Puerto Princesa
Trip Start
Sep 02, 2007
1
296
326
Trip End
May 13, 2009
Puerto Princesa,
Luzon,
Philippines
Saturday, April 4, 2009
The route in was amazing- a bit like New Zealand with amazing mountains jetting out of the water. I got into Puerto Princessa and took a tricicle to the guesthouse - Banwa. I cant remember if I said but I meta great Dutch couple in Donsol and they kindly booked me up a dorm bed. I quickly aranged to hire a bike for the following day and then spent the evening chilling out. I met 2 very cool Finish dudes, then met up with Rowan who had got an earlier flight than me but it was delayed so much I got there before him! He was with 2 German girls and the 4 of us went out for a nice dinner and walk around Puerto Princesa. Rowan is a crazy Ossie dude who the locals love - he lived in SE asia for a while and really knows how the people tick - so any time spent with him is action packed and the German girls found it all a bit intimidating! Not that it bothers him!!
On day 2 I had the bestest day ever!
I got on my hired bike, filled up with Fuel and drove to Sabang som e 80km away. The road asnt too bad for the majority and only shitty for little sections but that is sometimes worse as you can get over confident. I got to Sabang in 3 hours after driving past kids on waterbuffalo, many paddy fields, having a coffee with a cool guy who wanted to convert me into a born again christian and almost falling off the bike on multiple occasions.
The trip was amazing and once in Sabang I cruised to the torist information and bought my entry fee. To save some cash I decided to walk to the Subteranial rivers from the Tourist information centre which is 5km - it saved a fair bit and was the best part of the day. The walk was steep and very hard, it started by walking along the beach for 1km, then crossing a stream up to my waist abnd then the rainforest part began. I had to get down to my board shorts and it was so hot the sweat was literally pooring off of me with mosquitos and some of the craziest insects I have ever seen! After the 1st 2km there is a split in the path and I took the monkey trail which takes you back to the beach and then a step ascent over rocks to the top where both pths meet and then on a further 2km to the subteranial rivers.
When I finally arived at the entry point where most people get the boat to there were loas of huge monitor lizzards and some really cool monkeys just hanging out - all, I think wanting food from the tourists. I walked past em and donned my helmate and life jacket and got in a boat with 9 others to see the Subteranial rivers.
It was nice, not amazing just nice.The guide was ok and I was sat next to a nice 40 something german guy with a family and we went some 3km into the river which goes on for many more. It opens up at a point called the cathedral where you see massive candles, depictions of jesus and the 3 kings etc etc - none of it is man made just images that kind of look like things in cathedrals made out of stalegtights. Then there is the fruit and veg shp where they all look like - yes - fruit and veg, then the highway which is a massive tunnel which looks like a huge moterway. It was all very good to see but not so memorable. There were loads of bats and even more swallows flying about and im glad I did it.
We got out of the cave and I had my 5km walk back, this time on the jungle trail which was even harder and through prety dence jungle marked by red so you cans ee where to go. My feet hurt as my flip flops are crap and I suddernly realised I was getting a cold :-( must be the stupid air con on the flight!
Anyway, I walked back, this time the stream was well above my waist and I got back to my bike. Had a horrible meal and then drove all the way back to Puerto Princessa - actually running out of fuel but at a good moment near a fueling station and then drove back - arived at 6.30pm and I had to get the bike back by 7pm - it was close and a seriously packed day!
Rowan had already gone on to El Nido with the German girls. Tina, Rita and Sean - a guy tina met over a travelers website to travel with all came to my guesthouse and I had met a very quiet Swiss girl so the 5 of us went out for a nice meal. It was a really good evening and my cold is really developing. It seems Rowan is a day ahead of me and the others are a day behind as I have to go to El Nido now but everyone I know has either just ariver or just left so I am off on my own.
I got up at 5am and was about to leave for the cheaper bus option when an aircon van came to pick some poeple up from my Guesthouse to go to El Nido - it only cost a bit more so I jumped in - much easier than I thought! So Now I am off to the suposedly amazing El Nido.
