Palawan Getaway
December 17, 2009I did not post this earlier in deference to Ondoy’s victims. In the face of its after effects, this was trivial and superficial.
We were in Puerto Princesa from Sept. 24-26. Our base there was Lola Itang Pension House. The place is clean, quiet, and is situated at the town center. The room I had reserved was big enough to accomodate three people and did not feel claustrophobic. It was simple enough: aircon, tv, bathroom, towels, soap… For the room size, the rate is incredibly reasonable: Php 850.
We took a walk at the town center and decided to have lunch at the Balinsasayaw Restaurant.
From the top: ensaladang talong,fried lumpiang ubod, ukoy, inihaw na pusit and inihaw na manok
I booked us a City Tour with Topstar Tours and Travels. After lunch, they picked us up from the pension house and we were taken to the Crocodile Farm, Iwahig Penal Colony, the late Senator Mitra’s sprawling ranch, Baker’s Hill Bakery, Binuatan Creations for native, handwoven products, and the Tiange-Tiange for the souvenirs.
Mealtime at the Crocodile Farm
The Iwahig Penal Colony was interesting to me because of my job. The place was huge. The inmates took care of rice fields, gardens, fishponds and other livelihood projects. From the moment you enter the gate, you get bombarded by inmates to buy their products. It’s like being in Divisoria., only less crowded. The items were overpriced too. The same items are being sold at the Tiange-Tiange at a cheaper price.
The next day, I booked us again a tour to the Underground River. It was a bit far as we had to go on a two hour road trip and then on a 30 minute boat ride before we get to the River. The view was spectacular, the cliffs, magnificent.
The underground river was awesome. Knowing that you were going into the belly of a mountain impressive. It also made me decide that I’m not really into caves. The eerie darkness gave me the creeps. Even the magnificent rock formations did not console me. I was really, really glad when I espied the sunlight from afar.
On the way back to Sabang beach, heavy rains and a strong wind accompanied us as we rode a banca in the middle of the sea. It was raining so hard you could not see the shore even if you were a few miles from it. It was good that our boatmen were very good. Little did we know that at that time, Ondoy was coming in. Wet, cold and bedraggled, we decided to forgo having dinner at the touristy places in town and elected to have a hot dinner at a nearby noodle house, Pham’s Chaolong Haus. Judging from the local crowd, it was a popular place. We had beef stew chao long and a baguette sliced in a half and topped with cheese. A knockout combination! It was steaming hot, the noodles were chewy, tand he spiciness was comforting. We also bought dessert at Divine Sweets just across the street. The cakes there were very good. Dense and not too sweet. The chocolate cake was slightly bitter, just the way I like it.
We had breakfast in a tapa house and then rushed to the market to buy pasalubongs and bilins. We liked last night’s dinner so much that we had lunch at what was reputedly the better chaolong place, Bona’s.
Beef stew and buto-buto chao long
At the airport, the atmosphere was tense. Earlier flights have already been cancelled and there were hundred of people waiting for news on their flights. News began streaming in about how Ondoy was wrecking havoc in Metro Manila. My apprehension grew. What if our plane does not arrive? Our plane arrived hours late. it did not ease my apprehension. What if the plane will not be able to leave? We boarded that plane and to my relief, it was able to take off and we landed safely at the Centennial Airport. When we arrived, this is what greeted us. Even then, we did not have an idea of how great a damage Ondoy did. It was only the following day when we realized the enormity of what happened.
Previous Comments
naku mam, ang alam ko ang mga preso sa iwahig e ayaw ng umalis dun at pag alam nilang mapapalaya na sila e gumagawa ng trobol sa loob para ma stay lol.
ganda naman,yan din ang matagal ko ng marating at madala si bunso at si mader,kaso panay panay anak nung kapatid kong babae kaya di makasama sa gala si mader,ayoko namang gumala na di sila kasama,pero ang ganda talaga,makaka chamba din kami na makapunta dyan,timing lang ang kelangan kasi twing uwi ko my pasok mga bata e.
Posted by lee at December 18, 2009, 5:30 pmactually, yung sa 80, for 2 lang yun. Add 100 for an extra person. tapos may additional na 150 fr an extra bed. pero kahit di mag-extra bed, kasya pa din 3 persons tapos maluwag pa talaga yung room. pwede nga ata 4 persons dun.
mura din lang tikets kasi nabili ko na sale. umabot less than 2k round trip per person.
yung mga preso na allowed rumampa, yun yung mga magaan lang sentensya. tsaka malayo din from the town sibilisasyon kaya pwede din talaga umikot.
maganda ang lugar, friendly pa ang mga tao
Posted by biyay at December 18, 2009, 7:14 pmhehehe delay ang pagpost mo biyay, by the way inabot din pala kayo ng bagyo sa palawan, grabe si ondoy sobrang ang laki ng damage na ginawa nya. 
lady, nahiya ako mag-post ng tungkol sa getaway ko at a time na ang concern ng karamihan e makakuha ng basic necessities.
before pa kami pumunta doon, apprehensive na ako. ayaw ko kasi mag-travel ng september kasi, bagyo season. sabi ng kaibigan ko, wag daw ako mag-isip ng kung ano-ano, lalo na pag walang basis. after ng palawan namin, sabi ng same friend, wag na wag na daw ako mag-book ng trip pag september. 
kagabi panay try ko post dito kasi kako makikikain ako ng noche buena mo,kaso ayaw lumabas labas yung confirmation word.
meery xmas and happy new year pow!
nagtatago lang lee sa mga mangangaroling at mga mamamasko.
850, may aircon and good for three, what a steal.
di ba yong cave na yan ang isinali sa 7 wonders of the world?
Nadestino ang father ko diyan sa Puerto Princesa sa El Nido. yong may mga ibon na ang brid’s nest soup ang pinakamahal.
Mabuti nga ang mga preso diyan, talagang may chance kumita. Dito, hindi pwedeng pagkatiwalaan ng mga tools ang preso,ginagamit sa mga pagtakas.
pero nakakapag-aral naman sila dito kahit nasa loob.
Posted by The Ca t at December 18, 2009, 10:31 am