Ever since arriving in Puerto Princesa City, I have had people ask me what I have seen of the local tourist attractions. Apparently northern Palawan is absolutely magnificent, and the diving is supposed to be good in many places. Dos Palmas up the highway a bit, is the only 5 star resort on Palawan and is a popular snorkeling spot. Being here for work, though, I really haven't had a chance to seen most of these things, and likely won't with the limited time I have. That said, I get to see all sorts of other worth while things that a tourist would never see. This past weekend I finally did get out of town to see something on the list of tourist destinations though, and probably the number one destination at that. I'm speaking of the UNESCO world heritage site, the Subterranean River at Sabang.
Not having had the opportunity to take a jeepnie in Manila, I finally got the opportunity to do so. Some friends that I've met from the US Peace Corp, plus one Canadian working with the British based Volunteer Services Overseas organization and I, met at the San Jose market and jeepnie terminals at about 5:30 am last Thursday. Although I was the first one there and well before dawn, I was certainly not the first on the jeepnie, as the locals know the drill of chucking your bag through the window to claim your space. For those who haven't been introduced to the concept of the jeepnie, these common transportation vehicles in the Philippines are remnants of the second world war in the form of extended American Army Jeeps. The bodies are elongated and reenforced from the inside, with benches added. They are wildly decorated on the outside similar to the bottom of a snowboard or the inside of a well used telephone booth, with crazy type and all sorts of pop cultural iconography. In the jeep we took, there were about three front facing benches up front, and then two along the sides in the back where we sat. When there was no more room, they placed plastic stools between our knees for more people to sit. Then when there was no more room, people hung out the back and then headed up to the roof. At one point along the potholed dirt road, the vehicle got stuck in the mud. At least 15 people dropped off the roof and pushed until the jeep got going again. The engines in these jeepnies are probably designed to haul about 8 to 10 people. So instead they carry up to 50. At least the chicken kept quiet.
On the way back, we were told that the jeepnie headed back to town at 2pm, but it actually left at 1pm. So, by the time we got there, the inside was full. We had the choice of waiting until the next day, walking for two days, or riding on top. On the positive side, the wind blowing through my hair felt great, and the scenery coming from the west coast is superb, with limestone cliffs, and tropical forested valleys making up the landscape. Sitting on a roof rack with a bar up your ass, and bracing yourself so as not to be thrown off into the ditch, while ever more luggage and cargo are piled up behind you is not an experience I would like to repeat, however. To make matters worse I ended up having pretty bad allergies the whole bumpy, three hour ride back. Lastly, as a suggestion to anyone who ever plans to make this trip in this way, please ride on the left hand side of the roof, because quite often the driver gets a little to close to passing trees. Thank goodness, they were for the most part, soft branches. (see more photos)
Not having had the opportunity to take a jeepnie in Manila, I finally got the opportunity to do so. Some friends that I've met from the US Peace Corp, plus one Canadian working with the British based Volunteer Services Overseas organization and I, met at the San Jose market and jeepnie terminals at about 5:30 am last Thursday. Although I was the first one there and well before dawn, I was certainly not the first on the jeepnie, as the locals know the drill of chucking your bag through the window to claim your space. For those who haven't been introduced to the concept of the jeepnie, these common transportation vehicles in the Philippines are remnants of the second world war in the form of extended American Army Jeeps. The bodies are elongated and reenforced from the inside, with benches added. They are wildly decorated on the outside similar to the bottom of a snowboard or the inside of a well used telephone booth, with crazy type and all sorts of pop cultural iconography. In the jeep we took, there were about three front facing benches up front, and then two along the sides in the back where we sat. When there was no more room, they placed plastic stools between our knees for more people to sit. Then when there was no more room, people hung out the back and then headed up to the roof. At one point along the potholed dirt road, the vehicle got stuck in the mud. At least 15 people dropped off the roof and pushed until the jeep got going again. The engines in these jeepnies are probably designed to haul about 8 to 10 people. So instead they carry up to 50. At least the chicken kept quiet.
On the way back, we were told that the jeepnie headed back to town at 2pm, but it actually left at 1pm. So, by the time we got there, the inside was full. We had the choice of waiting until the next day, walking for two days, or riding on top. On the positive side, the wind blowing through my hair felt great, and the scenery coming from the west coast is superb, with limestone cliffs, and tropical forested valleys making up the landscape. Sitting on a roof rack with a bar up your ass, and bracing yourself so as not to be thrown off into the ditch, while ever more luggage and cargo are piled up behind you is not an experience I would like to repeat, however. To make matters worse I ended up having pretty bad allergies the whole bumpy, three hour ride back. Lastly, as a suggestion to anyone who ever plans to make this trip in this way, please ride on the left hand side of the roof, because quite often the driver gets a little to close to passing trees. Thank goodness, they were for the most part, soft branches. (see more photos)
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