El Nido

From Port Barton, we jeepney-ed an hour through the island countryside to seek out an air conditioned bus to El Nido from Roxas.

250 pesos, a couple of travel pills and 6 comatose hours later, we had arrived in the surreal and unspoiled archipelago utopia of El Nido, Palawan. 

The unrelenting beauty of this place will make you gasp for air thinking you've seriously died and gone to heaven. The crystal turquoise waters framed by steaming Jurassic Park-like jungle and prehistoric limestone cliff faces is probably the most beautiful thing a person in this lifetime will ever be fortunate enough to see.

4 straight days of binging on food, booze, seawater and epic scenery. Amazing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philippines!

I'm sipping away on a San Miguel listening to the thunder and rain roll in while burying my feet in the cool sand. Ev is working away furiously but seems very at home in this island paradise. Man, I love this place. 

We're on holiday in the Philippines, right now in Port Barton on the island of Palawan, disconnecting from the world (literally, the wifi has dropped out and there's no power until 6pm) and recharging the batteries before we hit the psychosomatic yet seemingly endearing obscurity of Japan. A place I've always dreamed of going. 

We're travelling with Evan's family for the Philippines leg of the trip and so far it's been awesome. It's been spontaneous, adventurous and hilarious with this silly bunch. The McLellan clan are a good sort with wicked senses of humour and have a unique yet harmonious way about them, hell-bent on sinking back beers, over-sharing travel experiences (Papa McLellan), accidentally tanning and learning everything there is to know about anything and everything. A particularly handy asset being Tagalog speaking Mama McLellan.

I'm having a wonderful time. I can't believe it's only the beginning. Here's a little a look at the rad adventures so far: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only a few posts in and I went MIA

When you're consciously exercising frugality for the sake of another adventure, it's pretty easy to think you've been a bit of a hermit. I realised though, after sifting through some pictures I'd taken since the last post, that isn't true at all! Fun was had and here's the proof:

1. I had a birfdy and went camping in Mallacoota to celebrate

 

2. We made a little mate while we were there

3. I made a wedding cake

 

4. Celebrated the wedding of our wonderful friends. Camping and beach wedding weekend in Apollo Bay. 

5. We saw off my dear friend Stefan who has been adventuring through Nepal & India before starting the new chapter of his life as a seafaring photographer on a cruise ship abroad. 

 

6. I caught my first fish!

 

7. Casually just walked backstage and watched Pennywise from the doorway of their dressing room like ain't no thing. 

 

8. Came across this happy little dude on the walk to the station one morning. 

9. Jalapeño harvest! 

10. Saw some of the best bands in Melbourne own it with Slapshot

 

11. Came to the staggering realisation that I have the same hair as Dave Mustaine from Megadeth

 

Move over Jane Fonda

The combination of being THAT side of 25 and having absolutely no self control has led to a strong relationship with my track suit pants. This (apparently) is not attractive. At the end of last year, I came to the chubby realisation that perhaps it's time to join the gym. 

 

With unrealistic optimism and an iPhone full of svelte Jane Fonda-like body inspiration photos, I signed a fortnightly portion of my income away and jumped on the gym's body scanner for an assessment of fat and muscle make-up. To my horror, the seemingly bemused gym boy advised that I needed to lose 8kgs of fat and gain nearly 10kgs of muscle. Whaaattt??!

 

4 months and punishing daily visits later, I found myself in a situation where I was splitting pants and gaining weight. No matter how much loving reassurance I was getting from Ev, I couldn't shake the idea that this has been a big fat costly waste of time. My glutinous and beer soaked past had caught up with me and set up a permanent home on my butt. 

 

Now, I'm not usually the sort of person who succumbs to body image flagellation but with the amount gruelling time and effort invested, naturally, I getting pretty darn annoyed. Personal training seemed to be the next logical step. At 70 clams a session though, I thought it'd be best to confirm my lack of progress by booking in for another body scan. 

 

Stepping on the scanner with trepidation, I watched and waited as my body was assessed and the were results printed. Expecting the worst, you'd understand my shock when the girl read the results of  my exercise achievements. I have gained 9.3kgs of muscle!!! Holy macaroni!!! 

 

To put it in perspective, I have gained muscle mass that is the equivalent to weight of: 

An adult daschund; a fixed gear bike; a 4 person tent; 10 pineapples; or a large female adult turkey

 

It's pretty safe to say that the pump classes are probably working a little too well. 

The day I made pho bo and it ruled

It's me! Charlie!

I'm Charlie. I'm a girl. I live in Melbourne. I love food.

 

 

I'm Italian which means I'm naturally gifted in the art of bolognese. 

 

I love this remarkable human being.  

 

 

We are two peas in a silly codependent, enabling pod. 

 

 

Together, I'm pretty sure we're gonna eventually rule the world one budget conscious, dirty and crazy fun adventure at a time. 

 

 

I also love puppies...

Use all my phone plan data obsessively reading about world politics...

 

Oh...and I dye my eyebrows.

 

Welcome to the blog of a silly girl x