Port Barton

After checking out and getting a trike over to the bus station we waited in the classic Filipino fashion; not exactly knowing what was going on or whether we were going to end up in the right place. However at about quarter to we were shown to our minivan, at which point there was only two other people residing inside. We smugly hoped that this would be everyone and a relatively comfy journey would ensue. I guess it was a bad sign when the driver packed the bags onto the roof rather than in the back, much to our other passengers dismay. The van filled up until just two seats were left, one in the front and one on the back seats, although there was 3 occupants already there and looked pretty snug (estate agents us of the word snug) anyway. So we headed off, only slightly uncomfortable but fine for the 3-4 hour journey. However we then stopped for extra people. Three extra people. With two seats left on the bus. There were, in fact, an additional seat we didn’t notice, the gap between seats on the second row, which is ordinarily used as a space for people to get into the rear seats, was filled with a very thin, wooden box with a cushion on top and a back rest slotted in which provided the worlds thinnest ‘seat’. This was unfortunately next to me so we were squished together in a very warm (the guy on the front seat kept turning down the aircon) minibus going down very twisty roads. Not enjoyable. Neither of us slept, we just listened to the Lord of the Rings audiobook (or more of a radio adaptation of the book rather than the actual book which is quite annoying). 

Finally arriving at Port Barton was a great relief, although the air con situation did improve in the last hour. After asking for directions we walked through the town over to the My Green Hostel to settle in. It’s much smaller than El Nido, more akin to Panagsama Beach at Moalboal than anywhere else. There’s basically two streets with a variety of buildings from traditional Filipino hovels to more fancy concrete and bamboo restaurants and bars clearly for tourists. The weather was pretty shocking on our arrival, but we still decided to have a walk around without coats, which resulted in a very wet trudge along a very pretty beach to a lovely looking, bamboo bar on stilts on the beach. It may have looked very nice but the service was awful, which still didn’t stop us coming back here for breakfast and more drinks the next day (more fool us). After this drenching we went back to the hostel for a wash before dinner.

Dinner was a nice burger/taco before getting an early night (we were up at 4am this morning). The hostel is fine, averagely comfortable beds, fine bathrooms, a nice outdoor covered space to relax in, even though we’re in a 16 bed dorm it doesn’t actually seem like it’ll be too bad, as tired as we were we probably could have slept anywhere though so we can’t really judge on that night. The next day was actually really hot and sunny, so we headed back over to our favourite beach bar for a breakfast of oats (Amelia) and eggs, bacon, toast, jam and fruits (me). Amelia’s came probably about half an hour before mine, and I still then didn’t get my jam for another 10 minutes, to which they excused themselves by saying they were out buying it. The eggs and bacon were also cold, maybe they cooked them 25 minutes ago and just left it. Basically not an enjoyable or swift culinary experience but we did have all day to do nothing so it didn’t really matter. 

We set up camp on the beach and I took an extensive wander up and down the sand to take some photos. It’s absolutely stunning here, ideal for a very relaxing day before a few much busier weeks in Japan and Hong Kong. That was all we really did all day to be honest, just sat on the beach reading, I occasionally swam, went back to our favourite bar for a drink (actually really good and came at the same time) and to sit on their bean bags under the very unstable sun shade (big flapping sail). For dinner we ventured to vegetarian place that served enormous (60cm diameter) pizzas to share. We didn’t finish this, and thus shamed we went to bed. 

I slept terribly, and as we’re in the Philippines in the middle of nowhere on a beautiful beach we went to an Italian barista cafe for breakfast (actually really nice) and for some WiFi because we have none at the hostel and Amelia is waiting on a response from work about her return date (which eventually came and was pretty underwhelming, but can start on her preferred date so good news really). From here we just went back to the beach, sat at a different bars chairs on the beach, never ordered a drink and just read our books enjoying the outlook for the morning. 

After a lovely lunch at Bikini Cafe we packed up and headed back to the bus station to await our transportation fate back to Puerto Princesa where we’re just staying the night before getting an early flight first to Manila then Osaka in Japan. It was actually a pretty comfy, cool minivan where my only detraction would be the chap next to me wobbling from side to side a lot and attempting to manspread (had none of that, my leg was firmly locked in place, I won that battle of wills). The ‘pension house’ (basic hotel) we stayed at  in Puerto Princesa was pretty bad, full of mosquitos and I ‘upgraded’ us so we could turn the air con on. Although it was about a fiver to stay so can’t really complain too much. We’d still not been to a Jollibee, a very popular fast food place here, and as one was round the corner we had our final Filipino dinner there. It’s basically an amalgamation of the pound saver menu and mcflurries from McDonald’s and KFC. Pretty average. Filled a hole. 

We’re now sat in Manila airport after an efficient flight over and actually no hassle here. Very surprising considering our previous issues with this airport. Fingers crossed it’s plain sailing from here to Japan.