Palawan : The Dos Palmas Experience

January 2, 2009. This is the second part of a three post series about my recent trip to Palawan. See here for the first part : Palawan : One of the Best Places on Earth

I just finished browsing the pictures I took a few days ago in my Palawan adventure. I’ve yet to recover from the awesome experience I had in Palawan. I took a nap earlier and I’m still dreaming about the beaches of Dos Palmas and their wonderful grilled Blue Marlin. Palawan is an hour of flight away southwest of Manila. It’s famous for it’s white sand beaches, paradise-like islands and the awesome food they serve.

6:00 AM. Awesome buffet breakfast. As I mentioned in my previous post, Palawan serves awesome food. The Lapu-Lapu they served with Tausi and the Danggit were one of the best I’ve had ever. Also, they have this dish of shrimp in sauce that tastes divine. I’m actually enjoying the food in Palawan more than the posh hotels here in Manila.

7:00 AM. The tour guide informed us that the Underground River is impassable that day. The Coast Guard prohibited ships and boats to pass since the winds were too strong that day. We had to decide what would be our next best option. After a few minutes of deliberation and computation of finances, we decided to spend the day in the famous Dos Palmas Island Resort*. It costs 2,300 pesos per head for a day trip. (If you want to stay overnight, it will cost you 7,300 pesos to 8,500 pesos per head depending on what kind of accomodations you will avail.)

  8:00 AM. We reached Hunda Bay for our boat ride to Dos Palmas. Dos Palmas was just behind Snake Island. It will take us approximately an hour and a half to get there. The winds were strong indeed. I got worried the moment the boat driver asked us to wear life jackets “just in case”. The boat ride wasn’t very pleasant and water was occasionally splashing inside the boat. Everyone was silent. I was mumbling “argh” and “urgh” everytime the boat would rock and dip after wave after wave of the unforgiving sea. Yesterday, I could see other boats traveling with us in the same route to and fro. That day, I saw none. Only our brave little tug boat battling with the angry winds and strong waves. I whispered a silent prayer.

9:10 AM. We could see the Dos Palmas Island already. The waves weren’t too strong anymore since we are now sheltered by the nearby islands. Our boat had just to maneuver carefully since the water was shallow and we could hit the corals under the sea.

9:45 AM. The hospitable crew of the Dos Palmas Resort greeted us with ethnic music and welcome drinks. I’m just happy to be alive. We were told that we can use any of the resort’s facilities for free and lunch is at 12 noon. I dropped my bags to the nearest empty cottage I could find and snapped away with my camera. The place is just breathtaking. Probably even better than Boracay. It’s a small version of Boracay Station 1, actually but with less people and better amenities.

12:00 NN. Lunch Time! And again, Palawan cuisine did not dissapoint. Buffet, buffet, buffet. The Blue Marlin was tender and full of flavor. The Lato was at its salty finest and the salad bar was perfect. I could even hear the foreigners from the other tables complimenting the food and the place.

1:00 PM. I found myself walking around the resort. I took pictures of the majesty of the island. I wondered when would be the next time I’ll be able to visit the place. I took my things from the cottage where I left them and dropped it near the “duyan” I found on the east side of the island. There was also a kayak nearby. I just had to ride it. After a few minutes of failing at kayaking, I went back and hit the sands. People were already coming back from taking their lunch. Time for a little free and selfish advertising. Harhar!

1:30 PM. One of the staff recommended that I try their snorkeling site, 3 minutes of speed boat away from the resort. I immediately got in a snorkeling gear and requested a speed boat (free of charge). The speed boat ride gave me a good view of the palm trees where the name of the island originated. There used to be two very tall palm trees. One already died. The speed boat driver joked that the place should now be called Las Palmas.

1:33 PM. The dive site is a floating boat. Under it are live corals and schools of fish. Awesome as well. One of divers grabbed a starfish ball and gave it to me. It looked like a rock. But the diver insisted that it was alive. I believe him.

 2:30 PM. Went back to the island. We had to prepare for our departure. The boat leaves 4:00 PM. I changed to my regular clothes and just wandered around the island one last time. I bought a shirt in the souvenir shop.

3:30 PM. Boarded the boat and took last shots of the island.

    

4:00 PM. On the way back to Hunda Bay. Our boat this time is rather large, with a capacity of 80 people. The strong waves didn’t affect us much this time. I slept halfway through.

5:30 PM. On the way back to the Legend Hotel. I left my wallet in the boat. A kind lady from the boat trip returned it to me. Amazing. She or any of the boatmen could have easily run off with the wallet and its content (with the considerable amount of cash in it). But they didn’t. Just goes to show how much respect these people have for other people. They are very kind and honest people indeed.

6:10 PM. Back in my bed. Tired from the day’s activities. But yes, there’s still dinner. So by…

7:00 PM. I’m at the doorstep of Ong’s Maki House. It’s a Chinese restaurant owned by… Yes, you guessed it right, Mr. Ong. He’s a bespectacled fat Chinese guy who loves to interact with his customers. Their siopao and patatim is very tasty.

8:00 PM. Instead of taking the tricycle, the walk towards the “kapitolyo” seemed more inviting. Indeed, the kapitolyo is very much alive at night with its night market / tiangge.

9:45 PM. Took a tricycle back to the hotel. After taking a bath and watching some TV, I went to sleep, excited with what the next day Palawan will bring.

(to be continued)

Next Post : Puerto Princesa : A City of Relaxing Beauty

*This Class A resort hit the headlines a few years ago when a terrorist group kidnapped guests, sped them away to Basilan Island island a few hundred kilometers away in a speed boat and held them hostage for several months until the military made a rescue operation.