World Cruise 2013: Day 61 - Puerto Princesa, Philippines

World Cruise 2013

March 7, 2013

Today the ship arrived at Puerto Princesa, Philippines at 7 AM. Puerto Princesa is a city located in the east-central Palawan, Philippines and is the capital of the island province of Palawan. Palawan’s with it long and irregular coastline is fringed with coral reefs. Its most famous landmark is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, also known as the Underground River and was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. While I was dressing to go to breakfast I heard music at the port. I looked out the window and saw the activity on the port. I quickly dressed and walked up one deck and took pictures of maybe 30 local people singing, dancing and playing instruments with signs welcoming us to Puerto Princesa. The ship had no idea that this was going to happen so it was not advertised.

I took a tour called “Puerto Princesa Highlights”. As we left the ship some local girls put a necklace around our neck. The first stop of the tour was at the Iwahig Prison & Penal Farm. A person told us about the prison and some of the prisoners danced and played for us. They also served us a coconut cut open to drink the coconut mild with a straw. As we left the prison we saw prisoners working in the rice fields. Our next stop was at the Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Center where we saw hundreds o Crocodiles of all sizes. We stropped to take pictures of the home of the Governor because it had a great view and we went to the Palawan Museum where we saw relics and artifacts of the cultural heritage of Palawan. Our next stop was at a WW II Memorial Museum. Or next stop was at Plaza Cuartel once the site of a place where American Soldiers died during WW II. Next to this stop was the Immaculate Conception Cathedral where I took some pictures. Our last stop was at a Souvenir shop.

We got back to the ship and at 4 PM more music came from the dock. A violin band of maybe 50 children from 1^st to 6^th grade were playing on the dock. They were really good. Later a small group of college age singers sang with some solos by some of the girls. They were also very good. Later some dancer performed for us. The ship left Puerto Princesa a little before 5 PM.

Below are some pictures taken from the ship and my tour.

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken from the ship of entertainment on the dock

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Iwahig Penal Colony

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Iwahig Penal Colony of prisoners working in a rice field

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Iwahig Penal Colony

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Iwahig Penal Colony of some guards

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Iwahig Penal Colony

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Iwahig Penal Colony where we had entertainment by the prisoners

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Iwahig Penal Colony

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Palawan Wildlife Rescue & Conservation Center

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at a photo stop from Baker's Hill

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at a photo stop from Baker's Hill of Mitra's Ranch house

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at a photo stop from Baker's Hill

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at a photo stop from Baker's Hill of Mitra's Ranch

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at a photo stop from Baker's Hill

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Palawan Museum

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the WW II Museum

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Plaza Central across the street from the Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Taken on my tour at the Plaza Central across the street from the Immaculate Conception Cathedral which was once the site of a Japanese garrison