TBK travels to Barutaan, Nacpan and Lio

          Elay's 18th Birthday lunch at Angkla on 19 July with Jhoanna and Kit

I met two lovely families on my recent trip to El Nido- they were from the UK and had been celebrating their daughters wedding. When I told them I was a Blogger they asked what I wrote about. After explaining the breadth of our work I gave some examples of the less than complimentary comments I made about El Nido years ago! Then the lady asked:

" Do you ever write anything nice about this place?"

That got me thinking!

                Liam's at Lio, which only opened recently 

We were sat in Liam's at the time, a new restaurant at Lio owned by the owner of Charlies hotel and named after his son Liam. I had seen it being built in April , when I last visited Lio , and decided to give it a try. First I had coffee and a hot dog on a stick while waiting for my friend Rodel to finish work at 7 pm. The service was great, there were plenty of staff and not many customers ( low season) and as the sun set the view was amazing. I messaged another friend from Lio who was staying in my house in Puerto and she knew two people at Liam's ( Palawan is a small island!). The next day I had time to kill before collecting Ritchelle at 2 pm so went back to Liam's for Meryenda ( fluffy pancakes with jam and butter!) . they apologised for not having maple syrup and offered an alternative, and that is when I met the people from UK ( sorry I forgot your names, but hopefully you are reading this!) .

              Punta Player, still the best restaurant at Lio Beach!

Next stop was Punto Player which I visited back in April when it had just opened. I had the Salad Niçoise again and it was perfect. A big Spanish group ( always a good sign in a Mediterranean restaurant) had just sat down before I arrived so the service was a little slow but the staff were pleasant and the view of Bacuit bay amazing, and I was given hot bread and calamansi juice with honey as I waited. On the way out I went to Chikka with the Manager, who I spoke to in April, and he recognised me  and thanked me for my continued support.

                      Arnel- get your staff to read this , charizz!

I have said many times before in this Blog that you should always check out the toilets ( CR) to see how good a place is and as I was still suffering from squid I ate at the start of July ( at home!) I visited the CR at Huni and every time it was immaculate. 

      Arnel and I discuss some training he wants me to assist with for his team

Last time I was at Angkla I complained about the cleanliness of the toilet and who should I meet in the toilet this time other that Housekeeping Supervisor, Arnel, with a big box of tissues! I invited him to join my party of 9 for lunch to celebrate Elay's 18th Birthday, but sadly he had to attend a training session . After welcoming Jhoanna and her family he made his apologies and left. On my previous two visits I had complained when the starter arrived after the main course the first time , and then the starter, main course and dessert arrived together the second time. 

The food was so good even Making and Chalsee put their phones down, eventually!

This time everything was perfect and we had a great meal with Chicken ( Manok) Tinola, lots of rice, Hipon Sinigang and , as they had run out of Banana Touron the chef made is Bananas baked in sugar instead which were amazing. Since I arrived in Palawan back in April I have been searching for Lamb to make one of my favourite curries ( Lamb and Mango) but without luck. So I chose the Australian Rack of Lamb, which was sarap and Bonga! Salamat Po Chef- please let me know where you bought the lamb from!

 The amazing Australian Rack of Lamb for "Sir Neil" ( that's what it said on the bill!)

Another first for me this trip was a visit to Mc Donald's in Coron Coron ( another emergency CR stop on the long journey from Puerto to Barutaan) . I remember it being built years ago but had never been inside. I was very impressed by how clean and modern it was and the staff helped the old man order using the electronic panels at the entrance and the CR was spotless. Old friend Edzel , who used to work at El Nido Cove like so many other Hospitality managers on the island , was there and kindly lent me an umbrella to get to my car when there was a downpour, and sent a waiter to escort Bebe and Jhoanna to the car when I pulled up outside and returned the umbrella through the car window- now that really is going above and beyond!

           McDonalds at Vanilla Beach.  A long walk to the car in the rain

I made a flying visit to El Nido to get a Barong when I discovered Elay was going to be in a ball gown. The place was packed as usual and noisy, Walanaga Problema did not have my size , my favourite Pasalubong shop does not sell Barong, and I was about to give up , especially when the rain started to fall again. Then I saw a small shop where a mum was rocking a baby. Whilst they did not have a Barong they had a traditionally patterned tee shirt and I told her I would love her for ever if she had it in XXXL which she did. She also had black Nike Tsinellas in size 45, as my white ones finally split with over use!

              Walang Problema, a mist visit shop in El Nido- great Logo Luis!

Then I realised it was 1 pm and raced back to collet Ritchelle at 2 pm, her boys at 2,30 pm and then just made it to the party at 3 pm. I quickly put on my new tee shirt but it only reached my nipples before splitting and I saw , to my horror, it was made in China and was XXXL for a chinese dwarf. So I had to go in shorts, my new Tsinellas and an old pink tee shirt I had in the car! Elay was in make up when I arrived but was delighted to see me ( I had told her it was too far to go!) . I joined the family outside and caught up with many old friends and was even asked to make a speech ! Eventually the magnificent food was served and no one really cared the rain had started again!

      Some of the many guests at Elay's 18th Birthday party in Barutaan

I somehow managed to turn down the offer to sleep on the floor with Making ( and Elay, Jhoanna, Keanna and her mum , countless cats and chickens) and headed back to Nacpan down a very muddy track and this time MJ had the key to my cottage where I had a great nights sleep- waking at 5 am to the sunrise, some noisy cockerels and the most amazing view of Nacpan beach , which at that time was deserted.  

             The amazing view from my 1500 peso cottage on Nacpan beach

I went for Breakfast at Sunmai where I ate about 4 times over the weekend with Rhoda, Rodel and Matilda... they gave me a warm welcome and I also met Grecil's mum and Kit and his family there. The food was superb ( one night I had the best steak I have had in Palawan) and the staff made me very welcome . The Baristas do a great job on the coffee and the drinks and cocktails- every one is a work of art. 

 

        Chris and the other Pogi artistic Baristas at Sunmai ( photo by Rhoda!)

I heard about their new hotel opening soon and stayed one night at the Glamping site ( when the key to my cottage could not be found). I also called into their newest S hotel in El Nido to advise the glamping site of my delay and late checkout- but they had already realised and stored my belongings in reception- special thanks to Rhoda for arranging the tent and sorting out my things ( and being my personal waitress at Sunmai!) 

              Matilda, Rodel ( Rhoda's brother) and I have breakfast at Sunmai

Finally thanks to the guys at MJ's bar for finally finding the cottage key and paying the caretaker for me , and to their sister for the amazing fruit platter delivered to the cottage.

 I am the only customer who does not drink alcohol at MJ's bar on Nacpan beach!

All in all a wonderful weekend and well worth the 14 hour drive and 5000 peso worth of fuel! Ok that's it, enough of being nice!

I hope the lovely families from the UK enjoy the rest of your stay and do not forget to visit Nacpan, Sunmai and Angkla- you will not be disappointed. 

                       Driving the 7 hours from Puerto to El Nido= photo by Bebe

This is The British Kabayan, safely back in Puerto. Thanks to TJ, Johann and Jovan for looking after my house while I was away and stripping and washing all the bedding and towels . Maybe I should rephrase that- stripping the bed, not stripping and washing, charizz!

Kita Kits Nacpan , Lio , Barutaan and El Nido- Mahal Kita

Thanks for all the Pasalubong to Kit's and Grecil's family!

Ingat Palagi