TBK travels to Surya Beach

Once all the excitement of the Christmas party died down and the recipe book was nearly completed, I decided, based on advice from Mr G , Mr T and Bazz, that I needed to get away from it all for a week. Since I got back from Alimanguan I have hardly been out, spent too much time on my laptop typing recipes and cooking and eating nice food. This, combined with the lack of exercise has meant I put back on the weight I lost and poor Chester has been sick and so have I.

The Duplex loft cottage- Pictures from their Airbnb listing

I saw an Air Bnb advertised on Facebook and after several messages with the lovely owner booked to stay for a week from 18 to 24 December. They have 3 Duplex Loft cottages near Tigman beach in Aborlan, about a 1 hr 45-minute drive from Puerto Princesa. Originally, I wanted to stay for Christmas and New Year but they were fully booked so we settled for the week before. The owner was away in Baguio for Christmas but she arranged everything for me and left her 3 dogs so Chester had someone to play with!

I am looking forward to hanging around here

The prices were very reasonable- 30,000 peso (that’s £438 or 202 bd) for 6 nights with Wi-Fi , fridge, kettle and 3 meals a day. I remember the days when I used to spend that for 2 nights in a luxury hotel! I have now trimmed my budget to match my pension and chose this year, and next, to take a week’s vacation every 2 months in Palawan, for a maximum 50,000 pesos.

All my breaks have been within a few hours’ drive from home so Chester could come as well. No airport parking, delayed flights, COV19 vaccinations and tests! I have also tended to choose Air BNB, Cottages, and beachside hotels like Daluyon at Sabang and Victoria Beach house at Alimanguan. That way I can take Chester’s food, my CD player, Laptop and relax by the sea, writing blogs, filming and editing vlogs and, of course, walking and paddling in the sea. While I do that Chester runs and swims and meets new dogs to play with. Best of all there is no cooking and no washing up. As a side effect Joven, Noel and Frythy get some time off and Jhoanna, Elay and friends get to use my house while I am away (reducing worries about it being left empty and unsecured)

Apparently her dogs love running around at sunrise and sunset- sounds idyllic

If you want to find out more about staying at Surya beach you can contact them on Facebook :

(1) Surya Beach Palawan | Facebook

or through Airbnb - the cottage we stayed in was number 3 which can take up to 4 people and has air conditioning. They also have a Family AC loft cottage and a Duplex fan loft cottage.

Cottage 3 on Airbnb

Chester's and my tablets, CD player, Coffee, tea- just like my dad!

It’s amazing how one’s perspective on life changes as we grow older. I remember as a teenager being taken away on holiday with my parents (Thf Bargain Break weekends) and loading the car with a portable TV, tea, coffee, Gin, Tonic, the Roberts Radio and various other “homely” items that either the hotel would not have or to avoid paying for them! Father checked them off his list as we packed them to make sure nothing was missed. Does that explain my love affair with spreadsheets Mr G. This was 1973, prior to laptops and mobiles and spreadsheets!

I love the seat and the window into the bathroom and the triangular wardrobe

50 years later as 2023 approaches here I am at Surya Beach , declining help to unload the car and have the embarrassment of them finding out that the picnic hamper of “Chester’s things” actually contains my Earl Grey tea, Nescafe, Cotton wool buds, CD player and CD’s, endless extension leads, chargers and camera equipment. In my Bapco Briefcase (I still cannot work out how Writer Relocations packed that, it was in the pile of company property to be returned to Nooralhuda when I left!) is my laptop, mobile, spare batteries and the like.

The stairs to the loft are a bit steep for Chester and I !

I have had several discussions with friends over the last few months online and we have all agreed that COV19 scared us off airline flights for life! All those PCR tests, Health questionnaires, delayed and cancelled flights. The joys of holidays in Palawan is that you just throw it all in the car, unpack it at leisure and you have a home from home including home office, photography studio and Blog and Vlog office, by the sea. Granted that if I really was my father’s son, I would have had a list and not forgotten the toothpaste, in spite of bringing my electric toothbrush and charger, mouthwash and interdental brushes!

One of my favourite shots of Chester from Surya Beach

Talking of Fathers sons, I would like to thank my brother, Andrew, for sharing with me, many years ago, when I had my first Labrador, Trixie, the travel kit required for taking a dog on vacation. As I wiped up Chester’s sick this morning, I was glad I had packed a roll of kitchen towel. The ice box kept his chicken liver cool, the flask kept my coffee hot and the tissues clean the sand off the mobile, laptop, camera and Chester’s nose! I did however forget the wet wipes he once suggested! The Surya “before you arrive “ text reminded me to pack beach towels but we also have towels for Chester’s indoor and outdoor beds and for after he has his swim! I will have no trouble reaching the 300-peso minimum charge for laundry!

Love all the vegetation behind the beach,. so green , unlike in Bahrain

The wonderful thing about being by the sea with nothing to do ( apart from write blogs, take photos, make videos and edit them into vlogs, go for walks, eat and sleep) is that your creative side comes up with new ideas for blogs.

My chicken Tinola for lunch

As I am currently the only guest and they are at the end of the beaten track one has to order food 5 days in advance (hospitals only ask at dinner time what you want for lunch the next day!) . The limited menu includes chicken and squid. After being very ill after having TJ’s squid adobo, and then the same at Badjao seafront, I have vowed never to eat squid again which halved the Surya menu. So my next blog will be “TBK cooks 100 pinoy chicken dishes!”. The Manok Adobo last night was excellent, the Manok Tinola for lunch was superb. I really ought to tell them I am not really Phillipino and my dog expects to eat some of my food.

Many of you will have read my oft asked question on TBK asks:

“How many pieces can you cut a chicken into?”

We started with 4 in the affluent UK ( 2 breast and 2 thig/drumsticks) then moved to 8 at Poochies Kitchen in Puerto ( 2 breasts cut in 2, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks ) , then a friend who worked at KFC told me their standard is 9. However I think a new world record has been created at Surya beach of maybe 12!

I hope the owner does not mind my light teasing- the staff have been great, the room is fantastic and the location is Instagram Perfect ! If you want to see what Chester has been up to here watch his vlogs:

Chester is already asleep, exhausted after all his walking and swimming, and as I have no TV and its dark outside I think I will head to bed to. The room next door has guests arriving at Midnight and I am sure Chester will want to go and check them out. I have already been warned that the owners 3 dogs are likely to bark when they arrive. The good news is that with only two sets of guests here tomorrow I can upload today's vlog quickly when I get up at 5 am while I shower and feed Chester.

The Instagrammable swing

I think tomorrow I will have a digital detox and leave my laptop in my room and do a beach clean up and then walk back down the track that brings you here to take some photos. One can only walk up and down a beach so many times after all and as this is the end of day 2 we still have 4 more days left in Paradise! Pancakes and fried eggs for breakfast tomorrow- sarap! For Chester only 10 more cans of the same dog food left!

At this rate I will be looking forward to my Steak on Christmas eve

Just before I sign off for 24 hours here is Chester's second vlog from Surya beach