Puerto Princesa City: Ugong Rock Adventures

Our schedule for the 2nd day is the Puerto Princesa Underground River. Halfway along our journey, nag stop over kami to buy some refreshments and to tend to call of nature. 

Hindi ko alam kung anong naramdaman ko pagkakita ng sign na ito. Isang oras pa o isang oras na lang. Hay buhay. 

In front of the rest stop is an organic farm. Mukhang under construction kaya hindi na kami pumasok.

After 20 minutes of rest and picture taking, umarangkada na muli kami. Again, Kuya Nelson explained everything about what we are seeing. Then we saw rock formations. Malalaki na parang bundok. Limestone daw pala yun. Ginagawang marmol.

Maaga kaming umalis sa inn, 7am sharp dahil gusto naming mag side trip sa Ugong Rock Adventures before going to PPUR.

Ugong Rock is a 75 ft limestone formation in Brgy. Tagabinet, Puerto Princesa City. The term ugong is means a sound produces when tapping the rock formations in the cave. You can do spelunking (Php 200.00) and zipline (Php 250.00) pababa. Zipline ride is optional as you can go back down using the same way going up.

A guide gave us brief history of Ugong Rock and how we were able to help them by visiting their small community. He told us that they were former illegal workers na sa tulong ng mga Department of Tourism at ABSCBN Foundation nabigyan sila ng pangkabuhayan. Sila na ngayong ang nangangalaga sa Ugong Rock.

After the briefing we were asked to signed the waiver and they gave us gloves and helmets for safety reason.

Another guide was waiting for us at the entrance of the cave. She explaied everything, kung paano nabuo ang formation at kung paano ito nadiscover. She also pointed to us the different stalactites and stalagmites formations inside the cave.

Napakahirap pa lang mag caving. Wala pa kami sa kalahati ay pagod na kami. Marahil ay kulang kami sa exercise.

Ito ang pinakamahirap na ginawa namin sa aming spelinking adventure. Dito ako nahirapan dahil hindi ko kayang dalhin ang sarili ko paakyat.

After alomst 1 hour, nakarating na di kami sa itaas. Hay salamat! Ang ganda ng view. Kaunting pahinga lang at ready na ulit for zipline. We tried the sitting position or what Kuya Nelson called "Juan Tamad" position because someone will take your picture as you glide down.

Ang sarap. Nawala ang pagod ko sa pag akyat. As soon as I landed, I wanted to go back and try it again.

You can buy your souvenir picture at the exit for Php 100.00. The lady was so kind that she allowed us to get soft copy of our pictures.  You can also avail of a certificate that you survived the Ugong Rock Adventure for Php 20.00.

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Puerto Princesa City: Honda Bay Island Hopping

Our first day started with Honda Bay Island Hopping. After dropping our baggage at the inn, we immediately rode the van. This tour is included in our package.

Honda Bay tour includes round trip air conditioned van, lunch, payments of various fees and permits and a licensed tour guide (walang iba kundi si Kuya Nelson of Hadefe)

Sabi ni Kuya Nelson, mula sa inn ay almost 12 kilometers daw ang lalakbayin namin. 

Our first stop is the mask and snorkeling shop. Kuya Nelson told us that we really need the snorkeling shoes dahil mabato at baka masugatan daw mga paa namin. At first we hesitated kasi hindi kasama sa budget. But then na convince na rin kami. You can rent shoes, snorkeling gear and plastic for camera for P150.00 each. They said that the goggles are well sanitized. You have to have this goggles because you will not allowed to snorkle in Pambato Reef without one. I recommend that you must have your own snorkeling gears and shoes. The next time i will visit, I will bring my own gear.

We stopped by the wharf because Kuya Nelson will have to secure various permits and fees.

While waiting...picture taking.

Honda Bay is compose of many islets/islands but only few are visited by tourist. The most visited islands of Honda Bay are Cowrie Island, Bat Island, Snake island, Canon Island, Pandan Island, Starfish Island, Lu-Ii Island (derived from the word ""lulubog-lilitaw"", meaning floating and sinking island, is visible only during low tide), Señorita Island, and Arreceffi Island contains the luxury Dos Palmas Beach Resort. We were only able to visit 2 islands and the Pambato Reef.

1.  Pandan Island 

The island has shallow water with white sand. This is where we ate our lunch that is included in our tour package. Here we found different sizes of starfish.

Our Lunch

2. Starfish Island

I thought Starfish Island is called that way because it's shape is like a star from aerial view. I was wrong. It is called Starfish Island kasi marami daw starfish dito. Wala naman akong nakita. Maraming durog na shells sa beach. Good thing we rented those shoes. May mangroves din. Dito din kami nag fish feeding.

 I wonder, ano kaya itong mga structure na ito sa Starfish Island?

 3.  Pambato Reef

Pambato Reef is called the "Mini Tubbataha". This was our last stop. We were not allowed to dip in the sea without snorkeling gear. And we don't have one! We only rented 3 gears and we just let the boys do the snorkeling. we just took pictures while waiting for them.

 Pagbalik sa wharf, namili na ng souvenir items ang mga kasama ko.

For the price of Php 1,300.00, sulit na ang tour namin. Whole day din ang mauubos para sa Honda Bay Island Hopping Tour.

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