Palawan’s Underground Seen!

It is NO WONDER that visiting one of the NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE NATURAL WORLD, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, is now more challenging. Ever since this underground river made it to the prestigious list late last year, (in addition to being one of the natural World Heritage sights since 1999) little did we know that preparations to tour the site needed to be made way in advance. A visitor must secure first a permit from the Underground River Booking office and they are very strict with the “No Permit, No Entry” policy to the extreme.

A couple that my friend, Jenny, had spoken to while we were at the Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa had made their reservations months in advance. Then there’s Jenny and I just reminding the front desk that we wanted to go on the Underground River tour that very day.

The front desk explained to us the lengthy procedure and so did several representatives from the Underground River Booking Office. Instead of being discouraged by the amount of people already in queue, the more Jenny and I wanted to go. We were also told that there was even a tiny quota of something like around 3 people maximum per resort. But a run-in with a French lady acquaintance of Jenny, who was in Sabang, Palawan with her entire family, and who gave positive reviews to this newly listed natural wonder of a site fueled our fire even more….. UNDERGROUND OR BUST!!!!

Armed with smiles as ammo, mad PR skills and even comedy relief, we were able to charm (well, I’d like to think so 😉 ) an important lady at the booking office.

The next day before 7am, we found ourselves being led and trekking to the opposite end of the island to an awaiting, incognito boat. I suddenly got worried that this special arrangement would have us paddling ourselves to the location!

We were given strict, specific instructions and new, secret identities (we can’t tell you the details or else we’re gonna’ have to….. you know how it goes)!  It was then official, Jenny and I were going undercover!

Our “top secret” boat ride to the arrival area….

We made it! Congratulations, indeed!!!

So, where do we go from here?

Giving this path a shot…

And we’re  here!….

Beautiful trees with such character seem to lovingly envelope the entrance area to the caves…

Like our momma said, “Anak, there’s lots of fish in the sea”….

Our boatman was very careful and adamant in making sure that the weight on his boat was well-balanced and evenly distributed, but I guess the same didn’t apply to the boat in front of us….

And here we go…

Let me tell you how highly entertained we were with the boatman/guide’s spiel! I don’t know if it’s uniform for all the guides, but this guy had the best lines!  He sectioned each area according to the shapes and formations of the stalactites and stalagmites.  One area was the fruits and vegetables section and now the religious icon section…

The above formation is what he called “Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus….and a waiter”….???? 😉

This next one he kept insisting that we know her. Where the spotlight is pointed is what our guide described as legs and of course going higher is what looked like the formation of a lady’s behind. “You know her, you know her…” he insisted.

Soon we gave up.  Finally he said, “That is Sharon Stone”. Ok!

Besides falling stalactites and stalagmite particles, there was another reason why we had to wear hard hats. What we thought were falling droplets of water, were actually falling droplets of something else as we looked up….

Eeeeeew! According to our guide, this is no longer a bat cave, but rather a bat room….nyek nyek nyek! 😉

And then of course there were cracks everywhere, including one on the boat in front of us, if you know what I mean ;)….

I don’t want to EXPOSE too much…. There is a reason why this is one of the natural wonders of the world and I encourage you to go see the site for yourself.

Other ways to go undercover….

Another great undercover idea….

Although this is the real deal and not NUNSENSE at all!

Undercover Fail!  How to blow your cover…..

Posers! 😉