Palawan Day 2

May 18, 2012 (Thursday). We had the city tour and we were guided by our tourist guide Fidel. He is so jolly and we enjoyed his company.

Had our breakfast first =)

Dangkalan's mini bar and restaurant

First stop, Palawan Cathedral. It is said that it looks like Baguio Cathedral. It is beautiful inside and out. Before going there, we passed by Palawan's own version of the Baywalk. We found out that the place was a squatter's area before and it was burned down accidentally. So, I think, the mayor decided to turn it into a park and relocated the squatters to a more established place.

Baywalk

Second stop, an airconditioned souvenir shop (I forgot the name). They sell really cheap pasalubong items and of course we bought some pasalubongs there. 

Third stop, Mitra's Farm. It is the residence of the Mitras who are politically known there. The place is over-looking the Honda Bay. They have many cows, horses, goats, and roosters.

Mitra's Mansion

Fourth stop, Baker's Hill. They sell breads and pastries and of course, their famous hopia. The one who owned the Palawan's Baker's Hill hopia is the same owner of Tipas Hopia in Manila. That's why I think the reason why their hopia in Baker's Hill is being famous. Same delicious taste. We also bought many hopia there!

House of the owner of Baker's Hill's Hopia

So how's my Marilyn Monroe pose?! 

Fifth and final stop, Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center. We saw there the remains of the largest captive crocodile in the Philippines before Lolong. There are also live crocodiles there. The crocodile that ate the lower half body of a fisherman was there too. Aside from crocodiles and bearcats, they also take care of other endangered birds like the Maynas and Eagle. It was actually my first time to hold a real live crocodile and see many of them in large sizes!!! Super cool experience! It was my first time also to hold a bearcat's tail. I'm glad the bearcat is friendly hahaha ^___^ .

The skeletal and skin remains of the biggest crocodile caught in Palawan (17 ft.)
Sorry I forgot the name

baby crocs in the nursery

Sleepy bearcat... cute!

Oh so friendly ^_^

P30 fee for picture taking, multiple shots (use as funds)

After the city tour, we went to the baywalk to eat dinner. There are food stalls there wherein locals and tourists can enjoy eating by the bay and watch the sunset. 

Kinilaw na kambing, barbecue, grilled squid and fish =)

One interesting fact about Puerto Princesa is their mode of  transportation. They have shuttles, serving as jeepneys, which they use around the city (jeepneys are use only for long rides like city to remote areas or mountains and vice versa). Another way of transportation there are the tricycles. They have this color coding rule that during six o'oclock in the morning every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays the only color of tricycle that you can use are the blue-colored ones. During Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays it is now the turn of the white-colored ones. But during six o'oclock in the afternoon and every Sundays they can mixed up already (meaning the blue and white-colored tricycles can transport passengers to any destination). There are also other colors like yellow (serves as airport taxis or the taxicles) no color or stainless and mix colors (it is either private use or colorum). The vans, owned by tourist agencies, serve as the transportation for group of tourists.

It was so cool touring around Puerto Princesa. I can say that it is really indeed the cleanest city in the Philippines! You can see no litter around plus the many trees and plants along the roads my Gosh! I'm inlove with Palawan! =) Life there is so simple. So peaceful. It was great being there for quite awhile and away from the polluted metro.