List: You know you're in El Nido when...

… you wear flip-flops with everything: shorts, jeans, slacks…

… you wear flip-flops everywhere, including important meetings with top management. Incidentally, said top management are also wearing flip-flops so they can hardly call your attention to your choice in footwear.

… wearing closed shoes feels strange.

… you track sand, not mud, when you come into the office.

… it becomes obvious how your uniform is cut: your skin is browned where it’s exposed to the sun and fair where it’s not.

… you decide to forgo your regular pedicure because it’ll be ruined after 3 days anyway.

… sunblock becomes your primary skin care agent.

… hair conditioner becomes your new best friend.

… the daily commute consists of getting on an outrigger boat.

… taking a vacation means getting on a plane back to the mainland.

… “going swimming” means walking to the pier and jumping off.

... the sand flies laugh in the face of your insect repellent.

… you find yourself struggling to find that one spot with a cellular signal.

… riding in the back of a truck with your hair flying everywhere doesn’t seem so bad because the air you’re breathing is clean.

… you brake for cows, goats, and chickens.

… the “main road” is only wide enough for two tricycles.

… everyone seems to be related to everyone else.

and finally,

… every other place you go to doesn’t compare.