The City in A Forest lies in Philippines' Last Frontier...Puerto Princesa

May 2009




Truly I can't believe that one of my ultimate dreams had just came true, reaching the City in a Forest is an experience that i will forever cherish. It even takes few days that I was able to overcome my Palawan hang over:) Simply the best, blessed with abundance in everything and anything about nature. Given the chance,I prefer living in a simple laid back life there. Well...travelling to Puerto Princesa from Cagayan de Oro is truly worth it. From CDO it's a 30 mins flight to Cebu's Mactan International Airport then after 3 hours, a connecting flight to Puerto Princesa will take about about an hour before reaching finally Puerto Princesa domestic airport. They said Palawan is a place here Philippines thats always sunny and it rarely rains. But since the weather has low pressure at that time, it has rainshower when we arrive. Thanks God we were fetch by the service van of Skylite Hotel so it doesn't give us a hard time looking for a transportation. It's true that Palawan's PUJs are tricycle, jeepney & bus only. yes no taxi cabs despite of the bustling tourism in the entire province it remains on its simple way of living, commercialism is out of their system, not even malls or factories can be seen. I was amazed with the people's warm welcome, on our way to the hotel i was so excited not only having a glimpse of the beautiful scenery but knowing the beautiful people as well.

The hotel staff are friendly and accommodating, though the hotel's ambiance is quiet laid back too. But accessibility wise, it nestled on the main street of Puerto Princesa, banks like BPI, Allied & Banco de Oro are just a few steps away. Even fastfood chains like Jollibee, Chowking, Shakey's is just a walking distance. And lots of restaurants sprawling on the corners of the main street of Puerto Princesa. Ameneties of Skylite Hotel includes wifi accessibility, cable tv, hot & cold shower and complimentary breakfast. After our lunch we were fetch by our tour guide from Ellen's Travel for our first activity, the city tour. 

Our first stop of course The Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral, it has a different structure from amongs the cathedrals I have been, it's like a castle. On the right side of the cathedral is Plaza Quartel where thousands prisoners of wars died during colonizations, then we headed to Puerto Princesa bay used to be a squatter's area but later developed like a smaller version of Roxas Boulevard's Manila Bay. 

Then we proceed to Crocodile Farm & Nature Park where hundreds of crocs of different sizes can be seen and even have a close interaction with the reptiles for only P20 per picture shot:) 

Next stop is the Iwahig Penal Farm also called as prison with no bars. Inmates were taught income generating activities such as handicrafts, rice farming. It was very inspiring because criminals are not treated as prisoners but they were given the chance to change their lives into purpose. Most of them can live with their families, it's like a small community for the inmates. 

Then we headed to Binuatan Weaving center where weave products such as bags, placemats, mats & more can be bought created by the locals. I even tried to weave but it's pretty tough, you need to have a good eyesight to make it perfect. 

Then we headed to Mitra's Ranch, where the residence of the late former Speaker Mitra located, it was a hilltop area with a good view of the city proper and the famous Honda Bay. 

On our way back we dropped by on Palawan's famous bakery Baker's Hill, where I had tasted the most delicious 'hopia' ever. They also have crinkles, cookies for pasalubongs. The place has nice landscapes and miniature of some famous Disney character such as Snow White & the Seven dwarfs, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse. Then we were dropped off the hotel bringing all the fun & learnings during the city tour. We take some rest and decided to have some snack through Jollibee delivery, and in just a few minutes of waiting it was delivered right in our hotel room doorstep. 

Then after watching tv shows on cable we had fallen to a deep sleep. It was late dinnertime when we got awake. We agreed to have dinner at Kalui's, the famous restaurant in town. Some even says never leave Puerto Princesa without dining at Kalui's. In fact, we were supposed to dine there but the hotel receptionist told us that we need to have our reservation first before going there or end up waiting for other customers to finish dining. So we had decided to have reservations for the next night. We ended dining at Balingsasayaw Restaurant, nido soup is the specialty of the house at Php350 it is a soup made of a bird's nest, a balingsasayaw bird made their nest through their own saliva. You can also try their delicious grilled chicken, pancit canton. If you want to try Palawan's delicacy the 'tamilok' you can visit Kinabuch, it looks awful but taste good.:)
The following morning we will be fetch by Ellen's staff for our exciting Underground River tour. So we need to prepare early for the breakfast buffet at the hotel's restaurant, the Verandah. They had a variety of foods to choose from like egg omellette, sunnyside up egg, daing, longganisa, tapa, beef loaf, garlic rice and more. 

Just in time we were fetch by the tour guide for the next tour. About two hours of a road trip we had enjoyed the green sorroundings of the city in a forest, we even had a stop over on a nice view deck in Buenavista on our way to Sabang where the famous Underground river was located. 

Upon reaching Sabang we had waited for about 30 minutes for our guide to arrange everything. But we never get bored of waiting with the view of the municipality of Sabang and our fellow tourist that we had acquainted, Ate Letty she was on her mid 40s she just came from California with her husband and dad. She was really fun to be with. 

Then we ride a motorboat to reach the park. On our way were we can view the limestone mountains with the azure water indeed truly magnificent. And its more amazing reaching the park's picnic groove where you can have a close encounter with an exotic reptile, the monitor lizard roaming around on different sizes. 

Then we had our lunch that includes on the package tour before proceeding to the river bank. Through a paddle boat maneuvered by a well trained boatman we explore the dark cave with a hallogen light. we were amazed with the rock formations such as The Holy family, Jesus face, three kings, candle, the cathedral and more. 

Yet you will get bothered with awful smell and the thousands of bats inside. It was an undescribable feeling, exciting yet scary. Whats playing on my mind are scary thoughts seeing all those bats and the dark water. But I was relieve with the funny boatman kidding all along and seeing Jesus face on one of the formations. Great wonders of nature. On our way back to the 

picnic groove we had seen numbers of monkeys roaming around. They were the clever culprits in the park, snatching white cellophane bags, we were warned not to bring white cellophane bags or we end up running after those monkeys:) Then we headed back to Sabang wharf where Ellen's service van is waiting. The trip was tiring but it's all worth it. 

I was so excited for our dinner in Kalui's, I was wondering why everyone say never leave Palawan without dining there. Truly it was a one of a kind restaurant, you can feel it upon entering the reception area. It is a must that you need to leave your foortwears in the locker before going to the dining area. We need not worry because the glossy wood flooring won't harm your barefeet. 

The receptionist leads us to our table. We ordered their Platter of the day it includes rice, clam soup, grilled tuna, prawns, special lato for appetizer and fresh fruits for dessert. The place is eerie because of the weird paintings and sculptures all around but it was very exciting:) The food is really the best, one of a kind. Since we're so tired on our Underground river tour, we decided to get back to the hotel and just passed by the nightlife experience in PP.

Waking up so early and we're very excited for our Honda Bay trip, this time we do it on our own, since Ellen's cannot accommodate our half day tour. We hired a trike as our transportation going to St Lourdes wharf. Then we rented a Fozo motorboat for our Island hopping, it's quite expensive just for two but truly it's worth it. Our first stop is Pandan Island, it's just an ordinary little island for beach picnic, there are even few residents on the island. 

We just take some pictures, then we headed back to the boat for our next stop, Snake island, there's no snakes in there, the shape of the island was formed like a snake. We went on snorkeling and fish feeding. It was awesome, lots of medium size fishes of varieties that you can feed. After an hour of fun snorkeling we went tour next stop Starfish Island, well from the name itself you can have an idea what to expect there, lots of big starfishes! but it's not ideal for swimming.

The our next stop is Pambato reef, it's the mini Tubattaha Reef in PP. Yes nice for diving and snorkeling. The reef was absolutely awesome, wonderful colors underwater:) Then next stop is LuLi island, it means Lulubog-Lilitaw depends on the tide you can see the island on low tide but when its high tide you can only see the spring board and sandbars of the resthouse. 

It was really fun and everything is worth it:) Then we headed back to the hotel for our brunch, and get ready for our flight back to Cebu. Truly it was once in a lifetime experience exploring the City in a Forest. Indeed the cleanest and greenest city in the Phillippines. If given a chance, I will choose to leave there for a hassle free life away from pollutions.:)