Sabang is home of the famous Puerto Princesa
Subterranean River National Park. This sleepy municipality is a hustle
and bustle during day time when hoards of local and foreign tourists arrive to see the
underground river. Most however fail to realize that there is more to
Sabang than just the underground river. This is Sabang, before the tourist
arrives and when the
last one has left.
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| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f22, 1/20, Iso200 |
This sight greeted me after alighting from the bus that i took from Puerto Princesa (PP) City. The trip lasted for almost 4 hours considering the bus have to make countless of stops at every town and barangay that it passes. Fare is 200 pesos.
You can take the bus for Sabang at the PP San Jose New Market. First trip is around 5am and the last one leaves around 2pm. Just inform the tricycle driver that your heading for Sabang and he will bring you to that part of the terminal where the buses are parked.
Home for the next few days here is the Taraw Beach Resort. From among the low and mid cost resorts in Sabang, Taraw is highly recommended. I paid for 700 pesos a night for a non-air conditioned cottage. My accomodation in Taraw has been prepaid. There are no ATM machines in Sabang. Electricity is very limited and generator power runs only from 6pm to 10pm.
This is one of the sights in Sabang that most tourists fail to see, the day-break!
Early mornings in the beach front is characterized by calm and solitude, very opposite during daytime when hordes of tourist come and go.
The locals double as fishermen during early mornings, catching whatever fish is available in the deep waters nearby. During daytime, they become boatmen and assistants ferrying tourist to and from the underground river.
The early morning catch becomes their family's consumption. Any extra catch are sold. I brought a 50-peso fish which lasted me till lunch time. My meals were from a nearby carenderia just beside the terminal, serving lutong-bahay food. I pay an average of 50-70 pesos per meal.
Just before 8 am, the first few batches of tourist arrive. The most convenient way to visit the underground river is to book through a local tour agent in Puerto Princesa. They will arrange for everything - entrance fees and registration, transportation, meals and the actual transfer from the Sabang wharf to the entrance of the cave.
Take note. If you want to go to the underground river on your own, you have to pre-register at the Puerto Princesa Tourism office at least days before your actual trip. The tourism office is imposing a qouta to the number of visitors to the cave on a per day basis. Park fees is no more that 100 pesos while cave entrance fees is is no more than 200 pesos.
These are the motorized boats that ferries the tourists from the Sabang wharf to the underground river park. It's around 20-30 minutes ride, depending on the sea conditions. Upon arrival, you walk for 5 to 10 minutes to reach the jump-off point to the cave entrance. Tourist are group by 6 and take a smaller paddled banca for the actual cave tour. The bankero acts as the guide also. One of passengers will be ask to hold the flashlight.
One can walk to the under ground park entrance through the Jungle Trail from Sabang - my original plan. However, during the time i was there, it was temporarily off-limits due to undergoing repairs. By foot, it will be around 45-60 minutes depending on ones pace.
Tip : If you want to take snapshots inside the cave, be sure to have your external flashes ready. Volunteer to hold the flashlight or sit beside the person holding it.
If you want to have a serious photo-session inside the cave, you have to charter a paddled banca. Also don't expect to see those great stone formations and those shining and shimmering stones we see on the brochures. They can only be found beyond the 1.5 kilometers limit to ordinary visitors. Special permits and additional fees will be needed if you want to go beyond.
As it is, there are many interesting formations - the Virgin Mary, Jesus, the Holy Family puso (heart of banana), eggplant, mushroom, sayote, horse, dinosaur, sexy lady, cocao, sweet corn, candle, strip of bacon, a chamber 65 meters in height, the highway ( a long straight section, which is the turning back point of the basic tour) and several others.
You can take the bus for Sabang at the PP San Jose New Market. First trip is around 5am and the last one leaves around 2pm. Just inform the tricycle driver that your heading for Sabang and he will bring you to that part of the terminal where the buses are parked.
 |
| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f16, 1/125, Iso200 |
Home for the next few days here is the Taraw Beach Resort. From among the low and mid cost resorts in Sabang, Taraw is highly recommended. I paid for 700 pesos a night for a non-air conditioned cottage. My accomodation in Taraw has been prepaid. There are no ATM machines in Sabang. Electricity is very limited and generator power runs only from 6pm to 10pm.
 |
| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f11, 1/2, Iso400 |
Early mornings in the beach front is characterized by calm and solitude, very opposite during daytime when hordes of tourist come and go.
The locals double as fishermen during early mornings, catching whatever fish is available in the deep waters nearby. During daytime, they become boatmen and assistants ferrying tourist to and from the underground river.
 |
| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f8, 1/350, Iso200 |
Just before 8 am, the first few batches of tourist arrive. The most convenient way to visit the underground river is to book through a local tour agent in Puerto Princesa. They will arrange for everything - entrance fees and registration, transportation, meals and the actual transfer from the Sabang wharf to the entrance of the cave.
Take note. If you want to go to the underground river on your own, you have to pre-register at the Puerto Princesa Tourism office at least days before your actual trip. The tourism office is imposing a qouta to the number of visitors to the cave on a per day basis. Park fees is no more that 100 pesos while cave entrance fees is is no more than 200 pesos.
 |
| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f11, 1/20, Iso100 |
These are the motorized boats that ferries the tourists from the Sabang wharf to the underground river park. It's around 20-30 minutes ride, depending on the sea conditions. Upon arrival, you walk for 5 to 10 minutes to reach the jump-off point to the cave entrance. Tourist are group by 6 and take a smaller paddled banca for the actual cave tour. The bankero acts as the guide also. One of passengers will be ask to hold the flashlight.
One can walk to the under ground park entrance through the Jungle Trail from Sabang - my original plan. However, during the time i was there, it was temporarily off-limits due to undergoing repairs. By foot, it will be around 45-60 minutes depending on ones pace.
 |
| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f11, 1/30, Iso100 |
Tip : If you want to take snapshots inside the cave, be sure to have your external flashes ready. Volunteer to hold the flashlight or sit beside the person holding it.
If you want to have a serious photo-session inside the cave, you have to charter a paddled banca. Also don't expect to see those great stone formations and those shining and shimmering stones we see on the brochures. They can only be found beyond the 1.5 kilometers limit to ordinary visitors. Special permits and additional fees will be needed if you want to go beyond.
As it is, there are many interesting formations - the Virgin Mary, Jesus, the Holy Family puso (heart of banana), eggplant, mushroom, sayote, horse, dinosaur, sexy lady, cocao, sweet corn, candle, strip of bacon, a chamber 65 meters in height, the highway ( a long straight section, which is the turning back point of the basic tour) and several others.
 |
| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f11, 1/30, Iso200 |
Sabang becomes still again towards the end of the day, when the last of the tourist on board their chartered vans has left. It's the perfect time to stroll along the beach front and explore whatever looks interesting.
The newly-wed above asked me if i can take pictures of them. A few shots become lots for they gamely posed for me. They got to keep all of the images, of course, but I specifically asked for this one image for later posting.
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| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f8, 1/15, Iso400 |
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| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f8, 1/45, Iso100 |
Only a few who come to Sabang have the chance to see the Mangrove Forest.
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| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f8, 1/90, Iso100 |
'Lady
Mangrove', became my guide when I went to check the place which I
found out to be as equally fascinating as the underground river. I got
valuable insights from her on
how important the mangrove forest is to the eco-system. She even taught
me how to identify the male and female specie of the mangrove
tree!
 |
| Canon 400D, EF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, f11, 1/60, Iso200 |
A new resort was being rushed to completion during my visit. It is huge and modern compared to the other resorts around. I hope the local government has already considered its effects, positive or negative, to the eco-system Lady Mangrove has been referring to.
leave your questions regarding this post and I will reply the soonest possible
- alr
3 comments:
Superb shot...really good the way it draws the eye to the distance! can you give me some info on how to go those place? thnks
Nice lanscape image.
This is a nice island to visit, although I havent been there in years. please post some guide on how to get there, thnks
anonymous1-2 : if you want comfort, you take the van from the city. otherwise, you take the bus from the terminal
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