peplume: Memories of Palawan

It’s late afternoon, I have been sitting for hours in our veranda waiting for a kick of inspiration. What should I write about today? So, I stare at the cotton filled sky, luscious greens of the neighborhood and Mayas resting on the cable wires. All these seemed perfect for a day of relaxation(no work, just one class for the day) except for the roars of engines, blowing horns from vehicles and the noisy chatters of people in the busy street. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on thinking, then my senses flashed back to my memories of Palawan.

I remember my first time stepping on to the grounds of one of the country’s top summer destination. Enthralled by the reviews from people who have experienced Palawan’s eco-friendly community, I was so giggly as we touched down the airport. Our destination: Puerto Princesa and El Nido. Both islands are packed with activities, from dive sites, sugar- white sand beaches, rocky curves, chains of mountain ranges and nature trails to fine dining restaurants and hotels.

Iwahig River Firefly Watching Eco-Tour

Hopped on a banca with a well-versed boatman, we cruised through the pitch black river framed by mangroves covered with what seemed to be millions of christmas lights(fireflies). The 45-minute boat ride was so astounding! There were even bio-luminous planktons underwater sparkling with every move of the sagwan. The whole cruise gave me that feeling of Christmas in May.

Baker’s Hill

Touring around would of course make you go hungry and grumpy, your eyes will feast on amazing sights alright, but for the crying tummy Baker’s Hill at the Millionaire’s Row is a must-go. The bakery offers a variety of mouthwatering delicacies. Hopias are their best sellers! Aside from a happy tummy, you can also enjoy the playgrounds, mini-zoo, gardens and life-size cartoon replicas for everyone’s amusement. This is perfect for those who are travelling with kids.

Mitra Farm

Just a few meters away from bakers hill we rested for a while at the Mitra Farm. It is owned by the politician Ramon Mitra's family. The mansion situated on a hilltop boasts a view of relaxing landscapes. Cows and other animals are just about everywhere. Aside from the countryside feel, adventure enthusiasts could also enjoy the zip line.

Underground River

A tour in Palawan wouldn’t be complete without a stop at one of the world’s natural frontiers. This was my most-awaited part of the trip. From Sabang port we took a boat-ride to a stretch of virgin forests beside the beach. As we trekked to the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon with trees growing right to the water’s edge welcomed us. Boats in and out of the underground river were non-stop. As we sailed on to our ride, I was awed with the major rock formations and large chambers. Stalactites and stalagmites in common figures, the boatmen even categorized each formations to the fruit, animals, cathedral and vegetable sections. Just an observation, boatmen in Palawan are very warm and witty.

El Nido

El Nido is a six to eight hour ride by land travel from Puerto Princesa. We rented a van to take us to El Nido, the trip was so exhausting but the wait was definitely worth it. It is a small town in a nature-rich island, it’s so small all souvenir shops, cafés and restaurants and bars are so close to each other, going from one point to another would be easy. But the most exciting thing to do in El Nido is island hopping, for what’s the use of the 45 islands and islets if no one would visit them? Few of the islands we explored were the Small Lagoon and Big Lagoon, both are perfect for snorkeling, Shimizu Island, where we had our little picnic of sea foods and fruits with other travelers, the Twin Rocks, and my favorite- Secret Lagoon, it’s a lagoon bounded by limestone’s where in you have to go through a small hole to get in and enjoy the cold water and oh, be careful with the sea urchins! Lastly, the 7 Commando Beach where you can enjoy powder-like sand and fresh coconut juice. Nothing can beat the heat with a swim with the fishes in tranquil turquoise-green water.