Palawan: Puerto Prinsesa City Escapade Part 2

Part 2 was late because author was busy…. Gomen…

Crocodile Farm – Barangay Irawan, Puerto Prinsesa City, Palawan

Crocodile Farm

top – Rio
middle – Mascot
bottom – Baby Crocs

The Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center is a cab ride away from Sta. Monica.

We arrived there just in time to miss the 2PM tour. So while waiting for 30minutes for the tour to start, we bought our ticket which costs 40pesos each, ate some ice cream and look around the souvenir shops. In the end, I bought lots of miniature crocodiles and stingrays for the fiends back home.

The start of the tour introduced us to Rio, a crocodile who was captured because he ate half of the spear and was injured. He was treated but sadly because of old age, was unable to adapt to the new environment and died of stress. Next were the baby crocs from the newly-weaned to the almost adult ones kept in tubs in ones, twos, threes, fours or fives. There are screens on top of tubs but there are spaces with no covers. Because of this, signs of “DANGER: Baby Crocs may jump and bite. Do not place hands on top of tubs” are placed around the holding area. Then, we went to enclosed area with a bridge on top where the adult crocs are kept. The biggest one is big all 60+ cm semi-hidden in the water but the head and jaws can be seen and the horror you will be experiencing when you fell into the pen to be his meal is beyond my imagination :D.

Crocodile Pen

After this, there is a booth where you can have a picture with a baby croc and have it printed as well for souvenir.

The animal park is a do it yourself tour, we roamed around for a bit. The 1st animal is the bearcat, when we approached he got out from his hiding place to have his picture taken. Lucky us. The 2nd one is the bearded pig, snobbish creature who kept his face hidden all the time as if telling us not to bother him in his mealtime. The next are the majestic serpent eagle, I think. They looked regal all the time sneering at us, mere mortals. Then the lonesome sea eagle who gave a plaintive cry when he was disturbed. His tail was magnificent though. Then we have the hornbills who doesn’t want their pictures taken and kept themselves to the foliage inside their cage. Next, the noisy mynahs. Then, the parrots who rarely made a sound while we were looking at them. There was also a wildcat which has no name plate, so we could not really know what it was. They also have monkeys. But the last animal we went to see is the porcupine and we think it’s dying because its pins and needles are falling off. And the skin is showing, with red pelts.

Bearcat, Eagles, Parrots

After this, we wander back to the crocos for the last time then walk back to the highway to go to the tiangge.

Tiangge-Tiangge – Barangay San Rafael, Puerto Prinsesa City

The Tiangge is a marketplace for souvenirs. We told the driver specifically to drop us off there but he thought that we are not getting off because when he looked at me I did not take that as a hint that he was asking if we were getting off. So, we had to walk back a few blocks to get back there. In there, we added a few more souvenirs. Some pearls and a shoulder bag. We also looked for croc meat for people who requested but we’ll, the souvenir meat shop is closed. So, we left the tiangge behind before we are tempted to buy more.

Kinabuch’s – Rizal Avenue, Puerto Prinsesa City

Kinabuch’s Bar & Restaurant

Kinabuch is a highly recommended place to eat in Palawan, so from the tiangge we rode a tricyle to get there for an early dinner.

We ordered the specialty of the house, crispy pata, baby back ribs, halo-halo and shake, a platter of rice as well. The serving is good for 5 persons for the pata and the back ribs for 2-3. We ate a lot but we couldn’t really finish all of it, so we had those wrapped up to be taken out. It was a very satisfying meal and the place is quiet to as there are a few other guests in the resto. We paid almost 1000pesos for that meal but we had lots of leftovers that we still ate the next day.

Puerto Prinsesa Capitol

After the meal, we bought some soap, shampoo and food for breakfast. There was a funny scene when a foreigner asking why liquor is not sold in that store when it is sold somewhere else even though its banned because of the recall election. He did not insist though.

We also passed by the Provincial Capitol but did not go in because it was already late 

Baker’s Hill – Sta. Monica, Puerto Prinsesa City

Baker’s Hill

Before going back to WPU for the night, we decided to stop by Baker’s Hill to taste the tamilok. The driver finally dropped us off where we want to go and he said, we can walk or ride. We decided to walk, decidedly the longest walk in my life. Two almost uphill climb and stretch of land in between. Poor feet. But we arrived, passing by wagyu beef, mother of steaks advertisement and many other restos along the area. Baker’s hill is aptly named, many stores sell pastries, pizza among them. There is also a massage parlor. After resting a bit, we explored. No tamilok for us, as the resto serving is already cleaning up when we arrived. And as we are not really hungry, we just walked around the park.

Shrek Park, Cherry Blossom, Peacock Display, Flowers

It was very dark, and I think we disturbed more than one fowl creature. They had a golden pheasant, peacocks (stuffed and real), and other birds couldn’t recognize because its too dark. There are also over-sized vegetables. I am not sure if all of them are real though. Then there are swings, and see-saws for children. Shrek Park have Shrek, Puss, Donkey, Fiona and the kids and other figures as well. Then there’s the cherry blossom and flowers. After exploring, we decided to call it a day, hired a tricycle to WPU for bed and rest.

As the next day is for the Palawan Underground River adventure.

For the first day of our adventure, aside from the 7200pesos for airfare which is 2-way trip for 2 persons, we spent about 3000pesos for transportation, souvenirs, food and other miscellaneous things we bought as we go.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!