Don't Lose Your Marbles

[June 13, 2013] After checking in at the hotel, we dropped off our bags and headed to Jollibee for a quick lunch before our city tour.  Our guide was Ate Malou and they picked us up at the hotel after a quick freshening up. Since it was raining that day, we were only able to drive by the City Baywalk where you can see local fishing boats, walk/stroll/jog along the bay, and enjoy street food prepared by the nearby residents at night amidst the colorful streetlights.  I bet it would've been lovely to stroll around the baywalk.  There's also an area where you can rent bicycles. Ate Malou said that the local government has provided housing across the Baywalk for the relocated residents and the eateries they set up at night provide additional income for their families.   gloomy weather  :( would've been a nice photo op area if not for the rain bicycles for rent We also passed by the Plaza Cuartel (barracks in Spanish) ...

I booked the Superior room at  Sunlight Guest Hotel via Agoda  at a discounted rate (Php 1770/night).  It's located near the public market (advantage if you want to bring back fresh seafood and fruits to Manila), a local fastfood chain (Jollibee), and within walking distance to the Boardwalk.  You can hail a tricycle passing by to take you anywhere within the city.  Since it's across a public market, there are a lot of people around so best to be vigilant when walking around the area.    There's also a mini supermarket and pharmacy located beside the hotel and 2 ATM machines near the entrances.  The 1st floor is only a receiving area/lobby and the 2nd and 3rd floors of the hotel's building contains local clothing shops, a courier, etc.   Head for the elevator and straight to the 4th floor for the hotel's main reception area to check in. There's also a LCD that shows a welcome sign with the guests' names on it.  It's a ...

We were fortunate enough to join my aunt when she traveled to Puerto Princesa, Palawan last month.  I booked our flight from Manila via Cebu Pacific and the return flight via PAL Express and I found a nice hotel listed on Agoda at a discounted rate (to be reviewed in a succeeding blogpost).  I also managed to get the services of La Tiara Tours again for our Underground River, Honda Bay island hopping, and city tour. We arrived at Puerto Princesa airport past 12 noon. I noticed there were more promotional posters and tarps here than in 2011 and with the small size of the arrival area, it's not helping that there are tour operators/representatives hawking their services inside the arrival area while you wait for your luggages. The local government should put up a regulated information booth inside the airport and visitors can book tours/hotels there instead of being touted at the very small arrival area. After getting our luggage at the carousel, we headed for the exit an...

[October 23, 2011] On our way back to the city, we passed by the Palawan Eco-Adventure Park that offers globe riding and ATV.  We didn't have time to try their activities though. Lunch was takeout at Skybox and I dropped by a unique coffee & souvenir shop called Isla Casoy de Palawan  where I tried their green tea cashew frappe and bought preserved cashew fruit and roasted cashew nuts. green tea cashew frappe (unique taste) We also dropped by Cora's Pasalubong Center to buy cashew nuts, candies, and other souvenirs and the local wet market before heading out to the airport for our flight back to Manila in the afternoon.

[October 23, 2011] We also traveled a bit far on the outskirts of the city to Lawiswis Organics, an organic farm owned by Jet Sales that manufactures their own brand of herbal soaps, shampoos, lotions, oils, etc.  This isn't part of the standard city tour of Puerto Princesa but we were lucky to have dropped by because the brother of one of our tourmates lives and works there. The owner shared with us how he started Lawiswis Organics and taught us about some of the medicinal properties of various plants and fruits which they use in their organic handmade products.   I bought the yellow healing balm good for insect bites and gugo shampoo (a square block).  The shampoo lasted for almost 2 months and really made my hair shiny and stronger.  Unfortunately, it's difficult to find their products here in Manila. He also offered us a fresh fruit shake consisting of bananas & papayas. The place is also surrounded by vario...

[October 23, 2011] We also went to a handicraft store called Binuatan Creations where locals use traditional materials and looms to weave products like bags, fans, placemats, etc. one of their raw materials (a type of grass) hung to dry  They're willing to let you try the loom. making placemats Step (barefoot) into their store for traditional handwoven products ======== BINUATAN CREATIONS (BINUATAN CREATIONS HANDILOOM WEAVING) Bougainville Drive Corner Rafols Street, Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines Phone:  +63(48)4337630