Sand like fine white sugar. Crystal clear turquoise waters. Dreamy sunset.

Wait, which beach am I talking about? Boracay or Panglao?

Boracay Island in Aklan and Panglao Island in Bohol have long been pitted against each other. Both are known to have pristine white beaches, various outdoor activities and vivid night scene. But which island deserves your vote?

Photo Credit: ubo_pakes

No, this isn't the about that 80's Hollywood flick where American Pie meets Castaway. Nope, this is something even more amazing than the island featured in that movie.

Mairara Beach aka Blue Lagoon

I've always had oily nay greasy skin. It's the bane of my existence. But what's worse than having oily skin? Having oily skin in a hot, tropical and humid country, that's what. I swear, some days it gets so bad that you can deep-fry a chicken with all the oil my skin generates (gross mental picture, i know). 

Warning: This is a super-girly, beauty-related post. Sole-dier boys (aka our male readers), you may skip this and jump straight to a battle between two islands or read something about 2 guys fighting because of god-knows-what. Better yet, you can read until the end of this post and maybe sneak a peek into the mind of your woman. At the very least, this article could give you an idea of what to get her for Christmas!

The Search is On!



Photo Credit: Jesslee Cuizon



If you had only ONE chance to go to Palawan, which island destination would you choose: El Nido or Coron?

I'd like to throw that hypothetical question right atcha. Well, maybe it's not so hypothetical, some of you might have even asked that question already. After all, not everyone has a lot of opportunity or the money to go there twice. Palawan's not exactly an easy place to get to nor is it cheap. Sadly, some of us will only have one chance to visit the Palawan paradise.

Getting to both islands and being able to compare them is actually one item on the Sole Sisters' 30 before 30 list! 5 down, 25 more to go.




Photo Credit: coolnumber9

 

7K challenge, backpacking, el nido, palawan, philippines island, travelWhat is it about El Nido that forcefully draws me time and time again?

Check out a sneak preview of Chichi's 7k Extreme Palawan Challenge Video. (I'm still working on the full travel video.)


I Left my Heart in El Nido from Sole Sisters on Vimeo.

If you just can't get enough of Palawan, check out more of Chichi's 7k Palawan series.

Thanks Sole Sister Zuring for editing the video!

Until the next trip,
Sole Sister Chichi

Chichi's 7k Palawan Challenge is a series where she shares all the wonders that Palawan has to offer (with a Sole Sister twist).  Watch out for the next post in this series, Battle of the Islands: El Nido vs Coron.

We've covered a lot of travel essential items with our weekly Travel With-it series. Yet we've almost forgotten the most basic (and most important) item to carry around when traveling.


Need Luggage?

During our search for our soulmate errr backpack, we've had several disappointments trying to look for the perfect one. Some of them were just not up to par with the Sole Sister standards.

This is the 6th post in the series: Chichi's 7k Extreme Challenge.

What is it about El Nido that forcefully draws me time and time again?


How to Get to El Nido (A Sole Sister's Story)

Leg 12. El Nido, Palawan

It started in 2004 when I saw that final leg from The Amazing Race 5 where the 3 remaining contestants flew from New Zealand straight to the Bacuit Bay archipelago where El Nido is located. I couldn't believe that such a place existed...and in my own country! I so wanted to go but it was impossible at that time because only chartered (e.g. private and expensive) planes flew to the island.

Fast forward to 4 years later. I was finally going to El Nido to celebrate a special occassion with a special someone. Flights were booked, modest accommodations reserved and itinerary (in excel file) completed. But as it turns out, there was no celebration on that special occassion nor was there a special someone to celebrate it with. (Don't worry, I'm ok! Read about how I coped with it here.)

I asked the travel gods, was I really ever going to set foot in this paradise? How do I get to El Nido?

(Warning: Picture overload after the jump. Don't say I didn't warn you!)

Photo Credit: dibaer

Yes, you read it right. I was in Bohol for 6 days but I didn't see a single Tarsier. Nor did I go on the Loboc River Cruise. No ziplining either. Pretty boring vacay don't you think? Well, let me tell you what I did do: I rode on top of a chicken bus to an elementary school in the small town of Dusita. I sat down with kids to talk about their ailments and gave them medicine. I spoke to the locals in their native dialect to ask them what life was like in these parts. Of course I didn't do it alone so I made about 30 new friends in the process. And that was just Day 1.

Just missing his eyepatch and bandanna

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.

          Maya Angelou

From the last Strangers We Know, I shared the experience of meeting Bing & Christopher en route to Koh Samui. I met up with another friend on that island, Mr. G. He's from Australia. I'm from the Philippines. We first met in Germany and a year later, in Thailand. Talk about an international intercontinental friendship!

Sole Sister Pop Quiz:  Guess what song this blog title is from?

When you go backpacking, you carry everything on your shoulder and eventually all your stuff (which you thought were necessary at the start of the trip) becomes a burden. That's why a backpacker should only bring the bare essentials when on the road. (Sole Sister Rule#1: Pack Light)

For a Sole Sister, this means leaving behind all the frilly things that makes it fun to be a girl (cute tops, shoes, make-up, bags etc). So, does this mean that all Sole Sister backpackers should look frumpy and boring while on the go? Definitely NOT.
I've already mentioned this item when we shared the Sole Sisters' Top 5 Travel Essentials. However, I can't tell you enough about how great it is. I would even be as bold as to say that this is the holy grail of a backpacking Sole Sister's wardrobe (or any girl's wardrobe for that matter).

At the Sole Sisters HQ, keyboards are furiously tapping travel dates and personal information while mouses (mice?) are busy trying to find the best seats available. What's up? Oh nothing much except it's only the BIGGEST FREE SEAT SALE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

Photo Credit: Carl Custodio

Although I prefer traveling with friends rather than traveling alone, I often find myself sporadically replying to the ticketing agent: It's just me. Ticket for one, please. Traveling alone has certain advantages. You have the flexibility to go wherever you want, at any pace you want. You're forced out of your comfort zone to do things you don't normally do like chatting up a stranger or meeting the locals. You make quick decisions because there are no votes to cast, no one to consult and more importantly: No one to please but yourself.

Photo Credit: chemanyulo

Sumdup kamu.