Apulit Island Resort - Departure

After four nights at Apulit Island Resort, our stay there came to an end.  We had to board a boat at 7am and then catch a plane back to Manila.  We recieved our wake-up call at the exact minute we scheduled it for and I was pleasantly surprised to hear a real voice say "Good morning Ms. Green."  An employee came to our cottage to take our luggage to the boat where it was again loaded into waterproof bags for the journey.  Despite being so early, all of the employees we saw were bright and smiling and there was breakfast waiting for us at the clubhouse.

After eating, we officially checked out and headed to the pier with a few other couples who were also leaving.  We were welcomed by song and dance when we arrived and we were farewelled the same way.  The only difference was the emotions we felt.  Our boat pushed away and the song ended but the staff stood on the pier waving until we literally couldn't see them anymore.  It was a nice touch and made us feel special.

The boat ride was one last opportunity to soak up the tropical sunshine and marvel at the countless shades of blue in the water and sky around us.

Before long, we came upon the same wooden dock we first saw earilier in the week.  Resort employees carried our luggage on their shoulders to the jeepney waiting for us.

We arrived at the airport with it's dirt-floored hut and dirt runway in time to watch the plane land.  A new group of people got off the plane, obviously excited about their island vacation that was just beginning.  I admit that I felt a twinge of jealousy and sadness.  It was fitting moment for my favorite Dr. Seuss quote, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

We waited for the plane to refuel before we boarded which took a while because the fuel had to be hand-pumped from a barrel!  This plane was a little larger than the one we flew in on.  Flying back to Manila, I watched blue-green world of islands pass by below us, unfazed by our visit, continuing on with life as usual.

Our vacation to Apulit Island Resort was perfect.  We easily could've stayed longer but our time there was enough to unwind, relax, and enjoy ourselves.  This was our first island resort vacation and it was possibly one of the most relaxing vacations we've ever been on simply because it was so peaceful and secluded.

Pros:

• The staff was incredible.  Everyone was friendly, helpful, and always smiling.
• The water cottages were modern and comfortable.
• The resort was very clean and had a lot of environmentally friendly practices in place.
• The activities were easy to schedule, fun to do and almost all of them are included with the price of your stay.
• This was an amazing place for taking photographs.  I had a camera with me at all times :)
• The food was fresh and delicious and the drinks were heavenly.
• Although the resort is child friendly, it is more suited for a romantic getaway than a family vacation.  There was only one older child there during our stay.
• There is nothing on the island besides the resort so it is secluded.  There was no loud nightlife, no vehicles, and no one there except other guests and staff.
• The resort is small and therefore very personalized.  We were always greeted by name.

Cons:

• There is a generator on the island to provide power and it hums constantly.  I would equate it to the hum of the engines on a cruise ship.  It did take away from some of the tranquility of the resort.  Perhaps a sound barrier wall in front of the generator would help.
• Those darn tiny jellyfish that kept us out of the water for a day or two.  However, the resort is not to blame for this as there was nothing they could do.
• Pancakes should be light and fluffy.  The resort needs a new recipe.

Disclaimer:
Johnnie and I are not affiliated with Apulit Island Resort, El Nido Resorts, or any of their employees.  We are simply a couple who chose to spend our vacation at Apulit Island for no other reason than "it looked nice."  I've created this multi-part blog posting for three reasons: 1) to have a photojournal of our trip, if for no one else but ourselves  2) to showcase some of my photography  3) to provide detailed information about the resort for anyone looking into it as a possible vacation destination.

Related Posts:
Apulit Island Resort - Arrival
Apulit Island Resort - Amenities
Apulit Island Resort - Activities
Apulit Island Resort - Food/Drinks

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"Our memories of the ocean will linger on,

long after our footprints in the sand are gone."

~Anonymous