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ArchivesTravel

Start The Day In El Nido

written by Brenna Holeman November 17, 2010






El Nido, The PhilippinesEvery morning I woke up at 6:05am, five minutes after the electricity was shut off in the town of El Nido, The Philippines. This meant, of course, that the cool air from the fan that had been blowing all night was suddenly disrupted; within five minutes I was drenched in sweat. I would usually get up to watch the sunrise over the beach, then walk across the dusty road to get a traditional Filipino breakfast, rice and sweet pork.There wasn’t much to do with my days in El Nido, other than relax and walk up and down the small stretch of sand overlooking the gorgeous Bacuit archipelago. The water was so still and so warm that you could float for hours and hours, never tiring of its tranquility. For a few days I took water tours, setting forth on a small boat with a gaggle of other tourists to swim in the turquoise ocean and study the creatures we saw underwater: fish of all sizes and colours, urchins, crabs, sea cucumbers, eels. For lunch we would stop on small islands and devour freshly-caught fish, rice, and plantains (called saba in the Philippines).

Back on land, I would write in my journal of travels past, present, and future, read crime novels, drink cold San Miguel while watching the sky turn orange, pink, and finally black, chat with travellers from around the world, listen to the waves lap against the shore, and once again realize that this, despite all the sacrifices, the financial woes, the broken hearts, the tears and the fears, this is why I travel.

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Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

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3 comments

The SoleSisters December 3, 2010 - 11:25 pm

Brenna, sounds like you had a great relaxing time in gorgeours El Nido. Much like me!

Great photos btw. Happy Travels!

Reply
Brenna December 4, 2010 - 10:08 pm

I absolutely loved El Nido! Your blog has some great tips on travel in other parts of the Philippines, though, so I’ll definitely have to go back and see some more.

Thanks for the comment!

Reply
Places I've Sworn I'd "Leave Tomorrow" - This Battered Suitcase July 17, 2014 - 12:52 am

[…] snorkelling every day, wrote pages and pages in my journal, read books for hours on end… and just relished in the slow pace of life there. Coming from my life in Japan, this was one of the best places to […]

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

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INSPIRATION

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

About Brenna

This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why.

Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

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Last stops: Manitoba, Canada

Currently: Manitoba, Canada

Up Next: Manitoba, Canada (are you sensing a theme?)

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Please note that some links on This Battered Suitcase are affiliates (at no extra cost to you); I only recommend products I use and love. This Battered Suitcase is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

INSPIRATION

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

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WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

Last Stops: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Up Next:  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

(AKA: STAY HOME)

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