a lot like Like

Folks, this is Palawan. =)

Freedom is my ally! -Dioanne

Prior to my actual trip i've already thought of my blog title: Soloista in Puerto Princesa. But that did not happen. Yes, i've flown alone, even slept alone. But never felt alone. For one, i have chabs, alot, and yeye who i can call even at odd hours while in transit. (Sincerest thanks, friends! :D hihi.) Second, i've met with couch surfers, and they've been splendidly fun. So when i arrived, a friend of a friend fetched me from the airport. Dudz (my father's namesake, fyi. err tmi. haha) arranged my tours to Honda Bay (which i readily mistake for Halong Bay! Haha, Princess, that's in Vietnam, they would always tell me) and Underground River. 

So that first night we ate Chao Long (suspiciously looks like Pho, but i used the locals' term), then had beer (beers?) at Kinabuchs. Haha. I thought i was eating tamilok (wood worm) my first night. But Dudz tells me the ones in Sabang were fresher. And when i told chabs that, she tells me the ones in Sabang were served still alive, it wiggles! Whew!

More crappy iPod pictures

Anyway, back to my first night, i went home at around 3am. Got up 6am for my trip to HB.

My head was hurting, to say the least. But good thing the sea was calm. I thoroughly enjoyed feeding schools of fish. I left my bread in Snake Island, and so, the ever resourceful me, looked for an alternative. There were leftover bananas from lunch, and i decided the fish might just like that. So i peeled off one banana, lo and behold! I might just get a catch! The fish were baited.

Photos courtesy of Maria and Jonel.
Inset: The last picture taken by my Sony underwater camera

They were nibbling, 4 of them around 1 foot long. Yes, they were that big. The rest, little ones. It was Feeding Frenzy in the flesh, folks! I had to keep my hands off the banana for fear they might mistake my dainty finger for food. Haha.

I was not too stunned nor impressed with the sights in HB. But the fish made it all worthwhile. And my camera got busted, so no pictures. I am waiting for people to post online the underwater shots. Heee. That's how i make blog. Halong bay- err see there i go again. Honda bay tour costs Php 1,100 per pax. Inclusive of lunch, we visited coral reef, Snake Island, and Pandan Island.

Looks like Davao's Samal Island. Haha

After Honda Bay, i met with Dioanne, she's a CSer based in Puerto Princesa City. We had dinner at Ugong Rock since Kalui won't accommodate us (they needed reservations), and went to Ikaw Cag Ako afterwards for some wine, octopus, and dominoes. Woefully, (just my luck) Mon and I lost to Antonio and Dioanne. Just a temporary setback. I'll come back to get even! Antonio, wait for my sweet revenge! Ha! Moreover, it was my first time to try out octopus. Yeye was telling me i shouldn't eat it, lest, i'll get clingy, which I already am. Haha.

Life

I turned in early that night since lack of sleep was taking its toll. The next day, i packed up and arranged my bill at my accommodation (Php 250/night is not bad). Waited for tour to underground river to fetch me. Dioanne invited me for an overnight stay in Sabang. As usual, i said yes. So there i was ready for our underground river escapades. Normal rates for the tour is Php 1,500. I got mine discounted. Wink! ;) Inclusive of buffet lunch. We also ordered tamilok (one order costs Php 100, which I split with someone in our group who wanted to try it too). I gots to eat 3 pieces of worm. Its sea-salt flavor and oyster-like texture, were more than I could bear.

Wildlife

Instead of returning to the city with my troop, i stayed behind to see more of Sabang Beach. Never regretted it. The place was amazing. Like Boracay, i loved the fine sands it offered. And the stretch of white sand while waves were rushing over to it was a treat for the eyes and the ears. The place also offers a number of activities. Zipline with sea-landing (php 550, introductory price, didn't try it since I was overly rich the time I was there. haha. read sarcasm folks), mangrove boat paddling (php 150, for 45mins we were transported to Amazon river), monkey trail to underground river (free, it would take you 3 hours one way, depending on your pace), body boarding (rates, i haven't asked).


We had more wine that night. And played you-shoot-I-die with Blaire.


The next day was spent exploring the place. Mangrove boat paddling was first on the list.

Mangrove lady were singing beautifully and poignantly to us

People, you should try out mangrove boat paddling. I will try to upload the video of Mangrove Lady singing. And remember to dab on lots of Citronella Oil or Off Lotion. :) We enjoyed this much more than the Underground River. :)

Let's give back. Let's plant

Since I forgot to withdraw money in the city, all I have left was Php 500. And no banks and machines at Sabang. No electricity, even! Except from 6pm-10pm. Good thing Dioanne was kind enough to pay the bill for dinner and lunch and accommodation. I asked if there were establishments which accept credit cards. And, Daluyon was it. Had breakfast and took lots of pictures of the place.

Dioanne and Blaire the adorable 3-year-old

The heat was harsh on the skin. But we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Photoshoot

I was addicted to yoga, and for 5 straight days, prior to my trip, I was religiously practicing it for 1.5 hours each class. Chabs and I, we're addicts like that. =))

Tree pose

We can choose to be happy, so I chose to be one. :)

HAPPY Kid

I went back to the city by 4pm (last trip of Lexus shuttle, Php 140) to meet other couch surfers. Renwick and Cliff were kind enough to have dinner with me at Itoy's. We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning. Just talking and exchanging travel stories while welcoming the Chinese New Year. No picture of us as I still wait for Renwick to upload it. It - meaning, isang picture lang. :))

Dinner at Itoy's and Food trip at Baywalk with Renwick and Cliff

I woke up extra early on my last day. And decided to go to Baker's Hill. Commuting. Haha. Overshoot! The driver failed to tell me I was due my drop. So I had to return. Good thing a trike driver was kind enough to go to Baker's Hill for only Php 40.  

And I forgot to tell him to wait up for me. So there, I just grabbed some pastries, and took a little walk around the place, and had to walk back to where there were multicabs which return to the city.


Halfway down the hill, I saw a trike, and was instantly reprieved from walking. Then I had to wait at a shed for a trip back to the city. Which later turned out, I was on the wrong side. So silly me, I had to ask another driver where to ride. And well, I was back at the pension house in 30 mins. Billed out (Php 350 that night since the room was for doubles) and hailed another trike outside to bring me to airport. But upon arriving and checking in, I remembered my earrings, which I left at the bed. I had to return!! Those were my favorites! Haha. I saw Mon and Antonio outside, and Antonio was kind enough to bring me to my accommodation, and we traveled via his motorbike! Weee!


The cost of the entire trip was  6,000 Php.




I end this with Ramon Bautista's, is your fun as fun as my fun?


#It's More Fun in the Philippines :))


RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATIONS AT PUERTO PRINCESA (as per CSer Renwick)
around 500 pesos
-Duchess Pension
-Payuyo Pension
-Princesa Inn
-Garcellano Inn (in the center)

less than 1,000 pesos:
-Circon Businessman's Inn (good location)

budget accommodations less than 1,500:
-Rover's Place (nice location)
-Raq's Pension

Hotels 2500 and up
-A&A Hotel
-Legend Hotel
-Asturias Hotel
-Fleuris Hotel