Morning in Port Barton, and a small stone gift
Today is moving day to El Nido. My alarm was set for 10:30, but I was still sleepy and squirming in bed. What woke me was a voice from outside. Just outside the lodge, Julian was sitting quietly, waiting. I had a Messenger message saying 'Are you awake yet?' I replied that I'd wake up at 11 and dozed a little longer.
At 11 I finally got up and went outside, and Julian greeted me with a cheerful 'good morning.' What a cute morning. After showering and brushing my teeth and getting ready to check out, she called me over, saying, 'Come, I have a surprise.'
She had a stone in her hand. It had 'Port Barton' written on it, apparently drawn with a candle. Simple, warm, a gift that softly wrapped my heart. This is what you call a treasure.
Breakfast at Dom Dom, and a quiet reflection
I rushed to a place called Dom Dom for breakfast. The French toast I ordered took a long time to come—over twenty minutes. The staff greeted an elderly French couple with smiles but were brusque with me.
But maybe that was because I wasn't smiling either. Other people's attitudes can be a mirror of yourself. Travel gives you those small realizations.
On the way back I bought my favorite banana cake.
Chocolate on the table
While thinking that, Julian suddenly appeared and silently placed a chocolate on my table. She left right away; her back seemed a little bashful, yet very kind. The chocolate was that golden crunch one. I think it was her way of saying 'thank you.'
UNO, a keychain, and time to say goodbye
Back at the hostel, Julian said she wanted to play UNO. We might have played about twenty times over three days (lol). I keep losing, and she sometimes lets me win on purpose or celebrates with me. Kindness exists in those silent exchanges.
And at the end she surprised me with the hostel's original keychain. Shaped like a turtle and with a handmade feel, it will surely become a lucky charm for my travels.
Encounters and reunions on the bus
Forty minutes before departure I left the hostel, said a final bye to Julian and Popoy, and took a photo together. I think it wasn't a coincidence but meant to be. The time in Port Barton will remain somewhere in my heart.
I boarded the bus and, squeezed into the crowded interior in a middle seat, the person next to me was Rudy from the UK. We talked about travel, whiskey, and future business plans.
Then, when I glanced back, there was Torny, whom I had met at PPC. I recognized him by his voice, but felt awkward and couldn't call out.
At a rest stop I mustered the courage and asked, 'Hey, are you Torny?' He laughed, 'I remember you!' We shook hands, chatted a bit, and I felt a little lighter.
Arriving in El Nido. A shining sunset
Finally I arrived in El Nido. The hostel was different from what I had imagined—the gap between the photos and reality was a little disappointing. Still, the room was private, and it seemed I could spend a quiet night.
Then I walked through El Nido at dusk. The sunset visible between the mountains, the sky dyeing into deep blue, a small shining moon. The rhythm of nature seeped into my heart. Walking along the beach, the palm trees and the night sky made a beautiful contrast, and I couldn't help but take many shots.
Dinner and the warmth of people
At night I had a fish dish at a nearby cafe. The scent of ginger, with rice and salad—it filled both body and soul.
The staff were very friendly, asking if I needed Wi-Fi and serving me with smiles. Since I was filming with an Osmo, maybe they thought I was a content creator. People judge by appearance. That's why how you carry yourself matters.
Precisely because I'm traveling around the world
I can't stay at luxury lodges like some other tourists. But I'm traveling the world. Instead of experiencing everything, I'm choosing countless encounters and landscapes. Each of those choices is surely shaping who I am.
And then, walking the night road alone
The way back was a little scary; I met a dog and walked paths lit by the moon. Nights like that are also part of the journey. Back at the hostel, wiping off my sweat, I gently tucked away the day into my heart.
