A Long Boat Ride: My Sister's Trip from Roxas to Araceli, Palawan

‎Traveling in the Philippines often involves traveling from one island to another.
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‎Sometimes, it's a fast plane ride, other times, it's a long boat trip.
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‎My sister recently took one of these longer trips, a local ferry ride that took her from Roxas to Araceli, both in Palawan.
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‎Her journey started at the port in Roxas, Palawan.
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‎This port is busy with local boats.
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‎It's where people and goods travel between islands.
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‎They got on a local ferry, and this would be their ride for the next eight hours, all the way to Araceli.
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‎The ticket cost 400 pesos.
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‎This price included not just the long boat ride, but also a simple lunch served on the boat.
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‎Discovering Araceli: Beach, Language, and Kiteboarding
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‎As they arrived in Araceli, the first place they checked out was Tinintinan Beach, located near the town center.
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‎This beach is special.
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‎People here speak Cuyonon, their local language.
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‎Tinintinan Beach is also a spot for kiteboarding.
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‎My sister met a foreign couple there who teach this sport, and even yoga, to local kids every summer.
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‎What's cool is how they ask for "payment" from the kids for the lessons... they ask them to join them in cleaning the beach shore.
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‎It's a smart way to teach both sports and responsibility!
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‎It seems to be part of their business too.
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‎Also, unlike busy places like Puerto Princesa, you will not see a lot of foreign tourists here in Araceli.
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‎But there are some, especially those looking for a quiet and peaceful escape.
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‎It's truly a hidden gem for those who want to get away from the crowds. Hehe.
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‎The Quiet Charm and Friendly Faces of Araceli
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‎What also really stands out about Araceli is how super quiet it is.
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‎It's a peaceful place where you can really relax. And the people there? They are so friendly!
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‎They share their smiles with you, even if you’re just walking down the street.
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‎It makes you feel very welcome.
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‎Near where they stayed, there was a beach right in a residential area, and it was free to swim.
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‎In fact, most of the beaches in Araceli don't have entrance fees. It’s a wonderful perk of the place!
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‎My sister also shared a funny story. 😅
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‎One time, they forgot the key to the house.
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‎Our cousin, Ren-Ren, had to climb through the window to get inside and open the door. 🤣
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‎Good thing she's small, so it was a bit easier for her to squeeze in! Haha.
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‎For their local delights, they also found a cashew tree there.
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‎According to my sister, the cashews are really yummy. But, they have this sticky sap that's hard to remove, especially if it gets on your clothes.
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‎Cashews are actually very famous in Araceli... It's their special fruit.
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‎The Challenge of Healthcare: A Remote Hospital Story
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‎Beyond the beautiful sights, there are also real-life challenges in remote places like here in Araceli.
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‎My sister shared something about the local hospital there that really struck me.
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‎It's located quite far, almost in the middle of two towns on the island, up in the mountain area.
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‎The road to get there is very rough.
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‎It’s funny, but also sad, to imagine someone having an accident and then needing to conquer that bumpy road just to get help.
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‎With painful wounds, they might get even more bruised just from the ride itself.
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‎She also told me a memorable, almost movie-like, story.
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‎A family rushed to the hospital after hearing a relative was in an accident.
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‎They saw a person covered with a blanket and nearly started crying, thinking it was their loved one.
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‎Then, they realized it was just the patient in the bed next to their relative! 🤣
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‎They all laughed, saying it was just like a scene from a movie, but it really happened. Haha.
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‎But jokes aside, it highlights a serious issue.
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‎The situation there can be tough.
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‎For emergency patients, getting medicine or critical care instantly is a huge problem because the hospital is just too far and the roads are bad.
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‎It's a reminder of the struggles faced by communities in remote areas.
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‎Until my next travel story...
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‎Thanks for the visit! Have a lovely day. Buh-bye. 💗🌸
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‎All photos are from my sister, shared with permission.
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