My husband's currently in a company visit in a far far away land in Sweden thus I have to work from home. I don't like commuting all by myself. Thank goodness, my boss is fine with me working from home.

Yet, I feel really lonely at home, glad I have steemit!

Now my husband has started sharing his Sweden pictures and I kind of starting to feel like I want to blog about a certain place for my DIY PH series. I checked my hard drive for photos and waala! I found Puerto Princesa! So, this blog is all about how to DIY your Puerto Princesa City Tour!

puerto princesa diy tour.jpg

It was 2015 when James and I started our annual trip, each anniversary, we'll go to a new place we have never been to before and what better way to open this habit than going to the then proclaimed World's Best Island by Conde Nast Traveler?

P U E R T O __ P R I N C E S A

Hiring a travel agency in Puerto Princesa is a bit pricey however, comfort is definitely provided. Do it yourself travel is however for those who want to have the liberty of controlling their time while on the go. And that's why we did it that way.

From Cebu City, it only took less than an hour air travel going to Puerto Princesa. The airport is similar to that in Tagbilaran City, small but functional.

The arrival!

Since we didn't have any travel agency and we only have around 15 hours, because we need to travel to El Nido that night, we already planned to hire a tricycle instead as what was suggested by other DIY travelers as well online.

It was not hard to find one because outside the airport lies numerous tricycle drivers offering their services. They offer the same rates as mandated by their local government. I have listed the places I want to go and our driver offered the sequence as well as recommended us more places to check and we were definitely grateful he did.

Puerto Princesa Cathedral

From the airport, Kuya driver dropped us first in a restaurant for breakfast. It was however almost noon time so that would be considered our brunch.

As soon as we were almost done, we were off to our first stop, the Puerto Princesa Cathedral. This is a Roman Catholic Church nested in the heart of the city. The sky blue color church has a lot of visitors. It was neat and we spotted a lot of vendors outside offering souvenir items like bracelets made of shells, necklaces and even pearls.

We proceeded right away to the next stop which was just opposite to the church.

Plaza Cuartel

This is very similar to any other cuartel throughout the country. Since the Philippines was under the rule of Spaniards before for 300 years, cuartels have been built in every certain coastal town.

But this cuartel has a sad history, this was where hundreds of American soldiers were burnt to death by the Japanese soldiers.

There's a monument built at the center of the plaza to commemorate the horrible event and to educate the new generation including the visitors as to Philippine history.

Just like any plaza in the country, this has lots of flowers too and plants. A tartanilla and different Puerto Princesa local items were on display. I wonder if they are still standing at this point.

Baywalk

Our bags were left with the driver while we look around the beauty of the Puerto Princesa Bay walk. It's a huge bay walk by the way. Since it was still morning time, there weren't much people around. We enjoyed it under the heat of the sun, taking photos and panoramic shots as well.

Spacious and definitely a good place to chill at night. Unfortunately, we can't do that because we were traveling that night to El Nido.

Sweaty from all the photo opportunity, we went back to the tricycle and went off to the next destination, at this point, my husband's camera battery was already drained thus we have no other option but to use our mobile phones and the action camera.

Crocodile Farm

Entrance to the Crocodile Farm

I have been to different crocodile farms before, Cebu has a couple and to name a few, there's the Crocolandia in Talisay and the Cebu Zoo which has smiling crocodiles we even had a selfie. So, I was not pumped about it but after realizing it has more to offer than just crocodiles, I had a change of heart.

From meeting the remains of Rio, the farm's biggest crocodile which has been suspected taking a farmer for its dinner, to seeing tiny little crocs, all towards the farm's mini tropical zoo!

The might Rio!

Not so long from the numerous people visiting the farm, we were all alone with nothing but the sound of the tree branches slowly moving its leaves like they're welcoming our presence! We even got the chance to take photos of ourselves looking up the skies, or the trees, whatever it was, we took a selfie without our faces!

Look up selfie!

Come with me!

But that was still a part of the farm. Whilst it looked like an abandoned forest, trails show that there are more creatures than just crocodiles in that solemn forest. We followed the soil-path and found wild pigs, snake houses and lot more!

At the end of the short heart pumping experience with the unknown forest, we enjoyed looking at possible souvenirs for the loved ones back at home. I found a weird one which I guess I had only found there - snake bone bracelet!

Native items for souvenir!

Look at those accessories!

Wait, there's more - shark teeth!

Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village

Our bags were still safe with the tricycle driver and that was something to be grateful about. Off we went to the next stop which I never thought would educate me that much about the culture and the way of living of the locals most especially the first tribe of the island!

Welcomed by butterflies and other insects, both my husband and I, entertained by the beauty the free butterflies given us. But the real deal was meeting the Tagbanua Tribe.

Butterflies were left to fly around within the vicinity.

On their way to awesomeness!

They were making their weapons!

I have read about them on high school books. The natives of Palawan, the first inhabitants, they bear the blood of the ancestors who had given Palawan an interesting history. They are the oldest ethnic groups in our country.

We walked slowly as to not disturb the ongoing lecture about how they did it to survive. The tribe's simple shelter is just at the back of the butterfly garden!

I sat at the back in their wooden long chairs which I bet are centuries old now. Two men in G-strings were showing us a bundle of which looked like a grass, as per the translator, that's what they use for fire, they showed us how to manually create fire! It was an amazing sight!

I regret not having any extra batteries at that time. We were left with no other option but to use our mobile phones.

Then they also showed us their precious stones which they believed to contain magic to heal them for any disease they acquire. Then a show of how they dance together with their music instruments made of iron!

James holding their precious stone!

Lastly, they showed us how they make their weapons in hunting. They use the thorns of a plant, like the weapon used by the main character in the movie Apocalypto. It was totally similar and they even showed us how to attack and kill a target! They use it for hunting food in the wild though.

They love being photographed!

James with the Tagbanua kid.

Before we ended the educational experience, we were surprised by the tribe with their pet they call Worm. Sounds small but when it was showed to us, it was in fact a huge snake! They even encouraged us to take a photo with it hang on our shoulders. I was only forced to do it by the way!

That's a heavy snake!

The snake was actually harmless.

Balay Mitra

As the day was slowly coming to an end, we found ourselves hitting an uproad and found us above sea level, having an overview of the Puerto Princesa bay! We realized we were inside the Balay Mitra property!

Now, James was surprised because he just realized we were in the house of the famous gamefowl breeder who had made Palawin bloodline famous! Ramon Mitra, the late Senator and Speaker of the House of the Philippines. He ran for President by the way but lost to Fidel Ramos in 1992 elections.

The Balay Mitra.

We had a glimpse of their Palawin bloodlines and their horses. We had the chance to talk with the caretakers and found out they have three more farms away from this area where their breeding is being done.

Inside the house, I couldn't help but appreciate these wooden antiques and furniture! I couldn't help but lay down in the cold wooden floor! Their house has this symmetrical structure with an underground.

Since we were running out of time, we decided coming back before flying home to Cebu. We had horse back riding and even more glimpse of their roosters!

Great place to chill and watch over the bay.

Horse back riding!

Baker's Hill

Like the Mitra House, we came twice to Bakers Hill. First during our first day in Palawan and second before we went back to Cebu. We appreciated it more the second time around because on our first, we were running out of time.

LOVE this and him!

Baker's Hill is called as such because its a community of bakers turned into this marvelous and entertaining world in a hill. It felt like being in a different world. From the entrance, you saw character statues, stars and decorations, Christmas trees made out of recycled soda bottles, houses like those in wonderland, flowers, trees, orchids, restaurants, food, sweets, cakes and lot more!

Reunion! lols

A favorite!

Awesome flower pan design!

There's a playground too which can turn into an exercise haven too in the morning. And what's so nice about it? It has zero entrance fee! Plus they make their own flower pan using their own flowers! These flower pans stay colorful for around three to four days.

Let's talk about El Nido in the next blog!

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Thank you to @steemph.cebu for the post which encouraged me to create this. Check it here.

You might also be interested in my previous travel blog series:

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DIY Travel PH#18: Puerto Princesa City Tour in a Trike!