OK... Here's the scoop...

Sorry for the delay in getting you an update - it turns out that Wi-Fi doesn't always work reliably on tropical islands. ;)

So, where to begin?

Should I tell you about the tour around the area of Puerta Princesa on Palawan Island on Friday after our early flight from Manila? That we visited a local church, then a Crocodile Sanctuary (see the picture I posted yesterday) then an open prison where the inmates - who have committed a range of crimes from petty theft to murder - are able to roam openly around the area, farm the land, serve you in the prison store where they sell things they make and eventually have their families join them within the compound - before heading to a local politician's ranch property on the top of a hill and then to a local tourist attraction/bakery that had a very eclectic garden area that included cactus, peacocks and somewhat effeminate looking dinosaur models?

Or perhaps you'd prefer to hear about the trip to the underground river that runs about 5 miles under the mountains, where Swifts (who build the nests that bird-nest soup is made from) and copious numbers of bats live, or the mangrove swamps with lizards, poisonous snakes, crocodiles and the natural habitat of Tamilok - apparently a kind of clam that eats into the mangrove trees, looks like a worm and is eaten as a local delicacy the supposed tastes like Oysters and of which I agreed to eat some as a dare with our local team who promptly called my bluff (and no, it really doesn't taste like Oysters people)? Or how about the climb up the inside of a mountain known as Ulong Rock to reach the peak where they run a zipline about 500m across paddy fields to a platform where about a dozen local guys help you slow down quickly such that you don't smash into the big tree the built the platform around - an experience so exhilirating that I burst into fits of giggles and had the shakes from all the adrenaline once I got off at the other end?

Or, instead, maybe you'd like to hear about the island hopping trip on Sunday where we took boats across the bay to small local islands surrounded by coral and teaming with tropical fish where you can swim and snorkel among them - some of them are territorial and play chicken with you when you get a bit too close to the area they consider is theirs (hilarious, by the way, as if you're not paying attention they come up and gently nip you before scooting away) - including the clown fish that will come out to greet you as you approach their nursery (they really do look and behave exactly like the characters in Finding Nemo) before heading back for a relaxing massage and freshly caught and cooked local rock lobsters (nothing but tail!) and sea urchin.

I know, I know, you probably just want to hear about all of it.

I have to tell you, this past weekend has felt like the very best kind of dream. I still can't quite believe the varied and amazing experiences that we were able to fit into such a short space of time and I know I won't be forgetting it in a hurry.

Simply incredible.