live a free life around da world

Puerto Princesa

journey

I took the air-conditioned RoRo-Bus from Corong Corong in El Nido for 483,-PHP to Puerto Princesa. Before we started we got a short mess and a prayer for a safe ride, which was 6,5 hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The road was in the beginning sandy and stony with a lot of potholes.  We had two stops on the way. The first was after 2 hours in Tray Tray for only 10 minutes. There are some small shops around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way you will see many rice fields, that Palawan is very green and very simple houses, where the locals living.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somtmes you pass or use a short tarred piece of road, just in the middle for only one lane of traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…but place enough for the common sport

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second stop is in Roxas after 4 hours from starting was for around 30 minutes. It´s also possible to get there some food or jump to the toilet. Don´t forget, that your language down in the bus will get very dusty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By arrival on the bus station in Puerto Princesa are waiting taxis, tricycles, multi-cab and Jeepneys for your further travelling.  So its your decision, Jeepneys of course the cheapest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Honda Island hopping

I got a pick up at around 07:00AM for the transfer to the Honda Bay. The bus was quiet cold!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly before we arrived we stopped for picking up some snorkeling gear (my recommendation: take also fins!) for 150,-PHP per set. Later I saw an offer for the same package for only 100,-PHP directly at the pier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After signing and paying 40,-PHP for fee we jumped on our boat no. 35. Don´t forget to remember your own boat no., cause there will be later some more side by side (I got a flashback to diving in Egypt).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first stop was only a floating jetty, with enough place for around 15 boats close to a reef. It was quiet busy there, maybe more snorkelers than fishes. If you have now fins, you can stay away from the bulk. The reef is alive and big enough for one hour snorkeling – I saw a nice Barracuda there and many reef fishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second stop after a 20 minutes boat ride was the starfish-island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A long sandy beach with shells, houses for having lunch, a small shop, some clever Tourist staff, such as a full-size frame, where you can stand into it with a nice back round. Even dresses to-use for free for the pictures are there. If you are unlucky like me, you will have at the snorkeling spots the wind and the waves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The third stop was on Isla Pandan. A well touristic organized island. A beautiful beach with white fine sand and some reef blocks with many small fishes waiting for the bread, to which you can easily walk in. Of course you are not alone on the island. Even a bar you can see there and they are selling coconuts, which are dropping down just some meters beside. I arrived back at DALLAS INN at around 04:00PM and it was worth to do that and leaving the noisy Town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took a tricycle on my departure day to the airport for 40,-PHP.

 

I booked a flight with ZestAir for 1.700,-PHP from Puerto Princesa to Manila and I knew, that allows only 10kg (my language-weight 20kg). So at the check in, it came up and I asked, if the plane is fully booked. – It wasn´t, not at all. The plane was only half full with peoples and they still asked me to pay 1500,-PHP more for my added luggage.

They ripped me off! I never will understand that, if the plane is empty like that. Wuuuuzaaaaaa – Harry!

There is also an airport fee to pay 45,-PHP

 

 

 

I took a tricycle to the DALLAS INN, my next accommondation for the next days. They asking 600,PHP for a single room with private bathroom (while rainseason maybe cheaper). The DALLAS INN  is located in the Carandang St., where it is not so noisy. The Rizal Av. is the main road, goes from the harbor down to the airport and is very noisy.

The staff from DALLAS INN is very friendly and helpful with organizing daytrips, transfers or getting the permit for the Underground River (which could be a bit hesitantly or annoying in case of full booking). It´s like a visit in a family, which are renting some rooms and trying to do business. You are welcome to step in their private rooms for picking up your staff out of the fridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My room was in the first floor, but a fat person wouldn´t reach it in case of the narrow floor before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you´re lucky and telling them one day before, you might get a small breakfast. There are always free tea, coffee and drinking water by the living room suite. You get the WiFi everywhere, best place is in the living room suite. They have also a roofed terrace with two hammock’s and sufficient plugs. Around six o clock mosquitos showing up. The distance to the shops and restaurants is very short, even the airport is reachable with an 20 minute walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can visit some churches, the bay walk or the Tiki-bar with live music every evening. At my visit time were a music-event going cloce to the Capitol, with a market and many local food shops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is also a big wall market called “NCC” in the side road at the Jollibee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A interesting offer for lunch or dinner you can find in “Mang Inasal” in the Rizal Av., where they serving unlimited rice for the most menus – just be clever!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some other activities can be the Honda island hopping daytrip, a visit to the crocodile farm, a trip to the Underground River or watching the fire flies (a bit far away).

The most of the tourists are staying only one or two nights in Puerto Princesa.