Palawan represents our archipelagic riches: My Puerto Princesa Travelogue* (Part III)
TWO
DAYS IN PUERTO PRINCESA
We had a City Tour
in Puerto Princesa and experienced the Firefly watching in Iwahig to
cap the day. We started the tour in the Japanese-donated Crocodile
Farming Institute, then headed to Rancho Zipline Adventure to inhale
some farm air and have some pastoral view. From there, we headed to
the Baker's Hill, a bakeshop popular for its Hopia. After grabbing
some pasalubong, we had a quick round of the garden and had a good
time there. After Baker's Hill, we went to two pasalubong centers.
From there, we went
to Plaza Cuartel located just across the Immaculate
Conception Cathedral
and had the chance to get inside despite it was dark already. Thanks
to the kind caretaker who also explained the marker to us. Plaza
Cuartel is the site where American prisoners-of-war during WWII was
burned by the Japanese. One survivor, made a sculpture immortalizing
the pain and sorrow of the war experience.
After Plaza
Cuartel, we went to quite-a-distant Iwahig Firefly Watching at
Mangrove Eco-Tourism and Wildlife Park. We were treated to the
wonders and beauty of the firefly christmas trees while navigating in
the waters flanked by the mangroves. The guide is full of fun and
not-so-fun facts on fireflies which entertained us during our
45-minute boat ride.
On our way home, we
passed by the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm. The kind guard let us in
but we did not venture any farther from the gate because it was dark
anyway. We just had some photos outside. So our jam-packed day one
ended.
The next day, we
prepared for the underground river tour but since our schedule was in
the afternoon, we made a side tour at the Ugong Rocks where after
braving the cave and some rock climbing, I and my three senior
citizen companions had our first zipline ride, all because we cannot
imagine ourselves undergoing the same route in going down.
From there, we had
our buffet lunch where I braved to try the popular seafood in Puerto
Princesa called Tamilok, which is also known as shipworm, but
technically, not a worm. It is an elongated mollusk that grows inside
the dead trunk of a mangrove tree.
Then we headed to the registration center and wharf going to the Sabang where the Puerto Princesa Underground River is found. PPUR is promoted as a World Heritage Site and a natural wonder that features 8.2 kilometers of navigable Underground River, reputed to be the longest, that winds through the spectacular cave before emptying out to the South China Sea. Cathedral Chambers, wide hallways and interesting geological formations greet the wide-eyed visitor to the grotto hidden beneath the St. Paul Mountain.
Our smiles never
end as we went home. The guides are well-trained to entertain us as
we navigate the cool and sleep-inducing atmosphere of the cave. And
yes, I must include here that I loved the smell of the bats there; I
thought they smell like toasted sesame seeds.
AND
SOME MEMORABLE STOPS
We stopped by the
Linapacan Island on our way to El Nido from Coron and got a glimpse
of the real island living. Also, on our way from El Nido to Puerto
Princesa, we stopped by Taytay, another municipality in Palawan. We
took memorable photos of the historical fort there called Kutang
Santa Isabel. While in Puerto Princesa, the three of us experienced
Zorbing for the first time, where each of us crawled inside a
water-filled big ball and allowed ourselves to be rolled down the
hill together with the ball while all of us experienced riding the
ATV.
There are still
many more water and outdoor activities to do in Palawan like scuba
diving, camping out in an island, visiting the Batak or Tagbanua
community or the vietnamese village. One just needs to have some
planning, and an open and brave heart to enjoy them. If Team St.
Lukes, Team Iloilo and Team Negros (which included three senior
citizens) did it, you can, too!
Lastly, I assure
you, no one left Palawan in travel lite, literally and figuratively.
St Luke's team: Marissa, Cooky and Sharon!
***
The Negros Team: Nida, Gerlie, Roger and Julie!
***
For more of my eats
and trips, please visit beforesixdiet.blogspot.com and
footandfire.blogspot.com.
*Published in June 4, 2013 issue of Sunstar - Bacolod and at the Sunstar website: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/lifestyle/2013/06/03/my-coron-el-nido-and-puerto-princesa-travelogue-285566
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