I just had to see it for myself...

The Villafranca salt farm is located in Nasugbu, Batangas. Making salt is a waiting game and then a back-breaking shove match between man and salt under the afternoon sun.

Water from the ocean is left to sit in shallow beds to evapourate in the hot sun. Over a few days it is moved to a series of other beds to evapourate some more. As it travels from bed to bed, it becomes more and more concentrated.

Salt crystals start to form by the time it reaches the last bed. Workers can then shovel the sea salt into baskets and the marketing process can begin.


The Philippines is known for their mangoes. I personally like to eat green mangoes by dipping pieces into coarse sea salt. Yum!

Coarse sea salt, however, can be sold in the marketplace or to bigger factories to make bogong and patis (salt paste made with tiny shrimp and liquid salt).


The marketplace is so crowded with vendors, but I didn't see too many others who sold salt. Maybe the Villafranca salt farm doesn't have as many competitors as I thought...


Vendors sell everything at the village market from salt to meat, from coffee to toys.

On our way back to Manila, we decided to extend our connection in Puerto Princesa so we could look around there too. We found ourselves a really cheap 5 star hotel (only $35/night) and had the greatest prepared seafood in the city @ "Ka Lui's" Everything at the restaurant was made of bamboo...so no shoes allowed in side...like you were @ someone's home...

We spent the next 2 days island hopping around Honday Bay and Sabang beach with a nice French couple who were also there on vaction.

Starfish Island, Snake Island and Pandan Island...

We even split the cost of a private van and trip out to the city's famous Underground River with them.


Like El Nido, Saban beach is still relatively new to tourists. 75% of the road out to the sea is still dirt and rock and cuts through villages in the jungle! On our way, we actually blew a tire. So our driver spent over 2 hours pulling out every MacGiver trick he had up his sleeve to change the tire with the few tools he had...we were left to entertain ourselves...and protect ourselves from all sorts of bugs and plants?

For the next 3 days, we traveled by boat to lagoons and beaches all around sea. We snorkled and kayaked around everywhere we stopped to get a good look at all the islands' and waters' secrets. Thank God we're all good swimmers.

This is a typical view of the fish we saw as we snorkeled around the reef...
...and the chance find! We found Nemo and his family :)

Secret Beach (original name, nah?) wasn't the coolest beach we saw in El Nido, but it was by far the scarriest to get to. Its entrance is visible only during low tide and is no bigger than a meter in circumference. The reef is so thick in front of it that our boat had to set anchor in the middle of the water to steer clear of it. We had to swim the rest of the way to the narrow opening in the rock. The secret beach was so secret, that even our boat driver missed it the first time!

My favourite beaches were on Snake Island. During low tide, the sand peaks through the water just enough to create 2 beaches on either side of it...one beach for me and the other one for whomever else ;)

It was barely an hour flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa (Palawan's only city and capital). Then another short ride over the sea to El Nido. Hundreds of small limestone islands popped out of the sea scattered all over for miles beneath us...



Where was the plane supposed to land?!

With only P150/each to use for commuting, find your way to the En Grande tour office in Baclaran. There you will locate Beth and Espie who will help you arrange your trip to El Nido, Palawan.

You can take any combination of transportation, each with its own pros and cons:

• The LRT (subway)

The LRT is the fastest since it bypasses traffic, but it passes @ a 12 minute interval (if you're lucky). It is the most dangerous to take since the station exits are overcrowded with street vendors and sneaky pick-pockets.

Fare: P14/ride

• The JEEPNEY

The Jeepney is the most commonly used mode of transportation by Filipinos (there is usually one every 5 minutes). Rides can be long if traffic is bad, but it can drop you off anywhere you need to along its set route...even in the middle of the road!

Seating @ least 20 ppl at a time, Jeepney passengers are usually those trying to get to work or school. The chances of being robbed here are less likely than if you were to take the LRT.

Fare: P7.50 for the first 4Km

• The TRICYCLE

Rides are more private, since it is just your party and the motorcycle driver, but not necessarily safer. The tricyle has been refered to as being "Motorized Jaywalkers." Used commonly for short distances it will cut through the narrowest spaces through traffic and up on curbs to get you there quickly.

It can seat up to 4 ppl excluding the driver (or one American and his ordered companion).

Fare: P7.50/person (for travel within its district)

• The PEDICAB

Just like the Tricycle, but powered by a man wearing rubber slippers. Rides are similar to that of a tricycle, but more fun since the speed of getting "out of the way" depends solely on the strength of your peddler. (Did you notice we were going against traffic?! I'm sure the the Virgin Mary stickers on the rook of our cab were out there for a reason...)

Fare: Same as a tricyle, but up to 2 passengers @ a time (or 1 American, but his companion has to help peddal ;) I'm just kidding...she walks. :o!