Drizzle & Distortion: Lost in Palawan
okay, so, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm instant coffee. palawan. seriously? i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. it’s like, 22.23 degrees, feels like 22.47, temp min 22.23, temp max 22.23, pressure 1010, humidity 75, sea level 1010, grnd level 1003. which, honestly, is just a polite way of saying ‘sticky’ and ‘slightly oppressive.’ i landed yesterday and immediately felt like i’d stepped into a slightly warped postcard.
my flight was delayed, naturally. like, three hours. and the guy at the gate just kept saying ‘system update’ with this utterly deadpan expression. i swear he was judging my backpack. it’s got a drumstick, a half-finished sketchbook, and a concerning amount of granola bars. i’m a touring session drummer, you know? chaos is my brand.
first stop, El Nido. the beaches are… intense. blindingly white sand, turquoise water that looks like it’s been filtered through a disco ball. it’s beautiful, but also, like, aggressively beautiful. i spent the first few hours just staring, trying to process it. then i ate a mango that cost more than my lunch back home. priorities, right?
I heard that the island hopping tours are a total scam, but someone told me that if you haggle hard enough, you can get a decent price. i tried. i failed. i ended up paying almost double. lesson learned: always bring cash. and a really good poker face.
I stumbled across this little beach bar called ‘The Driftwood’ - it’s basically a collection of salvaged wood and fairy lights. the bartender, a guy named Leo, makes these ridiculously strong cocktails. he’s a former street artist, apparently, and his walls are covered in these insane murals. he gave me some seriously questionable advice about finding a hidden waterfall. ‘just follow the monkeys,’ he said. ‘they know.’ i’m not sure i trust that.
Speaking of monkeys, they’re everywhere. Seriously, they’re like tiny, furry overlords. they steal your sunglasses, your snacks, your dignity. it’s a constant battle.
I spent today wandering around Coron Town. it’s a bit more… subdued than El Nido. more local life, less Instagram posing. i checked out the local market - it was a sensory overload. spices, fruits, fish, chickens… it was wild. i grabbed some grilled squid from a street vendor. it was… okay. definitely seasoned with a lot of chili.
I’m staying in this ridiculously basic guesthouse - ‘Casa de las Olas’ - it’s run by a lovely old woman named Elena. she makes the best banana pancakes i’ve ever had. she also told me that the best snorkeling is around Malcapuya Island. she warned me that the currents can be strong, so be careful. she also said to watch out for the jellyfish. ‘they’re beautiful,’ she said, ‘but they sting like crazy.’
I’m trying to capture the vibe here, you know? the way the light hits the water, the sound of the waves, the smell of the salt air. it’s… complicated. it’s beautiful and unsettling and exhausting all at the same time.
Here’s a quick gear list, because someone always asks:
Drums: Obviously. (A battered Roland TD-17, naturally)
*Camera: Sony Alpha 7 III - always.
*Swimsuit: Like, five.
*Sunscreen: SPF 50, because i’m a genius.
*Granola Bars: For emergencies.
*Headlamp:* For exploring caves (Elena suggested them - don’t ask).
I’m heading to Busuanga tomorrow. if you get bored, [Puerto Princesa] are just a short drive away. i heard that the diving there is incredible. i’m hoping to find some decent wifi - my phone’s about to die.
Seriously, if you’re planning a trip to Palawan, do your research. there’s a lot of hype, and a lot of tourist traps. but there’s also a lot of raw, untamed beauty. just… be prepared to get a little lost. and maybe a little stung by a jellyfish.
Check out TripAdvisor for some decent restaurants: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298460-Palawan.html
And for local events, this Facebook group is pretty active: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PalawanTravel
Oh, and if you're looking for a good place to grab a bite, Yelp has some solid options: https://www.yelp.com/palawan-philippines
Okay, I’m signing off. my brain is officially fried. time for another coffee (and maybe a nap).
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- https://votoris.com/post/drifts-echoes
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