The start of my Palawan adventure

It was on a whim (actually… only a one-month plan) that I decided to throw caution to the wind and have a long but deserving vacation. After all, my New Year’s resolution was to have an out-of-town trip AT LEAST once every month. Not necessarily an expensive one for as long as the trip is outside the outskirts of Cebu City. I was so deprived of this enjoyment last year, since I had to concentrate for the bar exams. (as for the bar...let's not talk about it yet, ok?). Ergo the reason for my resolution. So far I've been to Calbayog City this January (to visit my brother), Escalante City in February (with my motorbike club). So for March 2010, two wondrous and glorious weeks in Palawan!

I chose Palawan because I didn’t want to be reached with the upcoming bar exam results nearing. As for the other reasons, hhmmm... the first reason is enough already, right?

By the way, I am a budget traveler, a cheapskate – you might add. Meaning, when I travel, I look for ways and means to make my travel as less costly as possible. In fact, cost is more important to me than luxury or comfort. If that means sleeping in the municipal plaza because there are no more cheap places to stay in, then I’d do it. I’d have to check and see first if the plaza is safe for sleeping, of course. I might be a cheapskate but I am not THAT stupid (Btw: I haven't slept yet in a town plaza. Hehehe...).

You might ask, will the same traveling mode work for me? It depends. There are some people who like to travel simply for leisure while others do it for the adventure. I go for the latter part. Yes, it is very tiring but also very exciting because you do not have everything planned out. That means it leaves room for the unsuspecting and surprising parts which makes a trip worthwhile. In fact, my ideal and perfect job is to be a host of Lonely Planet (of Discovery Channel). The hosts go to places and locations not usually known either by foreign or local tourists or even by your local tour guide. That’s where you will truly see the beauty nature has to offer. Of course, if somebody offers to give me a luxury vacation, why not? I’d accept it because I am not paying for it. If I am to pay, then it will have to be my way (the cheapskate way, that is).

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, my plan was to be on my own for one week and then spend the next week with my sister who is based in Roxas, Palawan. So instead of flying direct from Cebu to Puerto Princesa, I planned the route to be from Cebu to Manila to Busuanga (that’s in northern Palawan), then El Nido, then Roxas, and then down to Puerto Princesa City, back to Manila and then final stop in Cebu. Whew! A total adventure indeed.

Was I scared in traveling alone? Of course not. If you are an avid traveler, you will know that there are actually a lot of foreigners who travel on their own. It’s just that we Filipinos usually prefer to travel in groups. Although it is fun for others, for me it seldom gives one a chance to totally explore a place on your own since others may not be as adventurous. Also, it deprives one the opportunity in meeting other people from other places, countries or nationalities. Believe me, I am not a friendly person (at first glance) but when I am in one of my adventure trips I tend to be because I am keen in meeting new friends, whether foreigners or locals.

Lest you be bored already, let me start in narrating what events happened during my two weeks of total Palawan adventure...