Dear El Nido,

El Nido, El Nido, El Nido …I just can’t get you out of my head. I can simply not let go of you and truly, I still dream about you. You are too good to forget, too pretty to let go of and too wonderful to not share our secret. I saw you and I immediately fell for you. It happened in your little streets, while the green trees looked down on me. And when I looked up after I fell, I saw your mountains. I’m in love with you, El Nido. Like I haven’t been before, I guess. I love your cute tricycles, driving around through your heart. I love your hectic life, but laid back character. I love the sea at your feet, with its thousand shades of blue. I love how you are enclosed by beautiful limestone mountains. I adore your sunsets and the way your mountains continue to rise, even in the water, as far as I can see. I love your whimsical shapes with razor-sharp edges, your hidden bays with white sandy beaches. You are a playground, with all your islands, but one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I still blush when I think of you. Do you even realize how phenomenally beautiful you are?

You were so soft and sunny and warm. So hot that sweat droplets fell of my forehead, directly on your skin. I still feel the warmth tickling me by thinking of you, honestly. The sun is your muse, the mountains are your strength and the sea is your blood. You live and you don’t need electricity, you are too pure for that. And you are so difficult to get, it took me more than a day. Hard to get they call it, don’t they? From Port Barton I took a boat across the sea to San Vincente, then traveled through unspoiled nature, on dirt roads in fully loaded buses that stop in every small village on the way. I think they were excited as well. That they just wanted to postpone the moment of your victory. Maybe you had something to do with it yourself, you made sure we met you during a magical sunset. With all your perfectness, that probably wasn’t a coincidence. And then something happened. With you as well, I believe. At least I hope. Once you are caught in your web, you are prisoner for life. And the prisoners you have amassed, the locals, are beautiful. You make sure they stay pure, grateful and that they wouldn’t need more than you. You give and you take, you are so full of passion. In doing so, you took the heart of a lot of backpackers as well. And that’s just fine. I don’t want to leave, ever, just like them. The entire island of Palawan is a miracle, but you are more than that. Handcuff me, darling.

You brought me to a state of pure happiness with the boat trip along your many uninhabited islands. I will show it to them, I promise you, and I will give them a taste of this experience by the last photo. A small preview. But that experience deserves it’s own story. First I will share your true nature, El Nido. I will show you, just as you are. A beautiful, almost unattainable town with happy people, an atmosphere that allows you to keep your charm and insane, insane, insane nature. Unfortunately I escaped. You looked away for just one minute, and I had to take a plane. I am truly sorry, El Nido. I wish I had listened to my heart.

Love,
Laura

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Preview, shhhht…

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