Finally moved onto, off to Palawan!!
Trip Start
Dec 02, 2007
1
22
Trip End
Aug 2007
Where I stayed
Rico's guesthouse, El Nido
Ausan cottages, Port Barton
Puerto Princesa, Sabang, Port Barton and El nido,
Philippines
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Palawan
We got up at 6am to get to airport, and then caught flight over to Palawan. We arrived and checked onto the Palawan village Hotel, whcih was cheap and nice, with TV and Garden. Ventured out and went to the palwan Museum which was 20 p to get in and was just appallong entertainment, but was nice to see some of the old style instruments and pottery. then wlaked up to the catherdral, which was shut when I got there, so just wasn't turning out to be that good of a day!
So turned to western food and went for a pizza, met a group of little Filipino girls could not have been more than 6 or 7 who just loved to talk and stare at me! Bless them.
Walked home and had a fairly quiet night after all the travelling of the past couple of days, got some Brownies from across the road and watched crappy film with bandetas in it, but hey sent us to sleep
07/03/08
Underground river
We were up at 6am, after not the best nights sleep after hearing two young things having a bitta fun all night long!!!
Got oicked up around 7.30am and then begun the long trip the Sabang. It was bumpy journey and finally we arrived at St Pauls Subterranean River, which is the longest navigable river (traversed tunnel) in the world. We crossed over to the Entrance on a mall rickerty boat whcih took around 20 minutes, and then we reached oue destination after a short walk. It was beautiful the little lagoon which house the entrance to the river was a lovely aqua greeny colour where no swimming was allowed , surrounded by trees that grew from the water itself, they dressed us up like idiots in hard ahts and lifejackets, and then put us in the mallest boats in the world and off we went. We entered the Cave and it was really dark and bats were everwhere Stalagmites and Stalactites were amazing and bear lots of resemblences to various things including a T Rex, The Virgin Mary, The Nativity, A Mushroom to name a few. So after 45 mins or so we were done and back in daylight. We had lunch and then left on the 2.5 hour journey back. We stopped at a little village on the way back called Viet Ville where veitnamese refugees came and set up home with the help of the Filipinos during the War. Only 7 families still remain there and there are several derelict houses. Back to Palawan Village Hotel for Pride and Prejudice Dinner and a bit of American Idol before Bed as moving on tomorrow
08/03/07
The day we got stuck!!
Up early again!! I thought i was on holiday?!?!?
Up to bus staion to get bus to Port Barton, which we were told would be at 9.30, but to get there early to ake sure you got on. So we arrived in plenty of time, as did the Itlaian couple who had been on Underground River Tour. The Bus turned out to be a clapped out old Jeepney, which was not too encouraging, and in the end it finally left at 10.45, good ole Filipino time keeping! So we began our journey which went well while we were on concrete, but then we hit the dirt, and as it had been raining the road wasn;t in the best of states!! We carried on drving but then we came across a lorry that waas well and truly stuck in the mud!! The Mud must have been at least a meter deep, and there was no way of getting the lorry out, but the filipinos had a go and after 2 hours they managed to get the lorry out, but then we still had to get the jeepney through.... And god forgive me for doubting it, it whipped through without any trouble at all. So we continued on our journey. The roads did not get any better really from there down to Port Barton, with sheer drops into the jungle on one side, pretty hairy! We arrived in Port Barton at 16.20 and along with Stephanie and Daniel, the Italians we checked into the Ausan Cottages for a mere 400 peso a night, beachside, they were nice enough.
Beers were needed at this point and then off to dinner at Bamboo Restaurant, before checking out a party that a filipino Guy, Boyet, had told us about on the Jeepney, so we took a walk to party, and there was no-one there except Boyet and a load of kids running around, then Boyet said it would only cost a gzillion peso's for a table and 2 soft drinks were included in that price!! Like it was a bargain, we politley declined and retired to bed!
09/03/07
Finding Nemo
After a fairly good nights sleep got up and decided to go Island hopping, so went for Breakfast at a place called Judy's which turned out to be a great little place serving a great brekkie, mmmm hash brown, and then went and sorted out a boat. We decided on the 3 islands we would like to visit and began sailing out to Aquarium Island. We stopped just off shore of the island and I went snorkelling, the coral was amazing, there was a bit that looked like a massive pumpkin, where loads of fish were inside in, and then one of the guys off the boat dived down to this lant thing, tickled it, and guess who came out??? Oh Yeah Nemo!, found him!! Dunno what all the fuss was about! Then my conatct lens fell out so went back to boat on an effort to save it. Took mask off carefuly but could not find it, but then looked down and it was just sat there on the boat , bonus!! Then we moved onto Exotic Island and it certainly was. We sat on the beach and it was really peaceful, white sand and no one else around. Went off snorkelling again and saw numerous fish starfish and Gil the angel fish also from Nemoand obvioulsy Nemo again. One of the guys off the boat went in and caught some Nemos in a bottle of coke, so saff could also see them, ahh and when I let them go they just stayed round my feet!
We then moved onto to Double reef island, where we bumped into the Italians again. We walked around the island whcih was lovely and met the caretaker and were able to sign a visitors book. Went sonrkelling off there for a little while but not much about, so called it a day and made our way back to port barton.. Got back and had a beer and got ready to go out and went to Judys again for dinner. We met the owner that night, his name was Zacharias who had come to Port Barton in 1954 for the fishing and opened Judys in 1975, he was also the Pasteur for the community until he was too old to continue and then his son-in-law took over.
10/03/08
Bad Back
Went for breakfast at Judy's and spoke to Zacharias and then back to Bungalow, did nothing due to bad back. Went back to Judys for dinner and say and spoke to Zacharias again and he was telling us how he had met his wife. They had both been on the boat in 1954, but no-one spoke to each other on these boats as they were evening boats and people tending to just sleep. When he arrived on Port Barton, the nieghbours tongues were wagging, and syaing to him did he realise he was living next door to a single lady and he was a single man. They started courting, and in an effort to win the favour of her parents, he would get fresh water, and take it by boat to her parents house in coron, which was not na easy journey on your little fishing boat, and everytime he arrived her father would literally just throw the water on the floor, after 5 years of this Zacharias eventually wore them and and after 5 yeras of courting, no touching or kissing, he was allowed to marry her, now thats love and commitemnt for you! Sadly his wife Nanita passed away a few years ago, but left behind 5 children and 19 grandchildren.
11/03/08
Day 100 and the day the man died!
Got up went for brekkie at Judys and said goodbye to Zacharias. We waited for the Jeepney as we were off to El Nido. We got on and there was a family, a Dad who was hoding his rather porrly son and a mother who was putting vicks under his nose. We sat across the ailse form them, in the only spare seats, this guy really was not well, and Saffron decided to move to the back of the jeepney. Then he Died.......the mother was just calling his name and then sat down besdie me, i tapped her on the shoulder to see if she was OK and she just pointed at him and drew her finger across her neck, and basically told me he had died. It was awful, they stopped the minibus and carried him off and lay him down next to the road, and we were off again, but no one sat in that seat I can teel ya!!
We made it through most of the muddy road without too much trouble until we hit the part where the lorry had been stuck, and again there was a minibus stuck, but fortunately there was a lorry on the otherside of the mud ready and willing to pull vehicles through. So after little bother we were through and back onto concrete and on our way to Elnido, and we arrived there at 16.20 and checked into Ricos cottages and bumped into a couple of german guys that we had seen in Port Barton. We got ready and headed out to dinner and as we walked round we saw a town fiesta was taking place and there was some really bad renditions of I will survive amongst others. We went to a restaurant called Tubay and had Tuna steaks were whcih flippin gorgeous and only a quid.
12/03/08
Got up early and was itching!! I had been bitten on my god dam eyelid and looked like rocky!! We had decided on going island hopping, so got and set off to the meeting point! The Italian were also on this trip amongst the 2 german guys we had met in port barton and 2 other german fellas and a couple of french folk. We began ourr journey to the small lagoon and went snorkelling saw a load of lovely fish, and then carried on through a small opening and then there was a massive drop off point, where the sun hit it and it looked like an endless abyss. We then made our ways back to the boats where I saw small sharks, but thewy scarpered. We then made our way round to the big lagoon where we just had a look round. We then went to a beautiful beach for lunch. The boatman got out the fresh mackerel and started to cooked over a fire on a small grill while we all snorkelled and got to know each other sat there chillin on the beach. Then lunch was served, and it was gorgeous, fresh fish and salad, but then being a knob i sat there and then dropped a whole plate of food in my lap, well done me.! Other on the trip were Sven and Lutz from germany who we met in port barton, then Fabian and Steffan also from germany, and alexia and sam from france and the italians. After unch we headed back to the big lagoon and went snorkelling the gremans and i swam out over to another beach which looked like scooby doo island, looked spooky with massive rocks learing over us. While snorkelling saw starfish and the yellow fish that you see on the wondows screensvaer, yeah they really exist! More fish with faces in the shapes of trumpets and another Gil from nemo. Then we headed off to the 7 commadoes island for some sunbathing, but was really hot so we sat in the shade and chatted. I went off snorkelling for a while, but when I came across a jellyfish the size if my head, i freaked out and went back to shore. Then it was time to head home, so we began the boat journey and long the way saw jellyfish the size of the Buoys you found in the sea, they were awful and soon made me take in my feet from hanging over the side of the boat! Got home showered and read before meeting all from baot trip for dinner at Marbles restaurant. We sat out drining and chatting until around 2am it was a great day!
13/03/08
Cock Fighting
Got up around 8.30am after being rudely awakened by the noisy neighbours. Went to the Taiyo Cafe for breakfast where our boat driver from previous day asked if we wanted to go out on boat trip again today, we declined so he said would we like to go to the cock fight, an invitation no girl would turn down!! So went down to see Fabian and Steffan and arranged to meet them at 2pm to go cock fighting. Got to the cock fight and it was bizarre, there was a ring of bleachers where all the filipinos were sat around shouting the odds out. The next two cocks ready to fight were in the ring with their owners taunting them against each other. The blades attached to their legs were really sharp and shiny!! Then the fight began, it was barbaric and over within minutes and the way they tell they fight is over is by picking up the birds and dropping them onto the floor if one doesn't attempt to start fighting, then fight is over! The looser is then taken off to a kind of polling staion type booth, and is attempted to be saved by the doctor, depending on how severe the wound. If they are not to be saved they are lobbed into a fire! We left there and arranged to Meet Steffan and Fabian for dinner and went back to cottages for showers. Saw Sven and Lutz who had been kayaking and arranged with them to also meet for dinner. Met uo a 7.30 and went to Tubay where qwe all had Tuna steaks before heading off into the fiesta for a spot of mild gambling, on games like you have found at a school fete! Fabain win some hot chocolate while Lutz won some soy sauce!
Back to Marbles for a few drinks before we sadi our goodbyes to Fabian and Steffan as We were all leaving to go back to Puerto Princesa the next morning.
14/03/08
Bus back to Puerto Princesa
