Nega vibes, go away

Maybe I need something miraculous or extra-ordinary thing to happen in my life....
Or maybe talk to someone who's very sensible and at the same time a very patient listener.
Hmmm, why not a reliable shock absorber?

Rants.Rants.Rants. I have too many of these the past few months. I keep on entertaining negative thoughts in my head despite my pact with myself that I would refrain from doing this so as to spare also the people whom I pester every now and then because of my petty dramas in life.

I am just sad. That's all. But more than being sad, I think I am lost. And hopefully, sooner or later, I'll find my right path.

Good night :D

Weekend in Puerto Princesa (The conclusion)

Our main purpose in going to PP is to see and experience the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and National Park (formerly St. Paul Underground River) which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is also the main reason why I look forward on this trip.

However, we were informed during our first day that UR is closed to the public as ordered by the Coast Guard. According to our driver Kuya Archie, a small banca capsized along the shore due to big waves. The passengers were said to be foreigners. The hotel staff, meanwhile, told us a different version of the story. According to them, the banca overturned while in the deep part of the open sea and left its foreign passengers hurt. Whichever version is true we don't really care since our concern is to see it in person. Kuya Archie gave us an option. He told us that if we really want to push through with the trip we need to trek 5 kms ONE WAY for at least 2-3 hours before finally reaching the cave. Whoa! So we opted for a dolphin watching activity instead for our second day.

Try and try until you succeed...and we did!

Until the next day, mommy didn't give up with our "dream." While preparing to leave the hotel for our dolphin watching activity, we were informed that the Coast Guard already permitted tourists to travel by bancas to be able to reach the UR. And so we're set yehey :)

UR is actually in Sabang Island which is a two-hour drive from PP City. It's surprising though that the roads leading to Sabang are not yet fully developed. The local government or community should improve these roads for the tourists' comfort and the locals' gain as well. On our way to the island, we temporarily stopped at the BuenaVista View Deck to have some souvenir photos.

Mi familia @ the Buenaista Viewdeck

Tres Marias island

Overlooking

BuenaVista Viewdeck marker

Road going to Sabang Island

Solar and wind energy powered street lights 

At the port leading to UR

We arrived at the port at around 10. Our guide Kuya Louie told us that our schedule is at 11:30am and so we decided to have our late lunch instead assuming that we're back in the island by 1pm. However, we were able to board a boat that would lead us to UR at 12 already. The boat ride by the way lasted for some 20 minutes. Upon arrival, we registered our names and waited for our turn.

Finally, the UR

Photo op at the UR

Wild monkeys are rampant in the island

I think it was around 1 pm when we're finally called. The tour inside the UR lasted for 45minutes (one-way). According to our boatman, the river is almost 8km long but tourists can only explore more or less its first 1.4 kms. According to the boatman, tourists need to secure a permit beyond the "allowed" place where the more beautiful stalagmites can be found. But not all requests were granted of course since the place is reserved for research and other important purposes.

Anyway, I enjoyed the different rock formations that I saw inside though I admit that I expected more from the place. Well, maybe if I become a researcher or if the local government will permit me to explore beyond 2kms, I'll get to appreciate more the beauty of the UR.

Getting ready to get inside

"The Nativity scene"

Shots inside the UR

We were able to return to Sabang Island at around 3pm for our late lunch then headed back to the hotel for dinner before calling it a night.

Oh by the way, AirPhil again informed us of a flight rescheduled BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

We decided to stay at the hotel for our last day in PP. Major disappointment with the hotel's "breakfast buffet" which only served hotdogs, daing na bangus, garlic fried rice, hotcake, and egg omelette! Booohoooo. Afterwards, my brother and I opted for a quick dip in their pool. Mommy went to us to inform us that our flight is at 1:55pm again instead of the supposed 5:35 pm. Waaaaah!

Pool side

Quick dip in the pool

Messy room haha

At the airport

Waiting at the departure area

Despite the hassles encountered during the whole trip, I still enjoyed it.Will I go back to Palawan? Definitely! I love it there!It's now my number 1 choice next to Davao and Bohol :)

See you in the near future....

Weekend in Puerto Princesa (First of Two Parts)

It's official---I'm in love...again.

In a blink of an eye, I found myself deeply and passionately in love again...with a place!

Over the weekend, I packed my things for a short yet sweet weekend getaway in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan together with my family. I cannot forget the day mommy told me that she already booked a plane ticket bound for Puerto Princesa for the four of us.Yipeee! I'm going to Palawan to see and experience the underground river, I kept telling myself. God knows how I badly wanted to see the said tourist spot since I was a fifth grader. I first heard of it from my favorite Hekasi teacher who went there during that time. Man, I was so thrilled with his stories that I told myself, someday I'll set foot on that island. And after almost a decade, I finally did. Yahooooo :)

It's our first time to avail AirPhil's seat sale promo and we thought that its operations will not be affected despite the ongoing exodus of the pilots and FAs of its mother company, PAL. But we're very wrong. The night before our flight, my mom panicked after receiving a text message informing us that our 8:30 am flight will be rescheduled at 10:40PM WTF! After using her connections, we learned that the announcement was wrong...it was 10:40 AM My goodness!Mistakes like that are unforgivable since it's time that we're talking about here and we know for a fact that we cannot turn back the hands of time.My mom almost cancelled our trip that night and if that happens, I would surely boycott AirPhil for life because of its stupid mistake! 


But the "announcement mistake" was just the beginning of some unfortunate series of our supposed fun trip.

The next day we left the house early to catch the said flight. Lo and behold, the flight was delayed hohoho!AirPhil's such a disappointment that I would never ever book my flight with this airline even if they will offer the best airfare sale in town!NEVER. itaga nyo yan sa bato!

Boo you!

 We arrived in the airport at past 12 already since the whole trip only lasted for an hour. Kung mamalasin ka nga naman, umaambon pa when we disembarked from the plane. Good thing it only drizzled for a short time and the sun greeted us with a big smile. It took us more or less a good 10-15 minutes before getting our luggages.And more or less, a minute or two before the hotel staff finally found us (or is the other way around?) and gladly transferred us to the hotel to grab a quick lunch before the city tour.

Hello Puerto Princesa, we're here :)

The arrival

Quick lunch at the hotel

Ready, set, eat eat eat :)

By the way, we stayed at Microtel Inn which was 20-30 mins away from the airport. What can I say? The place was big although it's not yet fully developed. But it's promising considering its land area.  The room was spacious for the four of us and has high ceilings haha! The  bathroom was okay, not that impressive but at least it looks very decent. My pet peeve in travelling is actually poorly maintained bathroom hotels and I was relieved upon seeing the bathroom for the first time. Our room was supposed to be beach front but when we arrived we cannot see any waters since it's low tide. When we got back to the hotel after the tour, I'm surprised that the water level in the shore was only ankle-deep. Nyahaha!

Feeling homey at the lobby

Front desk minus the staff

FCD shot: Microtel Inn Puerto Princesa

Early morning at the lagoon

Enjoying the "duyan"

This is what I'm talking about--low tide kung low tide!

Baby brother at the "duyan

Early morning shot

"Beach front"

Another angle of the "beachfront"

 And now, my PP experience :)

The remaining half of the day was spent for our four-hour city tour which was facilitated by our bubbly tour guide Ate Joms (not with a z as I thought haha). Our first stop was the Palawan Crocodile Park. To be honest, I'm not really excited since I've been to a crocodile farm back in 2007. But as I've said before in my previous post, one good thing about travelling is seeing and experiencing new things. And for this particular visit, what made it different with my previous crocodile farm trip is that I was able to hold and take a picture of a baby croc! It's really an experience for me since I'm not the type of person who loves touching or carrying animals. An interesting fact that I got during the short trip: crocodiles can only consume 5 percent of their prey. In the Philippines, the said largest crocodile was caught by PP locals after it devoured only the lower part of a fisherman. So alam na, hindi tayo makakain ng buo ng mga buwaya!

Should or shouldn't?

Largest crocodile caught in the country

Family picture @ the Palawan Crocodile Farm

Family picture with crocky :)

 From crocs to prisoners! Yep, you read it right---PRISONERS. After the crocodile farm visit, off we went to the Ihawig Prison and Penal Farm. I only heard this from daddy but as to the concept of this jail, I'm totally clueless. All I know is that some criminals from all over the country were sent to this island. During the course of the trip I learned that SC (or was it the CA?Im not pretty sure) and DOJ (this I'm 100% certain) decide who will be sent to this jail.Ihawig Prison and Penal Farm is very unique. Aside from being considered as jail without bars, prisoners are more disciplined, peace-loving, and free, literally speaking. Just like the Bilibid Prisons inmates that I encountered during our exposure trip in college, Iwahig inmates also have their own "circle," are involved with sports like tennis, boxing, and softball, and try to find ways to make a living.But unlike their counterparts in other prisons, the inmates do not engage in fights or rumbles. Why? Because if they do, they will be given additional years of sentence. Yikeeees! The same punishment also applies to prisoners who attempted but failed to escape. Tatakas ka pa ha!Huli ka din! In addition, inmates who belong to the minimum, medium, and maximum security can easily be identified because of their shirt's color. Brown for the minimum security inmates, blue for those in the medium security, while inmates at the maximum security wore red (I guess?Waah, I totally forgot) 

Welcome to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm

This serves as the inmates' farm

Wonder how it feels to be one of them?

 Next stop is Rancho Sta. Monica aka Mitra's Ranch, owned by former House Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr.'s family. FYI during his term, Mitra pushed for the cityhood of Puerto Princesa. I was actually disappointed with the ranch since I'm expecting to see many animals like Chavit Singson's Baluarte but I only spotted a cow and horse in the ranch. Oh well, at least the place offers a good view of the city. Too bad we weren't able to get inside the house since Gov. Baham Mitra was there during our visit so automatically, the door is off-limits to tourists.

Rancho Sta. Monica

Me @ Mitra's Ranch

Photo op @ Mitra's Ranch

Photo op @ Mitra's Ranch ver. 2.0

                                  

View from the top

 We then headed to Palawan Baker's Hill for some pasalubong shopping. I enjoyed the ambiance of the place!Hehe. Paano ang unique nung mga pwedeng pagpiktyuran wahaha! Snow white and bugs bunny?cmon haha! 

Palawan Baker's Hill

Me @ Palawan Baker's Hill

With Bugs Bunny haha

With Snow White and the 7 dwarfs

Our second to the last stop was Plaza Cuartel. The place is historic by nature. Almost 140 American POWS (Prisoners of War) died there in the hands of the brutal Japanese in the year 1944. In the marker, you could see how Japanese soldiers maltreated their American counterparts.

Rude rude rude Japanese!

@ the Plaza Cuartel marker

Depiction of POWS victims of 1944

Not too far away is the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, which concluded the trip. The cathedral's blue and white color is double purpose since the said colors represent Mama Mary and the official color of the city. 

Cathedral's interior

Outside the cathedral

After the tour, we went straight to Kalui's to cap the night off. Unlike any other restaurants, dining in at Kalui's is by reservation only. And by reservation, you only get to choose between two times. In our case, we took the 6:30 reservation since 8:30 is already late for us. There are sooo many interesting things about the resto. First, you have to remove your shoes before you enter the place. Yes, both customers and staff members are on their barefoot. Second, the place is cozy and very Filipino. They play folk songs in the background and even have this big banga where you can wash your hands before eating. As to the food, it's superb! They serve and specialize in seafoods. Their own version of sisig which is a combination of fish, squid, and shrimp is a must-try! Their vegetable tempura which consists of camote and okra topped with oyster sauce is very unique. My younger brother who's not an okra-eater became an instant fan of the dish! Their sweet and sour Lapu-Lapu is very tasty and I really appreciate their Pinakbet!As for their complimentary dessert, they served mixed fruits- papaya, banana, and watermelon- placed in a coconut shell and topped with muscovado. Yummy :)  So much for my first day in the island.

Famous Kalui

Homey and native

                                    

Too many masks in the resto

Dinner with family

                                    

Kalui's own version of sisig and pinakbet

Dessert