Puerto Princesa, Palawan Getaway

The “cleanest city in the country,” “the Last Frontier,” “City in the Forest,” famous for its tourism in the Philippines, “Puerto Princesa, Palawan” It’s biodiversity and natural made wonders made me in love on this city. People here are kind and disciplined. One of our tourist guides told me that there is 0.33% crime rate in the city and there were laws to protect the environment. They use tricycles as their way of transport and at affordable price it can bring you anywhere in the city for at least Php7/person for 1 km of ride. You need one week of to stay here to see all those beauty and hidden wonders of the city.


First Day:
Our first day was spent for city tour. There were different agencies that offers a higher price for each tour per persons so we go for a walk and we found a tricycle driver who offer much cheaper price and will rent his tricycle for the tour. His name is Mang Toto and he is a good tourist guide, at first tour we went to Badjao SeaFront Restaurant to take our lunch. Here, they serve different kinds of fresh seafoods and it is located between the Mangrove forest and in front of the sea. You can eat and relax in a magnificent view of the ocean. After we eat, we went to Butterfly Garden where you can see different kinds and colors of butterflies, insects only seen in the forests of Palawan such as scorpions, locusts, centipedes, stick insects, beetle and lizards. Next stop was at Crocodile farm where wildlife are kept here until they can be release into the forest and most of animals here are endangered. There are snakes, crocodiles, parrots, bearcats and different kinds of birds can be seen here. also serve crocodile meat dishes such as croc burgers and sisis crocodile. You can take a picture with a baby crocodile for Php30 and don’t worry there’s a guide that will hold it for you. After our wildlife tour, we went to Baker’s Hill home of the best hopia in Palawan to buy their famous Hopia ube and it tastes good. Near Baker’s Hill is a mansion owned by a retired general in Palawan and a ranch owned by the governor of the province. Both are huge and has a magnificent view of the Palawan Bay. It was a tiring yet a wonderful nature loving experience throughout the day. We arrived at our hotel at 5pm and took a rest to get ready for our dinner at Kinabuch Bar and Grill famous for their exotic Woodworm Mollusk, “Tamilok” it tastes like an oyster dipped into a spicy vinegar sauce. You have to taste it for your Palawan experience you will never forget.


Second Day:
On this day we’ve planned to go to Sabang Beach and a new wonders of the world finalists, the Puerto Princesa Underground River. From the hotel, we arrived at the Sabang Beach at approximately 3 hours of long drive, here we went to St.Paul’s mountain in a boat trip for about 15 minutes. There are beautiful rock formation seen along the ride and when we reach the the location there were monkeys and monitor lizards who will welcome you. You will ride a boat going inside the underground river and they will provide protective caps and vests for your safety.
The cave was so majestic with different rock formations you can imagine such as the Last Supper formation. The tour inside the cave took 45 minutes of boat ride and if you wanna try to see all inside the cave it will took 6 hours to see everything. After the underground river experience, a buffet lunch took on Sabang Beach and they serve a variety of seafoods such as grilled Tuna and squid and their version of adobong chicken and kangkong. After we rest, they offered us a tour on a river of Mangroves. These river is home for shrimps, crabs and mudfishies. Snakes are hanging on stems of the mangroves and the boatman told us that they are hospitable snakes even they are venomous.



Third Day:
Our third day was for Honda Bay tour, where we rent our own boat so we could enjoy island hopping experience. For the first snorkeling trip, we went to Pambato Reed where we can swim with different kinds and colors of fishes. We feed them bread and we sa different sizes of coral reefs and giant clams. Next island is Starfish Island, one of the best beach I’ve seen with it’s white sand beach and prestine clear water. We took our lunch here and we bought crabs and fish and the caretakers will cook it for you. Our boatman guide us to the nearest coral reef of the island to snorkel and we saw different corals that you can touch and enjoy our swim with the fishes. Next island was Snake Island, its name came from the S-shape of the island. Here many tourists enjoy the beach and calm water. There are big fishes you can feed just bring bread for them and they will feast. The last island was Pandan Island and from its name there were plenty of Pandan Trees on the island. I love the fine white sand of the beach and I took some sand to bring them home. Coral reefs here are in shallow waters just watch out for sea urchins, you will surely don’t like these if you step on their torns.



Fourth Day:
For our Final tour, we went to Dos Palmas Island Resort. One of the luxurious and most beautiful resort I’ve seen. It was like a Mediterranean Island resort famous for its watersports and best for scuba diving. We had a chance to drive a motorboat to our snorkeling destination. Here fishes and different marine creatures and giant corals as big as a van can be seen here. We had our buffet lunch at the resort serving the most famous dishes of the province. It was a fine dining experience when we eat those mouth watering dishes they serve. Almost of the dishes are new to our taste and everything were so delicious. Such a wonderful experience we had in the resort and we tried kayaking around the beaches of the resort. We took some rest on their Bohemian Huts along side of the beach. Even it was a last tour we had, we enjoy every minute of the time we are there and took as many pictures we can. When we get back to our hotel we took some rest and we went to “Baragatan Festival,” different people from different places in the province gather here to sell their famous products such as Cashew Brittle, handicrafts and different unique sculptures wood made from the famous wood curvers of the province. We bought our pasalubong here and we took our dinner at Balinsasayaw Restaurant famous for their chicken bbq and it tastes so good.

Potipot Island

A beautiful island with clear water and white sand, “Potipot Island.” Located at Candelaria , Zambales approximately 3-4 hours of long drive from Pampanga. Here you can enjoy and relax the cozy white sand and clear water just rent a boat for Php400 for 6 persons and entrance on the island for Php100/person. It has comfort rooms and stores where you can use and enjoy your island getaway.

Baler, Aurora

All the way from North Luzon, a surfing destination rich in history from Spanish era. From the first lady of the late President Manuel Quezon got its name Province of Aurora, here is a tourist destination well known for its giant waves good for surfing, the town of Baler. Rich in culture, very kind people and delicious delicacies like coco jam and suman. The town of Baler is at the North East of Luzon facing the Pacific Ocean and most of the people here are Ilocanos and fishing is the main source of their living. There are surfers along the side of the Baler Beach whom you can be your personal surfing coach. You can pay them Php500 for one hour of learning about surfing . If you want to visit Baler, you must try surfing and get to see their historical sites way back from Spanish era.

Nagsasa Cove(may30-june1,2010)

Summer 2010
So at last we had our vacation even it was just almost 3 weeks. We planned to go to Zambales with my Mie as what we always do during summer vacation for ourselves to relaxed and enjoy each other. Our beach outing is the one I’ve waited for so get ready all the things we need and had some research about the place. First I found Anawangin Cove, a place they called paradise because of its majestic beauty and I really like it but when I read about blogs about it, 2 years ago it was so clean and nice but now it is so crowded because of many tourist going in that place. Before the last day we go to Zambales I found a place similar to Anawangin Cove, the Nagsasa Cove but it is not that too crowded by people but it is twice as far as Anawangin from Pundaquit Beach but the place is so beautiful and you can call it a paradise.

On our first day to Zambales we had a 2 and a half hour of a ride from dau going to Pundaquit, Zambales there the beach is good and clean as what I expected because it is not that known for many people than in Subic which is now crowded and the beach is polluted with different thrash. We had a overnight stay in a hotel and we find the people were very kind. We had a great stay in the Pundaquit beach as we walk along the shore and ask about Nagsasa Cove all what they say about it that is so beautiful but a one hour ride in the boat will take you there. We found a boatman who gave us a cheap price on having a stay on the Cove and it was Php2,500 and everything is there including the light we need, tent to sleep on and a guide who will take us to the Falls in Nagsasa Cove.
On the second day we packed our bags, buy foods we need and checked out from the hotel. It was 12 in the afternoon and it was raining, we thought that are trip will be canceled and stay in Pundaquit but as we asked the boatman the waves in the sea is just mild, the trip is now ready and the sun came out and our ride from Pundaquit beach to Nagsasa Cove is too long but different islands which you will see are so beautiful and big rock formation comes along your way, I hope someday we’ll have a house on one of the islands in that place. Near the Nagsasa Cove the boatman brought us to a coral reef and we snorkel around that reef and it is so beautiful, different coral reefs and colorful fishes we’ve seen I wish that place will not destroyed by people because I saw other corals which are dead and I feel sorry for the fishes, their habitat is gone. When we reached the destination, I see the place as a hidden paradise and I feel amazec that we saw it, pine trees at your back, mountains on your sides and a very beautiful beach on your front so what you expect so we take many pictures on the place. As the caretakers on the place are building our tent we walk along the beach and take pictures of my Mie even she got dizzy on our boat ride I comfort her to be ok. It was our first time to go there so we took all the chance to see all the beauty in that place. The place is owned by Aetas and they were all kind to us and they make us feel we’re a VIP in that place. The place has no electricity and no potable water, no signal, good thing we brought much water for 2 days and flashlight. We cooked for them and gave them food, all I feel is that Me and my Mie are married and having our married life I wish that time is forever. When the night comes, the caretakers made a bon fire for us and we sat in front of the bon fire and talk to the people there and had a great time with my Mie. When we had our sleep and we woke up midnight and there was a storm, our tent was going to break but thanks to the boatman and the caretaker they tied up our tent and they make us feel secured because the wind and thunders are too strong and my Mie is so scared I make her ok and comfort him on that night and when she fell asleep I also sleep for the next day of our trip.



On the third day we woke up with the beautiful sunshine in the mountains. We went to the nearest store and bought some cup noodles for us and for the boatman and the caretaker, we had our breakfast then we went to the lake to have some pictures. The lake is so great it is so beautiful it was like a place not here in the Philippines but in a postcards you see from the other countries.
The mountains are green, the ocean and sky is blue and the lake is so calm, all I can say that the place is so amazing. After we had pictures we walk along the beach and get some shells to take home and make them decorations. When we get back to our tent we get ready for our walk to the mountain to find the falls, we took some foods and water for our walk. It was 8 in the morning but the sun is too hot in our way to the mountain. Our way to the falls is too long and took almost one hour, but we saw historical spots in the place including the walls made by Spaniards and the crater we saw in the mountain made by bombs of Americans. We had some stopovers because it was too tiring as we walk very 15 minutes of walk should have a break. We saw a river which is dried and has so many beautiful rocks. Near the falls we walk in a river full of big stones and some slippery rocks so we should be careful walking in that place. I’m very thankful that no one of us never get hurt and had only slides on the rocks and when we reached the falls is so beautiful because it was our first time to see falls even the water in the falls is not too strong, the water is fresh as I drink in it. I’m very happy that I’m with my Mie when we see those places together.



The tourist guide said that we are the third tourist who reached that falls because many have surrendered because the walk was too long and tiring and the sun is so hot. We had some pictures in the falls and had a 1 hour swim and rest. The Aetas call that place “Hasaan” because there is a giant rock in the falls where you can sharp your knives. In our way back to the beach my Mie had an injury in her toe and I was worried because it is bleeding so I apply pressure but it is not enough it bleeds again and again because we are walking and our guide find some leaves and apply it on my Mie’s toe thank God it was effective all I want in that time is to get back to the beach immediately to clean my Mie’s wound. When we arrived at the beach we cleaned it and cook lunch and take a bath. We had our last lunch under a pine tree and took a rest then fix our things to get ready to leave the Nagsasa Cove. Before we leave we took our last pictures and had a boat ride and the day is too tiring all we want is to reach the Pundaquit bay and buy cold drink. We thank the boatman and the caretaker for the wonderful experienced we had and it was worth to remember all the things we had in Nagsasa Cove. Thanks to my Mie that I can never see those places without her. I love you so much..


More Photos:

Last Day Vacation Before Summer Classes

Many weeks have passed and many things happened before our summer class Me and Mie went to Manila for our last day of vacation. As expected we had fun and enjoy our trip to Manila. I wish we could come back and try other places because we only went to the biggest Malls in Manila and they were only four we've seen but the one day of walk is not enough to to see all those shops and foods inside malls. We find it so hard to search for places we can go through but thanks to those security guards in the mall who tell us where to go to find another place to come and visit. We took a ride in a taxi but it cost expensive just because we don't know how to ride jeepney or bus coz we are scared to those holdappers around the metro.

I hope we could go to the historical spots in Manila in the next time we'll go there. Our Day ended watching the sunset along the bay then we had dinner in front of the bay watching Pyromusical Play and that night was so memorable for me. Thanks to my Mie for the exciting experince we had that day.

Summer Class Here I Come Again

So this day ends my school on my 2nd year of nursing course and now I am waiting for my make-up duties on Angeles Medical Center. I don't know if I'm excited on those duties but I want to spend most of this vacation with my Mie. I was excited to have our out of town trip but my make-up duties canceled it so now I am planning to have out vacation trip at the end of the summer classes which is before June, I hope we'll make it and have fun for ourselves. From the past few days, I've been so sad for I want to know and realize what am I doing for myself because all of my time I spend was always with my girlfriend but I never regret that happiness I had when I'm with her but I want to spend something for myself. We talked about it and soon it was fixed. I now realized that everything can be fix if you will talk about it and have decisions for own. Every now and then my relationship with my Mie is getting stronger and more mature as we go along different challenges and problems in life. I thank her for being strong even I'm too weak sometimes to stand for this relationship but all I know is that I love her so much and together we'll fight and stand to be more stronger.

Excited For Summer

So it was almost a month since I write on this blog, as usual I always enjoy life. This day ends my duty for the 2ndsem on my 2ndyr, I got busy for the past weeks so now I have the chance to plan for the vacation. I want to go to beach with my Mie, maybe in Zambales or Pangasinan. I want to have vacation every year with my Mie because last year we went to Subic and it was worth to remember and we enjoyed it a lot as we had our island tripping and snorkeling. Maybe this summer will be more enjoyful and we should relax after the long days of schoolwork. May we have our safe trip and vacation. It was February 22, 2010 and it was the first time I introduce my first and last girlfriend to my parents and they were excited as they cook and went to grocery to buy food for us. We cooked her steaks,burger,tacos that I cooked and my Mom cooked Sinigang for her and my Dad cooked Arelyeno Talangka(stuffed crab). She full her stomach and we enjoy our date in our house I wish everyday was like that everyone loves us and appreciate what we were, this things I always pray now granted and I thank God for all of these. Now all I want to achieve is my dreams for my family, my own and my Mie.