i'm home! while it's really nice to be home, i still feel sad for leaving Palawan after four stellar days! words are not enough to explain how much fun we had! we didn't waste a single minute and everything turned out more than i could have imagined. thanks to good company and the great place! why would you aspire to go to beaches outside of the country when we already have beauty in the a few hours away!

day 1
. one hour flight later we were at Puerto Princesa where we met up with Mrs. Belleza who was also at the same flight. we dropped the things off at the hotel and then went straight to Honda Bay. we took a boat ride which is about 40 minutes long to get to the islands. it was awesome! the view was spectacular. van and i couldn't help but think that GOD is such a great artist for making Palawan a work of art.

.Honda Bay. The bay consists of several islets with shallow reefs bordering fabulous beaches which have become the favorite swimming, snorkelling, and diving destinations of local residents and tourists. These islets are the Cannon (Cowrie) Island, Bat Island, Lu-Ii Island (derived from the word ""lulubog-lilitaw"", meaning floating and sinking island, is visible only during low tide), Meara Marina, Starfish Island (known for its fine white sand and clear water that teems with starfish), Snake Island (an island with a long stretch of fine white sand shaped like a snake), Pandan Island, and Senorita Island (the breeding site of lapu-lapu fish). Lodging facilities are available for overnight stays in the islands of Meara Marina and Starfish (Sandbar Resort).The bay is located in Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua, Puerto Princesa City. About 12 kilometers east of Puerto Princesa City is Sta. Lourdes wharf where pumpboats could be hired to take tourists to the island of their choice. Some islands require an entrance fee; others are privately owned, thus, permits from the owners are necessary. Sta. Lourdes wharf is 25 minutes away by hired tricycle or jeepney. A pumpboat ride from the wharf to the different islands is from 15 to 50 minutes.
(http://www.tourism.gov.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=famousefor&province=22)

. snorkeling at Snake Island. it was fun! i didn't think we were going swimming so i didn't buy an underwater disposable camera. but we were lucky! we got to go snorkeling because the people there have snorkeling gear for rent! we went swimming with colorfull underwater creatures! i saw a starfish too :) it was so beautiful that i couldn't believe my eyes that i was swimming with the beautiful colorful fishes!

. two hours later we were back on the boat. we almost got stranded because the motor would die once in a while. we got to watch the sunset from the boatride and it was breathtaking! i got lucky enough to have three cameras with me to capture the moment!

. another forty minute boat ride later and a sunset view, we were back to the wharf where our ride waited. it took us back to the city where we showered at the hotel and went out again for dinner at the best chicken place in town-- Chicken Inato. yumm!

that was the first day. to be continued. to talk about the whole four day stay would take me ages to finish since we did A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS while we were in Palawan. the good news is, i just might go back this summer right after practicum with my family because they're really interested to go. yey!

boatride on the way back to the wharf. at the way back: that's van and i. then there's Mrs. Belleza. up front is Dr. Boncan and apple. click here for larger version.


we needed to wear vests in case we fall off haha :P







van, apple, and i before swimming. already at Snake Island.









on the way back to the wharf about three hours later.




what did we do to deserve to be here?


i thought i died and went to heaven.


van and i taking a break after snorkeling.


Snake Island in Honda Bay


a picture of the beach with Prof. Gerry as extra. hehe :P




i felt really at peace and close with Nature there.


the boat we took to go island hopping at Honda Bay


we were able to watch the sunset from the boat on the way to the wharf!!! breathtaking!

DAY 2

. the conference at Palawan State University on American Legacy in Palawan: with focus on Culio Leper Colony and Iwahig Penal Colony was from 8am to 5pm. it was very interesting and although the conference was that long, it did not bore us at all because the history of both the colonies are very interesting. i learned so much from that day especially how when another window was openned for me to look into the past of two places that played such a big role in Philippines' history under the American rule. i wish i could get copies of the paper. van, apple, and i met people too. interesting ones.

. there was a reception at Dr. Evangelista's house for the delegates from Manila. we went with the group. the house was lovely. Prof. Gerry said the terrace is beautiful because it has a view of Honda Bay from up there. we didn't get to see it, though.

. after refreshing at the hotel, dr. boncan, mrs. belleza (the curator of the Legazpi museum), Prof. Gerry, apple, van, and i went around the city to tour places. we had dinner again at a lovely restaurant and saw the city which was small but interesting. we were supposed to go and watch a free Rivermaya concert at the city's coliseum but sadly, the place was really packed! so we took pictures at the famous city fountain instead. it was a pretty sight. then we toured inside the Capitol where there were booths and a one-woman show. that lady was hilarious because she kept messing the lyrics of a Mariah Carey song.

Day 3

. Mrs. Melly (the director from NHI- National Historical Institute or is it PHA- Philippine Historical Institute?) and Hon. Ambet Ocampo picked us up to go to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. from http://www.tourism.gov.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=famousefor&province=22--A world heritage site, this natural wonder features an 8.2 kilometer navigable underground river, reputed to be the world's longest, that winds through a spectacular cave before emptying out in to the South China Sea. This river flows within a deep cavern under rugged limestone and marble cliffs, special features of the park. Known as one of the world's wonders, this river stretches eight kilometers deep into an underground lagoon with crystalline waters. Within the hallowed recesses, one winds through the tunnel aboard a paddle boat with outriggers to be enthralled at every turn which reveals stalactite pillars, rock formations, and domed amphitheaters.The park is located in Bahile, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Located 81 kilometers from the city proper, the place can be reached through Barangay Cabayugan to Sabang, from where one could take a pumpboat ride to the Underground River, or hike through a monkey trail. An alternative way to reach the river is through a hired pumpboat ride from Bahile wharf. Travel time through Barangay Cabayugan is 1 1/2 hours' jeepney ride and 10 to 15 minutes pumpboat ride or 1 1/2 hours hike.

. we were unfortunate because when we got to Sabang, the sea (South China Sea) was ferocious! it was raging with big waves which is why the wharf there didn't want to send out boats to get to the park in 20 minutes. we opted to take the 2 hour trail instead. omigod. it was once big mistake because to get to the Underground River, we had to hike up and down two mountains! the terrain was also dangerous with steep slopes, slippery rockes, and slippery leaves to step on. it was scary at one point especially when we pushed ourselves physically to exert so much strength in order to get to the river in one piece! but the Underground River inside the humongous spectacular cave was worth it. the interior of the gave was overwhelming. there were rock formations and although it was eery inside, the view was amazing! NO WORDS can explain how beautiful it was especially the mouth of the cave!!! a boat took us inside the cave along the underground river and we had to wear life vests and hard hats for safety. digicam battery went dead but i still had the film cam so i'm going to wait for those pics to be developed. on the way back, we had to trek through the jungle for another two hours! so that's four hours trekking which is why we were DEAD tired when we got back. i've never done that-- pushed myself that hard but the experience alone was awesome! it's an accomplishment that i could be proud of because it's not just a hill. they were two high mountains and trekking through a jungle is NO JOKE.

. at night we had dinner at Chowking because we couldn't decide where else to eat and we were really dead tired because of the four-hour suicidal trek through the jungle and up and down to mountains. argh. i don't think i can ever do that again because it was horrible. but looking back, it was an experience to be proud of! :D heeh!

DAY 4
. we just went shopping and we took a city tour. argh! van, apple, and i went crazy on souvenirs!!! haha! we also went to Iwahig (the late Penal Colony) and bought souvenirs which the prisoners there made. then we also dropped by the Congressman's ranch. it was beautiful!

the last day, it was sad because we had to much fun that we didn't want to leave. Dr. Evangelista and his wife treated us for lunch at Dang Maria's. the place is a house with beautiful interior and a very wide lot. pizza was great! the tofu curry too! when we got to the hotel we rested for a while until we were on our feet again and had dinner at Balinsasayaw under a cozy hut. seafood :9 yumm! and buko shake.

when the plane touched down this noon, i couldn't believe i was back to Manila. life was so much better in Palawan! all of us didn't want to leave. even Dr. Boncan! but this is life and it's back to reality tomorrow when school starts at 7am. sigh

more pictures next time. i have three 36-shot films, 180 photos from my cellphone, and 180 more from the digicam. oh yes, we have that much pictures documented from the trip!

Dr. Boncan already invited us to join the Banawe trip this April (right before practicum) and van, apple, and i are going again. yey! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TRAVELLING. life without travelling is like picking up a book and not turning over the pages. a famous person said that, read it off from somewhere. i just couldn't remember.

love our own! Philippines has so much to offer!