"Island hopping" is the name of the game in the little town of El Nido on the island of Palawan, with several day tours conveniently already set up for tourists to explore the tiny islands that dot the waters here. This is a rare place we have been where the tours seem to be regulated, and so you don't have to wander around or haggle for the best price. For approximately $30 CAD, a tour gives you a 7-8 hour day on the boat with 5-6 scenic beach or snorkelling spots, and a buffet brunch of fresh seafood. Amazing value for money! Troy decided to fine-tune his scuba skills further, and signed up to complete his Advanced Open Water certification. He was the only one signed up for his course, so it ended up being a 2 day private course - even better value for money! He dove as deep as 30 metres and saw 3 day octopus (do they turn into "night" octopus in the evening?), and an eagle ray. Clare spied 2 more turtles, and continues to be content exploring only near the surface of the water. The limestone karsts create a beautiful scene reminiscent of Halong Bay in Vietnam, and Phang Nga Bay in Thailand, so this brought back happy memories! We also seemed to have some of our most friendly encounters in El Nido - both with locals, and expats. It seems this little gem of a place brings out the best in everyone.