Glutton At Large In Palawan

Virtually, everything that I experienced - the plane ride, the zip line, the rock climbing, the snorkeling, everything in and about Palawan - in our trip was a first for me. And all firsts surely stick in our memories, don't they? These things are gonna for sho. More so, some of the foods that I've tasted in Palawan for the first time would definitely make it to the list of "Most Memorable's" in my life.

Nikki did a great job in doing her homework. Oh, not my daughter Nikki. My friend-slash-officemate Nikki who planned our Palawan trip. She did great on the research especially the must-taste foods there. In-avail namin lahat 'yun. So among the many firsts I've experienced on this trip is the chance to try these foods for the first ime.

1. Tamilok or Shipworm. I think this deserves to be in the number one spot. I wasn't totally engrossed by this food. I just thought of it like the street food isaw sans the food color and the stick. I honestly couldn't figure what it tasted like. My friends were saying it tasted like oyster. Um-agree na lang ako. Isa lang masasabi ko, makunat siya. Nguya-nguyain mo pa ng 100 times then lunok.

Recommended Store Of Dried Everything For Pasalubong In Puerto Princesa

Nikki and Niño found this store that sold dried everything - fish, pusit, dilis - and other pasalubong items like cashew nuts, banana chips, barquiron. Its owner, Kuya Albert, had been so nice (and honest) to us.

By the way, the best-selling pasalubong was the lamayo daing. That's what was served to us for breakfast in the hotel. Ang sarap, in fair! Unfortunately, I didn't brought (Wrong grammar akish!) bring home just even one pack. Frozen kasi siya. Hindi ko betch magdala on the way back home ng something that would be dripping. Even Vian didn't. Sister ko talaga siya. Hindi din niya betch! Sayang, because Nikki said masarap daw talaga.
 

See? Parang dabarkads lang!

Their price compared to Baguio price, less inexpensive.

Let's Get Lost: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Did you think I was done writing about our recent Palawan adventure? I did too. I thought wrong, hindi pa pala! ^_^

Whenever I browse our 1000+ photos (I'm serious, we have that many), I feel like I want to upload all of them. But I only have free Flickr account so I can't do that. Unless, of course, I upgrade my Flickr which I don't feel like doing at the moment. I picked some photos na lang and added a little (close to nothing) of my creativity. I would like to share them to you that's why I'm still writing about it. I know, it's been over a week already. Kahit na, blog ko naman 'toh! ^_^

Day 1, 9.3.2012: Touched Down Palawan; KaLui In The Evening

 

KaLui Restaurant In Puerto Princesa

I learned from Nikki that KaLui (some would write it as "Ka Lui" but I prefer it written this way just like in its website) Restaurant is a popular, the most famous as a matter of fact, restaurant in Palawan, and that a Palawan trip is not complete without having tried dining at this restaurant. It is a must-visit place in Palawan. Ka Louie (just like saying it as Mang Lui, I guess) is the owner of KaLui Restaurant.

Originally, we planned and had a reservation for us to dine at KaLui on Day 2. But because there was nothing planned to do in the evening of our Day 1, after checking in the hotel and buying little grocery items in the nearby Robinsons Mall, we changed plans. In the afternoon of Day 1, we asked the hotel receptionist to make a reservation for us that evening. Luckily, there was an available table for six in KaLui at 6:15PM. After settling our things in our own rooms and taking quick shower, we had a tricycle ride from Go Hotels Puerto Princesa to KaLui Restaurant.

There was one mistake that we committed. We stopped tricycles from the hotel lobby. Wrong. We were charged P150 per tricycle and one tricycle was only allowed to load three persons. So we had to take two tricycles for the six of us. Tumataginting na P300. We later found out that one tricycle could load more than three persons and per person fare was only P8. Sweet!

Go Hotels Puerto Princesa

My friend-slash-officemate Nikki was the master planner of this Palawan trip all. She wanted a budget-friendly yet super sulit, super enjoyable and super memorable trip (super daming super!),  to which the rest of us who were going agreed. Imagine, five thousand pesos for a four-day stay in Palawan. All-in. Yes, as in, including airfare, hotel accommodation, food, bus fare, van rental, boat rental, UR permit, island fees and every basic need. Cheap, right? Kaya bet na bet kong sumama. Like I always say here in my blog, I am cheap. But due to a change in AirAsia's flight itinerary, na-extend kami ng one day kaya we have to stay there for five days. That means, we have to book for another day of hotel accommodation. So that's an additional expense on us. But not as big as you may think. Mga less than one thousand pesos lang. I'll see if I can make a post later with a detailed list of our expenses for five days.

In March, after booking the flight, for five months, Nikki searched all over the internet - all sorts of blogs, forums and all - for the cheapest everything - hotels, restaurants, van rental service, etc. - in Palawan. It was a perfect timing because Go Hotels Puerto Princesa was on a sale. For P388 per room per night for two persons, we had nothing fancy but a cozy, aiconditioned room that opens and turns power using an electronic key card and that has a super comfy Windsor bed, hot and cold (rain) shower, LCD cable TV, safety vault and the most important free WiFi. P388 lang per night for two persons. Oo, alam ko na nasabi ko na 'yan. Gusto ko lang naman i-emphasize na ang mura talaga niya. Pero siyempre, wala ng free meal 'yun. Abuso naman na, P388 na nga lang. ^_^

Reception Area

The Flight

Forgive me if even this one I still have to write about. Pagbigyan niyo na 'ne? First time ko e. I wanted something to remind me how it felt like the first time I flew. 

☻☺☻☺☻

Despite Dr. Dominguez' don't-worry-about-it-you'll-be-fine advice, I couldn't stop thinking of possible things, embarrassing things, that could happen to me inside the plane. From the time while in the bus on the way to Clark, on the way to DMIA and waiting for the gate to open for boarding, I was really feeling more frightened than excited. Halo-halo na din siguro. But I was good in hiding it. Cool lang. Picture-picture lang with friends.
 

Bus ride from Baguio

Coffee break in Sison bus stop