Scenes From A Would-Be New Wonder of the World - Journey to the Underground River

moments of frivolity

Palawan’s Underground River (see previous post for useful information) is riding on a high wave of publicity blitzkrieg, what with its current ranking in the on-going quest for the New 7 Wonders of the World Contest - http://www.new7wonders.com/ - please check it out and vote! There are 27 places vying for the 7 coveted slots that shall close its online voting by 2010! Let your voice be heard! If you are Pinoy, you’d know what to do. LOL

FACTS AND FIGURES (St. Paul’s Subterranean Park)

• St. Paul Limestone or Karst Outcrop covers an area of 35 sq, kilometers. It is 11 kilometer long and averages 3-5 kilometers in width, and rises 1,028 meter at its peak.
• It has 8 forest formations.
• It is home to 800 species of plants belonging to 300 genera and 100 families; and 290 species of trees.
• 165 species of birds dwell in the park comprising 67% of Palawan avifauna, including 15 endemic species.
• 30 species of mammals, 19 reptiles, 10 amphibians, 23,779 individual species of insect mollusks and anthropods thrive in the park.
• 41 species of butterflies respresenting 6 families also dwell in the Park. The largest of this butterfly is the shallow-tailed Trogonoptera trojana with jet black wings lined with brilliant green triangles.
• The monkeys around the park can sometimes be obtrusive so be careful with your gears. Don’t leave them unattended.
• Karst refers to an area of limestone terrain characterized by sinks, ravines, and underground streams. These karst formations found in the Underground River area are the same karst mountains found in Vietnam and Laos, especially those spectacular ranges snaking through Vang Vieng. (Vang Vieng's karst mountains verge on the dramatically beautiful!)

Waiting for boats. she checks your tickets and assigns you to a boat worth PhP700. Don't forget to tip your boatmen at the end of your visit.

On my way to the Underground River - isolated beaches...

Let's take a ride to a river underneath a limestone mountain!

Drenched and waiting for the boat ride.

Mouth of the cave

Underground River and Cave - stretching 8.1 kilometers

Solitude and nature

St. Paul's Subterranean Park grounds

Sabang Beach - all to your own...

Sabang Beach - From the distance is the port where you get your boats for the Underground River Park area.

Ferns growing wildly on branches of trees...

View from the Buenavista Viewdeck

Robert's Resort Inn and its Jewel Restaurant in Sabang - inexpensive accommodation and sumptuous buffet. Check out previous entry for more information.

Wet, wet, wet...

Where the river meets the sea...

Full Facts and Information on the Underground River - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/09/palawans-underground-river-boating.html

This is the Eye in the Sky!