3 Days and 2 nights Puerto Princesa Adventure!

Before, I never thought of  Palawan as a dream destination. Well, I grew up in Mindoro which is geographically near in Palawan, and it doesn't have the "wow" effect in me unlike other tourist spots like Boracay, Bohol and Cebu. But with the inauguration of the new 7 wonders of nature, Palawan's popularity boosts up not only locally but also internationally. Suddenly, I became interested and eager to visit Puerto Princesa.

I checked airfare promos but sad to say, I wasn't lucky enough to book one. Good thing, I found Golden Ticket Travel Services at Sulit.com.ph, they offer All-in Palawan packages payable in an installment basis. Yes, you read it right---INSTALLMENT. Perfect for thrifty people like me! LOL! Their palawan package includes round trip airfare, 3 days and 2 nights accommodation, daily breakfast, round trip airport transfers and Underground River tour with buffet lunch. This package costs 5700php per person, we scheduled our trip for the month of June and this became our mode of payment:

February - 3000php for initial down payment and reservation of slots

March - 900php 2nd downpayment

April - 900 php 3rd downpayment

May - 900 php 4th and final pay

Total: 5700 php

Note: You can also find Golden Ticket Travel and Tours on Facebook. Like their page and get updates of their tour packages. They have efficient customer service and they will reply to your queries immediately.

DAY 1

Our flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa was scheduled last June 15, 2012 at 7:30 am via Zest Air. It was raining in Manila because of typhoon Butchoy but when we arrived in PPS the weather was nice and sunny. 

At the airport, welcome bands, reporters and dashing Mayor Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa City welcomed us! Well, thanks to Dick Gordon who arrived one flight after us. LOL!

We arrived at Balai Inato at around 9:00 in the morning. When the rooms were ready, they allowed us to have an early check in. It's not a luxurious hotel but the place is serene, cozy, quiet and comfortable. What I like most about Balai Inato is the location, it's just 10 - 15 minutes ride from the airport and also very near the famous restaurants in Puerto Princesa. They have spacious rooms with nice facilities. The staff were accommodating and helpful to the point that every morning they gave us phone calls to inform us that breakfast is ready. During our stay, they served as our human alarm clocks. 

This is our room---- Room A.

Triple sharing room -- with facilities like T.V., hot and cold shower, cabinets, mini veranda and telephone for local calls

Balai Inato at night. Close your eyes 3x and you'll see the picture clearer! Try it!

After our breakfast, we started our Puerto Princesa City Tour. The hotel rate is 1500 php via air conditioned van. However, my friends and I chose to hire 2 tricycles and agreed to pay them 500php each.


First stop : Crocodile Farm.

• Crocodile Farm - entrance fee is 40php. Aside from the close encounter with the crocodiles, this place offers you a sneak peak of Palawan's wild life.

Try their crocodile sisig for 160php!

• Baker's Hill - Here,  you'll see beautiful architecture, landscape and guess what? Breads!!!

• Butterfly Farm - entrance fee is 25 php. Butterflies are always adooraable!! There are also pearls for sale here!

• Plaza Cuartel - a historical place, this is where a lot of American soldiers died as they were engulfed by the flames of fire set by the Japanese during the World War II in 1944. Scary!

• Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral - For every new place we step on, I think we must see to it that we visit the Church to thank God for all the wonderful things He have done and for allowing us to experience His creations.

• Baywalk - Palawan's version of  cleaner and less crowded Manila Bay! But for me, I find Manila Baywalk more appealing. No pics this time, lowbat na cam ko! haha!

After the city tour, we went back to the hotel to rest. We chose to hire 2 tricycles to minimize our expenses, that's why I was so disappointed when the two tricycle drivers asked us for an additional pay of 200php when we already agreed on 500php rate. They wanted us to pay them 700 php each, that's already 1400php!! Air- conditioned van rental is 1500php! I was like, are you kidding me?? Of course, I argued with them but in the end, we paid them an additional 100php. So if you're a group of 6  - 10 persons it's more practical to hire a van, and in the event that you wanted to hire a trike make sure to find an HONEST driver! 

DAY 2 - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

After breakfast, we went back to our rooms to prepare for our Underground River Tour which is included in our Palawan package. It went well except for the miscommunication that happened about the pick up time. Originally, the service would fetch us around 7:00  am. However, I got a text from Ms. Vann and she told me that pick up time will be around 7:30 - 8:30am. That's why, we were shocked when the driver showed up at around 7:00 am with other 2 groups of tourists waiting inside the van. We rushed, we really did! But, oh well.. they waited a little..and uhm.. I'd rather not talk about it. This is one of the #notsofunpalawanmoments we had.

Travel time from Balai Inato to Sabang Beach lasted for about 2-3 hours. At the Port, we paid 40php for the environmental fee. Upon registration, every tourist must present a valid I.D. so don't forget to bring your I.D.'s with you. We rode a boat and beautiful scenery awaits us!

After registration (for the nth time), we put on our life jackets and our "engineer hats" (hehe) and met our boatman, Kuya Dong. After the short briefing, we started our Underground River Tour which lasted for about  30 minutes. 

.

I really tried my best to take some pics inside the Underground River but it was so dark and a regular camera flash cannot outsmart it. 

What really amazed me most  is that some of the rock formations inside the cave depicts religious images such as The Holy Family, Mama Mary and the half face of Jesus Christ. Nature sculpted it perfectly that you can really see the resemblance. I wish I had capture it but if you will visit the cave, you'll see what I'm talking about.

When our boats passed by other tourists who are also on tour, they would say hi and hello, some boatman would even crack some jokes. People there are really bubbly and cheerful. Even Kuya Dong would sometimes joke us around. Sample: there are some water falling before us inside the cave, Kuya Dong said: "Ayan ma'am, yung mga tumutulo Holy water po yan, pero pag mainit init na yung tubig, holy shit na po" 

Here's another one, Kuya Dong referring to a rock formation that looked like a naked woman's back, "Ayan po parang hubad na babae na nakatalikod... Kami: "wow.. oo nga noh.. ayun yung likod nya tapos yung legs.. Kuya Dong: "Sharon po pangalan nyan.. Sharon Stone..."

Don't tell me you didn't find it funny.. because we did!!.. um... well...sort of.. hmmm.. a little..

Alright, he may not be the most funny and bubbly boatman but we still enjoyed the tour.*wink*

After the underground river tour, we made the most out of our time by posing for more pictures!!

Ako naman! picturan nyo ko! solo pic solo pic! Ayy! #fail

After that, we went back to the port and had our buffet lunch by the beach. Sulit na sulit! *burpp**

Before going back to the hotel, we went to the market to buy souvenirs.

DAY 3 - HONDA BAY ISLAND HOPPING

On our third and last day in Palawan, we decided to get the rental service of the Hotel. We rented a van (1500php) for drop off and pick up at Sta. Lourdes Wharf. Our driver is nice and friendly, he gave us brief introduction on the different landmarks of Puerto Princesa.


Before going to the Sta. Lourdes Wharf, we went to a rental shop of goggles and aqua shoes. The rent costs 300 php (150 for goggles and 150 for the aqua shoes). Vendors would tell you that you'll be needing the aqua shoes so that you won't hurt yourself accidentally. At first, I thought that this is just a marketing strategy but I proved that they were right. You would really need an aqua shoes so that your feet will be protected from corals and sharp stones. But lesson learned for us, next time we will BRING OUR OWN GOGGLES. 150 php is very expensive for renting goggles when you can buy a brand new one for 300php.


At the Wharf, we paid for terminal fees and environmental fees. Terminal fee is 5php and environmental fee is 40php. We rented a boat for 1300 php, this is already good for 6-8 persons. Snake Island is currently closed to tourists due to the on-going renovation. So, if you're visiting Puerto Princesa sometime this year, chances are you won't be able to see the Snake Island. Sad. 


Our first stop is:

• Pambato Reef: entrance fee is 50 php. This is a snorkeling site but I didn't enjoy our stay here. There are lots of plankton biting us and although it's not harmful, the bite really hurts. 
• Star fish Island: entrance fee is 50 php.This is my favorite stop, we enjoyed swimming and snorkeling. Also, the water here is clearer compared to the Pambato Reef. 

They have these Hawaiian costumes and a giant frame where you can take pictures. 

• Pandan Island - entrance fee is 100 php, cottage rental is 500 php.We had our lunch at the Pandan Island. They also have shower rooms where tourists can change their clothes. 

After our Honda Bay tour, we headed back to the van and went straight to the airport. We arrived at the airport at around 4:00 pm in the afternoon. Just in time for our 5:35 pm flight back to Manila.

Surely, 3 days is not enough to explore all the wonders of Puerto Princesa. There are lot of beautiful places to see and exciting things to do. No matter what your interinary may be, make sure you travel with your loved - ones, family or closest friends (just what we did) because a special place becomes extraordinary when you visit it with people you love.  

I believe that company is the best scenery. Thanks to my super duper lovable friends, because of them I really had MORE MORE FUN IN PALAWAN!!

Zoobic Safari As Easy As 123

When you want to have an exciting getaway outside Metro Manila, common choices are Tagaytay, Batangas, Cavite and other neighboring cities. However, if you like to go farther than that, you might want to consider going to Subic. Can you go to Subic during your one and only rest day for the week? Of course. Believe me, this is easy as 1,2,3.

1. Go to Victory Liner or other Bus Terminals that has Manila - Olongapo Route.
- I suggest that you take the Victory Liner Bus since it's very convenient. Well, aside from the free wi-fi on board, they have trips every 30 minutes. Travel time from Manila to Olongapo is approximately 4 hours. Bus fare is 218 php, so set aside 440php for your round trip fare.

Note: There's also a trip to Olongapo via SCTEX where you can get to Subic faster because travel time is just 2 hours and 30 minutes but buses going there have schedules. When we arrived at the Victory Liner Terminal at around 8:00am, we asked for the Olongapo trip via SCTEX but the ticketing staff told us that the bus for that trip is scheduled to leave at 2:00 pm. So if you intend to go to Subic fast by taking the SCTEX route, make sure you call the bus terminal for the schedule.

2. Go down at the Olongapo Terminal and look for a taxi.
- At the terminal, there are already taxi drivers waiting for tourists. There are also fast food chains around that area so I suggest that you fill your stomachs first because restaurants and food inside the Subic Bay are quite expensive. Also, food are not allowed during the tour so make sure you are full. You can bring beverages, though.

After eating, you can now look for a taxi. Taxi fare from Victory terminal to Zoobic Safari is 400php (for one way trip and not per person). These are revo type taxis so it can accommodate 5 - 9 persons. There are no maximum passengers for taxis in Subic so if you are a group of 8 and the taxi driver told you to take 2 taxis because he can only accommodate 4 passengers, leave him and find another one.

Note: Regular one way fare is 400php so don't agree with a price higher than that. Some taxi drivers can be very opportunistic that they charge as much as 600php. Always make sure that you agree with the price and destination before you take the ride. Some drivers might offer to fetch you after the tour, so if you don't want any hassles, you can agree with the price for the round trip fare. If you are lucky and you found a nice driver, you can haggle.

3. Arrive at the Zoobic Safari, buy the ticket and start your tour.
Ticket is 495 php + 50php for the Zoobic Tram ride. Tram ride is optional but I strongly suggest that you purchase it because some tours require a ride, and surely, no one wants to walk under the heat of  the blazing sun.

Entrance Ticket already consists of 12 tours inside the Zoobic Safari namely:  Zoobic Park, Muzooem, Tiger Safari Ride, Croco Loco, Aeta's Trail, Zoobic Cave, Forbidden Cave, Bird Walk, Serpentarium, Rodent World, Savannah and Close Encounter.

My top 3 favorite tours are:

• Tiger Safari Ride - To maximize your Tiger Safari experience, make sure that you buy a chicken for the Tigers. Chicken costs 200php, but this will be divided into your groups. In our case, we shared the expenses with the other group, so we paid 100php for the chicken. It gets exciting when the tiger approaches your jeep and show you his deathly claws and teeth. Here's a pic of my sister with the hungry tiger.

• Bird Walk - In bird walk, aside from seeing different type of birds, you'll have a chance to get inside the cage and let them feed in your hands. 

• Aeta'sTrail - In this tour, guests will have a sneak peak of the Aeta's culture as they performed their ritual dances. Also, the trees and statues in this area will make you feel that you're in Siem Reap.

The Zoobic Safari tour will last for 3-4 hours and the entrance fee is really worth it. It's also nice to listen to your tour guide because he/she will give you infos about the animals. During the tour, I don't really mind what our tour guide was saying, but when I intently listen to her, I learn something. Here are the things I learned from my attentiveness (Naks, Ako na!!)

• Lions are called kings of the jungle not only because they're fierce but also because their lazy. They live a king's life because they sleep for almost a day and the lioness are the ones who look for their food.
• You'll know when a monkey is irritated and ready to attack, when it shows and grits its teeth.
• The size of an ostrich's eyes are similar to golf balls but their brain is sized of a peanut. When our tour guide said this, I heard one child asking his kuya, "what did she said?". His Kuya answered back, "In short, they're stupid!". Lol

The 12 tours are all fun but it is also very exhausting. So if you plan to visit Subic Ocean Adventure and Tree Top after your Zoobic Safari tour, make sure that you arrive early so that you'll have time to rest.

Few more things, I suggest that you'll be in your most comfortable clothes since the activities are outdoors, it is very hot and you'll be sweating a lot. So, don't forget to bring your towels, handkerchiefs, bottled water and extra shirt. You might also want to try their zip line for 199 php.

Have a Fun-tastic day in Subic!

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3 Days and 2 Nights Puerto Princesa Adventure!
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Byaheng Jeepney.

Commute? It’s more exciting in the Philippines!

Sa sobrang pagka malikhain ng mga Pinoy, ang mga US military jeeps noon ay nagawa nilang jeepney ngayon. Mga  jeep na may samu’t saring kulay at disenyo, personalized din kasi nakasulat ang mga pangalan ng kapamilya, may radio at speakers para sa sounds, may rosary at sampaguita na nakasabit at kung ano ano pa. Marami na ring innovations, may mga jeepney na parang bus ang design, may “pull the string” kung papara na, may mga airconditioned at meron naring E-Jeepneys.  Wala sigurong Pinoy ang hindi pa nakaranas na sumakay sa jeepney kahit 1 beses sa buong buhay nya, kung meron man.. I feel for them, they missed ¼ of their lives.

Sa araw araw siguro na pagsakay ko sa jeep, nabigyan ko na ng labels ang mga taong nakakasakay ko. Well, ganyan talaga... observant eh!

1.       The frowning face – Eto ang mga taong pagsakay ay maayos naman then in a spilt of seconds, nakakunot na ang mga noo at di na maipinta ang mukha, tingin ng tingin sa relo dahil nagmamdali na at nagpupuno pa ng pasahero si Manong Driver o kaya nama’y bad trip na sila sa  traffic kasi hindi halos gumalaw ang jeep.  Minsan nakakainis sila tingnan dahil sa contagious nilang mood.

2.       Chillax – Eto ang mga taong pagkasakay at pag abot ng bayad, isusuot na ang earphones at makikinig ng music. Yung iba naman nakatutok lang sa cellphone nila O kaya naman may dalang kung anong gadget  at maglalaro hanggang makarating sila sa kanilang destination. Hindi sila naka frown at chill lang dahil may sarili silang mundo.

3.       Sleepy Head – Obviously, eto ang mga taong pag umandar na ang jeep, hudyat na  yun ng pagtulog nila. May taglay na psychic powers tong mga to dahil nagigising na sila pag malapit na silang bumaba.

<photo: courstesy of gossip guy blog>

4.       Chikadoras – Kabaligtaran naman ng katahimikan ni Sleepy Head, eto ang mga taong walang ginawa kundi mag chikahan throughout the ride. Madalas kahit sila lang ang nag uusap, lahat ng tao sa jeep parang kwinekwentuhan nila . Sa lakas ng boses nila, bago sila bumaba updated ka na sa latest happenings sa office nila, sa bahay nila o sa buhay ng taong pinag uusapan nila.

5.       U-si – Eto ang mga taong imbes na sa kalye nakatingin ay pinipili na lang na pagmasdan ang mga pasahero. May mga nakikinig sa usapan ng chikadoras, nakikibasa ng text ng katabi at kung ano ano pang paguusisero.

6.       Lovers in Jeepney – Mga couples na pag sumakay ay parang walang ibang tao sa jeep kundi sila. Nakapulupot na nga na parang mawawala ang isa’t isa, maya’t maya pa ang harutan at lambingan. May mga kisses moment pa sa noo, balikat, pisngi o kaya sa labi. Kairita much! TSE!

#bitterlang

<photo: courtesy of life in photos blog>

 <photo: courtesy of youarenotvictorplatton.blogspot.com>

7.       Martyr – Eto ang mga pasaherong nagsasuffer sa pagiging chubby ng iba o sa kaartehan ng iba sa pag compress at pag – usod. (Pero minsan, wala na talagang space, ipipilit pa.) Dahil sila ang huling sumakay, kailangan nilang pagkasyahin ang kanilang sarili sa pag maliit na space. May suspense thriller effect to, nakakatakot kasi parang anytime mahuhulog na sila sa upuan.

8.       Play Safe -  Eto ang mga pasaherong, wala lang. Pagkasakay, nakatingin lang sa daan o kung saan man hanggang makarating sa pupuntahan nila. Tulaley lang sila pero ang isip at imagination nila malamang naka travel na sa outer space.

Ikaw, anong kwentong jeepney mo?