"I will set foot on Palawan one of these days", a line I always muttered to myself whenever I see breathtaking photos or tourism campaigns and ads of the place. Now that it's a major tourist destination because of a recognized wonder of nature, all the more that my feet itched and pulled me to that side of the country. Specks of fairy dust found their way to me and my wish was granted. I was awed by Palawan's beauty in no time.
We opted for a packaged airfare/tours to facilitate a worry-free family vacation (or so we thought).
Horrible! To appease the waiting travelers, free snack/lunch was provided before the flight. With tummies full, we were ready to board. The waiting was over and in 90 minutes we were looking down at Palawan's lush forests and turquoise waters.
After resting for some time at the hotel, we strolled along the Provincial Capitol which was designed to look like a bird's nest.
Dinner followed at the nearby Kinabuch Bar and Grill where we eagerly tasted Croc Adobado (croc meat cooked adobo style with coconut milk).
It was tasty, tender and tastes better that of course, chicken! Actually, I liked it. :)
We were up early the next day to have breakfast at the hotel. Island hopping and snorkeling were in store for us. We could not contain the excitement that was running through our veins.
Honda Bay
The islands of Honda Bay are known for their pristine beaches, clear waters and colorful marine life. We hopped on the boat and were immediately engrossed with the different islands that our guide were pointing and describing.
We had a our first try at snorkeling at Pambato reef. We saw a few fishes but it was crowded with tourists so we decided to proceed to Pandan Island where more fishes were waiting for us, our guide explained.
Pandan Island
This was where we spent hours under the sun and under the water. We had a sumptuous lunch of seafood prepared by the hotel.
Refreshing buko juice was readily available sold by children stationed in some huts by the beach. Or they will just take your order and deliver them to you in no time.
After lunch, we went snorkeling and met tropical fishes. We did not have an underwater camera, just the digicam placed in a dicapac pouch, crossing our fingers that not a drop of water can penetrate it. And it worked. But I guess I have to save for an underwater camera soon. Our guide, who was also a diver took our camera down under to take some snaps of the clown-fishes. Yep we met Nemo and his dad there. It was a great experience to feed fishes with pieces of bread. At first I was a bit scared thinking they can bite my fingers, haha!
With arms and backs sun-burned, we headed to one of Puerto Princesa's famous restaurants, Ka Lui. One needs to make a reservation beforehand as it was a must-visit restaurant for tourists. The restaurant is made of native wooden materials and has a clean and cozy feel to it that you would instantly feel at home. Upon entering the restaurant you have to remove your footwear and neatly tuck them in their drawers or basket containers. Friendly male staff will immediately assist you and lead you to your reserved table. As first-timers we wanted to taste an array of seafood, we ordered the Special of the Day composing of prawns, fish steak, crabs, vegetables and rice.
We were seated at the far end near the stage of some sort, it was quite dark and there were plants there probably where the mosquitoes were hiding. Not that they were malaria-carriers but they were a bit annoying during an on going hearty meal. Maybe they can do something about it like brighten that corner. Just my two cents. But I still recommend the restaurant!
Free dessert of tropical fruits on the house too! Thank you.
Day 3 was for the Underground River, the celebrated wonder of nature that we eagerly came to see. From the hotel, we hopped on the van and it took us about an hour and a half of winding zig-zag roads to reach Sabang, the drop-off point or gateway to the Underground River. When we reached Sabang, we had a lunch buffet first prepared by the hotel. While waiting for the office to resume its business of preparing the permits, we took some snaps of the beach.
Locals at Sabang pointed to us the sleeping giant. Oh ok, hush hush, he's sleeping indeed with clouds as his blanket.
The boat ride from Sabang Pier to the Underground River was about 20 minutes. The ride was refreshing as we passed by limestone karsts and rock formations.
Off the boat, we registered at the park's entrance then traversed the short wooden trail to where the smaller paddle boats were waiting to transport us inside the cave. Life jackets and hard hats were readily available for tourists before boarding the boats. Luckily the jacket smelled alright (I heard some where reeking with b.o. haha! )
A quick, one-kilometer long tour of the Underground river was all we needed to be mesmerized by the stalactites, stalagmites and formations that made it a wonder of nature. I was really careful not to get my camera wet (ziplock bag and towel to cover) during the tour since water was dripping from above in some areas of the cave. It was so dark inside, a boat has only one battery-powered lamp to light the formations as per directed by the guide. You better have a good imagination or you'll miss out what formation the funny and animated guide described.
T-rex
These were..vegies from the market area if I remember correctly :)
We still had half a day to get to some tourist spots before heading back to Manila so we arranged for a van and chose to go to Crocodile farm, Iwahig penal facility, Mitra's ranch and Baker's Hill.
The inside of Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm was just like an ordinary village where low security prisoners were able to roam around, do different chores such as planting rice or cleaning the yard, live in houses with their families like ordinary free citizens.
The prisoners do all sorts of handicrafts that they can sell to tourists to generate some income.
Puerto Princesa is also known for its cleanliness as fines are imposed to offenders. I will definitely miss Palawan. There is still so much to see and experience in this place that a four-day stay is not enough. Hoping to set foot on you again, Palawan!
No comments:
Post a Comment