TBK Travels, Alimanguan revisited

Chester wonders why so many people go all the way to El Nido for sunset photos!

When I was planning my schedule for this year and deciding where to take Chester swimming there was one obvious place for me to revisit- Alimanguan.

Back in April 2022 the power company in Port Barton cut off the power for a week to force a price rise. I was staying with Adam, and he kindly booked me into Victoria Beach House at Alimanguan. I had such an amazing week and made so many friends there I vowed to return!

Chester enjoyed watching the Alimanguan Skimmers do their stuff and made several new friends like Andrew and Darwin who both took lots of photos for me. He loves the fact he can just run from our hotel room on the ground floor, through the hotel gate and then he is on the beach. Just like Sabang there are lots of stray dogs on the beach and he has made lots of new friends here.

Chester plays with Darwin after our "Halloween" photo shoot on Long beach.

There are so many long deserted sandy beaches a walk or short drive from Alimanguan - Long beach, New Canipo and the beach at Alimanguan. The sand slopes down gently to the sea and there are no big waves, so he happily run in and out of the sea. This trip he got out of his depth and actually swam back to the shore. The weather was amazing (I got sunburnt on one of our walks and Chester had to stop and lie Under a tree) with lots of sun and temperatures up to 32 degrees.

Chester coming back from his morning swim

Just like when I used to stay at El Nido Cove there is always something to see at Alimanguan, from the skimmers, San Vic Surfers, fishermen setting out to sea or returning with their catch, Kids walking to and from school on the beach, sunsets, sunrises and so on.

There was even a small boat with a high-power engine which was attracting a lot of interest from the local kids as it noisily raced up and down the beach. It reminded me of staying at the Heritage Hotel in Manila and listening to the Unsilenced Jeepneys plying their trade outside. I prefer seeing the fishing boats glide quietly in and out, landing their catch!

The noisy boat

One of the nice things about Victoria beach house is the rooms have balconies with tables and chairs so I can sit outside my room and write my blog looking out to see and people can come over and talk to me. The main eating area is in between my room and the sea and as people walk past to get coffee they say, " Good Morning" and ask about your day. Every time I stay, I meet new people and learn of new places to visit. Some even go on to read my blog- so hello to all the lovely people I met this week!

Chester taking his afternoon nap by the Coffee and water dispensers

One of the other reasons I return to a hotel to stay (El Nido Cove, Huni, Balai Adlao, Victoria Beach house, Daluyon resort, Eshanti's etc.) is the welcome from the staff and that is particularly the case here at Victoria Beach house. Mylene and her husband, the owners, lead from the front welcoming guests back at the weekend and talking to them. The guy who puts the coffee out at 6 am, Erik, said " Nice to see you back Mr Porter, and hello, you must be Chester". Every day all the staff came and chatted to Chester in the morning and afternoon and made us both feel very welcome. There is also a hose which I can use to clean my car (the roads in Alimanguan are very rough and, due to earlier rain, muddy- and my car is white!)

Going down the Alimanguan highway to the secret beach (before we got stuck in the mud and had to turn back!) (Photo by Jack)

Our Haywain Pizza (they had run out of Pepperoni) at Turtle beach with a Pitcher of Calamansi for 400 pesos

There are lots of places to visit in the area like the Long beach near San Vicente, the secret beach where the Pawikans are hatched, and Bato Ni Ningning. Near the hotel is Turtle Beach where the Alimanguan Pawikans hang out and you can get a great Pizza and a pitcher of Calamansi juice for just 400 pesos (enough for 2 people)

The view from Bato Ni Ningning of the Long Beach- 14 km long, the longest white sand beach in Asia and currently deserted!

The food at the hotel is all freshly cooked traditional Pinoy food and you get a choice of cooked breakfast included in the room rate. I had Pork Torcino, scrambled eggs, Pomelo, Toast - all served with unlimited hot coffee and chilled water outside your room. The dinners I had included Fried Chicken, Pork Sinigang, Fruit Platter, Menudo, and Chicken curry. They also have a variety of fish, shrimp, crabs, squid etc. There are vegetarian options and Italian dishes with a pinoy twist like sweet spaghetti, Pasta Pesto, Macaroni Carbonara etc.

All the food is beautifully presented and served outside your room with chilled water

My favourite, which they gave me for breakfast, lunch and dinner, was Fried Sweet Banana and on the last day they taught me how to make it! It will be in next year's recipe book and will be part of Chester's much delayed final video edit- TBK cooks at Victoria Beach House (we started filming back in April when we last stayed here but the kitchen got too busy, and we had to leave!

My favourite meal at Victoria Beach House

Alfredo who looks after Secret beach, we could not get there due to all the mud

So, it has been a great week here and we will be back again next year in my new car, a Toyota Hilux. Then come rain or shine I will be able to get to Secret beach to give Alfredo his Christmas present and take Chester all the way up Bato Ni Nining!