Ugong Rock, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

I would appreciate better restrooms.
2 ziplines, I tried the supposedly more extreme to my dismay, since I didn't find it extreme at all. There was also the Superman zipline, but didn't try it.
Staff and guides were friendly.

Visited on December 2012.

Same review posted on Trip Advisor.

Excerpt from http://www.charmaineromero.blogspot.com/2013/01/puerto-princesa-first-time.html

Ugong Rock – It is an adventure trip for caving, spelunking, ziplining. This is maintained with partnership from ABS-CBN. It is cool to cave! The local guides, male, female and of different age range boxes were all friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. According to Ate Daisy, they used to be kaingeros, but now they are the protectors of the natural resources of PPS. We went up the mountain through the caves and we enjoyed it. There were rock and other natural formations that we literally had to go under or squeeze into.

inside the caves

squeezing through

Once at the summit, there are 3 ways to get down, 2 ziplines or climb down. Liddy and myself opted for the supposedly more extreme 21-seconds zipline. Cla opted for the Superman zipline. Noel and Joy climbed down via another route. Zipline costs P 200/pax. Photo souvenirs of the zipline are available at P 150 each.

ready for the zipline

Since there was a different landing site for the extreme zipline, Liddy and I had to wait for the van to pick us up, which was taking quite long. The Ugong Rock personnel offered to take us back via a motorbike with sidecar for transporting stuff. We were sitting on a makeshift bench, top-down. Cool!

 

Zen Tea, Maginhawa St.

Milk tea drinks have been a hit lately in this part of the archipelago. There are just soooo many tea places now. This particular tea place, Zen Tea, is actually within 15 meters radius of 3 other tea places! All 4 of them in one street, making the Maginhawa street food scene more exciting.

So why is Zen Tea my fave? Among all 4 (Cha Dao, Infinitea, Moonleaf), Zen Tea is the smallest in terms of space, but appears to be most homey in ambiance.
 

 They offer only their milk teas and some chips, nothing else. My winning combination, Pink Panda tea and Cheetos. You do not see PInk Panda on the list, but you can ask for it. It is lychee creme tea with grenadine. Servers who are already familiar with my face, ask me, "Pink Panda? with smiley face? And i reply, yes. Then they will draw a smiley face on my drink with the grenadine syrup. :)

 

 Today, my drink came with a heart on top!

 





with a heart

 

Wifi signal is best. I see a lot of customers bringing their laptops, tablets, etc. to the place and seem to stay long hours.

 

Same review posted at Trip Advisor.

 

Ka Lui Restaurant, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

I was fine having veggies on my plate, but I need red meat. Unfortunately, they do not have this in their menu.

 

Date of visit: December 2012

Same review posted at Trip Advisor

Excerpt from http://www.charmaineromero.blogspot.com/2013/01/puerto-princesa-first-time.html

Ka Lui – another item on the PPS checklist. This is a very popular restaurant and always best to have reservations made as they may be really full at times. Again, Island Tours did the reservation for us. J

Ka Lui is a vegetarian haven, serving organic produce. The meat selection is limited to chicken and seafoods. No red meat for me. One has to take off his footwear and leave it at the holding area before entering the dining area proper. So we go barefoot inside. Interiors as expected were of bamboo and other natural materials. The reserved place for our party was a low table, no chairs, sit- on-the-floor kinda thing.

dinner at Ka Lui



me and my all-veggie plate

For a good meal, one has to budget around P400/pax.

This is also along Rizal St., so getting a tricycle ride back to the resort was not a problem. Also, the drivers who took us from the resort to Ka Lui, offered to wait for us and take us back, so it was convenient.

Kinabuch's Bar and Grill, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Food and service was really so -so. What I was impressed with though was the large screen that was showing Star Sports at that time. I can just imagine watching World Cup games with a barrel of beer and crispy pata.

the crispy pata

This place is popular to locals and foreigners alike.  I remember seeing a lot of Caucasians at the time of our visit.  Aside from the food, this is known as a good hang-out place.

outdoor seating ambience

Date of visit:  December 2012

 

Same review posted at Trip Advisor

Tio Rod's, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

We tried Tio Rod's for dinner as recommended by our tour guide and we were not disappointed. The food choice was wide to accommodate each and everyone's palate. It was so worthwhile that we even decided to come back for breakfast the following day ! Service was great. The ambience looks a bit intimidating at first, but on the contrary, it felt homey to us. We find the price reasonable. Portions were just right.



the group with Mr and Mrs Lumauag

breakfast time

omellette for brekky

must-try shrimp pomelo salad

after eating the crabs with your hands, this is the way to wash the sea-smell away!

Visit to this resto was made in December 2012.

Same review written up via Trip Advisor.

Conti's Robinsons Magnolia

You can find Conti’s branches all over the metro. They have a recently opened branch in Robinsons Magnolia (the mall is fairly new too).  They have a few tables for al fresco dining and an indoor dining area which may sit about 50 pax.

We always dine inside and it is noticeable that they have a portable fan/air cooler, why? Well, it is kinda obvious that they need cooler air. 

Service is not as fast and friendly as I want it to be.  Servers were not snotty, but lack the rapport with the customers.

Price-wise, their entrees are a bit expensive, especially when you see the portions.  They have salads, rice meals, pastas and desserts. 

garlic longganisa, scrambled egg, garlic rice

If not for the Mango Bravo, I will not be frequenting this place.

Baang Coffee, Tomas Morato, QC

This coffee shop has been in Morato for over 5 years now.  Even with the other coffee shops and milk tea places springing out of nowhere, Baang Coffee remains at a standstill.

They are primarily a coffee shop with some pastries, but this visit of mine last Sunday, I treated myself to a T-bone steak at a promo price of P 120! Not bad for a steak.  Ok, do not get excited, it is not a Melo’s level steak, but more of the affordable steak kind.  Portion was enough for my appetite.  What i did not like about it is that they serve it with rice, not mashed potato. Well, again, I am not at a steakhouse, so my expectations should not be set high.

I paired the steak with Raspberry Iced Tea which I find too sweet for my palate!  They can do better next time on that.

For dessert, I had the cappuccino cake, which was just ok.

 

Well, I was there for a midnight snack.  The place is open until 3am, which was favourable to me because most of the restos along the street close at 12mn.

Btw, wi-fi signal is good and not password protected.  It gives me a reason to come back for late night meals.