Blogs from Port Barton, Palawan, Philippines, Asia

The drive to Port Barton was long, uncomfortable, wet and smelly. The 4 hour ride turned into 6 because all the rain turned the road into a slippery mess. The jeepny was packed with little to no room to stretch, and the helpers smelled really bad. When we finally reached Port Barton our boat transport to Coconut Garden Resort on the island of Cacnipa was waiting for us. 30 minutes later we were settled in and having a bite to eat. The resort itself was beautiful with manicured lawns, colorful gardens, stone pathways and a magnificent view of the South China Sea. The food served in the restaurant was always really good and served with a smile. On our first night Tris enjoyed beef tenderloin in red wine sauce and potatoes, while I enjoyed a cheesy ... read more

The hired van we took from El Nido took just over 5 hours to reach the quiet tiny village of Port Barton. From the big town of Roxas we made a turn on a side road and past green rice fields, jungle winding up and down mountains and before you know it Barton is within sight. We were let off just before the bridge that connects a mangrove to the rest of the beach area, we found our accommodation, Greenview resort, we decided to splurge a bit and spend a little more for comfort, it's a big cottage, it can actually fit 5 people, our own toilet and veranda and lots of space. We got it down to 1,200PHP from 1,500/night as we are staying for 5 days. We requested if we can cook our own ... read more

Today we rolled out of bed around 11 or 12, had a wonderfully overpriced pizza at our place, and took a leisurely stroll along the beach with Emma and Rosie. It wasn't warm enough to go kayaking and kept sprinkling off and on, so we decided to just relax. We actually found some cool ruins at the top of the hill that seemed to once be a resort...it had paved walkways and steps with smoothed stones inset and what was once a public bathroom with two or three holes in between sky blue tiles where sinks used to be next to small partitions where the toilets once were. After seeing this bit and some of the local's houses, we bought a bottle of Superior rum for 258 (it was 200 in Cebu) and went to our ... read more

This morning we took a taxi in the pouring rain and agreed on 200 as a flat fare but the meter was also running so we got a peek at how much it would have been with that -- 201.00. So we're happy with 200 as a standard flat fee from the airport to Fuente Osmeña. The airport tax was an outrageous 200 per person and Ronald had to check his camera's tripod, but other than that, smooth sailing. We ended up being on the same flight as a girl from my diving trip, Emma, so we took a van with her and her friends to Port Barton -- El Nido was just too far away for our time crunch. The lowest we could get the driver to go was 4,000 pesos and there were 6 ... read more

Modern man lives in modern cities in modern countries. Depending on your personal sensibilities, these cities are held to be either technological and architectural marvels that provide modern man with all his comforts and pleasures in a fully integrated, completely controlled and almost totally homogenous environment, or simply as pullulating pustules which irreparably disfigure the earth's skin, pollute the surrounding environment and which are, over time, irreversibly changing mans relationship with both nature and himself. Personally, being something of a romantic, I place myself in the latter group. I have an innate abhorrence of cities and city living, and can only find genuine peace and happiness when away from their stifling embrace. I am also something of a technophobe, and it is this fear that feeds my biggest apprehension as regards cities. Technology is driving modern ... read more

Have you ever tried a banana blossom burger? While in Port Barton, make sure to try one at Judy's restaurant. Her secret recipe is completely vegetarian and made from fresh banana blossoms and "lots of garlic and onions," Judy says with a smile. We tried it and and we can honestly say it's one of the tastiest burgers (vegetarian or meat) we've ever had. Crispy and hearty, with onions, tomato and fresh cucumber, one bite will leave you hooked wanting more. Judy's is a popular hangout among locals and travelers and is the only place around town with a late night bar, for now. She's most famous for her home cooked meals, relaxed atmosphere, and fun decorations. Judy Balle hails from Mindoro Philippines and has been in business in Port Barton since 2006 where she runs ... read more