Livin' High and Takin' it Easy

Where Rizal Street ends is where Sirena Street begins. Sirena Street runs parallel to the beach, as well as a part of Calle Real, both terminating at the port.

Sirena Street, a very narrow, one-way street, can easily be missed. At the corner, on the left side is a clothing store, painted in green, and a sari-sari store on the white building on the right side.

On Sirena Street, construction was in full swing on the lot right next to the clothing store when I was documenting during the month of September. It used to be a cozy little restaurant called Vicenta’s, that we loved to eat at back in 2006 because they had the most delicious seafood dishes.

We used to feel uncomfortable walking on this street because it was crowded and a bit scary. It’s looking a bit better now, but it is still the street I like least in El Nido.

 

On this street, one will also find the Tao Philippines booking office.

TAO EXPEDITION

And the Palawan Pawnshop, one of two in this town. I used to ignore this shop until I realized how important it was in a town that had no banks or ATMs. It is the only way to send or receive money from outside of El Nido.

PALAWAN PAWNSHOP AND EL NIDO SANDS INN

I’ve never even noticed it before, but a photo from 2006 tells me it’s been there ever since.

On the same building is the El Nido Sands Inn (formerly Bay View Inn). They share a security guard and even a lobby.

 

RELUCIO TRAVELLERS PENSION

If coming from Rizal St., Relucio Traveller’s Pension is on the right side while Morales Store/Willa’s Pension is on the left.

 

MORALES STORE AND WILLA’S PENSION

The store is on the ground floor while Willa’s Pension, fairly new, with only two fan rooms with its own bathroom and a third room without a bathroom, occupy the second floor. It’s one of the cheapest accommodations in El Nido at Php500/room with own bath good for two people and Php300 for the room without a bathroom. If you’re quite the backpacker who intend to be out the entire day and night, and only need a room to put your stuff in, this might be the place for you.

I didn’t take a lot of photos of this street back in 2006 but I found an old photo of this same building. I’m thinking I took it just by the color of the building and nothing else. I must’ve thought then, “What a nice color this pink is!” Click!

 

THE ALTERNATIVE INN AND RESTAURANT 

 

PURA VIDA ROOMS AND ISLAND TOURS

Across the street from Pura Vida is a building that used to house the Shipwrecked Bar in 2006. Now I think it’s just a house.

 

LA SALANGANE HOTEL, RESTAURANT AND BAR

Right next to Pura Vida is La Salangane, a French bar and restaurant with 4 rooms. They usually have parties on Friday nights.

 

SHORE PASS LODGE

Right next to La Salangane and in front of El Nido Boutique and Art Cafe is Shore Pass Lodge. In fact, I took this (ridiculously ugly photo) of Shore Pass Lodge as I was having breakfast from the balcony of Art Cafe. I was that lazy that morning. Sorry, sometimes I’m just not in the mood.

EL NIDO BOUTIQUE AND ART CAFE

The blog on El Nido Boutique and Art Cafe is HERE.

Though this isn’t exactly the same spot where the old Art Cafe was, this is how it used to look back in 2006.

Under construction at that point was another inn. This photo I also took as I was sitting on that same table at Art Cafe, having breakfast. I did not take a photo of it while I was on the street because at that time, construction workers were building something in front of the building, and the workers were nasty. I avoided them and went on my way.

A few steps away was another inn, under construction, called A Place to Remember. September, being the slowest month of the year, the leanest month of the entire Off Peak Season, is used as a time for owners to renovate or build establishments. All these in preparation for the peak season which starts as early as October and lasts til June.

A PLACE TO REMEMBER

It stands right next to Anang Balay Turista, which happens to be the last decent building on this street.

ANANG BALAY TURISTA

 

And then you are at the end of the street, and there is the beach, and the port.

If you walk on, there is a gas station at the end of the street, the port on your right, and then on the left, you will find yourself turning a corner into Calle Real.

Back in 2006, I took a photo of this beach as the sun was setting.

I took a photo this year at right about the same spot though it was only a quarter to four in the afternoon. The beach on El Nido town is at its worst on both ends – the other end where one turns the corner going to Caalan, and this one, where the port is.

We saw photos of El Nido’s very same beach taken in the late 1980’s and of course it looked awesome. The beach was widest, and the sand at its whitest, where now the port is.

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This is a series:

• The Before-and-After El Nido Photo-documentation Project – Calle Real
• The Before-and-After El Nido Photo-documentation Project – Rizal Street
• The Before-and-After El Nido Photo-documentation Project – Sirena Street
• The Before-and-After El Nido Photo-documentation Project – Hama Street
• The Before-and-After El Nido Photo-documentation Project – Beachfront