While living in Micronesia, I had the privilege to meet many Filipinos, and promised many of them that I would, one day, travel to the Philippines. Although I haven't physically been there yet, I just mentally arrived.
Palawan is the most remote, traditional region in the Philippines. The archipelago stretches between Luzon and Borneo, consisting of hundreds of small, rocky islands surrounding a longer island. Just picture this: absolutely clear, azure water, surrounding massive rock outcropping islands. White sand beaches magically appear--tranquil, isolated, and perfectly relaxing.
I want to travel to Palawan more than any other part of the Philippines for many reasons. Although the beauty is second-to-none, the local cultures remain in-tact. Once a year, in a festival called Baragatan Su Palawan, local tribes cover themselves in blue body-paint and compete in a inter-tribal dance competition. The islands are still devoid of many modern amenities, so life is still simple. This kind of place captures my imagination, and my attention. I love to see places as they are meant to be, not as Western influences dictate. Palawan seems to literally be islands of tranquil Filipino life, surrounded by the bustle of its South-east Asian neighbors.
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