After a plane, van, boat, and another van, we finally arrive at Pinamalayan, Mindoro!!
"Welcome and Long Life!!"
We explore the town by foot, making sure to see...
...the MFI where Trish worked five years ago
...and meaningful locations
The fellas take Tyler to see a cockfight (no girls allowed!) If any chicken dies within 20 seconds, the owner of the winning chicken gets this bike!
It's a grueling fight to the death
The next day, we're off to Puerto Gallera with Myla and Aries
Tamaraw Waterfalls, via the newly completed paved road to Puerto
We finally arrive at Puerto Gallera, in northern Mindoro
Anninuan Beach
Come in, the water's great!
Just past White Beach, Anninuan is more quiet and secluded
Loving our beachfront bungalow!
On our way over the rocks to White Beach for more San Miguel and pina coladas!!
Enjoying the sands of White Beach
"Tagay!!" (Cheers!)
BBQ feast for dinner
...followed by a highly competitive game of foosball
The new San Miguel girl?
Doing what Trish does best -- lounging!!
Up bright and early the next morning...
...ready for some sun and water!!
...Well, some of us are... while the Americans soak up the sun and water...
...the Filipina get shielded from the sun with a little help from "Face"
Our friend "Face" (short for "Babyface"), who always keeps us smiling
Filipina model!!
To coming back to Mindoro, again and again!!
Our final lunch at White Beach...
...before heading back to Pinamalayan to hang out with the boys -- Piolo, Gig & Renoir
Pinamalayan is decked out for Christmas! -- the main boulevard is all lit up
Dad & Mom arrive the next day, and we're off to Lumang Bayan
Voila, Morente land!
Gorgeous black sand beaches
Dad explains his plans for the land and his small beach house by the shore
Curious onlookers nearby
Mom & Tita Dina (Dad's cousin)
The next day, we're off to Bacunan - Mom's family's rice fields
Trish's grandfather started the rice fields, and this church is dedicated to his memory
Coconut basketball hoop! (the Philippines is probably the only country where Trish can slam!)
Dad shares his stories as a boy in Pinamalayan...
...while neighborhood boys jump into the river
We can't help ourselves, obviously!!
We're off to explore the rice paddies!!
The Fesalbon family's paddies
Aries gives us a lesson in planting rice...
...before we're off to try it out for ourselves!!
Wading through the rice paddies in knee-high mud
Eek, the mud!
There's a Philippine folk song that goes: "Planting rice is never fun"...
...well, it is when the Americans try it out!!
It's hard work and we stand amazed...
...when we see how quickly the real rice planters move
Showing off our mud "boots"
Back at the farm...
We're off to explore Pinamalayan by bike!! -- while children run out of houses to wave ("Ang puti mo, po!!")
We hop off to explore beaches
From paved roads to dirt roads to dirt paths, our motorcycle adventure takes us to hidden beaches and gorgeous views
"Vroom vroom!!!"
Christmas Eve in Pinamalayan - Maligayang Pasko!!
The Church has powerpoint?!
Christmas Day at the Morente clan's house
Renoir, Gig, and Piolo get ready...
...while Tyler meets all the Morente cousins
Morente family, all gathered in Pinamalayan
The "elder" generation
Time for licheon!!
The kids line up for Christmas fun...
...and treats from Tyler and Tito Frank (courtesy of Santa Claus, aka Dad!)
Dad gets blessed by children...
...and children at heart!
What's Christmas without some dancing?! (to what is soon to become the trip's theme song: "Nobody Nobody but YOU!")
Across the street, Mom's old house
And right next door, Myla's house
With a population of 43,000, Pinamalayan is gearing up to become a city!
Christmas smiles...
...and Christmas singing
Karaoke!!!
Yea, Face!!
Tyler gets excited...
"Country Roads, Take Me Home!!!"
I think we can go on the road with this!
What we lack in talent, we make up for with enthusiasm!!
Later that night, Christmas partying with the gang
Our last day at Pinamalayan, and we get quite a sendoff!!
...which consists of being serenaded by Filipina women singing beautiful folk songs...
...and getting crowned prince and princess!
...and having flowers thrown at us
"Mabuhay!!" (Long Life!)
A nice tradition going back past a century, harking Spanish influence
Relatives look lovingly on...
...and get the dancing party started!!
Now we know where Trish gets her moves from!
Renoir and Gig sporting our Christmas presents
So long Pinamalayan!! We'll be back soon.
Philippines Vacation Part II: El Nido, Palawan
Paradise, Found.
You don't even need a snorkel and mask...the water is so clear you can see the fish swimming around you!
Scuba diving in the South China Sea at North Rock and South Minoloc
Enjoying our BBQ lunch on the beach
Trish eating her fish down to the last bone!
Highlights of our two dives are swimming through a tunnel of coral and being surrounded by an enormous school of big eyed snapper with bright yellow tails
On the dive boat back from our scuba adventure
We love our dive masters, Milos and Windel and recommend Palawan Divers to everyone!!
The view from our resort at Greenviews
Walking on water!
Our lovely stroll to El Nido from Coron Coron (can our morning commute always be like this?!)
Maybe we can both get a job here!!
The local tricycles
The giant limestone cliffs that surround El Nido are truly majestic
Day 2 at El Nido and we're set for our all-day kayak adventure!!
Land-ho!!
We explore hidden beaches and inland jungles...
...and even discover our own private lagoon for lunch and snorkeling!
Found Nemo!!
Back in town...
We thought we were already in paradise...
...but arriving in El Nido Resort on Minoloc Island takes Paradise to a whole new level
A bar with a view
There are 45 islands around El Nido...
...truly beautiful with inviting white sand shores, with jungles inland... easy to see why Survivor was filmed here!
Our Island O' Fun... kayaking, windsurfing, and sailing galore!!
Trish tries out wind-surfing...
...while Tyler actually succeeds in DOING it
Enjoying an afternoon sail on the resorts brand-new boat (a Christmas gift from the manager)
From every angle, the resort is amazing
We're surrounded by amazingly gorgeous limestone cliffs
Dinner is served.
Our beach bungalow
Champagne and a foot massage... Trish can get used to this!!
Pre-dinner drinks at our new favorite bar
Dad and Andrew: still scouting out Christmas tree lot locations? We have a place in mind...
Nighttime wonderland...
Our amazing dinner on the beach...
...lit by the glow of a full moon
The next morning, we're off for another kayaking adventure...
...via speed boat for 2 (yes, we're at an eco-resort but please don't ask what our carbon footprint is!)
Kayaking through a hole in the rocks...
...to find ourselves in the heart of Small Lagoon
(Yes, the water really is that beautiful!)
Feels like we've kayaked straight into an enchanted land
The water's just too beautiful...Trish dives right in
...with Tyler close behind
Kayaking to Big Lagoon
After some choppy waters (Tyler: "Row, Trish!!"), we make it back to the resort
Yes, it's the hard-knock life...
Snorkeling in front of our resort
...thanks for the underwater camera, Mom & Dad!
Back at Greenviews for an amazing sunset
We're not sure we've ever seen a sun that big
Happy New Year 2010!!!!
New Years Day -- we explore Palawan by motorcycle...
...and take a morning hike to chase waterfalls that prove surprisingly difficult to find!
...good thing the view's gorgeous
Wading in the water is fun!
On our way, we pass amazingly green rice paddies
Amazing view of rice paddies and the beach
We stop to gawk at the amazing kite surfers (along with an entire village of Filipino children)
All smiles!
Enjoying one last Palawan sunset
It's too beautiful to sit still...
A sunset swim
...and Tyler's obligatory splash!
So long, farewell El Nido!!
Sightseeing by plane en route back to Manila...
Difficult to get to, but El Nido is definitely worth it!
Over metro Manila -- quite a change from El Nido!
An appetizer before meeting Mom and Dad for a Morente reunion in Manila at Valle Verde
We will return soon...
