Puerto Princesa City Tour

PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN. I have never seen a city this clean until I set foot in Puerto Princesa. And touring the city proved it more. I did not see any trash on the road other than fallen leaves. yes, not a single candy wrapper. In the minute, I would admire the people's discipline and how they protect their environment in every way they can. It is here as well that the people has been given police power to arrest any violators. No littering. No smoking. These are simple rules so hard to abide especially in where I have lived and where I'm working, but to them, it just seems too easy.

This trip was a challenge. We had an unplanned itinerary except for an underground river tour in day 2. Other than that, days 1 and 3 were empty and was filled on-the-spot.

Puerto Princesa Airport

We arrived in PP around 2 PM already so we had to take late lunch. It wasn’t a real lunch actually but it satisfied our stomachs. We tried chaolong (Vietnamese noodles) which is quite popular in the city. In an inquiry with a local, I learned that there is a Vietnamese village in the city…and for long, the people has learned to adopt as one of the locals.

Tried chaolong at Bona’s

Chaolong

The restaurant (karinderia) was a suggestion by our hotel's staff. The food was actually a suggestion already. A solicited advise from an office mate who grew up in Puerto Princesa. He was referring chaolong in Vietnames Village though. But it seems that it is far from the city proper so we decided to go to the nearest restaurant offering chaolong. Apparently, there are a number offering one. But we tried Bona's. A decent meal for P50. It is a good soup-based meal. I must admit though that it is enough I have tried it once.

Did the City Tour for Just a Hundred

Toured the city in a tricycle.

After talking where we want to go over our lunch, we decided to go to the museum first but the tricycle driver who was supposed to bring us there gave us an offer we couldn’t resist – tour us around for just P100 each. The tour, after much bargaining was finally set at 5 key points, Mitra’s Farm, Baker’s Hill, the Pasalubong Center in downtown PP and museum and capitol later. But the two others we weren’t able to visit because of time constraints.

Mitra's Ranch has a pretty good view of Honda Bay.

After our pasalubong shopping, which cost me… as usual (actually realized later that it would have been better shopping from the outside of that air-conditioned pasalubong center, because stuff is the same but priced less), we went to Mitra’s Farm/ Ranch and enjoyed the scenic view of Honda Bay. 

Sightseeing was already enough for us since it definitely satisfied our eyes; so we did not, although available, try the other attractions at the ranch – a short zipline, horseback riding, trampoline, etc. We just sat on the grass, ate lanzones, talked and laughed, walked around and took that photograph-my-back shot – indeed, the best things in life are free.

Rancho de Sta. Monica's (Mitra's Ranch) inhabitants.

Mitra's Ranch has a big lawn good for picnics, walks, etc.

We went to Baker’s Hill shortly before dawn. We were lucky we caught yet another batch of picture-perfect spots and conversation “pieces” which are just as engaging.  I didn’t get the details and history of the place but obviously, it has been converted from a family rest house to a tourist destination.

One of at least 3 houses in the compound.

Flowers arranged in a basin of water.

The compound has a restaurant which offers buffet lunch on Sundays at P399, a beautifully-crafted landscape and Disney-inspired park. And its best attraction – what else but the bakeshop. They have packs of pastries ranging from as low as P35, yet quality was not sacrificed. . I just bought the best chocolate crinkles ever!

Disney characters adorn the park.

Differently designed gardens are a common sight.

We went back to the at night fall. And after a short stop at our hotel to rest our tired feet, we went to check Puerto Princesa’s version of Manila’s Baywalk. A tricycle from our hotel brought us to that portion of the City where we felt closer to the ocean.

Visited Puerto Princesa’s Baywalk

Lights at the Baywalk.

We’ve had so many cheap finds in this trip: airfare, city tour and dinner, which we took at the convenience of free tables parallel the food stalls lined at the area. Dinner was less than P30 – fish balls (the home-made one which I wouldn’t replace for any packed ones) and kwekkwek. Puerto Princesa’s Baywalk was almost like that of Manila’s only that instead of cars beeping, kids playing and teens dancing are your ad-ons and you definitely get cold sea breeze.

Cheapest dinner ever.

I learned that PP’s air is still zero carbon. It means that the abundance of trees is still able to absorb whatever carbon the vehicles emit. No doubt, while we were strolling at Baywalk and even in our way to the hotel, there’s nothing but fresh air. We were actually surprised to have seen our feet clean after a long walk and to have felt an oil-free and dirt-free face. It seems easy-to-get in PP.

Related Post: Day 2: Up Close Puerto Princesa Underground River
Related Post: Day 3: Puerto Princesa City Tour - Extended