I Need A Vacation From My Vacation Pt. 2

Palawan Express

Our flight was 9am in the morning. I think I was able to go sleep around 2am in the morning which left me with three hours sleep. Again, I just strewed everything into my bag, wishing myself luck that my clothes will last me until our last day in Palawan. We landed just in time for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight which meant the Underground River office was closed. Technically, they should be open even if it was lunch time but we didn't want to be kontra-bulates, ya?

this was the plane we rode going to palawan. go manny!

watching the fight at the coliseum

We watched the Pacquiao fight in Shakey's where we had lunch. It was disappointing that Manny lost. I really believe he should have won but of course I will say that because I am biased. After the fight, everybody's back to regular programming only people were wearing long faces.

We were given a May 5 schedule for the UR tour which means we can only go that and the island hopping, no more El Nido as our schedule wouldn't allow us to do so anymore. After getting our permits, we headed to where we're staying for the first day-

We stayed at Orange Mangrove on the first night. Since AC booked the hotel via Agoda, she didn't really know as to how big the room area would be. I reckon it's more for backpacker travelers working within a budget. We aren't exactly backpackers but we're certainly working within a budget s so epek na din. But that room was a tad too small for the three of us. Ang laki ko pa naman.

The room also didn't have cable; Good thing they have wi-fi. The bathroom has no door, only a fabric curtain separating it from the room. I'm going to stay here in this inn if I'm traveling with people I'm verrrrry close to, like my sisters. Even if I'm close to my friends, I don't think I can stay with them in that size of a room and a bathroom with only a curtain for a door- I won't want to subject them to any stench, y'know. Haha.

Honda Bay Island-Hopping 

First activity in Palawan was island-hopping. We were to go to three islands- Starfish, Luli and Cowrie Island. Before I go any further, I want you to meet the cast

Very international ang cast. Not very friendly, imho. We all kept to our own groups. Only Japanese Guy and Rush sort of interacted with each other, while all the others were dedma.

First stop- Starfish Island 

stressed starfish

So I braved swimming only because this is the beach and I was allowed to wear shorts and a shirt on top of my swimsuit plus a life vest. I knoooow, very Juday circa Mara Clara days. AB didn't swim, so only AC and I snorkeled and fed the fish yummy bread.

welcome to the philippines ☺

I saw a bunch of corals which weren't very colorful and a few fish that swam our way when we crumbled the bread underwater. Snorkeling in Boracay was more awesome but that was ten years ago. Maybe the view underwater here in Palawan was more beautiful a few years ago, before global warming, before boatloads of tourists. When we went further to the tip of the sandbar, we saw plenty of starfish underwater. Para kay AC na nagreklamo na bakit Starfish Island ang tawag kung isang starfish lang naman ang naandun, nakuha niya ang sagot niya. We also encountered a stonefish and a teeny tiny jellyfish with brown tentacles and both were actually poisonous; Good thing we were listening to our tour guide so we knew we had to avoid them.

starfish island

I brought my phone along because the place was just begging to have its picture taken and of course, I thought, very Instagram-worthy. Haha.

because I really wanted to take a picture of this log
I went back all the way to where we left our things and got my phone

Buwis-buhay for my phone. I really wanted to take a shot of my feet in the water then there was a pretty strong wave which made a big splash on shore which splashed a little water on to my phone. I think the water got inside the slot where you put in the charger. I didn't know it affected my phone until the very next day when my phone wouldn't charge. I don't know if I mentioned anywhere in this blog that I like not having a phone- AB said I just got my wish when my phone conked out on me.

Lunch on the island with the snobby, international group. Yummy lunch but I'm not really into "roughing it." I therefore conclude, mahihirapan ako pag nagka-zombie apocalypse.

Next stop- Luli Island

A little tired and lethargic from just having lunch, AB and I just walked on the sandbar. We didn't snorkel anymore. And we didn't "dive" into the water. Nag-photo-op lang kami ng bongga- jump shots, cartwheels and more jump shots.

bad form. ang chaka.

Time's up at Luli Island. Time to go to the next island.

Third and last stop- Cowrie Island

We were very, very tired at this point. What I love about beaches, you don't have to change after bathing. You could walk around, still dripping wet and it's totally fine to let your clothes air-dry while still wearing it. Gawain ng tamad. Haha. At Cowrie Island, we just found ourselves a picnic table and benches, whipped out Kendall the Kindle and caught up on my reading.

I'm now three books behind! Ack!

After all those boat rides, went back to Orange Mangrove to get our stuff and transfer to our next inn- We Traveler's. We Traveler's Inn was decent-sized and I got to poop in peace, perdóname. Hahaha! Dinner at Kinabuch's where we had sisig, sinigang and one other dish I already forgot. Food was okay. Service was sloooooow. There were a lot of people which explains the glacial pace our food was served to us.

Underground River

Early call-time for our Underground River tour. Our company this time were all-Filipino and I have to say was better. We're more friendly than the other nationalities. Although we were there early, we still had to wait for our number to be called. If I remember correctly, we were #54.

clear waters

while we were all seeked shade from the scorching heat of the sun, this foreigner opted to lay under the UV rays' mercy

After a bazillion light years, we finally boarded our boat going to the island where the Underground River was located. We were re-united with the family we shared the van with from the airport to the hostel, plus our new companions- the mayor from a town in Cavite and his balikbayan brother and daughter.

definitely not a boring boat ride

docked

bayawak in the house

pristine waters leading to the underground river

We had to wait a little more for our turn. More photo-ops for us, camwhores. Haha. The Underground River was declared one of the seven new wonders of the world. I was very excited to see stalactites and stalagmites "in the flesh."

going in

hmm.. i forget what that formation was called

the jellyfish

the only rock we were allowed to touch
apparently, the stalagmites/stalactites are very sensitive
our hands have acid and upon contact with these formations,
they stop growing, so to speak
tampuhin.

the black stuff on the cave walls are from the decayed plants. from what i remember
from the tour. but i'm not so sure. haha.

on our way out

It was fun and educational experience. We had a very good and very entertaining guide. The tour guide/boatman plays a huge part in this experience. We were lucky we got a good one. 

Ang galing how Palawan systematized tourism. Paglabas pa lang ng airport, meron na agad tour companies who will assist you and you don't get the feeling as if they're trying to rip you off. These tour companies also provide the transfers to your accommodation, fetch you from your hotel on the day of the tour then take you back there. Hindi ba masalimuot. Ahlavet!

Another thing I loved about Palawan is no matter how many tourists visit, it seems that they were able to maintain cleanliness in the tourist spots. The waters are still pristine, clean. This is in comparison with Boracay. Boracay's white sand is waaaay better than Palawan's, but at the rate that the business owners and the tourists are abusing the island, baka dumating ang panahon magmukhang burak na ang beach ng Boracay. I am lucky I have been to Boracay before it became highly developed. So hats off to Palawan's government officials for looking after the province. 

Last Day in the City

Our flight was at 7pm in the evening and we didn't have anything scheduled for the day. We checked out of our inn, left our bags with reception then had lunch at Gerry's Grill in Robinsons Mall. Still had a lot of time to kill so AB and I watched Unfriended. 

Still had four hours before check-in so we joined AC (who didn't want to watch a movie), who was having coffee at Palawan Cafe. 

Not bad ;) But you know naman my non-coffee-drinker heart still belongs to Starbucks' mocha frappe and on occasions, CBTL's morrocan mint latte. 

So there you go, our little Palawan vacation. We still haven't seen everything there is to see in Palawan- still haven't gone ziplining in Ugong Rock and still haven't gone to El Nido and Coron. Bilib naman talaga ako sa nanay at tatay ko na nagmula-Appari-hanggang-Jolo adventure sa Palawan in seven days. Three days lang and two major activities, pagod na ako. Eh silang mga senior citizens na, go go go pa din. Shameful. Very shameful. 

To be continued...