Nachtrag Palawan

Tipps for Palawan

1. Plan in some time to get around, it’s a morning island and most of the trips need at least a day
2. Stay at El Nido rather than Puerto Princesa (but check out the fares as there is only Itti airline going from Manila to El Nido and viceversa), as the Hotels and Beaches are nicer and the Underground River can be reach from both cities for the same rate
3. Try the Entalula Cottages: new, clean and big rooms or cottages with balcony, very nice owners^^
4. Do Island Hopping and Snorkling at least at the Bacuit Archipelago
5. If you are in Puerto, go to a place to eat Chaolong, the best vietnamese noodle soup (we went to a place next to the National Highway)

6. From El Nido

We spent the same time in Palawan as we did in Bohol, but had to wait and travel half of the time, so think about that, when you plan your trip there :) We wanted to go to el Nido as everyone told us this is the most beautiful corner of the philippinen Islands, but the first problem was, that the busses from Puerto Princesa only go there bewteen 5-7a.m. (and the private van for 10 000 Pesos was to expensive :P) – good thing Mae, a japanese teacher from Manila, toured us around as she is working in Puerto for two months. She introduced us to her employer from the military and some guests from the UN. We had lunch in a camp which was designed to help prisoners in their last two years to be integrated in the society again. So they do their own farming and handcrafts.
Then we went on a Island Hopping Tour at Honda Bay, but the weather was getting worse. As we stepped out of the airplane the sun burned us, now the rain was unplacably. We were wet to bones after five minutes of the ride, shivering and falling asleep. So we only toured around the islands and got back without going off the boat.
After the last spot at Mitras Ranch where you could see the city from above, we went back to the Hotel and enjoyed a swim in the pool which was surprisingly warm.
For dinner we met up with Mae again. She showed us her working place, the peaceful village of Santa Monica and the best vietnames soup you only get in Puerto. It was very, very good – and knowing I’m not a soup fan at all this counts even more :) And it only costs 45 Pesos – unbeatable!

The next day we were trapped in the hotel until the guard heard us :P Then we went to the bus terminal to find us a bus to el nido. Against our hopes the bus had narrow benches to fit five Filipinos in a row, now aircon and was totally overloaded. Except the narrow benches, we realized that a day without aircon was a gift and the bus was way more sturdy than it looked from the outside. So after the first shock the boys enjoyed the ride and made fun about it, filming the muddy and totally washed out streets and were grateful for the good buffer. But as the ride was going on and on and finally the bus broke down our mood turned and we only get exhausted. Almost at the end, the bus stopped for every person at almost every house along the road (that means every five meters) and Bernd and Philipp almost killed someone :P after almost eleven hours we reached our final destination: the beach of el nido.
We were lucky the lonely planet pick was already full so we got the nicest and tidiest place along the shore ;) The owner was so helpful in getting us a shuttle back to Puerto, a boat for island hopping the next day, tipps for dinner ... First of all we tested the beach and even if it was rainy weather we enjoyed the swim among the boats and at the white beach. As we went for a walk to discover the beachline it was sad that sometimes the people didn’t care and you could find spots full of garbage. Anyway the best beaches can be found during the island hopping :) Even if it was raining cats and dogs during our tour, we were fascinated by the lagoons and cliffs, the colorful fish and the clear ocean. Funny feeling when you’re snorkling and the rain is pouring on your feet and shoulders :)
„Thanks“ to the weather it was ok, that we had to leave the next day to get back to Puerto and for this direction you can find a van that brings you back in seven hours :) Only be careful, they will put your backback on the roof. Lucky nothing happend, but we forgot our cameras up there :P
Sad we didn’t had time to go to the Underground River and that I wasn’t thinking of a alternative route: if you’re in the same situation, maybe you can take the Underground River Tour from el Nido and get any transportation from Sabang to Puerto later on.
So we just strolled around the city, went to the Baywalk and ate another bowl of the delicious Chaolong :)