Paradise?

We are no doubt spoiled in terms of the vacations we have been able to go on. Grace and I have long agreed that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But we may have found one of the most scenic places we have ever visited. The islands of El Nido are very remote. You have to travel by small banca boats from one place to another. There are no roads or cars - only a handful of resorts and some scattered beach cabanas. The sights are pretty amazing. Not sure there are any better places to escape from the city and just relax and enjoy nature. Maybe this place just suits our idea of a getaway. One of the rare times we've said that we'd like to come again.

The small things that make us feel warmly welcomed.

Cabanas on stilts over the water. You can hear the waves rolling in as you lay in bed.

We snorkeled around this area which is the entrance to a large lagoon. Afterwards, we paddled into the lagoon on kayaks. The entrance looks like clear bath water and is only a few feet deep with white sand below.

The inside of the lagoon is surrounded by jagged limestone cliffs. I'm not sure how all the plants and trees grow out of the rocks? The water level deepens to about 60 feet inside the lagoon.

Toby and I were kayaking partners. This is a shallow area of warm water that we accessed by going through a small rock tunnel.

Our traditional beach photo. Didn't have to look far for a section without footprints.

This rock looked like a limestone Christmas tree. Pretty crazy. Erosion with an artistic flair.

Spent one afternoon on Entalula Beach. We were the only people on this section of the beach. Secluded and stunning.

The small island on the left is called Snake Island which is named after it's long sand bar that's shaped like an S. The sandbar (which I'm standing on to take this picture) extends a few hundred yards all the way to mainland Palawan. If you click on the picture you can see the lucky rainbow above Snake Island which was pretty much impeccable timing.