Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan -- City Tour

We capped our Palawan Experience off with a half day city tour.

Since our hotel stay is good for 3nights/3days, we set our tour on afternoon schedule for us to have ample time to fix our things before flying back to Manila (right after the tour).

The tour started off at Plaza Cuartel (where Japanese invaders burnt around 150 American soldiers during World War 2 in 1944), though the actual place was already renovated, the arc/passageway of Cuartel stood the test of time.

 

Plaza Cuartel's arc

Few steps from Plaza Cuartel is Immaculate Conception Cathedral:

Church's facade.

 

We made stops to 2 different souvenir shops and our group being ever ready, already did our own shopping the night before. So no rush for us right there. ;)

 

Souvenir shirts sold in one of the stores.

Probably the highlight of our city tour was the short "field trip" at Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (widely known as the Crocodile Farm). There are lots of FYIs about crocs and so are crocs themselves of different forms, sizes and ages. We also chanced on having photos with a baby croc for P30.

Preserved skeleton of a huge crocodile (but Lolong is still bigger than this)

Baby croc seemed unhappy unlike me :p

We also made a stop at Mitra's Ranch for a quick over-looking experience. The Mitra family owns a real wide span of property and the scenery is just beautiful. There are parts where you can see the China Sea, another part will let you see the city as whole and on another side you'll see a herd of cow peacefully eating grasses by. They also offer different recreational activities like horseback riding, zipline, trampoline but prices are quiet expensive.

Mitra's Ranch overlooking.

Our last top was Baker's Hill - famous for their bakeshop and hopias. We hoarded up stocks for pasalubong, made a quick round and stopped to have some snack. The place is full of colorful statues and life-sized cartoon character figures kids will surely enjoy.

When we were taken back to hotel, we rushed to Jollibee and grabbed our quick dinner. When we were back, our service was already set since our flight back to Manila is 8PM. We hurried up and bid Palawan our final goodbyes. 'Til then, Palawan! :) We'll meet again for El Nido and Coron, that's a promise!

Karen, Eka and Jehn - sporting their plastic bags :p

Ready to fly back to Manila!

Thank you, friends for a fun vacation! :)

Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan -- Honda Bay Tour (Pambato Reef, Isla Pandan, Starfish Island). Dinner at Ka Lui.

Day 2 of our Palawan Adventure is laid for Honda Bay Island Hopping.

After munching on a quick breakfast, we again boarded the van and fetch some other tourists who'll be joining our group. The van will take you to a snorkeling gear rental place where you can fit and choose what to use for the whole day. Rental fee is P300 (P150 for snorkeling gear, P150 for booties) and lost item will be charged P1000, so better be careful in using your rented swimming gears. Travel to St. Lourdes wharf is a shorter ride compared when going to Sabang wharf (for Underground River tour) it'll only take about 30 mins from city proper. Once all the papers are set and your boat is docked on the wharf, then, off the sea you go!

We passed by several islands and our tour guide was cheerful enough in giving us brief background of each. First is Cowry Island (one popular island visited during Honda Bay tour), Bat Island (named so because island is inhabited by huge bats know as kabog, we're also told that island is not included on the usual island hopping list because of the strong pee&poo smell of the bats) and Luli Island (Lulubog-lilitaw -- island gets submerged in waters during high tide).

Pambato Reef

First stop of our tour is Pambato Reef.
Our boatman guided as through the floating flatform (turtle shaped) that served as the base station for snorklers. The "turtle camp" is surrounded by shallow waters where fishes and corals were stone's throw away from you.

Pambato Reef

Since most of us didn't know how to swim, the boatman helped us snorkel around the area by dragging an improvised life buoy, we then gripped tightly and paddled around enjoying the bed of corals and fishes of different kind.

Fish feeding is not allowed in Pambato Reef, and we're glad that we experienced this in our next stop, Isla Pandan (Pandan Island).

Isla Pandan

While the guide and our boatmen were preparing our lunch, we roamed around the island and soaked ourselves in its clear waters. Isla Pandan is the most commercialized island in Honda Bay. Amenities are all in here. They've got food stalls, electricity, cellular signal, rooms for overnight stay.

Where the island got its name.

In for the feast!

Fine white sand + scenic beach

Lucky that the place wasn't crowded. Seems like we own the whole stretch!

Fresh haul we bought from the locals. SARAP!

We spent most of the day staying at Pandan since this is the best place to swim play around. We had photo ops courtesy of our boatman and his tricks, had some halo-halo, played and just swam the whole day. The last stop of our island tour is Starfish Island.

Starfish Island

The place looked deserted and we had a few to zero things to do there. The shores are not good for swimming since it's composed of sharp, starfish remains and so the name of the island is.

We just took few photos and called it a day.

Starfish Island.

We had to rush ourselves preparing for dinner after the van dropped us off our hotel. Since Ka Lui in Palawan is a word of mouth and a sure hit, landing a slot requires a pre-dinner reservation. Our hotel was able to arraged a 7PM schedule, thus the hurry.

Ka Lui

Ka Lui has great ambiance and place is well-decorated/maintained. Rule number 1 when dining here : NO FOOTWEAR.

Now we are ready to eaaaat!

Past the dining area.

And true enough, our verdict is: THE PLACE LIVED TO ITS NAME.
The rumors are not rumors at all. Ka Lui served the most delicious dinner we had in Palawan. We were in awe when we tasted what we had on our plates. I totally forgot how those dishes were called but the Lepu-lapu's sauce was coconut-y creamier than what was expected, the breaded eggplant (what seems like a tempura to me) and it's sweet-tangy orange sauce was a sure hit, the tender piece of grilled tanigue was perfectly seasoned, the sisig was superb. Ka Lui is A MUST TRY.

Superb dinner.

Happy tummy!
(L-R) Eka, Jehn, Karen, Etey

(L-R) Jehn, Me. Eka, Karen

Our Palawan Tour ending soon, drafting our City Tour. Blogging 6 months after we traveled. :))

Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan -- Ugong Rock (Caving, Spelunking and Zipline)

After our Underground River Tour, we head back to Sabang Wharf and drove to the beach where our buffet lunch is set. Kuya Bodjie asked us if we wanted to have a side trip to Ugong Rock and being on the adventurous side that day, we said yes!

We passed by Elephant Cave where Amazing Race Philippines made a stop.

Trip to Ugong Rock is not included in our paid tour that's why we shelled out few pesos out. Fee for caving, spelunking and tours is P200 and fee for zipline going down back to camp is P250.

Entrance of Ugong Rock Adventures

ABS -CBN Foundation helped fund this project and now a lot of people is earning livelihood from this.
We were briefed upon arrival and after we registered and paid, we head straight to their "wardrobe" where we took our head caps and gloves. Caving and spelunking ready!

Choose!

Passageway in

During the tour, they'll make you tap on to different stalactites that produces a somewhat humming sound (ugong in Filipino) where the cave got its name too.

You'll pass by several formation and you'll be forced to bend and fit yourself pass through thin passages like this:

 

And go down on trail like this:

The next level activity after caving is to climb up on a steep portion of the cave. They'll assist you in wearing harness and guide you on your way up. It wasn't really tiring for me but beginners and non-adventurous individuals may find this quiet challenging.

Jehn on her way up

After passing all the twisting, trekking and climbing, you have 3 options on how to go back to the base camp.
1. Zipline (sitting position - P250)
2. Zipline (Superman position - P350)
3. Walk your way back down

We opted to go for option 1 and took the 380meters (about 21 seconds fly) long zipline.
The zipline's drop off area was so steep I totally screamed out all the hell out of my system the moment they released me. Ugong Rock Adventures surely offers a notch higher adrenaline pump on your usual travels. Must try! :)

View up Ugong Rock

Erika's cam all set to fly with her!

You'll see how steep the wires could get from this photo :)

Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan -- A&A Plaza Hotel and Underground River Tour

Left Manila March 9 via Cebu Pacific, we arrived in Puerto Princesa a little over 8PM. Unlike my previous trips and travels, we chose to splurge rather than save this time. We bought tickets 7 months prior our fly date and scanned a number of accommodation/tour packages found online. We end up making arrangements with Harper giving us this package:

P5000
3nights/3days Quad sharing accommodation (with airport transfers) in A&A Plaza Hotel
Underground River Tour (with buffet lunch)
Honday Bay Island Hopping (with buffet lunch)
Half Day City Tour
Daily breakfasts

*All tours come with a licensed guide and van service.

Also, it'll be better if you reserve your tour a month earlier because travel agencies need to secure permits before you can even go to the Underground River.


March 10

We munched on a quick breakfast and hopped into the van for our Underground River Tour.
Our tour guide Kuya Bodjie immediately started talking the moment we hit the road. He's given trivia about Puerto Prinsesa and reminders on how we would go about the tour.

Ride from city proper going to Sabang Wharf took us around 2 hours and boat ride from wharf to Underground river some 20 minutes more.

Sabang Wharf

You will then take a short trek going to the underground river's boarding area where you'll see strayed monitor lizards and monkeys.

Arrived in PPUR!

Monitor lizard

Inside the cave are magnificent forms and figures of vegetables, religious figures, sexy lady and even T-rex! We're so lucky our river boatman/guide is so hilarious and amusing, he cracked all his jokes perfectly. He even made a whooshing sound like someone fell on the waters then screamed "don't worry, I'm still here!", I thought he's gone and we'll be paddling the boat out the cave ourselves. :( Anyways, they have a sort of Vegetable Section inside the cave where you will see form of eggplant (beside this is a tortang talong like figure), patola and other veggies. Next is the Cathedral where you'll see The Last Supper, The Nativity and various religious forms. You need to run your imagination creatively to appreciate the rock formations more.

According to our tour guide, the Underground River stretches to a total of 8.2kilometers (all navigable via boat) but the regular tour allowed for tourists is 1.2 or 1.8km only. Fossils ranging million years are found embedded on the walls of the cave's deeper parts making it locked out of public and exclusive for professional researchers.

Our group before the tour

When we were nearing the cave's mouth and the light started beaming on our sight, he playfully shouted "Yes Lord, we made it!". He closed our tour by cracking on his final joke. We were about to exit when another boat is about to enter the cave, they are around 9 in their boat (we are only 8) and kuya shouted, "Enjoy your tour! Ganyan din kame kadami kanina (we are about the same number as you before we enter the cave)!" and the lady seated near the tip of the boat instantly gave as a second glance as if she counted how many we were left in our boat. :)

Ugong Rock, Honda Bay Island Hoping and City Tour coming right up!

Complete Itinerary for the 3 days Ilocos Trip :)

We managed to enjoy our tight budget tour through fellow bloggers who were so generous to share their own piece of experience to everyone. And now, I am returning the favor to all who wanted to roam and try the same tour we had :)

We headed to Florida bus station in Manila hoping to catch their Sleeper Bus (take a glimpse of this "it" bus from this blog I found online) bound to Laoag, 10PM.
Since long weekend was about to start then, the area/bus station was full of passengers all waiting for their time of departure. Sleeper bus was already booked and the earliest bus we were able to catch is set to leave 11:15PM. Since it's only past 9PM then, we went for a munch and small chat.
We left Manila around 11:45. :) [Friday night, Aug 17]

Sleeper Bus fare to Laoag - around P800
Deluxe Bus fare to Batac (Ilocos Norte) - not more than P600 (P540)

You might be wondering why we got off at Batac instead of going straight to Laoag. Batac is a town in Ilocos Norte, closest to Vigan. Why miss a single haven when you are already in Ilocos? :)

From Batac, we rode a tricycle and asked to take us to Cafe Uno, the ever famous diner within Vigan Heritage Village. Tricycle fare usual costs P10 to P15 each. [Saturday whole day, Aug 18]

Tricycle Fare from Batac to Vigan (Cafe Uno) - P10/each

Read my Vigan blog here. :) We ordered Ilocos' famous local Bagnet, Bulalo and Garlic Rice for our brunch. We shelled around P150/each for this. After doing so, we roamed around the place. :)
We decided to rent a kalesa just to experience the ride, rate is P150/hour. Kutseros will also serve as your tour guide. :) Another option is to go visit places via tryke or if the weather is fair enough, you may traverse the place by foot.

Kalesa ride - P100/each (2hours tour)

List of Places you may want to check out in Vigan:

Bantay Tower
Calle Crisologo
Syquia Mansion
Plaza Salcedo
Gomez Museum
Pagburnayan Jar
Hidden Garden
Baluarte ni Chavit
Old Bell Tower

Other expenses we had in Vigan:

Tshirt in Pagburnayan Jar: P100-P150
Empanada from Hidden Garden: P40
Donation in Bell Tower: P20

We decided not to dwell much in Vigan so we can catch Marcos' Museum & Maoseleum (in Batac) and Paoay Church before dusk. Sad thing was, it rained that afternoon. The tricycle driver we hired in Batac was the worst of all the drivers we met in Ilocos. :( He charged us P100 for a short Marcos' Mansion tour (because the museum closed earlier due to heavy rains, we only saw the maoseleum) and bus station drop off. Going to Paoay from Batac is a short jeepney ride and I believe in won't cost you more than P20. You may want to visit Malacanang of the North, too. From the articles I've read, mini buses and jeepney in Paoay may take you there. Prepare atleast P50/each. :)

Tryke from Baluarte to Bus Station (going to Laoag): P20/each
Bus fare to Batac: P98
Tryke from Batac drop off to Marcos' Museum (we rode the same tryke going to Bus station bound for Laoag): P100
Bus fare from Batac to Laoag: P60

We reached Laoag around 5PM, heavy downpour and ankle deep floods along the street. :(
We rode a tricycle to Tiffany Hotel (P11/each) and we paid P1200 (P400/ea) for a room with 2 single beds. Their rates are quite affordable but you can find other hotels around Laoag with cheaper rates compared to what they offer. :)

We hit Jollibee for dinner since it's a stone's throw away from our hotel (P150 meal and you're full) and walked to the central plaza just before midnight to get some snacks (P40/empanada). Man, you gotta try those empanadas because they're way waaaaaaaay better than those we had in Hidden Garden in Vigan.

I contacted LEAD Movement (Sand boarding pioneer in Ilocos) a week before our tour and their rates are fair enough for a one of a kind thrilling experience. :) They charge P2500 (for a group consisting of max. 4 members) for 4x4 ride Sand Dunes tour and Sand Boarding lessons/board rentals. See my blog here. Contact details are there, too. :) [Sunday whole day, Aug 19]

Other expenses we had:

Jollibee breakfast: P150
Tryke ride from Hotel to and from Laoag Floral Garden (to visit Iyel's Grandparents' tomb): P20/each

We checked out 12PM and head to St. William's but there's no afternoon mass. We had lunch in McDo (everything can be reached by foot from hotel) and spent around P200. From there, we rode tricycle to bus station bound to Pagudpud (P11/each).

Ride going to Pagudpud took us almost 2 hours and I think that the fare is too cheap for the distance we travelled. They only charged us P60. We were dropped off at the town proper and rode a tricycle to Apo Idon (we made reservations a month before our scheduled tour and paid half 2 weeks prior arrival). I strongly recommend this hotel because their staff are the warmest in the planet :) :P
You may want to read our whole Apo Idon experience here. :)
Rates are quite pricey but you may want to make arrangements with them. Just to be sure, prepare P1500/each for a standard room. :) We spent around P300/each for our dinner while breakfast is already included in our room fees. Kuya Arden, the tricycle driver who took us to Apo Idon was the same guy who toured us the following day. If you have plans of touring Pagudpud, I can give you his number. :) If you can block one whole day solely for Pagudpud tour then you'll be able to see the whole place, they are offering 2 different tours:

North bound -- (P600/tryke)
1. Kaibigan Waterfalls
2. Patapat Viaduct
3. Agua Grande
4. Paraiso ni Anton
5. Timmangtang Rock
6. Bantay Abot Cave
7. Blue Lagoon
8. Dos Hermanos Islands

South bound -- (P600/tryke)
1. Bangui Windmills
2. Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation
3. Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

We left Apo Idon 12 noon and grab a quick lunch (P150) and proceed with our tour. We took the South tour because Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and Bangui Windmills are among the reasons why I wanted to be in Ilocos. And I must say that YOU SHOULD see them, too. Piece of heaven on Earth. :) Beauty beyond adjectives can utter, beauty more than colors can paint. Yes, I fell inlove. <3

Since we are 3 in the group, we shelled out P240 each (we added P40 each as a tip because kuya arden was so nice) for the wonderful tour. He walked us through the chaotic path  going Kapurpurawan, he accompanied us through the windmills, patiently waited while we shopped for pasalubongs, kuya Arden is such a good man. :) [Monday whole day, Aug 20]

Other expenses:

Souvenirs - depends on how much you wanted to spend :P
Drinks along the way

4PM and we're ready to bid Burgos (Cape Bojeador is no longer part of Pagudpud) our goodbyes. Kuya Arden took us to the highway and again waited for us 'til we were able to ride a bus goin back to Laoag. Consumed some 30 minutes waiting because all the buses were loaded and knowing how far Laoag is from Burgos, we chose to wait rather than stand and suffer soon after. :)

Bus fare from Burgos to Laoag - P40

From the bus terminal station, we rode a tryke (P11) going to Florida Bus Terminal (but again, Sleeper Bus was fully booked) and secured/paid (P650) reservations for our 8PM travel to Cubao. We walked to Jollibee (same branch :P) ate our dinner (P150) and headed to marketplace to buy some pasalubongs (tryke/P11each). Just before 7PM we're back in Florida (tryke/P11each)and waited for our bus. :)

Other expenses:

Pasalubong in one of our stop overs.

I brought 8K and came home with over 1K in my pocket. :)
I'm home by Tuesday, 5AM. :)


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Ilocos Tour : Bangui / Burgos, Ilocos Norte (Bangui Windmills, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and Cape Bojeador)

4 WORDS:

Postcards came to life. ♥

I'm inlove with Bangui's largest fan blades. With Kapurpurawan's rock formation. With the scenery up in Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. Blissful, breath-taking, mind-blowing experience. :)

We left Apo Idon few minutes after 12 and ate our lunch out. Kuya Arden (our tricycle service) has always been pleasant and kind, he waited for us to finish our lunch before going on with our trip.

Tricycle rental is 600 to visit the following places:

Bangui Windmills

 

 

Hot noon sun didn't stop me from posing :P ♥

I've always wanted to see these windmills. I'm a fan. :) finally my long wait was over. Busog na busog lang ako sa tanawin. :)

Kapurpurawan Rock Formations

Etey's favorite. I honestly didn't paid much attention to this not until I saw these massive rock formations with my bare eyes. They are truly wonderfully made by God. Perfect. :) I'm just saddened upon seeing the debris left by Enteng Kabisote prod team. They left their artificially made castles and other stuff behind the formations and I don't think they still have plans of cleaning those up. :(

 

 

 

 

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

View from the lighthouse's deck is very relaxing :) Too bad they no longer allow tourists to climb up the lighthouse itself so we only had the chance to take photos below the tower.

After visiting Cape Bojeador, Kuya Arden took us by the main road and we waited for a bus bound to Laoag. :) Til next time, Ilocos :)