Longest 45 minutes of my life

I took a plane going home to Manila.  Cebu Pacific flight from Puerto Princesa.  As usual, I allowed my husband to have the window seat since he really like looking at the view from the window.   I, on the other hand, settle for the middle seat.  Beside me on the aisle seat was a lady, mid 30's.  Got no problem with that, but I guess it was her first time to fly and does not want to be seated away from her travel companions.  After the plane took off, she exchanged seat with a man. 

As you can see from the picture, my problem started.  The 45 minutes short trip became the longest 45 minutes of my life.  From the moment this guy sat there, I started smelling things.  At first, I smelled something like a fart or i thought somebody must be eating boiled egg inside the f***ing plane!  After few minutes, the air was okay again.  Or so I thought.  Darn!!!  Is that smelly feet I am smelling?  I looked at my seatmate, he was wearing slippers.  Darn! Darn! Darn!  How much longer is the flight?! Then, from the smelly feet came the foul fart like smell again.  F***ing torture!  Good thing I was used my ever reliable SUNSILK Shampoo!!!  Good thing my hair was long to cover my nose!!! If I can only spray perfume to this guy!  I swear, this is the worst flight I've ever been.

Puerto Princesa...The Last Frontier - Day III

Last day in Puerto Princesa!!! City tour! Again, I contacted the reliable tricycle tour guide, Mang Ding.

You can contact him at 09186620495 or you can also contact his friend who is equally reliable Mang Rey 09063235777.

Here are  some of the places we visited during the city tour:

The crocodile farm.  There are areas for picture takings like the crocodile for Php 30 pesos per person (3 poses).  You can also buy crocodile stuffs.

Next is Mitra's Ranch.

The famous Baker's Hill.

Their Kare-kare.  A must try!!!

The Cathedral.

My 3 days trip is over but I promise to be back in this beautiful place  I hope every city in the Philippines will be as clean as Palawan. 

Puerto Princesa...The Last Frontier - Day II

Day two, is my most awaited day.  This is the day I will visit the reason for this trip.  The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP).  I always wanted to see this beautiful wonder of nature.  (Go to http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com/ to know more about this place).

For this tour, I cannot help but grab the offer of Php 1200 per person  (inclusive of van transfer, boat transfer and the buffet lunch). 

Words are not enough to describe how beautiful this trip was.  From the 2 hrs trip from Puerto Princesa to Sabang, you will not be bored because of the great sceneries and of course KUDOS to the tour guide who really gave his BEST in entertaining his guests. 

This is Ernie, the tour guide.  No dull moments with him.

There were few stop overs to and from the Underground river.

First stop is the famous Taratitat store.  This is where every tour bus or vans stops (pee stop).

Second and last stop is the Sabang Port or Beach.  Here, one will take the boat going to the Underground River.  This is also the place where we had our buffet lunch.

Here are some of the things that you will find in the Underground River.

Docking area.

The entrance.

The GEARS.

Some formations.

Some views to and from the area.

Another stop over.

Beach in the Sabang area has a strong current, not really suitable for children and those not really good swimmers.

Ugong Rock...another promising tourist attraction. 

Day two of my trip was far from tiring, it was very exciting!!!

Puerto Princesa...The Last Frontier - Day I

I often wonder why Palawan is called "The Last Frontier."  Based on my research, Frontier refers to -the region of a country that fronts on another country.  It is pointing to Borneo and almost very near to Sabah, Malaysia.

I never realized how beautiful Palawan is until the day I stepped into the island. 

The airport of Palawan is very small yet organized.  Just after the building, tricycles are lined up ready to pick up passengers.  I was informed that tricycle drivers inside the airport vicinity charges something like Php 35 per passenger.  Thank God for other people's blogs and feedback in forums, I have learned that just outside the gate of the airport (which is a very short walking distance) tricycle drivers will charge you Php 8.

We decided that since we will  be staying in Moana Hotel, which according to  the front desk is just walking distance from the airport, that we will just walk our way there.  True enough, after 10-15 minutes of walking, we reached the only hotel in Puerto Princesa that has a swimming pool at an affordable cost.  Imagine, Php 1200 per night (breakfast not included).  We were given an air-conditioned room located just beside the swimming pool (my request).  Room is clean and the staffs are friendly. 

My 3 days trip was well planned.  I never thought there were so many places to visit.  Day I started with our Honda or Hunda Bay trip.  I did not avail the tours offered by travel agencies or by the hotel.  We did a do it your own tour.  I hired a tricycle (Php 500) to bring us to and from Purok Honda Bay where we can hire a boat to do Island hopping. 

There we need to hire a boat (Php 1300)  and pay for some fees (very minimal). 

Off we go.  First island to visit is the famous Snake Island.  This well known island is famous for its 3km sandbar.  Most people drop by to swim, feed fishes, eat lunch (like we did) and just take pictures.

There are also lots of mangroves in the islands.

Next stop is the famous Starfish Island.  Yes, I was encouraged to go to this place because of one blog that I read. 

To my dismay, contrary to what I have read.  I only found 1 starfish in this island.

I think we only stayed there for about 10 minutes.  We were already on board the boat when the caretaker called us and was waving a paper.  Alas!  There is a Php 50 per person fee entrance.  I totally forgot about that. 

Anyhow, off we go for the last stop.  The Pambato Reef.   They said that it got its name for being "The Contender" of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Sulu.   Again, like the Starfish Island, there is a Php 50 fee per person.

I strongly suggest for those finicky like me and my husband, PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN SNORKELING GEARS!!!  For Php 100, you can rent a snorkeling gears at the Pambato reef with free Hepa A, B, C.  Maybe a little bit of HIV and a dash of TB.  Hahaha.  I can just remember how my husband is trying to figure out how to snorkel without the gear.  He cannot conceived the idea of another person using the exact same gear.    He does not have any choice.

The sun has set and this only means one thing.  It's time to go back!