Paolo Roxas Photoblog

Granada, Spain —

After my first trip to Spain, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd barely scratched the surface. Barcelona was incredible but I knew that there was so much more to explore in this vibrant country, and so, when my birthday came around the following year, I decided to return. This time, I planned to visit a few more cities, but for my actual birthday, I knew I wanted to be in Granada.

Granada had been on my radar for a while, especially after seeing the Alhambra featured on one of those Anthony Bourdain episodes. His genuine awe of the place stayed with me and I figured, what better place to celebrate my birthday than a city with such rich history and beauty? So, Granada became the destination for the special day.

Our visit to the Alhambra turned out better than I could have imagined. We dragged ourselves out of bed early to avoid the hordes of tourists and made our way to this entrance I'd discovered online. It was a less-known entrance that goes straight to the Nasrid Palaces. Best decision ever, taking an Uber there instead of walking. This option allowed us to bypass the crowds and be among the first to explore the palaces that day.

Walking through those palaces in the morning light was incredible. All those detailed arches and tilework, plus the constant sound of water from the fountains. It's surprisingly calming. The gardens were gorgeous too, especially those reflecting pools that mirror everything perfectly. Without crowds pushing past every five seconds, I could actually stop and appreciate how intricate everything was. The architects who built this place really knew what they were doing, creating harmony between architecture and nature. The interplay between light and water is masterfully woven into the structures. It's impressive.

During our time in Granada, we spent hours wandering around Albaicin, the old Moorish quarter. It's basically a giant maze of tiny cobblestone streets and random little squares, with amazing views of the Alhambra popping up when you least expect them. The best part is just getting lost in those winding paths. You never know what you'll stumble across. My mom definitely took this to heart and got herself properly lost. I spent a bit of time looking for her through these medieval streets, only to find her sitting in a Starbucks, completely clueless that she'd somehow made it back to civilization. She'd taken some random turn and ended up in the modern world without realizing she'd left our little historical adventure behind.

Granada also still follows the tradition of free tapas. It quickly became my favorite part of the trip. You order wine or whatever, and they just bring you a plate of something delicious with no charge. Every bar does their own thing, so we kept getting surprised by different dishes. Perfect way to keep your energy up while you're wandering around all day.

The view from Mirador de San Nicolas is absolutely worth the climb. It's one of those picture-perfect moments with the Alhambra sitting against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. I probably stood there for way too long just taking it all in.

We managed to catch a flamenco show at one of those tiny venues in Albaicin's back streets. The whole thing was intense with these dancers moving like their lives depended on it while the guitarist made his instrument sing. There's something about flamenco that hits you right in the chest. Watching it up close like that gave me a deeper appreciation about the whole art form.

Granada really gets its hooks into you. Whether you're staring in awe of the Alhambra, getting swept up in a flamenco performance, or just losing yourself in those maze-like streets, something about this city sticks with you. Picking Granada for my birthday was one of those decisions that worked out perfectly with all that history and culture and pure beauty rolled into one unforgettable experience. It's been months now and I still think about those few days regularly.

Krabi, Thailand —

We've all been there.. camera in hand, inspiration at zero. That dull, listless feeling where every shot feels forced, repetitive, or worse, pointless. It's a photography rut, and it can creep in silently even for the most passionate visual storytellers. But here’s a surprisingly effective remedy. Take a trip down memory lane, specifically, to a place that once lit your creative spark. For me, that place is Krabi, Thailand.

I stumbled upon a forgotten folder labeled "Krabi 2019" during a half-hearted attempt to organize my hard drive. I wasn't expecting much.. just a digital pile of sunrises, long-tail boats, and sandy toes. But what I found was far more powerful. A reminder of why I fell in love with photography in the first place.

There was a photo of the sun cracking open over Ao Nang Beach, the ocean painted in golds and silvers, the silhouettes of limestone cliffs rising like ancient guardians. Another showed a local fisherman resting on his boat in Phra Nang. And then there were photos of my brother playing on the beach as a gentle drizzle began to fall.

I wasn't just seeing images. I was feeling something again.

Old photos aren't just memories, they're mirrors. They show us what we were looking at and how we were seeing. Re-examining your past work can reveal how your eye has evolved, what subjects naturally draw you in, and which moments made you pause and click.

Krabi reminded me of light - not just technically, but emotionally. The soft, diffused light right after a tropical downpour. The sharp shadows cast by weathered boats at sunset. The contrasting yet clear reflections of towering cliffs on calm water. Somewhere along the way, I'd stopped chasing light with the same curiosity.

Ruts aren't roadblocks, they're invitations. They remind us to slow down, recalibrate, and reconnect with what matters. If you've ever photographed a place that once set your soul on fire, go back. Not physically, not yet. Go back through your images. Look closer. Feel deeper.

For me, it was Krabi. The light, the people, the calm chaos of tropical life. For you, it might be Paris, Patagonia, or your grandmother's backyard.

Point Reyes

Marin County, California —

Social distancing has been tough. The world as we know it has changed or should I say is changing, hopefully for the better. Listening to the daily news could get really depressing and sometimes it's hard to see the silver lining. I find it really hard to post lately. I try to keep it positive on this blog but it's hard to do that when there is real suffering out there and a lot of uncertainty. It's important to be informed and acknowledge reality but it's also important, if not necessary, to find distraction. To find your peace. To find whatever it is that you can hold on to, to keep you sane and to have something to look forward to. So please excuse me if I try to distract myself and live vicariously through old pictures. Below are pictures from California when one of my best buds, Bryant, drove me around to explore the beautiful Point Reyes. They're taken at a time when there's no such thing as social distancing. It was a fine day. I am looking forward to having days like this again.

Firenze

Florence, Italy —

Out of all the places I’ve visited in Italy, Florence is my favorite. I know that this is a big statement since there are a lot of beautiful places in the country. Some of them, I would agree, are even more picturesque than Florence. However, there’s a unique vibe in this city that has truly left an impression on me. I’ve said this before when I visited it for the first time and now that I've gone back a few years later, it still holds true.

Florence or Firenze as known by the locals is in central Italy and is the capital of Tuscany. It is considered to be the birthplace of Renaissance thanks to its poets, painters, architects, artists in general. This period in history is a source of pride of this city and is a huge part of its identity.

Walking along its streets, one could feel this town’s love for the arts. It’s pretty common to come across a painting, a statue, a sculpture, or a structure of some sort that dates back centuries ago. One of these structures is Ponte Vecchio. It is the oldest bridge in Florence and is known to be the only one that survived the Second World War.

Back in time, it’s common practice in large European cities to build houses on top of bridges. For Ponte Vecchio, these houses were initially occupied by butchers. The idea was to provide them a location for their trade and this bridge seemed like the ideal place since they could just easily throw their carcasses into the river. Now, centuries later, these houses are occupied by jewellers.

Another magnificent structure in Florence is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, most commonly known as the Duomo. It is the city's landmark which took 140 years to complete. Its construction exceeded the lifetime of its creators. As a matter of fact, the guy who finished it with its amazing dome wasn't even born when the cathedral was conceptualized.

The exterior is made of different marbles and the changes in the pattern reflect the different time periods that covered its construction. As seen below, parts of the Duomo are currently being reconstructed. It's amazing to think how history is constantly being preserved on this monument and ours - our time, our history - is no different. It's currently being captured.

Florence, like most cities in Italy, has a rich history but what I like the most is its small-town feel. One could easily be impressed learning about its history and contribution to the arts but as you walk along its streets, you could feel a sense of welcomeness, a sense of community. It doesn't have that grandiosity that you often feel in other cities. It's quaint, laid back and has a lot of character.

Beautiful Banff

Alberta, Canada —

Hello friends, it’s been a while. Keeping up with this blog has been challenging. I take my hat off to all those bloggers out there who constantly post because it’s certainly not an easy task, at least not for me. Doing everything from sorting pictures to writing content could easily take up a lot of time and for someone who’s not doing this full time, it could feel daunting. However, my external hard drive is quickly getting full and there are pictures sitting there from years and years ago that still need to be published. So here’s yet another attempt to unload some of those pictures.

Last 2018, my good friends Jake and Danielle decided to tie the knot. They love the outdoors and they love climbing and so, when they told me that they were eyeing Banff as their venue, I had a feeling that they will most likely end up getting married there. It’s only fitting. A few months later, I found myself searching for plane tickets to this mountainous region of Canada. I was excited.

Banff is a national park that sits in the Alberta-British Columbia border about an hour and a half from Calgary. It is known for its snow-capped mountains, lakes, trails, wildlife, basically its wilderness. The town of Banff though is bustling with souvenir shops, hotels, restaurants and bars. During peak season, lodging could get really expensive so I’d recommend booking in advance. I ended up staying in a hostel located in the main road so it was very convenient. It was my first hostel experience so it made for an interesting trip. I was there for almost a week and so every few nights, I get to have a new set of roommates. I always find it fun talking to people from different parts of the world. This is one of the things that I truly enjoy when traveling - meeting new people. And in a hostel environment, this comes easy because well, you share a room. It could make the experience awkward or it could make it fun. The good news is the choice is entirely up to you. I’m always up for a good time.

I arrived late in the afternoon. I checked in, went for a quick shower, took the local bus and went straight up to the mountains for the rehearsal dinner. The views were stunning. The gondola ride gave me a preview of what was about to come for the next few days.

The wedding was beautiful. Here’s a sneaky pic of the first kiss after the I do’s.

I was still recovering from a stress fracture when I came to Banff. I was still limping. It was such a hassle having to deal with it but I was in one of the most beautiful places in the world so I chose not to let that ruin my experience. I wasn’t able to join in on some of the planned activities but I did the best I can doing my own little adventure. I rented a car, took my camera and explore. I had to make frequent stops but I just kept powering through. Right before this trip I was off my feet for weeks, so to get back on my feet exploring these beautiful landscapes, as struggling as it was, was quite empowering.

Banff is also known for its stunning lakes. I was able to see a few of them but I can’t end this post without mentioning Moraine Lake. It’s truly breathtaking. As a matter fact, I had to go there twice. I suggest going there very early in the morning, right before sunrise or late in the afternoon. Sunrise would give you better lighting for your pictures but late afternoon would be the most convenient since there’s not going to be a lot of people there. I was able to park really close when I went there one afternoon and there were just a few people walking around. Midday though was a different story. The road was closed and I had to turn around and go back to the highway. They have a designated parking lot miles and miles away and from there, you’ll have to take a shuttle. This could eat up a lot of time so if you’re planning to visit sometime, you’ll have take this into account. Either way, it’s worth all the effort. I mean, look….

Banff is stunning. I just wish that I was able to explore it more but hey, that just gives me an excuse to go back right? :)

Family Vacation In Akumal

Riviera Maya, Mexico —

Summer officially ended last weekend. I didn’t really get to enjoy it much this year since I was off my feet for most of the time. Just before the end of winter, I started feeling some pain in my foot and I kept going to the doctor to have it checked. It wasn’t until after a month or so that we found out that it was a stress fracture. I won’t go into the details as to why it took that long because that’s an entire post in itself, but yeah, for most of the summer, I was trying to recover. I had to be off my feet. It was frustrating to say the least.

In the middle of all of this, we had planned a family vacation. I decided not to cancel since I was somewhat already feeling better around that time. After all, I was just planning on laying on the beach and eating delicious food, what’s the worst thing that could happen? So with some pain meds and a cautious mind, I was off to Mexico.

This was not my first time in Mexico. I’ve been here a couple of times mostly with friends. The last time I was in the Cancun area, I was with my college friends. We stayed in Akumal and Cancun which reminds me that I still need to make a post about that trip. I am way backed up on my posts. Well, the cold weather is just around the corner so hopefully that will allow me to blog more. If you’re one of my friends and you’re still waiting on pictures, hang in there. I’ll get to them eventually ;)

I like the fact that Mexico is so easy to get to especially if you’re going to Cancun or somewhere around Quintana Roo. There are direct flights from BWI so getting there is a breeze. I guess as you get older, you begin to appreciate the convenience of direct and short flights. I remember when I was younger, I didn’t mind booking a longer flight if that means I get to explore a new state or even just a new airport. What was I thinking?

I try to reward myself with a relaxing vacation at least once a year. There are vacations that are meant to be for exploration and adventure, and there are vacations that are meant to be for relaxation. My idea of a relaxing vacation though is somewhere tropical, typically in a beach setting. This is exactly what happened in this trip and we couldn’t have done it at a better time given my foot situation. If anything, I’m a big believer that staying by the beach is, in itself, therapy.

My brother and I decided to venture outside the resort one afternoon. Apparently, there’s an abandoned beach closeby and it only takes around 30 minutes of hike to get there. I was debating whether to go or not but since I was feeling okay at that time, I decided to brave it. The hike was very rocky and a bit slippery since it was off the beaten path. I’m not gonna lie, I struggled quite a bit and I started to question my decision halfway through. I made it all the way to the end though and I was able to get some good pictures.

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands —

This winter has been way too long. Even though it's officially spring, it is still cold and gloomy for the most part so in my mind, it still feels like winter. Some parts of the Midwest are still getting snow for god's sake. Last weekend though was such a teaser and it made me extremely excited about warmer days. I'm also starting to notice a pattern in my posts. It feels as if this blog is my way of overcoming that cabin fever which typically happens during the cold months. The long dreary nights of winter are again to be blamed for yet another post about, yes as you might have guessed, summer. I am just looking forward to that time of the year when I can wear shorts and flip-flops, drive with the windows down, go to the beach and enjoy a nice sunny day. We are slowly getting there. Restaurants are starting to open their patios, summer concerts are lining up and that line in the ice cream store is getting longer. So while we wait for those glorious sunny days, allow me to pull another set from the archive and relive that one time my friends and I get to spend a little bit of time in the Virgin Islands.

Summer 2013 was quite a memorable one. It was that summer when I got to venture and explore the Eastern Caribbean. My friends and I went on a cruise and the US Virgin Islands was on top of the itinerary. It was my first time going on a cruise so I was excited. Being the beach lover that I am, I am stoked with the idea of going to a few islands in the Caribbean especially in the middle of summer.

The island of St. Thomas offers many beautiful beaches so finding one that suits your taste shouldn't be a problem. We decided to go to Magens Bay as suggested by one of my friends. He's been there so he knew that that's where we needed to go considering what we're in the mood for for that day — beach bumming.

Many people associate the US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas in particular, with Magens Bay. It's this crescent-shaped beach tucked in the north side of the island. It is known for its pebble-free sand and calm waters and is frequently featured on post cards. It might not be the go-to beach for snorkeling since there are virtually no reefs but if swimming or beach-bumming is what you have in mind, Magens Bay is the place to go. The shape of the bay protects the beach from strong waves so you're almost always guaranteed with calm waters when you go there. That, its silky soft sand and views of the mountains make it a perfect place to laze and relax.

The main town, Charlotte Amalie, is one of the busiest in the Caribbean. Strolling along its streets, you'll find plenty of bars, restaurants and all sorts of shops. They sell a lot of things ranging from cheap souvenirs to high-end jewelries. Visitors here are allowed to take home $1,600 worth of mechandise duty-free, double the limit of other Caribbean islands. For people like me though who aren't necessarily a big fan of shopping, there's no need to worry. There are plenty of pubs around town or even better, rum shacks! You are in the Caribbean after all :)

A Day In St. Thomas

The Amazing Horseshoe Bend

Page, Arizona —

So yesterday was the first snow day of the season and even though it’s not officially winter yet, I’m already on hiatus and daydreaming about warmer months. I hate to start another post complaining about winter so let's skip that part and let me reminisce about my trip to the beautiful Southwest.

I was thinking about how I wanted to celebrate my birthday this year and given that it falls exactly on Thanksgiving day, I wanted to celebrate either early or late. I’m always home on Thanksgiving so I wanted to keep that tradition. I contacted a couple of friends to see if they’re available. It helps to have friends who also suffer from a severe case of wanderlust, they didn’t really need much convincing :) We explored a number of options and eventually ended up booking for Vegas. Vegas was not our first choice but it was the most doable since A.) My friends didn’t have much vacation time B.) They wanted to participate in this big marathon C.) I have other friends who live in Vegas so I figured it would be nice to visit them and D.) We could do a side trip to Utah and Arizona. It’s not my first time visiting the Sin City so I pretty much knew what to expect there. C and D were the things I was really looking forward to.

We had planned on doing a little road trip after Vegas. There were a couple of things in our itinerary, one of which is to see the amazing Horseshoe Bend.

The drive from Vegas to Arizona was quite an experience. It was scenic and it reminded me how big the United States really is. The canyons in the Southwest give you a feeling that you are in a different time or perhaps in a different world. It’s almost as if you were in a movie where cowboys and Indians were the main characters. This made it easy for me to do the task of driving the first round of our road trip. The drive was long (and I mean longgg considering what happened in Vegas the night before lol) but the scenic route made it bearable. It’s really easy to keep your eyes on the road when the road is beautiful.

We arrived in Page, Arizona late afternoon so we missed one of the things in our itinerary but thankfully we were still able to see the Horseshoe Bend. I had high expectations based on what I’ve seen in pictures, videos and reviews and let me tell you, it certainly did not disappoint. As a matter fact, the Horseshoe Bend in itself would’ve made this road trip all worth it. It was majestic.

There’s something spectacular about viewing the Colorado River from 1000 feet above. Not to mention, viewing it “bend” in a perfect horseshoe shape. The sandstones in the area are a testament of time and serve as a reminder of our constant evolution. Time transforms, things evolve.

El Nido - Where Heaven Meets The Earth

Palawan, Philippines —

I’ve been wanting to go to El Nido for quite some time. I remember daydreaming about this place in the middle of winter, picturing myself exploring the islands and just enjoying the whole tropic scenery. I would watch countless videos, read blogs, look at pictures, basically torture myself as I try to survive the cold. I used to get excited about the winter months until these past few years. There would be a period of time where I would get sick and it would last for weeks. I have found that what helps me get through it is to visualize myself on the beach, spending a day under the sun and maybe sipping on a coconut. If you’re a beach person like me, you probably also find yourself clicking on videos after videos of beautiful beaches on YouTube. For the longest time I would watch these videos and at least for me, their setting would be somewhere in Palawan, usually in El Nido.

I’ve heard about Palawan way back when I was younger. I have some distant relatives who live there and I remember hearing how beautiful it is. Of course this was before Facebook or Instagram so much of their description was left for my imagination. Now with the advent of social media, a simple search would give you thousands of pictures of Palawan and they often come with the hashtags - #paradise #heaven #beautiful. I often run into these Facebook posts from my friends. I’ve seen a lot of their beautiful pictures and I've heard about their awesome stories. I would then tell myself, “Someday Paolo, someday”. Well, last December, that “someday” finally happened.

Arriving In El Nido

We took a charter plane directly to El Nido from Cebu. Most people go through Puerto Princesa which is the coastal city of Palawan but if you go that route, you would then have to endure an additional 5 to 6-hour drive. That may be worth it if you are planning to explore Puerto Princesa but for us, we wanted to go directly to El Nido.

Arriving in El Nido, you would get a glimpse of the the islands from the plane. It was quite an exciting time for me because I’ve been wanting to do this trip for so long but something always comes up and it would never happen. This time it was finally happening. I was finally seeing these beautiful islands with my own eyes and they’re no longer on my computer screen.

We arrived late in the afternoon and we were greeted with a warm sunny weather. As the plane was landing, I remember seeing this one particular island across the water. The sun was low on the horizon so I could see hazes of sunlight peeking through the palm trees. I continued to look around and then saw this water buffalo relaxing by the shore, close to the ramp. It was quite a scenery.

El Nido’s airport is small. There’s only one commercial airline that goes there (at least at that time) and they only cater flights from Cebu and Manila. Most of the airlines go to Puerto Princesa. When we get out of the plane, an awesome "jeepney" took us to the reception area or should I say reception hut :) where we were welcomed with snacks, refreshments and a few singing locals. A few minutes later, we were directed to get our luggage from the “baggage area” and when I say “baggage area”, I don’t mean the usual carousel that you see in airports. It’s basically a little hut under the trees.

The arrival itself was quite an experience and I think my friend Danielle’s Instagram hashtag describes it pretty well. It’s got the #IslandVibes written all over it.

Island Hopping

Previous records show that the Philippines has 7,107 islands but apparently, they discovered more — click here. Out of these 7,641 islands, you could find 45 of them in El Nido. After negotiating around El Nido town, we were able to secure a boat to take us to a few of these islands.

Since there were four of us, we opted for a private boat. It’s preferable to get a private one since you’ll have more control of your time and route. In our boat, we had a captain, a chef, a lifeguard and a tour guide. We wanted to start early and get ahead of everyone so by the time we got the clearance from the coast guard, we were already on the boat and ready to go.

There’s really nothing like spending your day hopping around these islands. It was surreal. There were moments when I thought I was dreaming. After so much anticipation from watching all those videos, I was finally on a boat enjoying the tropics just as I had imagined.

Beauty Beneath

El Nido under water is just as mesmerizing as it is above the water. I’ve been to quite a few snorkeling sites, mostly in the Caribbean, but El Nido's waters are truly made out of dreams. We stopped at a couple snorkeling spots and they kept getting better every time. The best one though was in between Matinloc island and Tapiutan island. It was rich of colorful reefs and fishes and it felt like I was being hypnotized the whole time. I was able to take a few shots using my GoPro (click here) but pictures don’t give it justice. You'll have to see it for yourself. Technology has got nothing on mother nature that’s for sure.

In one of the spots, the boat had to drop us off on deep water. We then had to swim to and under the rocks to get to a hidden beach. El Nido has a lot of hidden beaches and lagoons. I actually started getting confused because there’s quite a few of them. Some of them are called "hidden", some of them are called "secret". Some of them are beaches, some of them are lagoons. It's hard to remember which one is which. Just on the boat ride itself, you would see small patches of beautiful beaches scattered throughout the islands. I actually wouldn’t mind spending a day in any of these beaches.

I coudn’t get enough of the whole island hopping experience. If you follow this blog, you probably know by now that I love the beach. El Nido took it to a different level. I mean imagine exploring all these islands, swimming in pristine waters, kayaking on secret lagoons, then being asked to choose where you want to have lunch, on an island or on a boat? Ummm……

I gotta admit, I actually didn’t get to take a lot of pictures when I was in El Nido. At least not as much as I normally would whenever I'd go on a trip. I really didn't wanna miss on the whole experience so for most of the time, I was just enjoying the scenery and being in the moment. One of the things that I learned on my travels is to have that discipline and to know when to turn your camera off. I mean, it’s not everyday that you get to see something like this so you’ve gotta be able to allow yourself to be in the moment and take it all in.

The Perfect Beach Day

We were in El Nido for 5 days and for one of those days, we decided not to do any tours and basically have a little downtime. By downtime, I mean zip-line between islands and explore the main island in a little "tricycle".

Right after breakfast, we were able to hire one of the tricycle drivers to take us around. We went directly to Las Cabanas beach for zip-lining. As if we haven’t had enough island hopping, we wanted to do it literally. It was so much fun except for the fact that we were going against the wind so none of us made it to the end. I got really close but didn't quite make it. No problem though, we just had to wait for the “kuyas” to pull us in.

After Las Cabanas, we made our way to Nacpan beach. Getting there was a quite an adventure. We had to go through dirt roads which I thought was awesome. I liked the fact that the roads weren’t completely developed yet because if they were, it would make it easier for people to get to this beach. Selfish I know but I do like seeing places when they're still off the beaten path.

After about an hour, we finally made it to Nacpan beach. There were a few people there when we arrived but nonetheless it still wasn't crowded. We had planned on spending the rest of the day there to watch the sunset.

Most, if not all, of the people had left right after noon so we pretty much had the beach to ourselves for the rest of the day. Imagine being isolated in a 4 km-stretch of a powdery beach surrounded with tall palm trees with nothing but waves and ocean breeze to relax you. I remember laying on the sand with a speaker on and just having the time of my life. It was a perfect day.

Later that afternoon, we went to this little hut in the middle of the beach and that's where we decided to watch the sunset. I can't really explain it, maybe it's the waves, or the palm trees, or perhaps the puppy taking his nap but time seems to be slower in El Nido. We were able to indulge ourselves with this magnificent view of the sunset. It was the type of sunset worthy of being in a desktop wallpaper.

I feel blessed having been able to travel these past few years. I've been to quite a few places but I would go out on a limb and say that El Nido is probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. If you love the beach as much as I do, you would probably agree once you see it for yourself. My only hope is that it doesn’t get too crowded like the other spots in Southeast Asia. It’s starting to attract a lot of tourists but at least from what I've seen, it still has a good balance of tourism and preservation. They have a few luxury resort islands but in the town proper itself, I was delighted to see that most businesses are still family or locally-owned. As a matter of fact, I didn't see any chain restaurants or hotels there. I think that it would be really disappointing to see large corporations get a hold of this beautiful paradise.

The Underwater World Of El Nido