We arrived at Coron Island on the 18/03/16 after our long 8hr boat trip from Elnido. Although another island Coron is still part of Palawan.
Once we arrived we checked into our hotel which we had booked for the first 3nights and decided to have a walk of the town, straight away the heat hit us, it was soo hot. Coron is only a small but busy town and we found out the nearest beach was a half hour tricycle ride that wasn't good for us due to the heat here, so we decided to try to find a nice hotel with a pool for the other 9 nights we would be here so we could at least just chill by the pool if we wanted. So we hired a tricycle told the driver we wanted a pool and he set off showing us some hotels. We looked at a few that were either well expensive and yes we are supposed to be on a budget but that seemed to go out the window along time ago lol,or just not all that. I think the fourth place he took us to was Asia grand view about 5mins out of town but only a cheap tricycle ride in so it was ok. As soon as I walked in i thought yes this is it, the reception, restaurant and bar looked very welcoming then I saw the pool, that was it I was sold, so I went to the reception to book the room to find it was out of our even higher budget.
So we almost left got back in the tricycle to leave and I said to Kate na we got to stay here, so off I went back into the hotel to negotiate a better deal. Here in the phillipines for some reason they won't barter on prices (no sir it's a fixed price) is all you here, but I tried anyway telling her it's Kate's birthday coming up and we really wanted to stay here. Anyway my magic worked she come down quite a bit on the price after speaking to the manager, I think because they weren't that busy at that time, so a right result. Anyway that was that we were at our other place for a couple of nights then off there and we couldn't wait
Our friends joe and monique had already been to Coron just before us, so give us the heads up with things to do and good restaurants which was good as the only real downside to the phillipines is the food. recommendations to good restaurants are always welcome we don't want the s***s again we have both had that while we've been here and it ain't good.
That night we booked a island hoping tour for the next day, and went off to the natural volcanic hot springs here in the mountains, they were soo good the water was about 38degrees and there was 4 pools 1 large and 3 smaller ones. It was so relaxing as we went at night it was abit cooler and all lit up by lanterns it was lovely. After a good hour or so in there we just headed back to our hotel and crashed out. The following day we had our 1st tour, they took us to some stunning places and unlike Elnido they weren't as busy so you got to really enjoy them. The crews here are so funny and friendly they have such a crack and really love their jobs, and they lay on some lovely food for lunch which is barbecued and prepared on the boat during the day, proper munch. That evening we went into town found a little bar and had a few drinks, I have found a bottled beer out here called Red Horse it tastes a bit like Budweiser but is 7% a few of these and Im rocking lol.
The following day we checked into our new hotel and have to say we love it, it was so nice to just chill out at the pool for the day so that's what we done.
The pool had two levels an upper which was about 7ft at deepest then a lower pool about 3m lower than the deep end which is about 9ft deep so we could dive or jump from the top pool to the lower which was good, kept me entertained for a while anyway...
We planned to just relax here as its our last part of the phillipines, so basically we booked a few more tours island hoping, reef, and wreck diving, as here in Coron there are many old war ships sunken from WW2 which were good to see. And that's how our time in Coron went a nice chilled time just me and Katie, a day round the pool then the next day a tour visiting stunning islands and so on until we left.
Whilst there it was Katie's 26th birthday so I booked us on a nice tour for that day that took us to the most paradise islands we have probably seen, she loved it, on our return I had arranged for the hotel to decorate our room with balloons etc, she didn't have a clue. Kate's face was a picture she was soo happy and excited for her birthday lol
Then to top it off we had a lovely dinner on the roof terrace of our hotel set out under a gazebo with candles etc vip style, everyone was peeking up at us to have a look at our private setting, Katie thought she was a celebrity lol
The hotel swingers err I mean singers even came up and sung to her for her birthday it was great the hotel done good, she was soo happy.
The staff at the hotel were soo friendly to us they went above and beyond to make our time special here. I think it's because we were equally friendly to them, some guests here were so rude to the staff as if they were beneath them which I couldn't understand cause the staff were so friendly. Our barman here Ed was Katie's favourite he was such a nice polite guy, he and his wife worked here in Coron at different hotels and their kids lived on another island about 5hrs on a ferry away with their grand parents, so Ed and his wife only saw their kids every 3months or so for a week at a time. After a few nights of chatting to Ed and really getting to know what a nice guy he was we decided we would love to help Ed out abit. So we did we offered to give him some cash to allow him to surprise his family by bringing them to see him where they could enjoy time with each other in a small resort with a pool etc.
Ed was completely shocked he could not thank us enough. We just asked in return that he would send us some photos when the time come of he and his family enjoying their time together
And he agreed (of course sir David thank you). We all take our lives and what we have for granted until you visit these places and see how they live here, yet they are so happy and friendly to everyone they meet. We're lucky enough to be on this amazing adventure it's only fair to give a little back.
We have loved our time here on this stunning island Coron, next we are off to Manila the capital city of phillipines for two nights whilst we are waiting for our flight to Japan on the 1st April.
We have heard some not so good stories about Manila, but we will find out for ourselves....