The Baywalk: Last Stop of Puerto Princesa Tour

    We paid only Php1,500 (for the van with driver) for a half day tour of Puerto Princesa. Since our group had around 10 members, it only cost Php150 per person. The tour was already inclusive of the ffg places:

1. Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village

2. Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm

3. Crocodile  Farm & Nature Park

4. Mitra's Ranch

5. Baker's Hill

6. Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral

7. Plaza Cuartel

8. The Baywalk

The Baywalk

The Baywalk in Puerto Princesa is somewhat a cross between the Burnham Park in Baguio and the Baywalk in Roxas Boulevard facing Manila Bay. Like the Burnham Park, there are lots of bicycles and pedicabs for rent, and people are allowed to tour around the place using these bikes. And just similar to the Baywalk in Manila Park, both consist of a seaside promenade overlooking a bay.

    We had fun biking but I guess it can also be annoying to people walking and having activities of their own as they also have to watch out for pedicabs approaching.

    I was not able to catch a picture of the sunset but this is really a nice spot for viewing it, and enjoying the cool sea breeze.

     There is quite a number of food stalls and semi-restaurants in the place including those which offer crocodile meat sisig.

   Here is a picture of our group while waiting for our orders to be served. The place is really well lit during the evening.

Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral & Plaza Cuartel: 6th & 7th Stop of Puerto Princesa Tour

     We paid only Php1,500 (for the van with driver) for a half day tour of Puerto Princesa. Since our group had around 10 members, it only cost Php150 per person. The tour was already inclusive of the ffg places:

1. Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village

2. Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm

3. Crocodile  Farm & Nature Park

4. Mitra's Ranch

5. Baker's Hill

6. Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral

7. Plaza Cuartel

8. The Baywalk

Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral

   Our 6th stop for the day was the Cathedral. Actually, there are quite a number of cathedrals in the Philippines named in honor of the Immaculate Concepcion and one of these is this angular-structured church in Barangay Liwanag, Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City.  

   In 1872, a Spanish expedition proclaimed the Immaculate Conception of Mary as the patroness of Puerto Princesa; and this previously small church celebrated its first mass in the same year, before it was developed into a cathedral in 1961.

     When we arrived, there were petals strewn on the floor, a sign that a wedding ceremony had just concluded.

A "Stop Abortion" sign, and a  life-sized tablet of the 10 commandments

The Plaza Cuartel

     Just on the right side of the cathedral is a historical site, the Plaza Cuartel. Inside the plaza is the memorial marker for the 143 American prisoners of war. The marker serves as "a grim reminder of the realities of war as a price for freedom and the burning to death of 143 American prisoners of war by their Japanese Imperial Army Kempie-tai captors inside the tunnel on this site on the fateful evening of December 15, 1944."

These are the walls and the gate towards the barracks

    As stated below, a few escaped by swimming all thru the way to Iwahig, on the other side of the bay.

     Admittedly, when we first arrived, I didn't have an inkling on the story behind the Plaza Cuartel. So the small statue on top of the marker sort of creeps me out especially since it is the first thing that catches your attention, it being on top. Only after reading the words did it become meaningful, and it was really effective in the sense that the image stuck in my mind for a long time.

      Despite its grim reminder of World War II, Plaza Cuartel is also a park where lovers can date, friends can hold meetings, or just chill and stroll along.

Baker's Hill : 5th stop of Puerto Princesa Tour '2014

     We paid only Php1,500 (for the van with driver) for a half day tour of Puerto Princesa. Since our group had around 10 members, it only cost Php150 per person. The tour was already inclusive of the ffg places:

1. Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village
2. Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm
3. Crocodile  Farm & Nature Park
4. Mitra's Ranch
5. Baker's Hill
6. Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral
7. Plaza Cuartel
8. The Baywalk

      The Baker's Hill is one of my favorite tourist places in Puerto Princesa principally because of the many picturesque spots found within its park. The delicacies sold in the bakeshop are also widely known, and tourists usually go by this place to purchase pasalubong for their relatives and friends.

 

     They say that this is the owner's house but I'm not really sure if this is actually their residential house or a vacation house, or if this is just intermittently used in the course of managing their business.

  Baker's Hill started as a bakeshop but the owners eventually constructed a theme park and now, they're gradually expanding their aviary.

I love the pattern of the petals as they floated on water. Really nice!

   There are many gardening designs and stylish landscapes that horticulturists, garden landscapers and designers can get ideas from.

Here is the  bigger-than-life-sized LOVE word! For those who are too shy to express it, just drag any dense guy/girl here, and if he/she still couldn't get it, i don't know what will. On 2nd thought, you can always say it to his/her face, with this spot providing the romantic ambience.

Disney's Shrek, Princess Fiona, and their triplets

Of Dinosaurs and Aztecs(?) stone culture

       The highlight of the aviary is the peacock,  of  course.  They also have other species of birds such as the Philippine owl, golden pheasant, etc.

     We really enjoyed touring the place and after all those poses for our "photo session", we ended up buying refreshments and some snacks from a number of stalls. For those who have more time and budget, there is also a restaurant in the place.

Mitra's Ranch : 4th Stop of Puerto Princesa Tour '2014

We paid only Php1,500 (for the van with driver) for a half day tour of Puerto Princesa. Since our group had around 10 members, it only cost Php150 per person. The tour was already inclusive of the ffg places:
 
1. Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village
2. Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm
3. Crocodile  Farm & Nature Park
4. Mitra's Ranch
5. Baker's Hill
6. Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral
7. Plaza Cuartel
8. The Baywalk

Mitra's Ranch

    Our 4th stop is the Rancho Sta. Monica, more commonly known as Mitra's Ranch.The late Senator Ramon "Monching" Villarosa Mitra, Jr previously owned this place, but is currently managed by his son Abraham Kahlil Mitra, who is the current governor of Palawan.

    Basically, no entrance fees are being collected just for visiting the ranch. However, if you want to go inside the "Mitra House", a fee will be asked from you, presumably for maintenance purposes.

     Aside from the porcelain collections, there are also many pictures of the late Ramon Mitra, Jr. showing his various dealings connected with his lengthy political career, as well as with his family and relatives.

    Aside from the breathtaking view of the city, the place also offers horseback riding and ziplining.