We set off at around 10am from the hotel where we stayed in Sabang. Those two little First-Time Hikers are my daughters. :)
About 15-minute walk from the beach to this Mangrove River.
We sailed through this river four years ago and had our fresh tamilok experience right on the mangroves. We didn’t this time. Notice the face-shaped mountain in the background? I think it’s the same mountain-view from the pool in the hotel. Check out my old badly-scanned film photos of the mangrove river here and here! Deja vu! :D
There was a bridge here before but Mang Estong (the boatman) told us it was long destroyed by a typhoon. So now you either cross the river by boat (for a minimal fee, PhP50 I think), or cross it on foot if you're a little adventurous. Wala naman daw crocs, promise. :D We didn’t want to go through the hassle of taking our shoes off so we took a boat.
No, we’re not even starting yet.
For security purposes, you need to get a permit at the St. Paul Subterranean River National Park's office in Sabang. There are two trails to choose from: the monkey trail - with wooden stairways and cemented paths to make things a little not too complicated, and the jungle trail where you have to strictly follow red marks on trees (or else, you’re doomed). Since we brought the kids along, we chose the monkey trail. Those wooden stairways, by the way, look a lot easier to climb in pictures, believe me.
Tip: put on loads of mosquito repellent. That’s my little girl over there taking one brave step at a time.
When you see this little bridge, that means you’re already in the Central Park Station where you have to show your permit to a park officer, who will then require you to write your names down on sort of a guestbook.
View from the bridge. Sometimes you just want to sit and stare in awe at views such as this one and get lost for a minute or two. Add to that the sound of crickets and ocean waves and the breeze touching your face. Super relaxing.
Anyway, the park officer told us that the monkey trail beyond this point is not accessible until about near the underground river since the man-made trails had been destroyed by typhoon years ago (probably the same typhoon that destroyed the bridge in Mangrove River) and that the jungle trail is muddy and slippery since it had been raining the past few days so we had to take extra care. Great.
Wala ng pathways and stairs...
…just big roots…
…big trees…
…big fallen trees…
…occasional sightings of girls getting piggy-back rides :D
…the sun…
…and a lot of greens. See that red mark on the tree? Pag wala ka ng red marks na nakikita, ibig sabihin naliligaw ka na, haha!!
“I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.” ~ Frank Lloyd Wright
When you pass by this cave, it means you’re halfway done with the trail. :D Parang malaking head/face na nakatingin sa ‘min yung cave, ngiii, mumu! :D
Years ago, we went inside this cave. Madilim and malamig sa loob. It’s a super short trip inside the cave and you’ll be out in less than a minute. You won’t get lost, I promise! :D Kung sakali, baligtarin nyo lang yung shirts nyo. :D
Ayun, puede naman pala magpahinga eh – juice and water break, yay! Plus one more okay news: monkey trail is again passable, weee! :D
...but you know monkey trail meant wooden stairways, right?
As in super long stairways…
As in super haba parang walang katapusan. :D
Anyway, we arrived at the park finally. Here’s one bayawak shot. Blurry because either it's moving too fast towards me or nanginginig na kamay ko sa kaba, haha!
...and a monkey shot.. kaya nga monkey trail di ba? Hanapin nyo na lang yung monkey :D
The Undergound River.
Hindi kami yan. :D We didn’t go inside the cave. Except for the kids, we’ve all been inside the cave several times already. Next time again, maybe.
Time check. 12:30 pm. The original plan was to go back the trail. But since everybody was so tired and hungry, we decided to take the boat (PhP400) back to Sabang.
Tutal di naman masyadong maalon…
Konti lang. :D
By the way, I just read that Palawan is among NatGeo Traveler's "20 Best Trips of 2011" list. Galing.
About 15-minute walk from the beach to this Mangrove River.
We sailed through this river four years ago and had our fresh tamilok experience right on the mangroves. We didn’t this time. Notice the face-shaped mountain in the background? I think it’s the same mountain-view from the pool in the hotel. Check out my old badly-scanned film photos of the mangrove river here and here! Deja vu! :D
There was a bridge here before but Mang Estong (the boatman) told us it was long destroyed by a typhoon. So now you either cross the river by boat (for a minimal fee, PhP50 I think), or cross it on foot if you're a little adventurous. Wala naman daw crocs, promise. :D We didn’t want to go through the hassle of taking our shoes off so we took a boat.
No, we’re not even starting yet.
For security purposes, you need to get a permit at the St. Paul Subterranean River National Park's office in Sabang. There are two trails to choose from: the monkey trail - with wooden stairways and cemented paths to make things a little not too complicated, and the jungle trail where you have to strictly follow red marks on trees (or else, you’re doomed). Since we brought the kids along, we chose the monkey trail. Those wooden stairways, by the way, look a lot easier to climb in pictures, believe me.
Tip: put on loads of mosquito repellent. That’s my little girl over there taking one brave step at a time.
When you see this little bridge, that means you’re already in the Central Park Station where you have to show your permit to a park officer, who will then require you to write your names down on sort of a guestbook.
View from the bridge. Sometimes you just want to sit and stare in awe at views such as this one and get lost for a minute or two. Add to that the sound of crickets and ocean waves and the breeze touching your face. Super relaxing.
Anyway, the park officer told us that the monkey trail beyond this point is not accessible until about near the underground river since the man-made trails had been destroyed by typhoon years ago (probably the same typhoon that destroyed the bridge in Mangrove River) and that the jungle trail is muddy and slippery since it had been raining the past few days so we had to take extra care. Great.
Wala ng pathways and stairs...
…just big roots…
…big trees…
…big fallen trees…
…occasional sightings of girls getting piggy-back rides :D
…the sun…
…and a lot of greens. See that red mark on the tree? Pag wala ka ng red marks na nakikita, ibig sabihin naliligaw ka na, haha!!
“I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.” ~ Frank Lloyd Wright
When you pass by this cave, it means you’re halfway done with the trail. :D Parang malaking head/face na nakatingin sa ‘min yung cave, ngiii, mumu! :D
Years ago, we went inside this cave. Madilim and malamig sa loob. It’s a super short trip inside the cave and you’ll be out in less than a minute. You won’t get lost, I promise! :D Kung sakali, baligtarin nyo lang yung shirts nyo. :D
Ayun, puede naman pala magpahinga eh – juice and water break, yay! Plus one more okay news: monkey trail is again passable, weee! :D
...but you know monkey trail meant wooden stairways, right?
As in super long stairways…
As in super haba parang walang katapusan. :D
Anyway, we arrived at the park finally. Here’s one bayawak shot. Blurry because either it's moving too fast towards me or nanginginig na kamay ko sa kaba, haha!
...and a monkey shot.. kaya nga monkey trail di ba? Hanapin nyo na lang yung monkey :D
The Undergound River.
Hindi kami yan. :D We didn’t go inside the cave. Except for the kids, we’ve all been inside the cave several times already. Next time again, maybe.
Time check. 12:30 pm. The original plan was to go back the trail. But since everybody was so tired and hungry, we decided to take the boat (PhP400) back to Sabang.
Tutal di naman masyadong maalon…
Konti lang. :D
By the way, I just read that Palawan is among NatGeo Traveler's "20 Best Trips of 2011" list. Galing.
Posts
