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  1. #1
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    My Trip To Palawan

    Hey everyone! I'm getting on starting a thread the day after I returned. No procrastination here. There is a bit of background to this story. Back in August or September, Emirates Airlines had a contest on Facebook regarding their new route to Clark, Philippines. They asked the question 'When will Emirates Airlines start flying to Clark?' You had three choices, so I looked it up and replied.

    In October I was in Toronto with my friend and I got an email from someone at emirates, but it was really vague and I thought it was spam. TBH I had forgotten about the contest. After a few emails back and forth, the contact from Emirates told me that I was the winner. I was so pumped!

    My letter said that I officially won on October 27th and I had to take the flight within three months of then, so January 27th. This worked out really well because I was hoping that I'd be able to go to Thailand when my mother and stepfather are there.

    So, bonus, my flight to Bangkok was from Manila rather than Dubai, so it was far cheaper. I'll go more into that later. First up, Clark Airport and Manila.

    So green. You really appreciate this when you live in the desert.



    This was really interesting - a flying eye hospital. I saw these planes at Clark and at Manila airport.



    I've NEVER seen an airport show such respect for passengers' luggage like this. I just had to take a shot.



    One of their affordable transport options. I was on a bus from Clark to Manila and I got out in Makati near my hotel.



    Natalia's Place




  2. #2
    Thailand Expat

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    Waiting for a taxi in Makati



    The Manila version of Patpong. Sorry about the blurriness.



    I was very impressed with Artina Suites. It was on a small side street off the main road and it was very quiet. The staff were superb, the room was really big and included free wi-fi and breakfast.







    There was a Holy Bible on the bedside table which I took a picture of on my return.





    I asked at the front desk where I could go for Filipino food and it turned out that there was a really good place just down the road. This was my dinner. It's braised beef with potatoes, some veggies and cheese. It's French influenced and it was deelish!



    There were quite a few Thai massage places and Thai restaurants. Again, this pic turned out blurry.


  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
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    looking forward to the rest

  4. #4
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    Puerto Princesa

    I flew to Clark from Dubai on Jan 22nd leaving at 3:50 AM and I arrived at around 3:30 PM. I spent the night in Makati to be able to get my 10:10 AM flight to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

    This is in the morning at NAIA's domestic terminal. Notice how many people are wearing jackets? It was chilly.



    This was where I had my first of many massages on this holiday. I thought this was great.



    They had rollback prices too. I was a happy camper. I had the 30 minute back massage which included the hands and arms and the neck. It was acupressure and it really got those knots out.



    I flew with Tigerair and my flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa was only 2,100 pesos. So I figured I'd spoil myself and get the reserved seating, insurance and priority boarding. So as I was waiting for the flight to be called, they called my name over the PA. I was the only one with this option so I was the first one on the plane.


  5. #5
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    Puerto Princesa

    Bye bye Manila








  6. #6
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    Puerto Princesa

    Such beautiful islands



    Puerto Princesa Airport. Yup, that's the whole thing.



    My accomodations for the night were right next door at Natua's Cabin. If you follow the road on the left where the blue truck is, that's it right there.





    My lunch of honey chicken and an Americano. They had free wi-fi in the rooms and at the restaurant. I brought my Kindle Fire HD with me and it came in really handy.


  7. #7
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    Puerto Princesa

    I took a nice walk after lunch to explore a bit. Another ad for Thai massage



    It's pretty sleepy in this area





    Thai and European food, and a Baptist church



    At around 2:30 in the afternoon I took a city tour for 600 pesos. It was in a tricycle which is a motorcycle with a sidecar attached, almost like a tuk-tuk.

    The first stop was a crocodile farm. I really wasn't interested, but I was pleasantly surprised at the conservation that they do. They rescue animals that are poached or taken as pets illegally. Oh, but they eat the crocodiles.











    A huge guy





    Don't fall in!


  8. #8
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    Puerto Princesa

    Lots of greenery



    This guy was noisy











    As if on cue, he came out and crashed on this tree


  9. #9
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    Puerto Princesa

    Next stop Santa Monica Ranch

    This horse just stood there motionless



    They put up this sign past the horse



    Gorgeous viewpoint with a couple more horses and a zip-line






  10. #10
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    Puerto Princesa

    Next stop - Baker's Hill. It's called that because it has a bakery at the top.



    Santa was still there








  11. #11
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    Puerto Princesa

    Beautiful grounds again



    They had resident canines and felines













    These guys were noisy too


  12. #12
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    Puerto Princesa

    Next stop - The City Baywalk

    There were a few boats being held here for illegal fishing



    It was breezy along the baywalk





    The owners of Natua's cabin have adopted a few strays and this little male kitten is the latest addition to their family. He and his adoptive mother followed me back to my cabin, meowing away.





    Chillin' at Nat's cabin


  13. #13
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    Lovely, as usual!!

  14. #14
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    Taytay

    I stayed only one night in Puerto Princesa. I had wanted to go to the underground river the next morning but it was closed due to the current being too strong. Major shame, but this means that I'll have to go back. I'm already making plans to return with hubby for my *cough* 50th birthday in three years and 6 weeks.

    I took a van there and the ride took almost 5 hours, but there was some amazing scenery along the way. This is at a stop set up by the agriculture department. They prohibit movement of mangoes from one part of the island to another because of an insect pest.





    Our lunch stop






  15. #15
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    Taytay

    I stayed at the Casa Rosa and this was my view from the restaurant.



    An old fort




    This is Bruce partaking in his favourite pastime.


  16. #16
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    Taytay

    Looking down from my cabin



    Loved it!!!









    My first time trying San Miguel and I like it.



    Fresh tuna ceviche


  17. #17
    The cold, wet one
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    Looks lovely. Great thread, Nat. Gotta spread the love, so will get back to you with the greenage

  18. #18
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    Taytay

    I took a walk in the town, which is more like a village. This is on the road as you come down from Casa Rosa. It's a basketball court built by the mayor.



    A nice play area for the school in the other side of the road.





    I think every place in Asia should have signs like this!


  19. #19
    Thailand Expat

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    Thanks patsycat and NR. I can't green either of you.

    Thanks for the greens to those who sent them.

  20. #20
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    Great stuff, I've only been to Manila.

  21. #21
    I'm in Jail

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    Excellent thread nat, Palawans about the only island im yet to get to, Love that fresh ceviche , or Kinilaw as the flips call it, Pretty amazing you won a flight to

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat

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    Thanks, BLD. I highly highly recommend it. I was inspired by this thread: https://teakdoor.com/philippine-forum...-paradise.html (Palawan by boat: 5 days of island paradise) and I had looked at Palawan and a couple of other places that are off the beaten path.

    When I looked at that boat trip, it showed as being sold out all the way to the end of March. So I looked at Coron and Palawan, especially El Nido, but when I was looking for flights, it was December, after the typhoon and all flights to the other islands from Manila and Clark were cancelled.

    I kept checking, then the flights to Puerto Princesa came up so I grabbed it right away. It's a bit of a long haul to go from PP to Taytay to El Nido by land and I couldn't get to Coron.

    If you can do it by air that would be perfect because you could fly from Manila to Coron, then to El Nido, then to Puerto Princesa. My time there was so short but it gave me a good taste and I will definitely return.

  23. #23
    loob lor geezer
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    Great thread Natalie. Always wanted to visit Palawan when I was in the P.I. but never made it. Very interesting thread for me since not likely to go there now ..............unless I win a trip .

  24. #24
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    Island Hopping to Two Islands

    OK, so the next day I took their island hopping trip. There were five of us in total - a young Dutch couple, two French ladies and me. The first island is called Elephant Island.

    We got to climb down into this small cave.



    to see this





    We walked around the island





    Our boat



    Moving on to Dinamayan Island



    Last edited by natalie8; 10-02-2014 at 11:28 AM.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat Boon Mee's Avatar
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    Very nice, natalie. Bet that was a sight for sore eyes after the desert of Dubai.

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