|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
October 1-2, 2025 Marti Eicholz After traversing five continents, visiting forty-six countries, and exploring 138 unique destinations, we aboard the Odyssey joyfully marked our very first anniversary together. Looking back, we are filled with gratitude for each day that has passed, cherishing the countless joyful moments, unforgettable memories, and valuable lessons we have gathered along the way. Any disappointments we encountered have faded into the background, leaving our hearts and minds open and eager for the delightful surprises and new adventures that await us in our second year of exploring the world. With renewed enthusiasm and a spirit of discovery, we look forward to embracing all that this journey continues to offer. On the first day of our second year, the Odyssey arrives at the port city of Puerto Princesa, situated on the mid-eastern coast of Palawan Island, facing the South China Sea. Its advantageous geographical location on Palawan earned it the name “Princess Port.” Puerto Princesa is the capital and largest city of Palawan Island in the Philippines with a population of 307,000 and covering over 250,000 hectares (965,255 acres). The city is divided into urbanized core and vast rural areas, with a significant portion of its population engaged in agriculture and fishing. Its geography includes a remarkable mountain-to-sea ecosystem, recognized for its rich biodiversity. Puerto Princesa experiences a tropical climate, which is characterized by hot and oppressive conditions year-round. The city is known as the Philippines' "last ecological frontier" due to its vast biodiversity and unique ecosystems. As the country's largest city by land area, it is also recognized for its orderly, clean streets, environmentally friendly, the greenest, and being a vibrant nature and adventure hub, offering unique activities like crocodile farming, paddling through peaceful, lush mangrove forests (Keep an eye out—you might spot snakes coiled in branches, monkeys swinging through the trees, and lizards sunbathing along the banks), firefly watching along the Iwahig River to island-hopping in Honda Bay, a popular destination for exploring beautiful islands, snorkeling over vibrant coral reefs, and relaxing on white-sand beaches. Crocodile farming is conducted at the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center whose primary role is wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and research center for various local endangered species. You can see baby crocodiles in a hatchling house and adult crocodiles in swamp enclosures, with opportunities for supervised feeding from a bridge. The facility also houses a minizoo with various Palawan endemic animals, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. Thirty-one miles north Puerto Princesa City lies the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its unique forests and abundant wildlife. The Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan, Philippines, is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New7 Wonders of Nature, a significant natural wonder, with an five-mile-long river, navigable underground river, flowing into the sea within a stunning karst cave system adorned with limestone formations like stalactites and stalagmites. Karst is a type of landscape underlain by limestone eroded by dissolution, producing ridges, towers, fissures, and sinkholes. The cave system contains huge, cathedral-like chambers with diverse impressive formations. The river is navigable by taking a rowboat with a guide to explore the dark and peaceful caves. The national park encompasses a complete ecosystem, from mountains to the sea, providing a crucial habitat for biodiversity. The cave is home to a variety of wildlife, endangered and endemic species, including thousands of bats, swiftlets, endemic fish, giant spiders, snakes, and pristine old-growth forests. The surrounding forests are also rich with endemic flora and fauna, including macaques and Palawan bearded pigs. Baker's Hill is a popular, privately-owned whimsical park on a hill that evolved from a small bakery into a picturesque garden park with panoramic views. It features lush, well-maintained gardens filled with colorful flower beds, quirky life-size sculptures of cartoon characters, and popular figures like Marilyn Monroe, a viewing deck, a mini zoo with birds like peacocks, and a well-stocked bakeshop famous for its hopia, a traditional, flaky-crusted Filipino Chinese pastry, filled with a sweet bean paste, such as mung bean, cashew nuts, and other delicious treats. Plaza Cuartel is notorious for the dark past as the site where 154 American prisoners of war were burned alive here by the Japanese on 14 December 1944 – what we know as the Palawan Massacre. Only eleven soldiers survived the cuartel. The cozy Palaweño Brewery is a female-owned craft brewery. It makes small-batch brews, using fresh local ingredients like coconuts, mangoes, honey, and native spices. Palawan Pearls, the famous, exquisite South Sea pearls, considered a treasure, are cultivated in the pristine waters locally and are highly sought after for their range of colors and sizes and use in high-end jewelry. Other notable products from the region include cashew nuts and unique local handicrafts, such as wood carvings and woven items. Mitra’s Ranch, a wide, grassy ranch, is a peaceful escape, perched on a hilltop, a perfect open space with cool air and where you can go horseback riding, walk across a hanging bridge, or zip through the air for a quick thrill. Ugong Rock, named after the unique gong-gong-like sound it makes, is a striking seventy-five-foot-high moss-covered limestone formation. "Ugong" means echo or hum in the local dialect. You can enjoy thrilling activities like spelunking, going through tight rock crevices, ladders, and chambers for a look at the limestone’s unique textures and formations. Ziplining with its two-hundred- thirty-three drop gives you panoramic views of the karst landscape. Stroll Baywalk Park, a breezy seaside promenade. Palawan Island has natural beauty, but it also holds deep historical and cultural significance. An important archaeological site is Tabon Caves where Tabon Man, the oldest human remains was unearthed. Visit Palawan Museum gives you a fascinating glimpse into the early human history of the Philippines, highlighting the rich heritage of Indigenous tribes, viewing relics and artifacts. Explore the unique collection of historical, cultural, and natural exhibits. The Palawan Heritage Center is an interactive hub, bringing history and culture to life through touch-screen displays, holograms, guided exhibits, highlighting Palawan’s biodiversity, economic growth, environmental conservation efforts, and vibrant local artistry. Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village are a must, if you love butterflies and beautiful gardens. Wander through the butterfly garden and admire the colorful butterflies fluttering around you while encountering rare insects and endemic wildlife, like the Palawan bearcat and the Palawan peacock pheasant. The recreated Tribal Village is where you meet members of one of the oldest Indigenous groups, sharing stories about their way of life, demonstrating traditional hunting tools, and playing their native instruments. The enduring memory of Puerto Princesa is a feeling of having found a tropical paradise that balances adventure with serenity. It's a place where you can reconnect with nature in its raw, untouched form, explore diverse ecosystems, and be embraced by the genuine warmth of its people. The city's commitment to preserving its natural beauty, alongside its unique blend of culture and community, creates a powerful and unforgettable experience. |
|
Copyright © 2025 All rights reserved |
