Coron, Palawan

 Coron Palawan the second time around with Amazing friends

☼ Dec 2 -4 2010 ☼

☼ Day 01 ☼

Finally natuloy na din ang ang first ever outing ng Amazing friends. Nakakalungkot lang na hindi kami kumpleto. Sa apartment na namin sa boni avenue natulog sina Cat, Leo and Othan. 9am pa yung flight namin pero by 5am gising na kami. Hindi naman halatang excited kami di ba? Haha. Dahil maaga nga kami nagising wala pa yatang 7am nasa airport na kami. Hinintay pa namin sa labas yung dalawang kasama namin na sa Taguig manggaling. Hindi pa open yung check in counter kasi nga maaga kami dumating. Dahil naiinip na si Jay lagi siya nagchecheck kung bukas na pero mali pala yun tinitignan niya na flight buti na lang naisipin ko tignan dahil almost 8am na pero hindi pa din open yung counter. Ayun, open na pala. Syempre since 1st time nung iba sa amin picture taking muna sa loob ng airport dahil 8:30 pa naman yung boarding time.

We arrived in Busuanga by 10:30am. This is my 2nd time in Coron so medyo in-charge ako with bookings. I have pre-arranged tours and accomodation c/o Coron Wonders kaya paglabas namin hinanap na agad namin sasalubong sa amin. Ayun nakita naman agad namin "Welcome Anna Mae Avencula & co. Hahaha. Mali yung surname kaya niloloko tuloy nila ako Ädvincula kasi dapat yun. Maliwanag naman yung binigay ko na name dahil yun din naman ang email address na gamit ko to contact them pero mali pa din yung name.

Busuanga Airport

Hindi kami agad nasalubong ni Ms. Rhea from Coron Wonders na siyang magiging tour guide namin dahil nasa island tour pa daw at pabalik pa lang. Nagcheck in muna kami sa Princess of Coron. Nony room yung pinareserve namin. Malaki yung room super nagustuhan talaga namin. Kanya kanyang pictorial agad. Haha.

Princess Of Coron

Princess of Coron room

Eto yung ibang options for accomodations

Kokosnuss Garden Resort

National Road, Barangay 6
RP-5316 Coron, Palawan Philippines
Phone Numbers: +63-919-776 95 44
                          +63-919-448 78 79
E-Mail: info@kokosnuss.info
website: http://www.kokosnuss.info/

Room Rates
Economy twin bed cottages with fan and common bathroom, available for "walk-in" only. - Php 450.-
Type 1:
Single/double Cottage room "large"
A Large room with common/shared bathroom, ceiling fan, private terrace.  - Php 660.00
Type 2:
Single/double Cottage room "large"
A Large room with private tiled bathroom, toilet, ceiling fan, private terrace.  - Php 1500.00
Type 3:
Single/double Bungalow "deluxe"
A Bungalow with marble flooring, private tiled bathroom, hot & cold shower, toilet, ceiling fan, TV and air-conditioning.

CORON ORIENTAL LODGE

MAO BUILDING
Barangay Poblacion 3 Coron, Palawan
Infront of BUS, JEEP & TRICYLCE Terminal
Before the Coron Public Market & Market Seaport
website: http://orientallodginghouse.webs.com/locationsdirections.htm

Room Rates
    Executive Room - good for 3persons @P1680; up to 5persons maximum in a room for additional P200/head; aircon room; private bath room w/ hot and cold shower; cable tv; wi-fi access;  w/o breakfast
    Family Room - good for 2persons @P1280; up to 4persons maximum in a room for additional P200/head; aircon room; private bathroom w/ hot and cold shower; wi-fi access; w/o breakfast
    Deluxe Room - good for 2persons @P1180; up to 3persons maximum in a room for additional P200/head; aircon room; private bath room w/ hot and cold shower; wi-fi access; w/o breakfast
   Standard Room - good for 2persons @P880; up to 3persons maximum in a room for additional P200/head; aircon room; bathroom (shared) w/ hot and cold shower; wi-fi  access;  w/o breakfast

Mt. Tapyas Hotel
Calle Nueva Street, Barangay
Poblacion 5, Coron, 5316 Palawan Philippines
mobile +63(917).500.5566
website: http://www.coronpalawan.net/index.htm

A Room with a view. We offer two kinds of rooms. The Bayview rooms have the view of Coron Bay, and its Uson and Coron Islands, and offers a magnificent view of the sunset, priced at PhP 1,400.00 /+ twin sharing. The Mountainview rooms provide a glimpse of Mount Tapyas and is priced at PhP 1,150.00 /+ twin sharing. Extra beds maybe requested at PhP 220.00.

CORON REEF PENSION HOUSE

Barangay 5, Bancuang, National Highway
Coron, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines
Contact numbers:   
       +639198877151- ask for Chinet
       0-906-277-4037- ask for Archie
       0-918-336-1661- ask for Kristine
Email Us: chinet@coronreefpensionhouse.com
website: http://www.coronreefpensionhouse.com/

Room Rates:
good for 8persons @P1500/night; for additional bed P100; fan room; private bathroom w/' fresh water shower; w/o breakfast.

Since gutom na kami dahil almost 12nn na. Naghanap muna kami ng makakainan but since gutom na talaga kami dun ko na lang sila inaya sa Kawayanan Grill na nakainan ko na din from my 1st visit in Coron.

Kawayanan Grill

Since 3pm pa naman ang start ng tour we decided na matulog muna kasi hindi naman kami nakatulog na maayos kagabi plus maaga din kami gumising.

By 3:30pm sinundo na kami ni Ms. Wheng from Coron Wonders para sa town tour. Para sa akin there's nothing much to see sa town aside from the Mt. Tapyas and Maquinit Hotspring.

Mt Tapyas 200th step

Mt. Tapyas

☼ Day 02 ☼

Medyo late na kami nasundo ni Ms.Rhea dahil nahirapan daw sila makakuha ng isda sa palengke para sa lunch namin. Our second day tour was coron loop. We went to  the following beach

• Siete Pecados Marine Park
• Atuwayan Beach
• Calachuchi Beach
• Barracuda Lake
• Beach 91
• Cayangan Lake (the cleanest and freshest lake in the country)
• Skeleton Wreck
• Smith Beach
• Twin Lagoon
• Twin Peak

Fishes at Siete Pecados

Corals at Siete Pecados

Atuwayan Beach

Baraccuda Lake

Twin Lagoon

Dimirecho kami souveneir shops and cashew factory nung 1st day. Si Ms. Rhea muna yung nagpahiram ng pera sa amin since hindi namin alam na didirecho kami dun after ng coron loop tour. Ginabi na kasi kami nung 1st day sa tour sa mt. tapyas dahil hinitay talaga namin magsunset kaya hindi na kami nakadaan sa souveneir shops. Medyo pricey yung mga souveneirs nila dun compared sa Puerto Prinsesa.

bag for 165 pesos

Cashew Nuts for 50-300 pesos

Tshisrt for 180-205 pesos

Sa Lolo Nonoys sana kami maliligo kaya lang late na kami natapos makapaligo lahat kaya hindi namin naabutan na bukas ang Lolo Nonoy's kaya sa Bistro-Coron kami bumagsak. Wala naman special sa food dito tapos medyo pricey pa kaya lang wala na din talaga kami choice kasi yun na lang naabutan namin bukas na kainan.

Coron Bistro

Dinner @ Coron Bistro

☼ Day 03 ☼

Uwian na. Over all naging masaya naman kami sa trip namin. Maigsi lang siya kasi pinilit lang talaga namin magbonding. Matagal tagal na din kasi yung last time na nagkita kita kami magbabarkada. Thanks to Ms. Rhea of Coron Wonders. Super alaga niya kami nung nandun kami. Hindi ako nagkamali sa pagbook sa kanila ng tours. Siya pa din ang kukunin namin on our next trip sa Coron. Dami pang pwedeng puntahan. :D

Eto nga pala yung contact numbers ng Coron Wonders
Ms. Rina - 09085433824/09178136159
Ms. Rhea - 09491373089
Email address: coronwonders@gmail.com

Share ko na din yung breakdown ng expenses namin
Roundtrip Airfare c/o Cebu Pacific - 2170php
Tour and Accomodation Package c/o Coron Wonders - 1640php
Airport Transfers - 300php
Snorkle mask rent - 150php
Pasalubong - 1000

Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan

Palawan Escapade

☼ July 15-18 2010 ☼

☼ Day 01 ☼

Muntik pa kami hindi matuloy kasi may dumating na bagyo(tropical storm Basyang) ng Tuesday July 13. Nagcancel na yung PAL ng flights nila for Wednesday morning. Buti na lang by Thursday July 15 paalis na yung bagyo pero still delayed pa din yung flight namin. Supposed to be 4:05pm yung flight namin pero almost 6pm na kami nakaalis kaya gabi na kami dumating sa Puerto Prinsesa. Pagdating sa Palawan sinundo kami ni Kuya Bob from Puerto Pension. Buti na lang nakapagpareserve na kami ahead of time ng matutuluyan. On our way to Pension binibigyan na kami ni Kuya Bob ng informations about Palawan. Pagdating sa Puerto Pension nagfill up lang kami ng necessary forms then direcho na sa room to rest. Dun na lang kami nagdinner sa restaurant nila yung Tribu restaurant kasi gutom na kami kaya ayaw na namin maghanap pa ng ibang makakainan. Umorder si Cris ng Korean BBQ and Lemon Chicken naman for me. After dinner we decided to walk around the Bay view kasi malapit lang naman. Kung maaga sana kami dumating balak naman maglilibot pa kasi wala na kami time for City Tour.

Puerto Pension (bed & breakfast)

Cool, Clean, and Quiet

#35 Malvar St., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan 5300, Philippines
Tel. #: (63) (48) 433-2969 / 433-4149

Email: ppension@pldtdsl.net

- 10 mins away from the airport, and is well placed between the pier and the city market.

- All rooms come with wide Balconies Furnished with wooden Tables and Chairs, it has air-conditioning system, hot & cold shower, cable colored tv & mini bar.

- With Free Wi-Fi internet connections.

- Twenty One (21) air conditioned room w/ (private toilet & bath)

- Building was built from Indigenous Materials and has the best view in town from Rooftop Restaurant.

- No brownout – with standby 50 KBA Generator

- Garden Beverage Bar

- Roof – Deck Tribu Bar & Restaurant / Café

- Laundry Services

- Free airport transfer / sea transfer

- Massage – Traditional Therapeutic, Scientific & Natural Method

- Package Tour and Excursions Arrangements

- Motor Pool/Van & Transportation for Hire (north and south bound)

- Tourist Information’s & Assistance

- Accepts Credit Card: Master Card, Visa Card. JCB Card & American Express Card)

Ito yung mga iba pang Pension na pinagpilian ko.

Ysabelle Mansion
214 Abad Santos Extension
Puerto Princesa City
Palawan, Philippines 5300

Contact Nos.:
Landline (63)(48) 723-0992
Mobile No. (63)918-4089377 / (63)929-2417797
Email: info@ysabellemansion.com
Website: www.ysabellemansion.com

Room Rates

Single Occupancy Php 900.00
Double Occupancy 1,200.00
Triple Occupancy 1,500.00
Family Room, 6 pax capacity 2,100.00
Family Room, 7 pax capacity 2,450.00
Family Room, 8 pax capacity 2,800.00
Family Room, 10 pax minimum (Capacity 20 pax) 3,500.00
Extra peson 350.00

PALATINO WHITE PENSION
BED AND BREAKFAST
#145 Burgos St. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Contact No. (048)434-1644/09196409606
Website: www.palatino.blogspot.com

Room Rates
SINGLE DELUXE PHP 700.00
DOUBLE DELUXE PHP800.00
EXTRA PERSON PHP 100.00

Service and Amenities
AIRCONDITONED ROOMS
PRIVATE TOILET AND BATH
TELIVISION
INTERNET CONNECTION AND (WIFI)
PHOTOCOPYING AND PRINTING
STAND BY DUTY (24 HOURS)
COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST

CASA FUERTE
Location: Libis Road
Double room: P1400/night
Cable, aircon, wifi
Inclusive of breakfast and pick-up only from airport

☼ Day 02 ☼

Sa Puerto Pension na din kami kumuha ng Tour Package kasi naging busy ako sa office at wala ng time magresearch research pa para makapagdiy kami saka since dalawa lang kami ganun din naman yung magagastos namin kung magdiy kami. Gumising kami ng maaga dahil 8pm daw kami susunduin for our Honda Bay Tour. Ginising kami ng front desk to tell us na ready na daw yung breakfast namin kinuha na kasi nila yung order namin the night before kasi kasama yung breakfast for two sa room na kinuha namin. Bread, eggs, mango,juice and coffee talaga yun free pero nagupgrade kasi kami dahil nageexpect kami na mapapagod kami ng sobra pero sobrang dami talaga nung food akala namin papalitan lang yung bread and ng rice pero hindi pala. Dinagdagan lang nila yung breakfast namin with rice and tapa with unlimited eggs. Hindi na talaga namin kayang ubusin yun kaya dinala na lang namin yung bread and eggs sa room. By 8am dumating na si Kuya Harry yung tour guide from 3Bs na kinuha ng pension for us. From the city 2hours pa daw yung biyahe papuntang Sabang kaya pwede kami umidlip. After one hour nagstop muna kami sa Jazz Souveneir shop para magcr at bumili na rin ng souvenir. Pagdating sa Sabang nagikot ikot muna kami habang naghihintay kami ng lunch. Dun na daw kasi kami maglulunch habang naghihintay kami na makasakay ng bangka papunta UG River National Park saka 2pm pa daw kasi yung schedule namin for UG river tour. By batch lang kasi yung pwedeng pumasok ng cave.. Sa Roberts Restaurant and Cottages kami naglunch kasama na siya dun sa tour na binayaran namin. Sulit naman kasi buffet lunch sila with fresh buko pa kaya lang hindi kami mahilig ni Cris sa buko kaya medyo nasayang yung binigay sa amin. By 12pm pinayagan nami magpunta sa sa National Park para makapagikot ikot bago yung UG tour. Pagdating namin sa National Park maglulunch break pa daw yun mga bangkero kaya naghintay muna kami na matapos sila kumain. Mabilis naman sila bumalik 15mins lang yata sila kumain kaya mga 1:30 pm pa lang pinayagan na kami pumasok sa cave kahit 2pm pa talaga yung schedule namin. Sa bangka pala na papasok sa cave kung sino yung mauupo sa harapan siya yung magcocontrol sa ilaw. Susundin niya lang yung sinasabi ng bangkero/tour guide kung san itututok. Ayaw namin ni Cris na maghawak nung ilaw kaya sa likog kami pumuwesto. Kaya lang pagdating sa loob sobrang dilim talaga kaya wala masyado makuha yung camera namin. Naisip tuloy namin sana kami na naghawak sa ilaw para matutok namin kung saan namin gusto kumuha ng picture. 45 mins yung tinagal ng tour. Enjoy naman may pagkacomedian yung tour guide namin.

Kung balak niyo pala magdiy. Pwede kayo magtrycycle papunta sa New San Jose Terminal. Then sakay ulit ng jeep for 150 pesos papuntang Sabang. Pero kung madami naman kayo pwede kayo magrent for 3000-3500 papuntang Sabang. Merong four trips papuntang Sabang Wharf. 7am, 9am, 12nn, 2pm. Bago pala kayo magpunta sa Sabang kelangan niyo muna kumuha ng permit for UG sa 7B Plates near Junction 1 (intersection of Rizal Ave. and National Highway). P7 lang by tricycle at alam yan ng lahat ng drivers doon. Ang alam ko kelangan dalhin yung plane ticket saka proof of age kung iaavail yung discount sa permit fees. Kung maaga ka pupunta mas may chance ka na makakuha ng mas maagang tour. Earliest tour is 8AM. Last tour is 3PM. They only accommodate 75 people per hour, maximum of 600 guests in a day.The 7B Plates office is open from 8-5PM everyday

UR PERMIT FEES

Foreign: P200
Adult: P150
Senior: P75
18-20 y.o.: P75
13-17 y.o.: P50
6-12 y.o.: P30
5 y.o. and below: FREE

By 4pm nakabalik na kami sa Pension from our Underground Tour. Kinain namin yung bread and eggs na hindi namin nakain nung breakfast then rest. We decided na sa Ka Lui kaya nagsabi kami sa front desk ng Pension na ipagpareserve kami. Hindi kasi sila tumatanggap ng walk-in lang dun. Since busog pa kami 8:30 na yung kinuha namin na reservation. It’s either 6:30 or 8:30 lang kasi. Around 6pm umalis na kami sa Pensison para pumunta sa Tiangge Tiangge para mamili ng souveneirs at pasalubong. Malapit lang naman kasi un tiangge sa Pension namin kaya medyo late na kami umalis.

By 8pm papunta na kami sa Ka Lui to have dinner. We ordered Seafood Sisig and Hinalabos na sugpo. After dinner nagulat pa kami nung may nilagay na fruits sa mesa namin pero wala naman kami inorder yun pala complimentary pala yun. Paglabas namin ng Ka Lui pinagaagawan na kami ng mga trycycle driver nung nalaman nila na sa Puerto Pension kami. Nakagawian ko na maghanda ng sakting pamasahe kapag nagpupunta sa ibang lugar since alam ko naman na 7 pesos per person lang dapat yun, naghanda na ako ng 14 pesos pero nung inabot ko na yun sa driver sabi kulang daw. Sinisingil niya kami ng 40kasi gabi na daw iba nadaw pamasahe kapag gabi na special trip na daw yun pesos since pagod na ako at gusto ko ng magpahinga hindi na ako nakipagtalo pero nung inabutan ko siya ng 50 pesos sabi 7 pesos lang daw yung barya niya. Hays, pinabayaan ko na din kasi ayokong masira yung bakasyon namin. 

☼ Day 03 ☼

Honda Bay Tour

Kung maaga kami ng Day 02 gumising mas maaga pa kami ngayon kasi 7:30 daw kami susunduin para sa Honda Bay Tour namin. This time iba na naman yung tour guide namin. Si Ate Gigi naman and iba na ulit yung makakasama namin na group. On our way to the wharf nagbibigay na ng information si Ate Gigi about Honda Bay. Dumaan muna kami ng bakery para bumili ng tinapay para sa fish feeding. Pagdating namin sa wharf nagregister lang kami sa manifesto then naghintay kami na makasakay sa bangka. May mga nagpaparent din dun ng camera and case. Magrerent sana kami ng camera kaya lang hindi pala digital, 36 shots film pala yun tapos 600 pa kaya nagrent na lang kami ng case for 250 pesos. By 9am pasakay na kami ng bangka.Una namin pinuntahan yung Pambato Reef. Medyo malabo yung tubig kasi katatapos lang daw ng ulan. Enjoy pa rin naman kaya lang yun nga malabo yung tubig kaya hindi kami masyado nakapagpicture nung coral reefs. Yung ibang isla na dinaanan lang din namin ay yung Bat Island hindi daw pwede magpunta dito kasi maraming dumi ng paniki as in hanggang beywang daw, Cowrie Island, Lu-Li Island (from “lulubog-lilitaw”), Meara Marina, at Señorita Island. After Pambato reef nagpunta na kami ng Pandan Island dun kami pinakamatagal nagstay kasi dun na daw kami maglulunch. Naglibot libot muina kami habang hinahanda ni Ate Gigi yung tanghalian namin. Tapos mananghalian nagpahinga lang kami sandali saka kami nagsnorkeling.

After Pandan Island nagpunta naman kami sa Snake Island para magfish feeding. Inoffer ni Ate Gigi na magside trip daw kami sa Dos Palmas for 1500. 12 naman kami sa group kaya 125 each lang daw yun. Halos lahat pumayag kaya tumuloy na kami. Akala ko makakababa kami para makapagpicture yun pala pupunthan lang pala namin as in dadaaanan lang namin kaya sa nagpicture picture lang kami habang nasa bangka.

Kung gusto niyo naman magdiy sa honda bay pwede kayong magpahatid sa trycycle for 500-600 papuntang Sta Lourdes wharf then rent ulit ng boat for 1300-1800 depende sa laki nung boat. Pwede kayo magrent sa wharf ng life vest at snorkeling gear. Kelangan niyo rin magpack ng lunch pero meron din naman nagooffer ng paluto sa Pandan Island.

☼ Day 04 ☼

Eto na yung malungkot na part. Uwian na. 10am yung flight namin kaya by 9am hinatid na kami ni Kuya Bob papuntang airport. On our way to airport tinaning kami ni Kuya Bob kung kamusta bakasyon namin. Sabi ko masaya naman nagenjoy kami sa tours pero naalala ko yung incident sa Ka Lui na siningil kami ng 40 pesos sa trycycle. Sbi ni Kuya Bob hindi daw totoo na ganun kapag gabi pwede nilang taasan ang singil pero hanggang 20 pesos lang daw sobra na daw yung siningil sa amin. Sayang kung nakuha ko yung plate number nun pwede daw namin ireklamo para mawalan ng lisensya. Kaya sa mga pupunta dun kung may same incident na sinigil kayo ng sobra kunin niyo ung plate number and yung anme ng driver. Anyways, first timeSana makabalik agad kami. Next trip namin City Tour, Iwahig Firefly watching and El Nido naman. :)