I Traveled

It's been three seven weeks and all I've made of this post is the title - a sad excuse for one, but a progress nonetheless, so I chose to keep it. The entire past month had been crazy busy. A roller coaster of emotions, to say the least.

Traveling isn't my thing. Unlike most people my age who save a huge chunk of their salaries for future travels, I'm a dog who spends it on food and books that take me forever to read. Earlier this Last month, I had a chance to travel with my aunts to Palawan, all-expenses-paid. Figures.

I was tasked to book everything. Obviously, I had zero knowledge on traveling, let alone managing an itinerary. I am a n00b when it comes to navigating airline websites and contacting travel agents for inquiries. I can't even begin to describe the stress it gave me. I've had more misses - too long a list to even mention - than hits, but I sure did learn a lot of things in the process, and that's always something to be grateful for.

We spent 3 days in Palawan, and I think it's best to give each day a separate post (so help me god). This would probably be more of a photo dump since I have a scrawny brain that doesn't hold information long enough (whatever vital information the tour guide shared, I already forgot). It is a sad thing. I'm bringing a pen and paper next time.

DAY 1 - City Tour

We were in a van with other tourists: a couple, two girlfriends from Germany, and a family of three. We had a running tour along the Palawan Baywalk and while the van moved as slow as a turtle, our tour guide took the time to give us a history of Puerto Princesa's name. Legend attributes it to a princess-like maiden who would roam around the area during nighttime. Some say that it came from their port's geographical advantages, which can accommodate any size of cargo vessel, hence the term "princess of the ports". Historically, it was hailed from a certain Princess of Spain.

Our first stop was the Plaza Cuartel, where 143 American Prisoners of War were set on fire by the Japanese during World War II. 

Inside was a pretty park and it pains to know how it once was a place of terror.

Right across the plaza is the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

The heat was scorching that day so we moved along to our next stop, a souvenir shop. I was not prepared. I was staring at all the possible pasalubongs only to end up buying nothing. I am terrible. Anyway, after several plastics of pastries, we settled back to our seats in the van and wormed our way to the our destination: The Crocodile Farm.

(Warning: whatever comes after this line are scribbled in haste. In short: may masabi lang para ma-post na.)

And it was sunny no more.

This, if I'm not mistaken, is the fossil of the largest croc they had in captive. They saved the bones and the skin as well, which was displayed right above this glass casing (the shadow can be seen in the photo). 

The Hatchling House is where the hatchlings are bred. Wow, profound.

Further down was a nature farm. I saw a bird.

A bearcat.

And an extinct species.

Enough of that, on to the next. We went uphill to get an ~aerial~ view of Honda Bay at the Mitra Ranch. Needless to say, the place reeked of horse manure, but the spectacular landscape made up for it.

But our last stop was the one I enjoyed most. Baker's Hill.

So pretty. And here's where I first had tamilok.

Don't be grossed out. It's actually yummy. Think kinilaw + oysters. These are wood worms, though. The one I ingested was rather large, and long, and while I tried to gulp it, it felt like something was sucking the walls of my throat. Too graphic? Thus, I end this post.