Palawan, Philippines

We had an amazing time in Palawan.  It's hard to describe just how beautiful this place is.  Hopefully these pictures will give you some  idea.

Our first night in Palawan.  We were invited to the major's dinner party because Mary Ann's Cousin Ike plays for the band!  Very Cool!

Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island, measuring 450 kilometres (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometres (31 mi) wide.^[3][4]

View from the front of our room

This is the place to stay when in Palawan!

With family at the Crocodile Farm

Meet my six year old friend!

Entrance to seafront restaurant Badja

Purely by coincidence, we each had napkins that matched our shirts!  What are the odds?

Incredible food!

Scene from a Palawan market store

He was a bit shy!

They loved the camera!

They made those sling-shots themselves.

View of our boat #41.

Mary Ann being helped on the boat.

20 min boat ride to the Underground River.

Monkeys ?

30 seconds later...the first monkey I have ever seen in the wild!

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

Entrance to the Underground River.  The Underground River may be one of the official 7 natural wonders of the world soon!  Voting is going on right now.

Proof we got on the boat!

Very strange rock formations throughout the cave

On our way back out

Our Boat Man.  He rows this boat 8 hours a day!

Pictures don't do justice to the beauty of this place!

My beautiful Wife!

Future site of our vacation home.

We walked about 100 feet through water.  I almost slipped and fell had it not been for a 95 pound guide girl that saved me!

Star Fish were everywhere on Snake Island!

Water temp was about 80 degrees on Snake Island.

There are no snakes on Snake Island.  It gets its name for the shape of the shoreline.  Seen from above, the Island looks like a snake.

One of four different color Star Fish we saw that day.

Our Hut on the Island

Very peaceful place.

I hope you enjoyed these pictures of Palawan.