What - four years of blipping? I don’t believe it!

I thought it was three years, then realised it was four - where does the time go? Many thanks to all those behind the scenes that keep this fabulous site going, and to all my fellow blippers who pop in with comments, stars and hearts even when I’m not responding. 

Of course, this is a day on our ‘adventure’, so here’s the journal entry that goes with it! 
It’s our first port in the Philippines, and the rain is torrential. This is Puerto Princesa - the greenest city in the Philippines and ‘A city Paradise’ according to the local government who claim ‘While Puerto Princesa is a culturally rich, lively and diverse community, there is respect for individual worth, tolerance of differences between people and collective responsibility for common goals. People have high regard for the environment and recognize the consequences of previous environmental neglect and lack of respect for natural resources.’ 

Some tours are cancelled due to the weather, but we’re off to the underground river where the weather is less relevant. The Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Sven new wonders of the natural world. How could we miss an opportunity to experience this? 
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/652

First, there’s a two hour mini bus journey across the island - at times very bumpy and winding - to arrive at the beach from where we’ll cross to the underground river. The area is full of tourists - mostly wearing plastic ponchos like we are - all either waiting for boats to take them across or returning from their adventure. I must admit we’re very grateful to have our guide Jeorgio to sort things out for us! 

The boats are wonderful. All wooden outriggers, the structures constructed of wood and bamboo, all secured by hand tied rope and providing additional stability. All boats are brightly coloured and in the case of these, sport coloured strings of flags as well. 

We wait for our designated boat, then the six of us climb down the rickety steps to be helped onto the boat, don our life jackets snd sit down. The first challenge is to get out over the oncoming waves - much easier than I’d feared. Then there’s the swell which causes considerable movement and really tests the outriggers! There’s a lot of movement from side to side as well as up and down, but I soon get used to it and focus on taking photographs of the stunning scenery - high karst mountains laced with bands of low cloud, palm tree lined beaches edged with surf, and the ever-present outriggers carrying people back and forth. 

We get to the beach area close to the caves - the boat is held in the surf by several young men while we’re helped down the very dodgy wooden steps into knee- high water and wade onto the beach. Here we warned of the danger of monkeys once again, and sure enough, they’re all around, often fighting amongst themselves. A few babies play in the trees providing great photo opportunities. An odd monitor lizard or two wander around, largely unbothered by all these humans. 

We follow Jeorgio to collect our compulsory hard hats, then to the launch area for the caves, just opposite the entrance. Again, we’re in the middle of limestone karst scenery with lush vegetation all around. The water at the cave entrance is deep green rather than the blue it would be had it been a sunny day, but it’s still beautiful. 

We carefully board the canoe that will take us into the cave  - no outriggers here as there is no need.  We have earpieces for a recorded commentary - we’re told not to talk as silence needs to be maintained within the caves. For the sane reason, all boats are paddled by the ‘driver’ who has a head torch which will provide the only light with the caves. Clearly there are strict rules to try to keep the environment as pristine as possible.  

The journey along the underground river is fascinating. These are not the biggest caves we’ve ever seen in terms of height, and neither are the rock formations as spectacular as some we’ve experienced, but this is the first time we’ve travelled along an underground river - well 1.5kms of it as most of it is out of bounds to the public. 

We’re directed to named rock formations - The Holy Family, The Last Supper, mushrooms, sweetcorn - quite literally from the sublime to the ridiculous. I find photography a little frustrating as we’re in the back - and of course, we’re limited to whatever the driver’s head torch lights up. And even then, it’s pretty dark of course. I love the reflections of the rocks in the water, and find other boats travelling in the opposite direction provide a great sense of perspective. Of course, the caves are  full of bats - about eight varieties - and we can just about hear their sonic squeaks as they fly around above our heads. Many are sleeping, attached to the ceiling above us - the rule is not to open your mouth as you look up! 

We complete our circular tour and reemerge into daylight ready to undertake the whole process in reverse.   

Back on dry land, it’s time for lunch, taken in a small local resort which is absolutely delightful. All the staff are so welcoming - every Philippino  we’ve met  has been the same - the setting’s beautiful and the buffet meal appetising. Breakfast seems a long way away, so we’re all ready to eat!

Then it’s the two hour drive back across the island, past lush mountains, paddy fields and ramshackle little roadside houses we’re told belong to the ‘indigenous’ people.  It’s been a long and tiring day, but well worth it. 


I just couldn’t resist the expression of the monkey here, but there’s a shot from the underground river in extras, and I hope to include a collage once I find another extra from somewhere!