Letting My Feet Decide: 2011 Trips (Part 3)

Just some, er, "prologue" notes: I am so happy! This is my first blog entry for the month of August and I have created five (FIVE!) last July. Yay! I have a very very small number of lessons this month which is a blessing and a curse. This makes me feel so torn. Haha! Anyway, this is the second to last part of the Letting My Feet Decide: 2011 Trips, um, saga (Wow, saga). Thank you to my loving friends who were kind enough to read my blog! Love love love! :)

Other places (con't)


Honda Bay

One simply does not go to Palawan without visiting the beach. That's just absurd.  And so, my sister and I went island hopping a day after I visited UR.

Crossing this bridge is quite scary.
You must have faith that you won't topple over.

Highlights: They said that the "best of Honda bay is underwater." They weren't kidding. On your way to the island (or islands) that you'll visit, pass by Pambato Reef where you can swim and pose with schools and schools and schools of fish you'll feel like a teacher (laaaaame joooke)! Ask a friend (or bully your sister, hehe) to feed the fish so that you can, er, attract them even more. (Don't worry, there are no sharks here. I think. Haha!) You can buy bread there for around P15-20. You can also rent the snorkeling gear there but I forgot how much that costs.

See? Lots and lots and lots of fishies! :)

My sister enjoyed feeding the fish
(I did not bully her to do it, I swear!)

Ready to go snorkeling!

Are you taking my picture?

Oh, wait. You are?? *poses*

Okay, wait. Career mode.

Snorkeling is really, REALLY fun! :D

Snake Island is a sandbar where visitors usually have lunch. We had lunch there, too. (The food was great, as usual.) Snake island was just a-ma-zing. Think pristine white sand and the cleanest, clearest water. See for yourself:

Shrimps in Palawan. One word: HEAVEN.

This picture was taken by our boatman. I forgot his name but thanks, kuya! :)

One of my favorite shots

Isla Pandan (or Pandan Island) is just as beautiful as Snake Island. The best part of Isla Pandan? The starfishes. They're everywhere. 

Before Palawan, I have never seen a starfish before. (Note, though, that I first went here when I was 9. I have seen a starfish before this 2011 trip.) For the longest time, I thought starfishes can only be found in Palawan. So just think of my reaction when I first read The Star Thrower. I was inspired. I was horrified. My whole childhood was a liiiieeee! :O

My sister, enjoying her "golden halo-halo."

Lowlights: The food on Isla Pandan was very, very, very expensive. I think I paid P100 for halo-halo. Or maybe it was P70. Either way, that's too expensive for food from Palawan. Speaking of food, I think that's another downer: not having enough food. Lunch was provided by the travel agency, though. Maybe they'll consider giving snacks, too. Hey, swimming can be really, really tiring.


To be continued...

A Letter to My Feelings

Hello.

I can't help it: I am filled with you. You are confusing.

The moment I wake up
I can't help but know you're there.
Most of the time,
you are there ever so subtly

Like a warm gentle breeze on my cheek. 

On days like this,
having you around
is light and fresh and easy,

Like there are no problems in this world at all. 

Sometimes, you come
with such intensity,
bringing so much
that it hurts.

But that's all right. 

There are times when
these intense moments
don't happen at all.

I find myself looking for them. 

I can never understand
how you can be this and that but I accept it anyway.
It's as if life is worth living because...

Is there any other better way to live, anyway?

Most of my time I spend thinking of you
even though it makes me crazy.
It makes me accept your presence
even more.

I can't go through a day
without experiencing you because
you're there.

You have always been there. 

Always, that some people
don't really understand why
I incessantly acknowledge your presence.

Some find it endearing.
Others find it stupid.
Others think that we must have some special relationship.

Who's wrong?
Who's right?
I don't know?

I do know that I can't ignore you.
I wasn't raised that way:
to ignore matters
that are important to me.

You are important to me.
You know that,
don't you?

Why else would I be writing a letter to you if you weren't?

Okay, I admit that
there are times I wish
you'd just disappear.

I'm sorry I can't help it:
you can be
a little bit too much at times.

Yes, just a tad bit too much.

I end up running back to you, though,
analyzing you,
thinking of you.

Again, I can't help it.
Those who think they can
are foolish.

They don't know what they are missing.

You're really funny, too, you know?

Your face
can bring inspiration.
Sometimes, it brings torture.

It can bring a myriad of elements
that inspires me to be human
and to be a god
and to be whatever
or whoever else is there

(Or out there. Or under there? Hmm...)

But you know what I can never ever be with you around?

Nothing.
With you around me,
I can never be nothing.

You let me be. 

It's amazing.

You are so confusing. You make me alive.

I hate you. I love you.

Thank you.


(c) 2012 

Delubyo

Paisa-isa
kung bumagsak
ang mga patak.

Parami sila ng parami,
tulad ng mga naiwang alaalang
magulo, masaya, magulo, masaya, magulo, masaya.

At tila palakas pa nga ng palakas
ang taghoy ng pighating pilit itinago sa sarili
at sa kanila, at sa mundo, at sa iyo.

Sadya ngang bumabagyo na at malakas na'ng hampas ng hangin.
Boses ko ay mistulang kulog na maingay ma'y walang naiparating.
Hanggang kailan ko ikukubli at hanggang kailan mo ipagwawalang-bahala?
Ang mensahe'y naisigaw na nguni't di ka pa rin naniniwala.

Ngayon ikaw ay lumipad patungo sa bisig ng iba.
Kapalit mo'y si Gener na para sa aki'y lumuluha
'pagkat mata ko'y tuyo, puso ma'y sugatan.


Tila nakikiayon ang lamig ng panahon
Sa delubyong dala na nga
Ng paglisan mo dito.


Makikita kang muli.
Mensahe'y tandaan:
Mahal...


(c) 2012

Letting My Feet Decide: 2011 Trips (Part 2)

Other places

Puerto Princesa is a really big city so, basically, we didn’t really leave the city when we visited these other places. However, to reach these places, I had to book a guided tour because you need city permits to reach these destinations. (I’m SO sorry; I forgot the name of the travel agency. It has been a year. My sister doesn’t remember either. But, in case you might need one, you may ask your hotel for help. Or, if you want extra adventure, go ‘agency-searching’ on the street going to the airport. Most agencies are located there.)

Ugong Rock

The name came from the sound the cave produces when wind passes through its walls. The rock is about 75 feet high and ends with a zip line ride. Think: 160 ft. drop!!! Fun!!! J

Ready to go spelunking

Highlights: The limestones are very beautiful. Aside from that, they also say a lot about the culture and history of the Palawenos. The guided tours are quite special because they are given by the residents of Brgy. Tagabenit, the community responsible of taking care of the Ugong Rock itself. Listen to your guide as he or she tells you all about the Ugong Rock and its role in their community. (Our guide was a quiet lady who talked about the rock and her community like they were all her children. It was heartwarming.)

Passing through 'Humility Point': it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor. You'd have to bow and crouch to go through.

This part of the rock was said to be underwater eons ago.
This explains why the walls are shaped as such.

I posed in front of the heart of Ugong Rock...

...and then I conquered it. Naks!

The view on top of the rock is breathtaking. Shout all your stress and frustrations away on the zip line!

I was trying to be brave but, in reality, I was really, REALLY scared of falling off the rocks. Hehehe.

Lowlight: The roads! The city government should hasten the construction of roads to Ugong Rock. It will be good too if they improve the place where stop overs are made, too.

While listening to our guide, I really felt that nature was alive in that place, how nature adjusts to new circumstances and how it changes over time…just like people. It made me realize that caves are not just rocks and soil. They have stories to tell, too.

Beautiful, beautiful limestone mountain

Palawan’s Underground River

You’d be mad if you go to PPC and not visit what seems like Palawan’s greatest contribution to the whole world. Now one of the eight wonders of the world and a UNESCO heritage, Palawan’s UR (as the locals fondly call it) is definitely more than a body of water.

All smiles! Yay!

Highlights: Two words: the boatmen. Trust me; you will not appreciate UR as much as the others unless you listen to them. Serving as your tour guides, hear them out as they show you the different rock formations and tell you funny stories about their “relationship” with the river.

A balinsasayaw in flight

The Nido birds, locally known as the balinsasayaw, are also something you need to watch out for. They look – and sound – very beautiful.

The light at the end of the tunnel
(No pictures of the formations inside the UR. I don't like spoilers. :P)

To reach UR, you have to pass by Sabang Beach (above). 
We had lunch there and the dishes served, though really simple, were absolutely sumptuous.

(Above and below) some very beautiful sights to behold on the way to UR.

Amazing street lamp:
The panel on the right side
absorbs energy to be used at night.
Thus, no electricity is needed!

Lowlights: On the way to Sabang Beach, you’ll pass by a bridge called the Hope Bridge (or maybe it was Trust Bridge) because you put your hope and trust that it won’t collapse while your vehicle crosses. Work on those roads, PPC government!  









(To be continued...)