internet download speed is surprisingly good for being such a far-flung island paradise?

(Continued below)

Don’t worry, with usual weather conditions, the journey to Qi Palawan is as pleasant as can be, and the place is really cool. The chef / owner is from Barcelona, Spain, and this adds some interesting flavor to the property. While there, he presented a few dishes to me, all of which were immaculately prepared. I tried chicken curry and rice, as well a spicy Filipino dish known as Bicol Express.

To finish things off, I tried a decadent chocolate mousse. It’s also quite surreal to be in such a secluded island location and have world-class cuisine prepared for you.

The weather improved the next day, and I was able to tour some of the other rooms, as well as the pool, the yoga deck, and the beach. Qi Palawan is totally off the grid, running on generator until the massive solar panel unit is up and running. How great it must be to have your own little self-sufficient piece of paradise!

The owner is also an avid diver, and you can arrange island hopping / diving tours at Qi Palawan as well.

Contact Info, Reviews & Rates

 
Overall, it will cost you, but for those who are looking for a luxurious island experience far from the crowds, this is the place for you. It would make an absolutely unforgettable honeymoon or family vacation. I would like to thank the resort for allowing me to share the experience with my readers. More unbiased reviews and info can be found below…


Check Qi Palawan rates HERE

Wondering how to get to the Philippines? Check out the awesome flight scanner I use HERE.

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Pt 1. <  Pt 2. <  Pt 3. <  Pt 4.  < Pt.5 < Pt 6. > Pt 7. > Pt 8.

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Goodbye, Gopro…I Finally Review the TG-4 Underwater Camera in the Philippines

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