November 16, 2010 Wandering in Puerto Princesa
I have always been close to my fellow Ilocano's and kababayans. So when the time that some of them sought greener pastures, I spent most of the remaining time travelling with them. When Grieza and Emerson said that we go to Puerto Princesa, I was hesitant at first since I had to decide to spend my restday at the city or not. Lucky they were since they were just spending the remaining leave credits they had. Since we also have a new Ilocano co-employee that time, we tagged him, Lester, to explore the city. The day came for our travel to the city. During the 5hr trip, we learned by text message that Oliver spent his restday in the city. We checked in at Circon Businessman Inn since it offer affordable rates and it was located at the city center. After we checked in, we decided what to do the following day. Grieza and I wanted to go to Dos Palmas. Emerson wanted to visit the underground river since he had been to Dos Palmas. Grieza and I had been to the underground river previously when Emerson and Lester had not relocated yet in Palawan. Lester was caught in the middle, either way he can choose any trip. In the end, Emerson won in the battle of persuation. Oliver later met us at the halls of the Circon. We asked him to join us the following day but he wanted to do some photography shoots around the city. We were not able to convinced him so we had a four pax reservation for an underground river tour with the help of the inn receptionist.
It was already past 7PM and we decided to walk our way towards the capitol area. Along the way, we were deciding where we were going to have dinner. We ended up on Balinsasayaw Grill and Restaurant. Food was really great with our order from the menu to be a bilao (wooven flat basket) of seaweeds and grilled seafood of sorts. Aside from the fruit shakes we had, fresh coconut juice was also ordered. Thanks to Emerson whose favorite was the buko (young coconut) juice. He must have been nursing a UTI. After dinner, we found him talking to a waitress. There was so much teasing upon leaving the restaurant.
The night was still young that we decided to have a walk by the baywalk. We rode a tricycle to our destination. There were still people enjoying the breeze when we arrived at the baywalk. Some were biking while others taking photographs too. We did not walked that far. We found a not so crowdy spot. December was fast approaching so people flock at the baywalk to see the tall christmas tree. It was really nice spending time there after sundown.
By 1030PM, we decided to go elsewhere. I suggested we go to Taza, a videoke bar near the airport. Off we went and had a tower of beer. We had a table not in a VIP room since we also wanted to talk. What I love about the place was that most of those who hold the microphone has a tune. Well everyone knows how to sing but not everyone is on key if you get what I mean. It is not just a typical videoke bar that one can just find on any corner of the street.
We left the scene after we downed the beer tower. From there, we rode a tricycle to our hotel where we fixed ourselves and had a good night sleep for the next day long trip.
November 17, 2010 Underground River trip, 2nd time
We had an early breakfast at the hotel since the service van was scheduled to pick us up by 8AM. The van did came with a family who were on a vacation from Australia. The father is Australian married to the Filipina mother. The family were our companions for the tour as arranged by the travel agency. It was not my first time travelling with others especially foreigners since the first time I went to the underground river I was with a French couple Manuel and Elena, both of Spanish roots. The first photo above actually was shot by Elena which she sent later. It was nice meeting new people along the way. You get to learn a lot from the conversations during the trip. Moving on, during the trip I was nostalgic of the time I first traveled the road going to the underground river. Roads were already improved, most of which was already made of concrete. Previously, the northern roads were still being concretized. Travel now was smoother as compared before. The same inclusions were still part of the tour that is to have a toilet break at Buenavista Viewdeck. We spent some ten minutes for picture taking and stretching. Time check, almost there.
By 1030AM we arrived at the port area for boat transfer. Unfortunately there were plenty of tourist at the site according to our guide so we have to wait for call time. We explored the area for the mean time.
We did not walk further the registration area so as to see our guide easily. Come 30minutes later, our guide was waiving at us signalling that we were about to board the boat. We queued for a while as we wait for the other passengers disembarking from the boats. Weather was gloomy but good thing it did not rain that day. The sea was calm that time. We boarded a 10 passenger boat. Joining the four of us was our guide and a companion who brought some documents aboard to the site. In my mind, it must be permits.
Arriving at the site, we went to the registration booth for some documentation again. There was this signature campaign for the new world wonder search wherein the underground river is a finalist. For the second time around, I signed again for such. Then we followed the pathway of wooden planks along the canopy to get our gears for the tour. And again, I saw the entrance of the subterranean river with boats coming in and out on its entrance. Not much has change since except that the wooden bridge was not being utilized that time. Boarding and unloading was done on the platform just below the cottage.
Upon completion of passengers on the boat, off we went to enter the cave system. Emerson and Grieza sat in front of the boat with Emerson holding the light. Lester and I sat behind them. I just pretended that it was my first time while marveling at the beauty of the cave. It was good that our boatman injected humor on his commentary routine while we navigated the river. The stalactite and stalagmite formation were still mesmerizing.
We completed the tour already past the hour of 12 noon. We spent a few more minutes at the area to wait for our companions as mentioned by our guide earlier for us to have lunch back at the port. Lunch is no longer done at the site since authorities imposed a law that prohibits wildlife feeding. There were plenty of monkeys and monitor lizard at the area. After we had our fill of taking plenty of photographs at the shore, we boarded out boat back. It was already 1PM when we had our lunch on a local restaurant. There was a vendor of tamiloc also who passed by the cottage where we had our lunch. Emerson bought a one serving which he and Lester tasted. Did I tasted it? Not my apetite.
Our guide told us that we will leave the site by 2PM. After lunch we still had time to roam around and look for souvenirs. We found out that the shirts sold their can also be found in the city center so we opted to buy instead later after arrival in the city. A newly built resort fronting the beach was already operational that time. We wandered the grounds for photos. Soon came 2PM and we head back to the service van. This time during travel back, the trip was so silent because most of us slept. Sitting for 2 hours can be tiring especially when you are a passenger. As soon as we arrived at the city, we asked the driver to drop us at the souvenir shop center. Sometime in the late afternoon, we met again with Oliver. We had dinner later in the evening where we discussed our trip back to campsite the following day.
The days remaining with them at work was not apparent. The time spent with them was surely irreplaceable and a memorable one. But that is life, people come and people go. We meet different sorts of people along the way.
The days remaining with them at work was not apparent. The time spent with them was surely irreplaceable and a memorable one. But that is life, people come and people go. We meet different sorts of people along the way.
It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. - Ralph Waldo Emerson.