Another early morning, breakfast and at 6:45 there was a van waiting for us. Today we’re going to visit three islands in the Honda Bay, so some time to snorkel and relax, because after all, this is a holiday and since we’re going back to work we need to be relaxed…

We pick up all the other people and find an Englishman in the van. Together with 9 filipinos we make a nice group. After a short drive we stop to rent the fins and mask for the snorkeling and head for the port. There again the lady needs to arrange stuff and we get a boat assigned. Meanwhile me and Gen walked to the local tourist shop to buy her a rashguard… Not that the has a rash (this is only for surfers) but it’s also a great protection for the sun (SPF 50+). And since she has english skin and this is only the first of many beach days.. we need to make sure she doesn’t turn lobster before we can say ‘Island hopping’ .

After a 30 minute boat trip we arrive at the first island and head for the swimming area where we put on our fins. The ocean is filled with rocks so wearing something on your feet is necessary. Most of the Filipinos don’t know how to swim very well, so many of them wear lifevest. Gen is still a little overwhelmed with the fins, mask and snorkel. It’s a lot to swim differently, not move your arms, have a snorkel that for some reason always fills up with water… so it takes a little time. Meanwhile I go freediving and feed the fish some brad. The love it and the pictures are great (sadly I can’t post them…)

After a while we swim to the other side of the swimming area where the corals aren’t trampled and I have to say, for such a small area there is a lot of diversity in fish, corals and sealife in general. I’m so enthusiastic. Gen returns to the beach as I swim along a little more… The corals aren’t that pretty, but there is always something to admire.

After returning to the beach it’s time to hit the next island. This island only exists when it’s low tide. It’s privately owned and when it’s hightide only 3 small huts on poles are visible. That’s really hard to imagine since it’s low tide when we see it and there’s a vast amount of land visible. Again we jump into the water, this time from a diving board. It’s great to jump into the water but the second time I miscalculate my jump and make a big spals with my thighs… they immediately turn scarlet red. Lovely….

The guide comes to us enthusiastically… she’s ready to go to the next island, because she’s hungry and we’ll be having lunch there. After a short boatride we disembark to the beautifull Cowrie island where we have another buffet lunch. I’m not that hungry but I think I got my drink refilled about 6 times. Swimming makes me thirsty. After lunch we still have 1,5 hour left to relax and wo we settle in the shadow of a tree on the beach. It’s so lovely that I quickly drift away in a nice little nap and am startled when the boatman is coming to get us for needing to get back to the boat.

Back at the port we get back in the van and at 3 pm we’re dropped off at our hotel. Nice, so we have some time left. I call my boyfriend, Gen and I shower and wash the salt and sand of our bodies. On the way back from the port an idea popped up in my head and we walk to the main street and look for a hairsalon. For 2 euro’s (I know we overpaid) we get a haircut and now my hair doesn’t feel like rope anymore.

We walk around until we stumble on a little marketplace where we both get new flipflops (real fake Havaianas) and walk around the food department. Then it’s back to our favorite baywalk for some ‘ beef hamburger with chiz’ made in a little stall on the baywalk. It’s just so adorable. We walk back to the hotel where we now sit and enjoy the evening. We fell in love with Puerto princessa as a city, which is pretty specials since I don’t particularly like cities.

Tommorow morning we head for El nido… please, google and look for the pictures. It’s amazing. From what we heard the internet over there is way worse then what we have now, so I’m worried I might not be able to post (let aloe finally upload all the pictures from the last posts)!  But please don’t be alarmed when there’s no news on the site, I will be posting when I can and offcourse I will write daily… even when I can’t get it online. So another day of transit tomorrow! And then we’ll be at the most beautiful place of our trip.