ABDUCTED FROM PARADISE

Before and after photos shown below are the result of being taken away from a really good bar at beer point a few days ago, here in Northern Palawan.
My mate Sean turned up at the island unexpectedly and swam ashore with three lady friends for a spot of lunch.
Nelson, the boatman was left aboard Sean's fast fishing boat to count the beers left on board and to sort out the tequila, rum and gin bottles which had fallen all over the place as a result of the boat's top speed of 37 knots. needless to say, the only food on board was several tubes of broken Pringles!
After a few beers and a spot of lunch, I was persuaded, (or was it my idea), that I should go with them to Concepcion to visit Concepcion Mike for the night. I know the channels and reefs around here so I took them through the Calauit river which separates the Safari park from mainland Busuanga.
This river trip is a real buzz, very shallow entry and exit channels but plenty of depth through the main 2 mile channel, narrow and twisty at times, but there are sections to open up the boat and play Apocalypse Now. It's a stunning mangrove river and if anybody ever gets offered a trip through on a shallow draft boat, then grab it!!!!
Outside the bay the boat was a dream to drive, 400hp, smooth hydraulic steering, and thanks to a refill of supplies at El Rio y Mar resort, plenty more ice cold beer.
Concepcion Mike was on hand with a freezer full of beer, ( the thermostat is set so the beers come out frosty but not frozen) and so the rest of the day progressed, until we all fell over.
Next day was a walk up to the waterfall for the girls, with young Ivan the Dutchman, while the rest of us drank hair of the dogs before the return to the resort via Andy at Sangat Island, and a quick pass through some of the other beautiful islands out to the west. In the afternoon we had tide enough to get back through the river. It's much more fun than going outside Calauit Island. We also abducted Ivan so he could do the trip.
After a good sleep back in my room at the resort, I remembered that Sean needed fuel, good thing he remembered too. During the process of pouring 550 litres of fuel into his boat, I thought it was probably a good idea to go with them to Coron the other way around Busuanga, i.e. the east side.
Very rough and at times only 10 knots progress, it's a funny side with NW swells meeting SE wind and waves. However the stunning scenery of limestone Coron Island made up for all the bouncing around. Most of us had a quick swim in one of the little inlets before the natives could get us for a contribution, and then across the bay to Coron town for the night, after a few beers at Sea Dive hotel. Sean and party stayed at Divelink and I stopped at Sea Dive. All of us had a great meal at Bruno's Bistro in the evening.
We all left on a jeep the next morning, Sean and party back to Manila by plane, myself back to the resort and Ivan back to Concepcion. Only one left is Nelson, sleeping on the boat for the next 10 days till Sean gets back, and we continue the high jinks with 10 of his friends coming down for some fun!!??
I think I looked and felt worse than Sean, but he is 14 years younger than me after all..............