Palawan, PH

I’m in love with this area. It’s a beautiful Province made up of over 1,000 islands all focused on the sustainability of nature. Breath taking. 2.5 jam packed days here; because why not! Lots of planning and research paid off. I never want to leave. So many unique animals that only exist here. Many still being discovered. And the systems to sustain and preserve its beauty and nature should be duplicated as an example for the world. I will be back. Again and again. So much more to explore in Palawan. I only had time to explore one area, Puerto Princessa. And I could have explored just this one area for weeks. Many more towns and 1,000 islands screaming my name! I am amazed.

Highlights of day 1:
Upon arrival the airline gave us all umbrellas as we left the plane to keep the sun’s rays from warming us as we deplaned. Never seen that before; even for rain.

We somehow arrived with the governor of Luzon as PP is being recognized internationally as it is fully carbon neutral and port ready for cruise ships and tourism.
It also has two recognized natural wonders and Unesco designations and it’s a feast for your eyes and senses.

(https://beta.tourism.gov.ph/news_and_updates/pa…)

Not sure why, but we were mistaken as part of the celebrants and ushered in, adorned with local necklaces and made a part of the celebration. Way to kick off our first day! Wow.

Off to the hotel for a quick change into water clothes for the first activity. Firefly and star watching. Amazing boat ride to a mangrove area where the stars blanket the sky with the brightest star being the planet Venus, which is visible to the naked eye. What?! Venus, the planet?! Not the razor in my shower?! The fireflies (actually beetles) were hard to capture on film as my camera quality failed me. But imagine millions more (like a tree adorned with millions of twinkling lights). The male fire flies each have a unique flash or blink. And they mate the last 3 months of their life. What you witness is the boys showing off the individual and their unique pattern. If one catches the eye of a female, the female replicates her chosen male’s blink pattern and a couple is made. Not swipe left- but blink left. lol.

A lovely chef cooked on our boat while we were looking at the sparkles, and we had a feast on water.

The last picture was not part of dinner but once off the boat we were greeted by a night market at the dock area. The eggs are the famous Balut, a delicacy in PH. It’s a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled in its own broth and high in protein. I was too “full” from dinner to try one. Perhaps another day. Or perhaps not at all.

PS- the animal is the PP symbol and an animal unique to Palawan. It is a Palawan peacock pheasant.Baca lagi