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El Nido’s Miniloc Island Resort

6 – 8 May 2009

Miniloc Island Resort - El Nido's idyllic haven amidst limestone cliffs

Miniloc Island Resort – El Nido’s idyllic haven amidst limestone cliffs

Shifting gears from on-the-ground land subsistence activities to first class tourism, we travelled from eastern Taytay islands to the posh Miniloc Island Resort in the western part of Northern Palawan. We have had to rough it for a full month now, and being warmly welcomed by El Nido Resorts was just what we needed for our deeply tired bones. And yet we worked . . . there’s no rest for the wicked, as they say.

Lightning behind Lagen Island Resort

Lightning behind Lagen Island Resort

Lightning welcomed us on our first night. Yogi wanted more lightning the next nights but instead, we had tropical downpours. But in between the rain and the wind, when the sun shone  through big patches of clouds, we managed to sneak in scenic shots of the beautiful Bacuit Bay morning, noon, and night.

A segment of Bacuit Bay from Pangulasian Island's view deck

A segment of Bacuit Bay from Pangalusian Island’s view deck

Kayaking the Big Lagoon of Miniloc Island

Kayaking the Big Lagoon of Miniloc Island

Wild sunset at Entalula Island

Wild sunset at Entalula Island

Jeff our super guide made sure he knew what we wanted and went about arranging our day’s activities, everyday for five days.

Massive school of bigeye snapper

Massive school of bigeye snapper

We dove South Miniloc, and amongst a big patch of cabbage corals were thousands of bright yellow bigeye snappers, Lutjanus lutjanus.

Snowflake like ceramic module to make into an artificial reef

Snowflake-like ceramic module to make into an artificial reef

Encrusting "planted" corals after three years

Encrusting “planted” corals after three years

Then with the generous approval and support of the El Nido FoundationWWF Philippines and the dynamic Mayor Leonor Corral, we photographed a highly restricted Coral Reef Restoration Project – an artificial reef made of ceramic modules in Tres Marias, a group of islets in Bacuit Bay.

The beginning of howling winds and squalls - Typhoon Emong passing

The beginning of howling winds and squalls – Typhoon Emong passing

Typhoon Emong decided we were having way too much sunshine for one day and dampened our week with his presence.

Amazing how they manage to keep their heads together

Amazing how they manage to keep their heads together

About the Author:

Stella was born in Manila, Philippines in 1965. She studied anthropology but ended up in advertising, producing radio and TV commercials for 7 years. After quitting advertising, she ventured into the freelance world in Manila producing video documentaries for a publishing house, government agencies, non govenmental organisations, and the academe. She moved on to producing books and had a stint at working with foreign production companies visiting Manila. Stella, now based in Cairns, produces photo stories with her husband Jürgen Freund.