Puerto Princesa [June 9-13, 2009]
Day 1
PR 195 Manila to Puerto Princesa
Lola Itang Pension Inn and Restaurant. Centrally located with easy access to the main avenue and 15 minutes from the airport. Clean rooms with two beds, a TV (local channels only), a small cabinet, a dresser table and an extra table.
Lunch of grilled seafood platter and inexpensive fruit shakes at Balinsasayaw Grill.
Main mode of transportation in Puerto Princesa, the tricycle which can fit as much as five people. Fare cost P7 per head and increases to P10 at night.
Baby crocodiles in the breeding pens at the Crocodile Farm.
Over-sized resin replicas of cartoon characters at Bakers Hill, located in a compound with a bakeshop, snack area, spa and souvenir shop, surrounded by American-style private houses, manicured lawns, topiaries, plants and bonsais.
Production area of a weaving center, where natural materials like buri and grass are woven into beautiful placemats, bags, etc.
Dinner at Badjao Seafront Restaurant, a famous and highly recommended restaurant but which turned into a major disappointment because of the extremely slow service (more than an hour for the first item in the order to arrive) and obviously un-fresh crab, lapu-lapu and shrimps in a so-called seafood restaurant. The only saving grace was the nice Mindanao-inspired décor inside the open-air restaurant that jutted out into the bay. Very popular amongst locals and tourists, had a waiting list shortly after we arrived. Also quite out of the way, but tricycles can be arranged to wait for you.
Day 2
Island Hopping at Honda Bay
Row of boats at Snake Island, one of the most popular islands in Honda Bay.
Starfish Island
Solitary plant
Day 3
Sabang Island
Entrance to the Underground River at the Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and nominated as one of the World’s New 7 Wonders of Nature. The park has a magnificent limestone landscape, underneath which was the Underground River, an 8.2 km stretch through a cave before flowing into the South China Sea. The 45-minute trip traversed only 1.5 kms of the entire length. Inside it was pitch dark, and one of the passengers has to sit in front carrying a torch light while the boatman who also serves as the guide, paddles the boat from the back, and tells the history of the cave and points out the various rock formations.
The Monkey Trail, takes 45 minutes to traverse. Be ready to go up and down flights of wooden stairs amidst a jungle-like mountain environment. Just checked out a small portion due to lack of time.
Rock formations on the outside of the Subterranean River National Park.
Dinner at Ka Lui, a must-do when in Puerto Princesa. Reservations recommended as it gets filled up quickly. Good food and nice ambiance.
Day 4
Canoes at the beach at the Dos Palmas Arreceffi Island Resort
Day 5
Inside the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish
PR 195 Manila to Puerto Princesa
Lola Itang Pension Inn and Restaurant. Centrally located with easy access to the main avenue and 15 minutes from the airport. Clean rooms with two beds, a TV (local channels only), a small cabinet, a dresser table and an extra table.
Lunch of grilled seafood platter and inexpensive fruit shakes at Balinsasayaw Grill.
Main mode of transportation in Puerto Princesa, the tricycle which can fit as much as five people. Fare cost P7 per head and increases to P10 at night.
Baby crocodiles in the breeding pens at the Crocodile Farm.
Over-sized resin replicas of cartoon characters at Bakers Hill, located in a compound with a bakeshop, snack area, spa and souvenir shop, surrounded by American-style private houses, manicured lawns, topiaries, plants and bonsais.
Production area of a weaving center, where natural materials like buri and grass are woven into beautiful placemats, bags, etc.
Dinner at Badjao Seafront Restaurant, a famous and highly recommended restaurant but which turned into a major disappointment because of the extremely slow service (more than an hour for the first item in the order to arrive) and obviously un-fresh crab, lapu-lapu and shrimps in a so-called seafood restaurant. The only saving grace was the nice Mindanao-inspired décor inside the open-air restaurant that jutted out into the bay. Very popular amongst locals and tourists, had a waiting list shortly after we arrived. Also quite out of the way, but tricycles can be arranged to wait for you.Day 2
Island Hopping at Honda Bay
Row of boats at Snake Island, one of the most popular islands in Honda Bay.
Starfish Island
Solitary plantDay 3
Sabang Island
Entrance to the Underground River at the Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and nominated as one of the World’s New 7 Wonders of Nature. The park has a magnificent limestone landscape, underneath which was the Underground River, an 8.2 km stretch through a cave before flowing into the South China Sea. The 45-minute trip traversed only 1.5 kms of the entire length. Inside it was pitch dark, and one of the passengers has to sit in front carrying a torch light while the boatman who also serves as the guide, paddles the boat from the back, and tells the history of the cave and points out the various rock formations.
The Monkey Trail, takes 45 minutes to traverse. Be ready to go up and down flights of wooden stairs amidst a jungle-like mountain environment. Just checked out a small portion due to lack of time.
Rock formations on the outside of the Subterranean River National Park.
Dinner at Ka Lui, a must-do when in Puerto Princesa. Reservations recommended as it gets filled up quickly. Good food and nice ambiance.Day 4
Canoes at the beach at the Dos Palmas Arreceffi Island ResortDay 5
Inside the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish
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