Late 2009, me and my Sepo were planning our first out-of-town together. Our choices were Bohol or Palawan. Since my cousin Renwick lives and studying in Puerto Prinsesa, we thought of having a less-hassle trip, so we decided to go for Palawan. I was in-charged of searching for promo tickets, so everyday I used to open each airline’s sites and it was fun! A long-wait was over when I finally found a cheaper airfare at Cebu Pacific, Sepo paid it right away. And by then we were just waiting for our scheduled flight the next year, 2010.
It was January 15, 2010, my younger sister’s 16th birthday! I woke up early to prepare some food for her (sweet ate huh? J) I cooked spaghetti and prepared a graham cake. I was on a cram mode that time, thinking my PPS flight was at five in the afternoon. At 1pm I must leave Cavite and meet Sepo at 3pm in Pasay, so I was like a wonderwoman trying to finish all my chores within a limited time, and I’ve done it! I left Cavite with all my bags packed. Sepo still got a training then, they’re not allowed to be absent, so he just asked a favor and left his id to his colleague to arrange everything (lucky guy! J). I arrived at Pasay past 2pm, so I just waited him inside a Dunkin Donut’s store and had a snack. It was past three and I was in a sort of panicking already. Then he called, catching his breath, that he's near the place, I saw him and I was kinda "ughhh...", poor hubby, he’s sweating and was like running just for us to be on time. We hurriedly took a cab heading Terminal 3, and we’re lucky ‘coz we’re just on time.
We haven’t decided yet on which hotel we’re staying. Before January 15 came, my cousin told me to just search for a hotel on the internet, and I did. I emailed and texted a lot and got responses, but of course, I’m looking for the cheaper yet clean hotel. Then I found this Payuyo Pension House on their multiply account. We’ve got a transaction already when my cousin told me to disregard Payuyo, it’s far from “bayan” and its location was like on a jungle, he said. So I was already hesitant to go for Payuyo. Renwick named some lodge that they’ve checked at the center of the city and we just have to check it ourselves once we arrive at Puerto Prinsesa.
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| Our first flight together ♥ |
When we arrived at Puerto Princesa Airport, I immediately saw Renwick and his friend Redge together with Kuya Allan, Renwick's contact for our transportation. First stop, the travel agency where we purchased our Underground River tour. We paid 1,500 PHP each (me & Sepo), which includes transportation, permits, entrance fee, licensed tour guide and buffet lunch, not bad. J Our tour was scheduled the next day.
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| Sepo at Puerto Princesa Airport |
With Kuya Allan’s tricycle, he drove us to some hotels that may meet our taste. We were eyeing on a budget-friendly hotel, so it was kinda hard. As we moved along, we found out that there will be a one day major black-out in Puerto Princesa, oh no! The hotels with generator were a bit expensive than our budget. L We were like “bahala na”. Good thing our UR tour will start early at 6am and would last as late as 4pm.
After we’ve gone through some hotels, we arrived at Circon Businessman’s Inn. A fine lodge with air-conditioned rooms equipped with toilet and bath and a cable tv. It was a homey place. Since we were already tired roaming around, we’ve decided to stay at Circon. We got the standard room for two. As I can remember we paid 750-800 PHP per night.
Later on, after fixing our things and a bit of rest, we went out for dinner. Renwick and Redge brought us to Kinabuchs Grill & Bar. It was a famous restaurant in Puerto Princesa. The place was nice and cozy, perfect dinner-place after a long stressful day. We ordered bulalo, liempo, sizzling sisig and the rest is history, haha! I can't remember exactly what more we ordered. Their foods and drinks was not pricey, good enough for budget conscious travelers.
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| yummy bulalo |
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| Liempo, Bulalo, Sizzling Sisig |
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| Ren and Redge |
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| Photo opp while raining |
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| Me & Sepo @ Kinabuchs |
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| with cousin Ren |
As we finished our dinner, it rained. So we were discussing if we should go back to the inn or go somewhere, because the night was still young. And the rain stopped, we decided to go to what they so called “Bay-Bay”. It was like Baywalk in Manila where you can go for a walk, jogging, biking, boating, etc.. In that place also was where the giant Christmas Tree of Palawan built. We just took pictures, rode bike, and we had fun! J After maybe an hour or half of enjoying Bay-Bay, we went back to the city proper because rain poured again. We went down first at the Mercury Drugs near our inn to buy some stuffs and snacks before we headed back to Circon. Ren and Redge went home and these wrapped up our first day in Puerto Princesa!
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| Largest Christmas Tree in Palawan |
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| Giant Christmas Tree |
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| with a nice peacock-look decor |
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| Fishes |
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| Some people were saying that this looks like a scene in a Koreanovela, Full House. |
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| Bikers/Lovers in Baybay |
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| Sepo, Me and my cousin Renwick's photo opps with our bike |
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| Ren and Redge |
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| and this was my favorite shot! ♥ |
This is an outdated post, happened one year and four months ago. That's why I forgot some details of this trip as well as some of our expenses. But one thing is for sure, I won't forget the memories Puerto Princesa bestowed on me, aw! ^^
