We left Palaui Island a little past 09:00 AM to visit a beach Anguib Beach located at the northern coast of Santa Ana. Known as the northern long beach, it features off-white sand and clear turquoise waters. The boat ride was around an hour, and it was not a smooth one.

The area of the Babuyan Channel where Palaui Island is located is known for its rough seas. That should not come as surprise. It is part of the Philippine Sea, which is the largest marginal sea in the world, connected to the largest ocean, the Pacific Ocean. The ocean winds coming from the vast waters surrounding the coastlines of Cagayan make the waves so strong and so high, there were times we had to hold on tight to our boat which was being occasionally thrown by the waves highly, we could feel that the boat was not touching the sea anymore.

As our boat embattled the waves, we still managed to get some snaps of the seascape around us, albeit very carefully. Baka kasi mabitiwan ang namin ang mga telepono at ang camera, kaya hindi na rin kami masyadong nagtangka.

The feeling that we were nearing our destination dawned to us when the waters changed its hue from deep blue to turquoise. The change of color is a sign that the depth of the water has changed. We have entered the shallow part of the sea.

A few minutes more and we have seen the white beaches of Anguib which is a private area owned and managed by a beach club. We chose not to go to the paid area as we did not really intend to stay in the beach as we would still have to return to Palaui Island and got another destination after that. Our boatmen also told us that if we would want to take a dip, crocodile island which we would also visit would be a better spot to do so. We hence settled to the part where there was no fee to be paid. It was also worth the trip anyway. In fact, if you ask me, it was way better having to pay nothing for an equally memorable experience.

The sea in Anguib was calm when we were there, starkly contrasted to the waves of the open seas that we experienced earlier. Those same harsh waves and strong winds undoubtedly aided to the creation of the rock formations accentuated with lush greens that surround Anguib.

Such a picture perfect place!

When we were about to board our boat again, Hamil our boatman told us that we may ask someone from the residential area of Palaui Island, Elsa, to cook for us. He then asked us as to what we would want for lunch. Since we were by the sea, I told him that I would want to have a squid dish. Ran wanted pork. Hamil then informed Elsa that we would be having adobong pusit and sinigang na baboy.

Off we went back to Palaui, but that time, we were headed to the eastern part of the island where Punta Verde is located. Punta Verde is a small community of permanent residents in Palaui. The place and Palaui Island in general gained attention when two seasons of the reality show Survivor was shot there, Survivor: Blood vs. Water and Survivor: Cagayan.

We were asked to register upon arriving in Punta Verde, then we were asked if we would want to hike to the nearby Baratubot Falls or to see the Survivor Tribal Council structures that were left behind when the show finished its run. We declined both. We told our gracious hosts in Punta Verde that we would rather rest a bit while waiting for our food. We then spent time on benches under the tree and observed the locals go about their usual routine and watched the children playing.

Punta Verde fascinated us. A small community living a simple life, they embody the harmonious coexistence between nature and man. There is something envying about the simplicity of their lifestyle, being away from the fast-paced hustle and bustle of urban life. Their life seemed laid-back, and Ran tried to experience that kind of life albeit quickly.

Our food was served in a hut which with chairs and tables in it which gave us the impression that it was really built to cater to visiting tourists who chose to dine in Punta Verde. Unfortunately, we were no longer able to take any photos of our food. Gutom na kami.

When we had our fill, It was time to say goodbye to Palaui Island. We still got an island to visit, but we would be returning to the mainland after that.

Our visit to Palaui Island, short as it was, is something that we will not forget. Apart from the joy that the breathtaking views gave us, having been able to see an uncomplicated life being lived under the watch of nature is an experience definitely worth remembering.