Certified Wonder: Puerto Princesa Underground River

No doubt, PPUR [Puerto Princesa Underground River] made it! Aside from online poll and the text votes, it is a glorious masterpiece of art - crafted none other by the Maker.

Getting to PPUR through a local travel agent is quite expensive. I was planning to do a budget trip as usual, but then, with my colleagues not so willing to, I just can't do that. Anyway, its paid for, so why the fuzz?

The first stop from the city is the Sabang Beach where guided ferries await tourists to be brought to the sub-terrain park. There are two ways to get to the caves and the river - either by boat or by trekking the forest where over hundreds of rare animal species could be found. I wanted to do the latter, but in my silly slippers and the risk of being bitten by a Philippine Cobra, damn, I'd better rock the boat.

Tourists take a relaxing time by the pure shores of Sabang beach.

Lovely and tropical. Thank you palms for the shade.

The wharf on a siesta. Ferries are at rest on the other side.

Wherever I am, my life is in my heart, thus I live the day.

We stopped by Sabang beach at about lunchtime, had lunch at Sheridan Resort and enjoyed the sun. The next sail was up at about 1.30pm. We had a 25-minute cruise to the caved river. The sea and the sight was marvelous! 

The Underground River is covered by Saint Paul mountain. The top of the this mountain looks like a man's face, whom the people believed to be the Lord's face. Of course, with a creation like this, He needs to copyright it.

Greens on the rocks.

To God be the glory.

Crashing waves making a great scene for the passing travelers.

The shores from afar.

Finally, we got to Underground River - one of the rarest natural rock formations in the face of the earth. Even my biggest heartache can not deny that there is a loving God embracing me at that very moment. All geared with a lifevest, a helmet and flashlight, our boat moved slowly to the caves. Ihave seen it all -  vegetables, saints, the Holy Family, the dinosaur and even Titanic.

An opening to the His Majesty's museum.

But then, I could not get enough. I have read that recently, a 20 million year old fossil was discovered on the walls of the cave. I guessed it won't be that far from the end-line of the paid journey. I was there and I needed to see it. Much to our group's demand, the guide paddled us to the wall where the sea lion was mounted. I clicked my shutter with gusto! Who would imagine what a built in flash and a little lighting from the flashlight can do?

Serendia. The 20 million year-old sea lion who witnessed mankind's rise and fall.

Setting foot on the shores to the river that makes the heart wild.

Boys will be boys. One of their scouting activities is visiting the PPUR. Ola, ninos!

No motorboats allowed. Their noise will disturb the fishes and the bats!

Bring me to life.

Everyone enjoys the vegetable basket and getting into the cathedral.

Its called the Titanic because this formation is like a ship's bottom slicing through the waters.

Those wonders that I have seen inside the cave will not be the same comes the time that Biscocho will visit the Underground River with his FIRST girlfriend 30 years from now for their FIRST 'monthsary' - yes, I mean 30 - walang tawad!  Some of the vegetables will grow into trees and some saints will be gone to heaven. There will be new figures to be formed and only God knows how beautiful they are going to be.

Hug me no tighter than this...yes, like this.

Hmmmnnn....Did I just feed you wild? Hehe

 The Puerto Princesa local government is highly commended for preserving such a natural wonder. Each of us has the capacity to preserve all the good things that we have. Just like the Underground River, everything is subject to change - but all simply put, if you take good care of the beautiful things that you have, you will spend your whole life wonderfully.

http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=New+7+Wonders+of+Nature%3a+Amazon+Rainforest%2c+South+America&cid=msn1211347&form=HPTRAV