Sigabuy Island

WHAT TO DO IN TIBANBAN

TIBANBAN. You might not have heard Tibanban in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental.

Well, this place is so candid for ordinary local inhabitants, occasionally fishermen and copra product dependents, but there is so much things to discover, and lots to do... there is an undiscovered islet that may be developed and become a tourist destination/attraction later on once attention is given to this beautifully crafted god's nature masterpiece. (i dreamed of becoming part of the locals to impart vision and plan of development, if i have lots of money to do such)

The Sigabuy Island, a triangular shaped island, white sand beach, breathtaking scenery, pristine blue waters, big rocks on the other side of the beach.

If you want to relax, enjoy solitude you will surely enjoy this place. if you want a little bit adventure (but not too haggard to the hell) you can climb to the top of the island where you will pass through a virgin forest, very steep landscape, a very exhilarating experience to reach to the top and have a picture taking along the way towards to a light station. a light station manned and maintained by philippine coast guard personnel assigned in tibanban.

You will never regret once you see this little, steep triangular formed islet, beautifully crafted and one of god's great masterpieces. the Tibanban's Sigabuy Island.

Just to have shared this pics to appreciate...

Hope you see this island too...

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Underground River Challenge

Are you claustrophobic? Then the challenge is yours...!

Commonly known as the Underground river or Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, branded as one of the world's seven wonders of nature, a Unesco world heritage site, and worlds center for biodiversity...  An 8.2 kilometers navigable river and is said to be the worlds largest underground river. Accordingly, the journey through the cave system alone is 24 kilometers  (there are areas which are undescovered) and you would probably go out to western sea board or south china sea. 

But before getting there, you must first go to city coliseum, and head to puerto princessa subterranean river booking office, 

... There you can have your registration permit amounting P175.00 each for 1.5 kilometer tour and 1000+++ special permit for longer underground tour depending on your choice, you can get also souvineer id card for 20.00.

Remember, heading directly to brgay sabang without getting permit from city coliseum would delay your travel for 1 day especially during its season.

After getting your tour permit, then you'll travel by land from puerto princessa city to brgy sabang for 2 to 3 hours ride by land. 

Ooops, you might be hungry for sure, there are buffet restaurants around to satisfy your delicate tummy... To give you one Gusto Grill and Resto

@P 200.00 each for all you can eat discount is also given if you have astounding charisma... 

And try their tamiluk... For 100.00 per servings... Yummy, Taste like seaweed!

After your lunch, proceed to their ticketing counter and pay for environmental fee of P 40.00. Then they will assist you to passenger bangka maximum of 8 person on board for P 700.00 (anyway the philippine coast guard is there ready to assist you) that will take you to the calm, clean river, the entrance of the cave.

Before you enter the cave hiding in tropical rain forest, savor first the view of vast white sand, pristine blue waters curled in green mountains and rock formations... 

At least for once our life, we've been here...

One of the world's best.

See you again on the next dock 'n ride...

City of the Living God, the Puerto Princesa City Experience

Puerto Princesa City.

With much excitement a midst deployment to an uncertain working millieu and without thinking for the next areas of concerns, at hand is discovering new place, culture and tastes here in the place known for the country's natural wonder, the Underground River Natinal Park in Palawan. I have much said on this in my earlier posts...

Geographically, Puerto Princesa is the country's second largest city next to Davao. a popular tourist destination for its beaches, resorts, and seafood restaurants, and has been acclaimed several times as the country's greenest and cleanest city. Did you know that historically, Puerto Princesa was named after Princess Asuncion? Trivia... She was born in 1864 to Queen Elizabeth II and her consort Francisco de Cadiz. when the princess suffered an untimely death, the Queen changed the name to Puerto dela Princesa, and eventually the name was reduced to Puerto Princesa as it is known today (source: wikipedia). 

Mark by thriving economy, puerto princesa city becomes the center of trade and commerce even fortified after the declaration of underground river as one of worlds new seven natural wonders. In fact, malls and other establishments are on the rise...

Robinson's Place Palawan

NCCC Mall 

And SM City Puerto Princesa is coming its way... 

Dining Experience

To give you some must try and what's not...

Balinsasayaw Grilled Chicken and Resto... They offer chicken inasal for P75.00 unli rice...

Buko ube icecream for P80.00... I thought its like nickerbucker popular desert in zamboanga, a notch higher compared to this one...

Ka inato Restaurant

Highly recommended... Foods are nice 

Top their menu is kare-kare, insaladang talong, pork barbeque... Must try.

Noel Plaza Bulalo... Wow, coincidentally, "tukayo", I love yummy "bulalo" especially if its unli soup, plus sili and calamansi and patis wow! But this bulalo house is worst... Far from what I thought, no chili, no drinks, and above all to refilable soup (unless for an additional charge) contrary to what we commonly experienced in any bulalo house in the country...  Well, i may be harsh but, its a fact... We are their costumer during our visit and no wonder...!

Their bulalo for P120.00 with one cup rice (pricey)...

Thriving Night life... 

One of popular destinations, tiki bar, why tiki? That you should visit. 

E republic is nice, just a block away from tiki... I have not discovered more of it since we had a brief stay... But a lot more to unwind...

Ukay ukay shopping. 

Walking along streets. As earlier said, this city is known for cleanest and greenest city, and i agree. You would be intimidated to throw your garbage, put it in your pocket instead... 

Littering is prohibited...

The immaculate conception cathedral.

The provincial capitol

That for now... See you in the next dock n ride...

Iloilo Food Hops and Beyond

Iloilo?

One would say, its just like an ordinary city you can do the same thing as in the other cities. And I agree, its like a portion of busy down town manila where flood, traffic, crowded among others which are dramatically upswing in all areas, however this place offers great experiences to cherish...

So come and let's take a little peep on foods this place has to offer not to mention the cultural wonders, impressive churches, soft spoken dialects and nature trekking experience.

Here's Nuggets, a micro mini pinscher who joins me and had 7 rounds run at the park in front of city hall.  

  So to start, foodie trips:

It is the birthplace of la paz bachoy. So if you are in Iloilo city it is an opportune time for you to try their bachoy's various flavors by resto hopping in deco's, teds and la paz.

The most tasty batchoy I have tasted here is at La Pas in public market, had enjoyed their refillable soup. Next is in the Deco's right beside the SM in delgado. The Teds of course will never be behind for its tasty combi of "batchoy" and "poto".

Our dinning experience.

Again, Iloilo cuisine is one of the best in the region and I have personally tried and tasted together with my boss and the rest of comrades, the highly recommended resto by locals for its tourists. To wrap it up here's the list in sequence with respect to its tastes.

Top of the list, Samurai Talabahan and Seafood Resto in Benigno Aquino Ave, Manduriao, Iloilo City, a walking distance from SM City Iloilo. We've dine here for several times and obviously we'd like their menu choices, a pocket friendly yet the taste is great. The buttered oyster is nice, seafood is awesome fresh and tasty that you shouldn't miss when you visit this place.

Next stop, food trip at Breakthrough Restaurant in Santo Nino Sur, Villa Arevalo District. It is said to be the the undisputed king of seafood restaurant in the western visayas. Obviously, it is one of the best but its pricey... even the country's president already dined here during his visit. Boneless Bangus in a platter and baked talaba top their...

Steamed talaba P 80.00 per serving good for 3-4 persons. Baked Oyster also P 120.00 good for 3-4 persons (must try)  

Thanks to CGDWV's head for the assistance and the welcome dinner with their Operations Officer Lcdr Librilla (my former boss in 001) for making our dinner to this resto possible... Though the weather is unpleasant during those moments, it has not hinder them from taking us there.

Dont miss Tatoy's manukan and seafood restaurant a decade old resto along Villa Arevalo District, Iloilo City. Dining here would be incomplete without trying their own signature dish, a golden fried native "pinikpikan manok" wow! nice... .matigas nga lang...

A spacious area for family dine out. Lots of choices in store to try and discover for family bonding.

 

Next in the list is Buto't Balat Restaurant in Benidicto St, Jaro, Iloilo City. It is just right beside of Plazuela. Cozy ambiance 

As you can see, lot of menu in store awaits for delicate taste bud, but price is unfriendly to ordinary namamangka, anyway, it's nice a try. 
  

Ilongo dishes are really rich and flavorful that one can't wait from coming back.

Pasalubong

There are several recomended pasalubong stores here, like Biscocho hause, deco's pasalubong, galletas etc.

Hang Out Spots

Plazuela, its ilongo version of la piatsa in mc kenley hill. Its one of hang out parks here where you can dine, drink, listen to acoustic bands and the likes.

I love this place and looking for discovering this place even more in the coming years. 

Next stop, Palawan and its vicinities...