Manila-Puerto-Nido 02 : Birthday Prince @ Puerto Princesa

@ Viewing deck

January 23, 2011 came. Labsy's 33rd birthday. Last year, Labsy spent  his 32nd birthday alone while in Dubai. We were online on skype or YM, and I saw him celebrating his birthday with noodles. :( So I thought, next year should be a little more special than being alone and away from the family with a bowl of noodle soup.

This year, we met the 00:01 of January 23, 2011 in a dessert hangout in Katipunan, Manila, the Banapple, eating banoffee cake and drinking capuccino. Rested for the whole dawn and woke up early morning to go straight to the airport to head for an underground river and Palawan sea swim birthday extravaganza!

Arriving in Puerto Princesa

Our flight from Manila via Cebu Pacific Air arrived in Puerto Princesa at 9:00 AM. We wanted to visit the underground river in Sabang same day, since Doy and Lay will be leaving Palawan on the 25th (January), so they only have two (2) days to spare. Normally the tour to the underground river starts at 7:00 AM, so no tour package would take our time, except if we rent a van for our group. And that's what we did.

Cave Entrance

The van rental is Php 3,500.00 for a round trip from/to Puerto Princesa and Sabang. But if you have enough days to spare with your itinerary, you may go through the public vans or buses to Sabang, the time to leave for Sabang will be 7:00 AM, but it will cost you far less, per person. You may also visit a few sites for some tour packages as well. Just ask google to assist you, I did, for some options... :) (Here's one, http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com/tourism/)

Boat going to Underground Entrance

Our van driver assisted us in any way he can. Before heading for a 2-hour land trip to Sabang, we passed by the tourism office to ask for a permit to go to the underground river. Unfortunately, the officer said, they will not give permits anymore, since at this time (it was 10:00 AM and will arrive there at 12:00 NN), the waves will be too big and they won't allow any more tourist to visit the place.The officer was referring to the trip from Sabang Port to the underground river entrance via a 6 or 7-person capacity boat, thus the hesitation to give us permits. But, we really wanted to visit the seven wonders of the world candidate on that day, cause there is no other time. So, with stubborn hearts, we still went to Sabang Port and prayed that the tourism officer in Sabang Port Office will grant us permits.

Going to the Underground Entrance

Along the way to Sabang Port, Manong Driver asked us if we'd like to go to El Nido, and we said yes. But we have to travel over night to/fro since Doy and Lay have to be back in Puerto Princesa in the next two days, to get on their flights back to Manila and then to Davao. Fortunately, he said sure. He said we'll pay him for a total of Php 11,000.00 for a trip to Sabang, then overnight to El Nido and then overnight from El Nido back to Puerto. Normally, the van rate for Puerto - El Nido and back is Php 12,000. So, we agreed to the arrangement since we would have an almost free ride to Sabang if that's the case and a thousand less from a normal rate. After having this arrangement, all four of us became more excited since we are definitely going to El Nido!

@ View Deck

Before reaching Sabang Port, we rested for a while at a view deck where it's overlooking a relaxing view of Palawan. It was about an hour away from Puerto Princesa and just about time to take a few minutes of stretch and visit a rest room. :)

When we reached Sabang Port, we immediately went to the Tourism Office and asked the officer if they could grant us permits. Alas! They did! We paid Php 200.00 each for the permit at the Tourism Office, then we paid Php 700.00 for the boat at the nearby waiting shed as the Terminal for the boats. The Php 700.00 was the roundtrip fare for the boat. It may take up to 7 persons excluding the guide and the boatman.

@ Entrance w/ Simon & Julie

After paying, we went for a lunch at the nearby restaurants (Karenderia) before we went for our boat ride. We paid for the whole boat since we don't have any other company. However, there were a couple of French, Simon and Julie, who wanted to visit the Underground River as well, and have not paid the boat ride yet. So, Doy asked them if they'd want to join our boat ride, and they said yes. We divided the Php 700.00 for six (6) of us and they paid for two.

Arriving @ the entrance

So after our lunch, we hop in our boat and enjoyed the waves as we went to the Underground River entrance. The waves indeed were big, but since we were sort-of used to it, after the many island hoppings we went to, the ups and downs of the boat because of waves, were manageable. Then me and Doy looked at each other and we remembered our mom, she would totally never like those waves and if she were there with us, there would be a constant calling of Lord Jesus along the way. That I can assure... ;)

We arrived at the Entrance of the Underground River Resort about 15-20 minutes after, then lined up for form filling and payment of Php 75.00 each. Then we walked through a wood pavement to the main take off point going to the cave. There were many tourists waiting for their turn on a 10-person + 1 guide small boats going inside the cave. While waiting, we geared up, put on the life vests, hard hats and kill time in taking some pictures.

Horse Formation

When it was our time to hop in, we all chose seats and off we went to experience and see for our selves the spectacular limestone or karst landscape, and to listen to our energetic and funny tour guide.

Our guide was kind enough to show us the different forms inside the cave with enthusiasm. The couple sitting at the front were the ones holding the big light that points to the limestones the guide would direct them to.

Mushroom Formation

Without the light, it was totally dark inside. And if you want to take pictures of the formations, request the light holder to keep it where you want it, or prepare yourselves to click your camera right away when the light is pointing to a formation. (More shots at my flickr collections... http://www.flickr.com/photos/donandji/)

Bats right above us

The cave did not only host the limestone formations but it was also home to many bats in the island. We were also able to see how and which part they live in the cave. At that time, they were just hanging in there and fashionably quiet... lol.

Sheridan Hotel

After the tour, we went back to Sabang Port. While strolling along the beach of Sabang, wandering around and checking out where we can take a swim and maybe dinner later, we saw this very nice resort, The Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa. The ATVs caught Doy's attention, while the beautiful pool caught mine and Lays, and Labsy, well, the beach is enough to feast on.

Me and Labsy @ Sheridan's Pool

Lay went to the front desk, Labsy took our things to the hut, while me and Doy roam around the pool and enjoyed photo taking. Lay learned that the resort is not yet fully finished but is operating already, and part of their welcome promo is the lunch buffet plus pool swimming at Php 888.00 each. Unfortunately, we were looking for dinner. Later, we were able to talk to their manager and requested if we could have that same promo, but instead of lunch, we'll take dinner. The manager, who was also a bisaya (He's from Cebu), made a few calls and then later told us that it was OKAY.

Lay & Doy on ATV

While it was too early for dinner (4:00 PM), we spent the rest of our afternoon swimming in the beach, right in front of the resort and dipping in their large and perfect swimming pool. Well, that's me, Labsy and Lay. Doy, joined us later after his ATV tour around the island, for an hourly rent rate of Php 1,000.00. We had so much fun in the beach and the pool, it was superbly relaxing. Like all the bad and s*** things of last year has totally drenched away by the water. We had a great time!

Sheridan @ Early Evening

After our swim, we freshen up and prepared ourselves for a delicious dinner ahead. While Labsy was taking a little rest, me and Lay requested a staff to serve an additional carbonara and cake later. While we were explaining, the ever so attending supervisor of the resort came to us and asked us what we needed. When he learned it was for Labsy's birthday, he said, "don't worry, we'll take care, I'll check if our baker can make one little cake for him".

The "to die for" bread

It was a set dinner and we all had a dinner we can never forget. It started with a soup that Doy described as "the soup that takes your breath away". It was also coupled with some bread, which Doy said, it was "the bread to die for". Each dish were amazingly spiced and prepared deliciously. We were already full after the soup and bread, the salad and main course (baked/grilled fish) was even more than we expected, my taste buds are remembering them now in utter satisfaction.

Main Course

Later, the carbonara was served. All four of us just looked at it, wanted to consume it but couldn't, 'cause all our tummy compartments were already full. But we didn't leave without tasting it after we were satisfactorily taken away with dinner. Then a little while, the crew and chef came out, sang a birthday song with the lighted candle on a little cake. By the way, the cake was free, complement by the resort. Thank you Mr. Supervisor, my Labsy's birthday was totally made!

Labsy & Me at Sabang Beach

It was a birthday adventure with friends and loved ones. But no matter where you are, what you do on your birthday, as long as you're with your loved one's celebrating embrace, I'm sure its gonna be perfect! 

Happy 33 years to my Labsy... Hope you had a great time spending the day with me in Puerto Princesa, Palawan... 'love you much, mmmuuuaaahhh!

For future reference... ;)