Our Puerto Princesa Vacation: Days 3 and 4 - Honda Bay Island Hopping

Our favorite part of the tour was the Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour.

If only, I did not commit a major booboo.

Anticipating the many awesome things we could take pictures of, I charged the camera's battery the night before.  When our tourguide asked us if we would like to rent an underwater camera case, I nonchalantly told him "No need. Our cam is waterproof and shock-proof."  Near our destination, I wanted to take a picture of something so I got our cam out and was afraid when it wouldn't turn on.  Yun pala, walang battery.  I have left the battery in the charger!!! :(  Ang yabang-yabang ko pa to say we don't need an underwater cam.  So ayun, we ended up renting a cam, an underwater case and another underwater case for Tita Yey's iphone.

Nevertheless, we still had fun.  It was Arn's and my first time to go snorkeling and we immensely enjoyed ourselves.  We went to three islands - Starfish Island, Snake Island and Pandan Island - our favorite was Snake Island. 

Some pictures of our 3rd day, Honda Bay Island Hopping experience:

 with the whole group

 may starfish at

 may tarsier kaming nakita sa Palawan. 

 teaching Gael how to snorkel

at Snake Island

 What our boys loved about Honda Bay was that they did not need to go far or swim to see fishes.  They can feed fishes with bread so near the shore. 

 Kami naman feeling namin nasa loob kami ng aquarium sa Manila Ocean Park.  Nakakatakot din dumugin ng schools of fish tuwing makikita nila ang tinapay naming hawak. As in dumog, kung may lupa lang, na-stampede kami.

after swimming, we made sand castles and played in the sand.

 pagod na pagod ang bunsoy

 we had dinner at Ka Inato.  This is the only time my sister enjoyed her dinner because she is allergic to seafood. Boo, allergies.

afterwards, Arn met with his mistahs in Kinabuch's.

Araw while waiting for Daddy and his mistahs finish with their bolahan.

Day 4

Time to head home.  But not without doing some last minute shopping at Tiangge, Tiangge.

 at the airport.  bought some crocodile sisig.

We will be back soon, Palawan.  When we go back, we hope to take the boys to Coron and the safari in Calauit.

Our Puerto Princesa Vacation: Day 2 - Underground River, Baywalk, Ka Lui

We had an early morning call time on our 2nd Day.  We were picked up by our tour guide at around 6-6:30am.  We asked the pension house to prepare our breakfast in styro containers so we could just eat in the van.  We also bought pandesal on the way.  My mom couldn't get enough of the distinctly probinsya taste of the pandesal - to me, wala akong nalasahang kakaiba. hehe.

Prior to our going to Puerto Princesa, our tour coordinator already asked us for our names and the copies of the boys' birth certificates to register us for the Underground River Tour.  Prior booking is required as the PPUR receives around 700 visitors per day! (and that number is estimated to grow after the official proclamation of the PPUR as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World).

The Drive to Sabang Port takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.  Then you ride a bangka to be able to get to PPUR.

Araw sleeping again in the van on the way to Sabang Port

 

At Sabang Port

Excited to see you, PPUR!

 We're here!

It was too dark to take pictures inside, but, boy, it was everything it was hyped up to be.  The tour lasted for 45 minutes to one hour.  Our boatman/tour guide was so funny.  He kept on telling all sorts of jokes while we were inside.  We thought we were going to have a problem with our boys because of the dark (and the bats!), but they were amazed and quietly observing everything while we were there. (It helped that they were holding their own flashlights, feel na feel nila ang pagiging explorers nila). 

satisfied tourists

 Bayawak roaming freely

 

Monkeys roaming freely and snatching bags and junk food of careless tourists

 Boys waiting for the bangka that will bring us to our lunch destination

As part of the package, we had buffet lunch by the beach.  We got to have our first taste of tamilok!  It tasted ok, although it has a mala-kahoy aftertaste.  Wouldn't trade my love for oysters for tamilok just yet.

After lunch, we headed back to the pension house.  At around 5pm, we headed to Baywalk so that the boys can ride bikes first before our dinner at Ka Lui.

 The country's tallest Christmas tree

Dinner that night was c/o my brother.  We made our reservation in Ka Lui, said to be Puerto Princesa's most famous restaurant, while we were still in Manila.  We ordered too much food that night, all beautifully-plated, all superbly-cooked.  We had the Ka Lui Special of the Day as well as a few other items.  I have never seen halaan as big as what they served.  Their fish in mango (?) cream was so melt-in-your-mouth delicious.  The crispy fish tail was also very good.  The salad  had tuna sashimi slices :) I think we also ordered the tempura kaka because I can recall eating deep fried veggies.  Everything was delicious. (No pictures, though, we were too busy. :P)

 while waiting to be seated.  we had to remove our footwear upon entering.

 

 artwork