What Lonely Planet said: The capital of Palawan is more than simply the jumping-off point for excursions elsewhere on the island. ‘Puerto’, as locals call it, has a thriving restaurant scene, and day trips abound, offering everything from island-hopping to remote beaches to drives through stunning countryside. However, though cleaner than other Filipino cities, owing to an admirable and strictly enforced no-littering law, it’s no tropical paradise. Despite the fact that it’s hyped as the ecocapital of the country, tricycle traffic jams and concrete buildings abound.
I was there: March 18, 2014 - March 19, 2014
Camera used: LG Nexus 5
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Sunset at Puerto Princesa |
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The children were throwing stones at a jellyfish |
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A young couple at the waterfront |
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A cathedral in Puerto Princesa |
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View of South China Sea on the way to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River |
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Karst landscape at Palawan Island used as a location in The Amazing Race |
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Beach just beside the jetty for a boat ride to the underground river |
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Another view |
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The boats that will take visitors to the famous cave system |
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The boats are really, really noisy |
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Good thing I brought earplugs |
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Karst limestone in the area of the national park |
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Caves are typically prevalent at limestone region |
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There are no jetty in the Puerto Pricesa Subterranean River National Park |
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Feet WILL get wet. No one told me and my shoes got wet :( |
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The entrance to the cave after a very short walk from the beach |
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Me! |
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The subterranean river flows out to the sea here |
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Visitors explore the underground river in paddle boats |
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Me and fellow visitors |
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Selfie! |
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Inside the cave system |
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I held the spotlight and told to point at interesting formations as the boat operator explain the features |
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It is really dark in here so usable pictures are very few |
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Other than cave formations there were plenty of bats |
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Coming out of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River |
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The ride was brief but definitely worth the price of the tour |
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The cave system is the only reason why my travel partner and I took a detour from the Luzon island to Palawan island |
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A tree that provide shades for visitors waiting their turn to go into the caves |
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There was a blackout on the last night in Palawan |