2 - Palawan: Puerto Princesa, Sabang

We arrive at Puerto Princesa, Palawan's "capital", a noisy town full of (tricycle) traffic. 

It is Easter week, Philippines' peak holiday season, and we are surrounded by local tourists. As soon as we leave the 

plane, hundred flashes are flashing: they are all taking the first photo of the holiday, right there with the plane.

In the evening we take a look around. There is some celebration of the local journalism school, it's full of alumni 

wearing t-shirts marked with their graduation year. And there is Pangalipay sa Baybay, the summer festival:

at the Baywalk, a large seaside square, crews of young amateur dancers perform on a stage. 

We had planned a boat trip to Honda Bay islands, but... it rains! Who would have imagined? It's supposed to be the

dry season! 

But we will find out that the term is rather elastic.

So we walk under the rain, explore the local shopping mall and get lost looking for a restaurant in the mangrove

recommended by our guidebook.

The day after we leave to Sabang. The jeepney is full and we set on the first of many roof bus trips to come.

Obviously we are not interested in the "air-con minivan for rich tourists".

Sabang big attraction is the Subterranean River, but it is also popular with Filipinos and "officially" the visit is fully

booked for the whole month. It looks like there is an unofficial trick to get in, but we decide we can do without.

So we just walk along the deserted beach and in the jungle, swim in the warm water, relax and shower with rain.

relax at the very welcoming Dallas Inn

(link)

looking for a restaurant on stilts,

we find a fishing village

the first "bangkas",

the local outrigger boats

we leave to Sabang, but the jeepney 

is full: first trip on the roof!

tamilok is a local delicacy: a... hem... 

woodworm leaving in (rotting) mangroves.

It is eaten raw, marinated in vinegar.

"They said" it tasted like oysters.

We definitively had to try it...