12.28.17 | The adventure begins at the Sabang Wharf. Prior to the wharf, our tour group made a rest stop where we got some coconut water, "water-proof" phone cases, and more souvenirs.
Classic drink in bag
While at the Sabang Wharf, we waited until we could take a boat to a different part of the island to experience Puerto Princesa Underground River. The river is now one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Entrance to the Underground River.
Fun facts:
- The river is 5.1mi (8.2km) long but only 2.7mi (4.3km) can be traveled by tourists. You need a special permit to travel the rest of the way.
- A second level was discovered by geologists, which means there might be small waterfalls along the river.
- The underground river is actual above sea level.
Afterwards, we headed to Ugong Rock to go cave spelunking and zip line. Mind you, I am terrified of heights BUT I was in the Philippines and what a better place to face my fears than here. Along the way, we made a quick stop at Karst Mountain, Elephant Cave.
Karst Mountain, Elephant Cave
Tourist Fun Fact: This location was one of the locations for The Amazing Race Philippines and The Amazing Race Ukraine.
Once our tour group arrived at Ugong Rock, we "suited up" and took our trek into the cave. Our tour guide, was an 83-year old women, who wore flip flops, and showed all of us up at the rope section. In the over exposed iPhone photo, you can see that I had to wear a harness climbing the steep section. Our guide not only climbed it with no harness but again, in flip flops! She was amazing.
Halfway to the top, it started to rain heavily. Our guide gave us two options: wait and continue or go back down and miss out on the zip line. Thankfully, all of us decided to wait a bit. After 5min, the rain lightened up and we all unanimously agreed to climb the rest of the way through the rain. Once we reached the top, the rain stopped and we all thought, "If we just waited longer..."
Finally, the moment of truth, the zip line! I waited until two people and my brother (Kuya) zip lined down. I wanted to watch and prepare myself mentally. I was the only one that opted for the sitting down position versus the superman position. I was not about to go head first down the zip line. Once I was securely placed in my harness, the guy managing the station, hooks me up, and then I started panicking. I immediately gripped my harness tightly, which he tells me not to do for safety reasons, and I quickly release. He then tells me to move to the edge, put both my legs over, which I did slowly, and then he releases me. I screamed at the top of my lungs, and then I looked around to see a breath-taking landscape around me. At that moment, I enjoyed the rest of the way down.
Fun Fact:
- Ugong Rock is 165ft (50) high
- Zip line is 1378ft (420m) long
After all of us came down the zip line, it started to rain heavily again. Our group lucked out! Afterwards, it was time to get dropped off at a "van stop" to travel about 6hrs to El Nido, Palawan.
My parents getting coffee. The prices are in peso (Philippines currency).
Heavy rains while a woman preps food to sell.
Until next time.
//End.