Day 11 - Puerto Princesa (Tuesday)

Port of the Princess. Port #2 in Philippines. What a world of difference between the two places. This is somewhere I could come back if I wanted to just find a beach house and sleep, tan, eat. #2 source of income for the town is tourism. #1 is seafood. And what amazingly delicious seafood it is! There's a "downtown", a term I use very lightly, a few minutes past the port but for anything you have to take a Jeepi (jeep taxi). The Jeepi's are everywhere.

Puerto Princesa is basically a water activity port. The front desk cautioned lots of people against registering for water activities due to certain physical requirements. Apparently it kind of backfired on them as there were notes on almost all doors reminding people of "plenty of shore excursions available". I'm doing the Honda Bay Island Hopping and Snorkeling (F303).

		A Jeepi, was told they were pretty cheap. Sits 2 passengers
Town was about to have a celebration
This was one of the most amazing demonstration of organized chaos. A lady would hang large signs with boat numbers, that boat comes in, quickly loaded people up, then vanishes	Now I see why the boat physically cautioned people	Gives you an idea how this is a not a wheelchair friendly activity

Important lesson learned doing water activities now on this trip - you have to rent water shoes and flippers if you're going snorkeling if you didn't bring your own. Masks are provided. Each runs $5/day. The water shoes are required as there is coral you'll step on/over. Flippers are optional.

Honda Bay is a collection of several small islands in the bay. It has higher than normal salt water which allows for warmer water, lush pearls, and amazing seafood.

This excursion is a three island hop where you get roughly 30 minutes beach time per spot. Once aboard you spend 25-30 minutes getting to the furthest island. First island was nice. Not too crowded, water in the low 90s (yes, water was that warm). Sadly though there were some storms the days before so water visibility was not the greatest and there was a lot of lose sea grass floating around.

Stop 2 was a total bust. An island sandbar. Why a bust? It's this tiny spot and everyone tries to visit though it can only fit 6 boats (and boats don't leave once they have a parking spot). Of the 30 minutes we were suppose to have we only had maybe 15. Many of us were quite frustrated considering it was another 20 minute ride from island 1 to here.

Stop 3 made up for the last one. Lunch is served here and it was fantastic! So delicious. Food is free but soda, smoothies cost a few dollars.


Once aboard again I see the pool is packed. Only time that happens is a sea day. That was my proof everyone stayed on the ship today. Fairly quiet night tonight since tomorrow is another port day.