 |
| The view from El Nido Cove in 2014 |
It was love at first sight when I arrived at El Nido Cove. The small hotel ( as it was back in 2014) was right on the beach front and protected by a forest from the main road. There was tight security from the road side ( a security post with never less than three armed guards) and the seaside ( one armed guard 24/7 ) and a Philippine Navy warship regularly patrolling Bacuit bay.
 | |||||
| The beachfront loft, to which we got a free upgrade when they renovated the garden rooms |
There were 5 Garden Rooms at the back of the hotel overlooking a field and 10 Beachfront Lofts at the front overlooking the sea. The restaurant was outside between the hotel and the long sandy beach and there was a high ceilinged lounge and reception area inside. We were given a warm reception and after a quick search of our bags by the guard taken to our room in the garden.
 |
| Restaurant with a view |
Back in 2014 the hotel was run by the very personable little officer in Charge, who everyone called "Sir Marco". It was clear he had handpicked the staff for their good looks and personality. In no time at all Drew and I settled into our routine of sleeping ( him in the room and me in the sun with a jug of Orange & Lemonade) , eating, and lakad lakad ( waking on the beach). We tried swimming and even kayaking once , but it was al too exhausting! Marz supplied massages and took care of our washing and we rarely left the hotel , apart from a couple of quick trike rides to El Nido town for Pasalubong ( gifts)
 |
| The new pool at El Nido Cove in 2015 |
We had such a great time there that we decided to fly direct to El Nido from Manila in 2015. By then the place was starting to expand. The airport at Lio was served by 3 planes a day from what was then ITI ( later Swift Air) / They had started work on Lio Beach with the first two hotels ( Kasa Kalaw, and Balai Adlao) ( now there are 4 hotels with Huni, Seda and many restaurants and shops) .El Nido town was becoming very congested ,noisy and dirty. The Town beach was full of boats ( I later discovered owned by just 3 families) offering Tours A, B, C and D daily. El Nido was fast becoming another Boracay.
 |
| Drew and I watching the sun set at Cove in 2015 |
Our once peaceful El Nido Cove had doubled in size with the addition of a swimming pool ( dug by hand when we were there in 2014) and 10 new Forrest rooms where we stayed. The prices had also ridden dramatically. For me it was the beginning of the end. I told Marco that once Lio was fully open we would not return. One of the joys of the enlarged hotel was the glass roof on the shower . I loved watching Drew shower there with the sun peeking through the trees above him. My previous blog was closed down when a photo of me in the shower in Thailand was circulated on Whats app nearly causing me to loose my job. So I am afraid you only get a picture of an empty shower this time!
 |
| An empty shower for Zaid Kaiksow to circulate around Bapco on whats app |
The beds were very comfortable and Drew, as usual, retired there to sleep most afternoons, exhausted after waking at 10 am and playing on his phone for 2 hours.
Sorry Zaid, could not find a naked one of him
 | ||
 | |||
| Fiesta Time on the town beach |
Drew continued to be friends with all the staff and played Volleyball with them on the grass at the front of the hotel next to the pool.We still did not make it to the boat tours ( why would you want to go with 200 other people to a secret beach or hidden lagoon??). We just lazed around and watched the fisherman and some private tours enter the bay in front of the hotel.
 |
| A private tour from Cove for some wealthy guests. |
When it got too hot we ventured into the sea for a paddle , or Drew went back to the Air conditioned room for a sleep.
 |
| Neil paddling at Cove |
It was a fantastic vacation but everything changed after that. Drew got married and they adopted a child. Ayala hiked the prices up again. Swift Air was formed and lost their private terminal at Manila airport transferring to the over crowded Domestic Terminal. More hotels and restaurants opened at Lio and the beach started getting polluted. I knew it was time to move on , and I will tell you about it in part three
Finally they closed El Nido Cove in Jan 2020 and I was fortunate enough to be there on the last day with Jhoanna to say a fond farewell to all the staff
It will, however, always have a very special place on my heart
Ingat Palagi, Kita kits xxx
 |  |
Hello, I am The British Kabayan! Feel free to read my stories.
No comments:
Post a Comment