Palawan with a Kid: The Casa Linda Experience

Casa Linda Inn is one of the coziest and probably the most affordable inns in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. We were so happy we picked this place over the other "commercial" hotels. In the two nights that we stayed there, we kept saying "It's a good thing we chose this place", "Yeah, it's so sulit" and so on and so forth. The accomodation is definitely one of the main reasons why we really loved our trip.

We wanted to book a hostel/inn because who wants to stay in a typical hotel when you're in Palawan? My top considerations when choosing a place to stay are as follows: the room should have a veranda for drinking and smoking (so that when the kid's asleep we can have our date), it should be close to the heart of the city, it should be squeaky clean, it should serve good food. And voila! Casa Linda has it all plus really friendly staff that would greet you with warm smiles no matter what time of the day.

The casa only has very few rooms (I think fifteen?) and some would stay there for weeks and months, mostly foreigners doing projects/ missions.  It's just a 10-minute ride from the airport and it's just a few steps away (no exaggeration here. It really is just steps away) from the best restaurants of Puerto Princesa like Kinabuch's and Ka Lui.

The entrance

The moment you step inside the door, you can take off your shoes and walk barefoot.

The lobby

We arrived around 7am and after paying at the counter, the staff ushered us to our room. I was pleased by what I saw- the garden, the wooden floors and Sput's silly dancing in the bamboo hallway. We passed by their little cafe and saw a blonde girl inside the kitchen, putting her groceries in the fridge. When we asked the staff if they have a foreigner chef, she said no and explained that guests are allowed to cook in the kitchen for a minimum charge and the fridge is free for everyone to use.

Casa Linda cafe

The cafe has a good menu. We only tried their breakfast which we ate at the gazebo. So delish. We felt so English with our special breads and sausages.

The garden with a gazebo 

On our second night, we wanted to have our date so we bought beer at the nearby convenience store (again, just a few steps away), and put the cans in the communal fridge. We waited and waited for Sput to sleep but she seemed to be enjoying the place so much she can't sleep. She told me " Mommy, I'm alright. You have a date with Daddy". I was so touched by her sweetness. So Hugo and I had our date at the gazebo (no one else was there, it's so silent at night) while we continue to check on her until finally, she joined us. Well...that's life...with a kid.

The pathway towards the room from the gazebo

Lovin' the sawali walls plus the cozy lamp and good airconditioning. Perfect combo for snuggling.

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PRICE: P900 for a queen-sized bed for three

WHY WE LOVE IT: Cozy, close to the airport, very close to Kinabuch's and Ka Lui, affordable.

WHY WE HATE IT: We don't. 

WIFI: Signal's only in the lobby

KID-FRIENDLINESS: 5/5

CLEANLINESS: 4/5

STAFF: 5/5

OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5

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CONTACT NUMBER: 048-433-2606

WEBSITE: Casalindainnpalawan

ADDRESS:  Trinidad Road Corner Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City (beside Kinabuch's)

Palawan with a Kid: Puerto Princesa Underground River

Row,row,row your boat gently down the river, slowly, slowly, slowly please or it will capsize. Boy do I make lame versions of Nursery Rhymes.

But that's pretty much how it was like for an edgy mom to be exploring the Underground River with a hyper 4-year-old tot. That's because one slight movement in the boat and you'll be rocking it. From the dock to the cave, I was an annoying mom, well...more annoying than usual: " Sput, sit down! Please!", "Sput, don't lean!", "Sput, don't keep moving!" while Hugo was just being his usual self, taking pictures and stuff. Geez, what a cool mom, eh? Sure, we had life jackets and hard hats but it's just that I don't want to get wet especially because the water is brown and I did not bring extra clothes. 

When we were finally inside the cave, I was amazed by its grandness (and maybe paranoid with other things like the darkness and bat poo) that I forgot about my fear of the boat capsizing. There was a section in the cave that looks like it's straight out from a National Geographic magazine. I'm not exaggerating. I had to blink a few times because it looked like a 3D rock with the milky way as the backdrop. It took my breath away even though I'm not really into rocks. 

Sput didn't enjoy it as much as I expected, though. I expected she's get a Dora kind of high. She was more concerned of finding spiders inside the cave instead of finding rock formations. What she found entertaining were the silly monkeys we met on our way back to the beach. She also enjoyed playing with new-found-friends at Sabang Beach. So my tip is, don't be like me. Don't be too paranoid while you're exploring the Palawan Underground River because, trust me, the boat won't capsize. If you're thinking of leaving the kids at home and just enjoy Palawan with the hubs, you will regret it because Puerto Prinsesa is one of the kid-friendliest cities in the Philippines. Sure, the Underground River experience might make you nervous but that's just one of the many things to do in Palawan. And if you learn to control your paranoia, then trip would score ten out of ten.

Puerto Princesa Underground River Summary and Tips:

HOW TO GET THERE:

BUDGET:

TIPS:

* Don't go near monkeys. They will bite you.

* Apply Mosquito Repellent every two hours. Let your kids wear those repellent stickers. Palawan is a paradise but it is known for Malaria. Make sure you're protected. 

*Go DIY so you can have your own schedule and pick the resto you want. Details below.

* Let your kids play with the beach kids. That's the kind of experience that will make them grow and it's free.

* Bring a shawl. The sun could get really intense by noontime so make sure your skin is protected. There are batik sarongs sold at P150 in Sabang bu t if you'd rather use that money on something else- like a fresh buko shake- then you know what to do.

*Set one whole day for this. Don't try to squeeze in so many activities in your trip or else you would not enjoy Palawan as much. We left for the Underground River bright and early and we got home to our hostel just before sunset. 

Happy Birthday, Baby Pig!

Hi Sput! You just turned five yesterday but boy, it was a week-long celebration. Earlier this year, I decided that instead of celebrating your birthday with cakes and balloons like the usual, we'll just travel somewhere because it's about time you start exploring. That would be more memorable for all of us than having a party, I thought. But when it was just weeks before your birthday, I changed my mind. I CANNOT not give you a Peppa Pig cake! I just cannot. You adore Peppa with her oink-oinks and British accent and I know how much it means to blow a birthday candle in front of the class. So... we had a small-ish classroom party with cakes and balloons AND a quick trip to Palawan.

You were a handful during the trip, throwing tantrums because you hate walking and you hate the heat and you just want to go back to Room # 11... and 100 other reasons. which made mom snap a lot but I know you get me.  The best moment was when we were in room # 11 with you,waiting for you to fall asleep so we can have beer in the gazebo and you told Daddy Pig "I'll sleep on my own, Daddy, so you and mom can have your date." I almost cried. That's the kind of girl I want you to be.

Anyway, here are our pictures. Say "Palawan!"

Silly pigs!

Bearcat, that tickles.

Jammin' with the Palaw'an Tribe.

Underground River

With your new-found "beach friends." One has no front teeth so you didn't wanna go near her  at first coz eww, she doesn't brush. You played luksong tinik,taguan,kingkingbila and drew on the sand.

goofing around with Daddy pig while waiting for our boat.

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Me: You're turning five. Yey!

Marion: I don't want to be five. I want to be four forever.

Me: Why?

Marion: I don't want to be old. I don't want you to be old.

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So cute! But Sput, you're my baby always and forever and ever. And we're young as long as we keep doing things that make us feel young. like this trip and laughing and tickling and hugging in the bath (oops, thats our secret) and drawing and dancing and just being silly. Let's be silly forever. 

XOXO,

Mommy Pig

Pinto Gallery with a Kid: Why the whole family loved it.

Exploring Tanay with a Kid: Why it's Waaaaay Better Than Malling

We just got back from our quick trip to Tanay, Rizal and once again I was reminded that we don't have to spend a lot in order to have fun. 

Sput's first spelunking adventure- Calinawan Cave, Tanay, Rizal

We explored a cave, had lunch beside a waterfall, climbed up a grotto, and went to Laguna Lake to witness fishermen unload their catch. And how much did we spend? A teeny-weeny super-meager amount of P 850! I'm notalayer. That's cheaper than a Pizza Hut meal for four...or a pair of Forever 21 shorts...or hey, that's cheaper than a regular trip to the mall!

Let's compare.

Trip to the Mall with a kid:

Fare/Gas- P300

Food- P 500

Movie/Timezone/Play Station tickets- P 300

TOTAL: P 1,100

Trip to Tanay with a kid:

FX Fare- P 250

Tricycle Fare (Package which includes all the destinations)- P350

Food- P100 (just bring a canned Tuna and rice)

Cave guide fees- P100 (or any amount you're willing to donate)

Daranak falls entrance- P55 

TOTAL: P 855

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Is a trip to Tanay sulit or whut?! To make it more obvious, let's compare the "value" of these two.

What do you get from a mall trip? 

Sore feet, entertainment, maybe a full stomach, some things (important or not), more credit card debt, maybe some happiness.

What do you get from a spelunking/hiking/camping adventure?

Sore feet, realizing that you are very small and the world is so big, realizing that material things do not matter a lot, good memories, knowledge. For kids: Seeing, smelling, touching real flowers, trees, fishes, rocks. 

What does a trip to the mall teach your child? 

Hmmm...that it's nice to have things, basically. If you're a good parent, the best lesson you can teach them from a trip to the mall is the difference between wants from needs, the importance of hard work (so they can buy the stuff they want). 

What does a spelunking/hiking/camping adventure teach your child?

OMG. 1001 things- life rules like exploring without being reckless to science stuff like why fishes jump and squirm when they're out of the water.

Who gets a little richer every time you visit a mall?

The Sys and the Ayalas and the advertisers and the big brands. 

Who gets a little richer everytime you have a nature trip?

The locals- tricycle drivers, tour guides, small stores, carenderias. And YOU.

Quick Packing for Our First Spelunking Adventure

Spelunking. The term sounds sooo kick-ass but it simply means exploring a cave. But not all cave explorers are called spelunkers. There are also CAVERS and SPELEOLOGISTS, which are labels for the more hardcore and geeky cave explorers.

the term "spelunker" to denote someone untrained and unknowledgeable in current exploration techniques, and "caver" for those who are. Speleology has always been an interdisciplinary science, requiring one to have at least a smattering of geology, hydrology, biology, chemistry, climatology and survey techniques in addition to whatever specialty one has.
socket.net

Tomorrow we're spelunking with a 4-year-old kid in tow. Yey! We're going to explore a cave in Tanay, Rizal called Calinawan Cave. I chose this cave because 1.) it's close to where we live which means less travel time and less expenses; 2.) It's just a 30-minute trip inside the cave so anytime there's a sign that Sput's not enjoying the trip, we can exit fast; 3.) It's not yet too popular so I'm hoping it's not too crowded.

Sooo..packing. We expect to do duck walks and body-bending positions inside the cave so we're packing really, really light. We're preparing Hugo's regular-sized backpack and Sput's teeny-weeny bag (just so she would be responsible for her own stuff).

WHAT'S IN HUGO'S BAG:
* First aid kit
* Small pouch for our wallets
* Camera
* Extra shirts
* Slippers (for post-spelunking)
* Alcohol
* Face towels
* Century Tuna (big can)
* Can opener
* Water bottles
* Flashlights
* Head lamps
* Spoons+ forks
* Rice inside a lunchbox (to be packed)

WHAT'S IN SPUT'S BAG:
* Yam the bear
* Whistle
* small Flash light
* Snacks
* Small water bottle

That's all. Just the basic stuff. I hope spelunking with a kid would be fun (and safe) for everyone!

Anawangin with a Kid: Summary

We were supposed to spend the holidays in Leyte with my family but when we checked the airline tickets, the cheapest ones cost around P6,000. If we book for three, that's P32,000. Wow! That's not very practical, is it? I hated myself for not booking early but well...all that's done is done (or not done is not done). One of the main reason why I wanted to go home to Leyte is because I promised Sput I'll take her to the beach. "If you feel guilty for it, you should feel guilty for your savings, too.", I thought. So we decided to just go to a beach in Luzon for the holidays and go to Leyte during summer instead (this time we should book months in advance!).  We only spent ~ P6,000 for our 3D 2N stay in Anawangin Cove. Come to think of it, that's just a one-way ticket to Leyte for one person.

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THE 4-HOUR COMMUTE

From the Cubao Victory Liner terminal, it took us 3 hours to arrive in Olongapo. We waited 1.5 hours for the next bus bound for San Antonio, then it took us one hour from Olongapo to San Antonio.

I should say this is the hardest part of our trip. It's our first time to commute with our 4-year-old kid...and, for some stupid reason, we decided to do it at night. What was I thinking??? Okay, in my defense, I wanted to have a smooth-sailing boat ride and I heard the sea is calm in the morning, and I thought we could just minimize our expenses by "sleeping" on the bus. We ended up renting a room at 2 am because we all needed some sleep. Lesson learned: Sleep is a very big factor when traveling with kids ( Duh? But it's our first time!). Here's a detailed story of our 4-hour commute to Pundaquit:

Anawangin with a Kid: The 4-hour Commute to Pundaquit

Tip: If you plan to commute with your kids, do it in the afternoon. Have a relaxing night in San Antonio. Big Foot Hostel is cheap but it's decent enough if you have kids. Then wake up bright and early. I think this is the best way to do it.
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SAFETY

What's "safe" for us might not be safe for you. Considering that we do all safety precautions -watching over our kid while they're swimming, not letting them explore the "woods" alone, etc, Anawangin is a pretty safe place for kids. You have nothing to worry about the boat ride especially if you do it in the morning but it is known for its very strong undercurrent so even if you're a really good swimmer, don't swim too far from the shore. The 15-minute climb is so easy even 3-year-olds can climb it without difficulty. There were no snakes but huge flies show up when they smell fresh food (grilled tilapia, etc). Read this to know more about the specific safety stuff you want to know when traveling to Anawangin with Kids:

Anawangin with a Kid: How Safe is it?
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THINGS TO DO

Hike to Capones Lighthouse

I recommend this to any parent who wants to introduce their kids to the outdoors. It's a pretty easy hike for beginners.
Level of Difficulty: 2.5/5 if you have school-age kids; 3.5/5 if you have toddlers
Duration: High Tide- 20 minutes back and forth, Low Tide- 45 min-1 hr back and forth
Read: Hike to Capones Lighthouse

Trekking in Anawangin/ Climbing up a hill

On the left side of Anawangin facing the sea, there's a hill that's very easy to climb. It is a favorite of many tourists who are not fans of long treks (like myself) as it only takes 10-15 minutes to summit.

Other things to do:
Explore the "woods" and the dead stream whatchamacallit
Make a bonfire (yes, they allow it)
Read: Anawangin with a Kid: 8 Things to Do While in Anawangin

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EXPENSES:

This is a rough estimate per person for our 3 days/2 nights stay in Anawangin cove:

P 500- Bus Fare Round Trip
P 200- hostel
P   60- Tricycle fare San Antonio- Pundaquit round trip- P60
P 660- Boat Fare (Big Boat)  the Big boat costs P1,800-2,000 and can accomodate up to 10 people.
P 300- camp food and supplies
P   30- trek guide in Anawangin
P 200- entrance fee for 2 nights (P100/head)
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~P 1950/ head

Tipid tips:
* If you don't have bags, you can just rent the small boat (P900)
* If you have a very small tot, just let him/her sit on your lap. That's P 500 savings.
* For food, don't have a feast! Flies will just swarm your way. Buy canned tuna, salted egg, eggplants instead.
* Water and cooking supplies is included in your boat rental.


That's it! I hope you'll enjoy camping in Anawangin with your tots, too. Totally worth the 4-hour road trip.