Traveling an hour by plane, six hours by bus and fifteen minutes more to this destination makes one weary of the long bumpy ride adding that you have a major case of hyper acidity and diarrhea and a bit feverish because of dehydration.
Armed with immodium, kremils, paracetamol and of course bonamin to cure the major discomfort that I didn't expect to hit me for the first day of the journey, I felt like a loser. I took paracetamol nonstop hoping to end the fever until we reach El Nido town so that I can enjoy the rest of the trip. T'was a major bummer. The whole time during the bus drive I was really determined to get well and so I tried 'self-healing' by sleeping. I slept and slept and slept and drank gatorade minding that grumble in my stomach would stop. Thankfully enough I wasn't able to puke unlike when we left for Palawan at the airport that I couldn't contain myself not to. I had to let it go. During the plane ride I ended up collecting barf bags of my seatmates in case of an 'emergency'.
Resting my head over the right glass window, groggy from the medicines I took, my eyes would flutter open and would catch a glimpse of a zigzag road, sometimes a mountain full of trees, a sea of blue until I was fully awake and realized the drive wasn't even halfway to the destination. And so, the sleeping continues. Thank goodness the group rented a bus for the whole twenty four of us which can accommodate forty eight people and with the long drive, it gave us a chance to stretch our legs especially for the older ones, watch tv and bond together in one vehicle compared to splitting the group to different vans. Most of the 'young ones' occupied each lane giving ample space to lie down on our backs and a more reason for me to sleep comfortably (hehe).
The afternoon heat faltered the air conditioning system of the bus or maybe it was just me with my feverish self and everybody was a bit tired from the journey as well, but as the bus slowly entered a mountainous rocky area, a cousin excitedly announced that we were near. Everyone got giddy and eventually were in high spirits again. The bus drove on a higher part of the mountains giving us a good view of the sea and the destination that we are all so determined to reach.
At last we got to El Nido town, our eyes scanning the area as the bus passed by a small town setting surrounded by limestone rocks, foreigners hanging out outside the hotels having their beer, others carrying their huge backpacks walking along the streets and signs of different island adventures make way. . The feeling of being there was an accomplishment as the drive was really a long one and seeing the place was surreal, giving an impression of a raw, remote and authentic island life.
The night's accommodation was another fifteen minute ride outside the town proper. I got groggy again so I slept for ten minutes more (haha). The bus driver slowly made a left turn to a sign that says, El Nido Cove Resort. Yes, we have arrived!
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| inside the Cherry bus |
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| the view during one of the stopovers for a restroom break |
