1686234 and 1608537090: my puerto princesa survival guide

okay so i'm in puerto princesa and i'm already regretting every life choice that led me here without enough undershirts. the heat is a physical thing, like the air is made of soup. i just checked my weather app and it's...32.11 degrees but feels like 34.81, which is just cruel.

so i arrived after this tiny plane ride from manila that had more bumps than my hostel mattress. the airport is this chaotic little shed with tricycle drivers swarming like piranhas. i haggled one down to 100 pesos to take me to 'budget bunkers' hostel, and during the ride, my phone's gps kept flashing 1686234 and then 1608537090, so i turned it off and just focused on not vomiting. the fan in my room sounds like a dying lawnmower, but at least it's moving air, unlike the outside.

i'm a budget student, so i'm living on like 300 pesos a day for food. i found this carinderia near the public market where 50 pesos gets you rice, two veggies, and sometimes meat. yelp link has some spots, but i just follow the crowd of laborers - they know where's cheap and good.

the humidity is no joke - i'm a freelance photographer, and my camera lens fogged up the second i stepped outside. i carry a microfiber cloth now like it's my security blanket. i heard from a local shooter that dawn is the only time for decent light, but waking up at 4 am when you're broke and tired? yeah, no.

i did the underground river tour because everyone says you have to, even if it's touristy. i booked through tripadvisor for 1200 pesos, which was a steal compared to walk-up prices. the river was incredible - limestone cliffs, bats swooping, water so clear you see fish swimming under the boat. the crowd was annoying, but i put on headphones and zoned out.

if you get bored of puerto princesa's dusty streets and stray dogs, el nido is a rickety bus ride away - about 5 hours of winding roads and snacks sold at stops. corón is another option, but it's farther and you need a boat. both will drain your wallet faster than a broken atm, so save up.

overheard gossip at the hostel bar last night: a couple said their guide on hong kong island (part of the river tour) demanded extra tips and was rude. my guide was chill, only asked for 100 pesos and pointed out hidden lagoons. so, rumors are half-truths at best.

i've been walking everywhere, and my flip flops are dying. the city is a mix of crumbling spanish-era buildings, new resorts, and relentless traffic. people are friendly but will try to overcharge you if you look lost. always negotiate for tricycles - start at half theasking price.

for real tips, i read this palawan travel forum where locals post about typhoon warnings and ferry delays. it saved me when a storm rolled in last week.

i snapped pics with my sad phone camera -

(unsplash, but looks legit),

(all the beaches have rocks), and

(jungle is everywhere).

for hostels, i used this tripadvisor link to find places under 500 pesos. it's not fancy, but it's a roof.

last night, i went to a cheap bar by the port where local beer is 50 pesos. i met a fisherman who swore the best snorkeling is at starfish island. he was drunk, but i went anyway and saw tons of starfish, so maybe he was onto something.

the public market in the morning is a riot - i bought mangoes for 20 pesos each and ate them for breakfast. so cheap, so sweet.

i also visited the crocodile farm but it was closed, so i just read the signs outside. free education, i guess.

for transport, tricycles for short trips, vans for long ones like to the airport (200 pesos through the hostel). never pay the metered taxi rates - they're a scam.

the weather is bipolar - sunny one minute, downpour the next. i got caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella and was soaked, but it cooled me down for five minutes before the heat came back.

i've been writing postcards to my family but can't afford stamps, so i'll email them. typical budget student move.

if you're on a shoestring, avoid resort areas - they're for flashpackers. stick to public beaches, bring your own water bottle, and eat at carinderias.

i still have 1686234 and 1608537090 in my phone - maybe they're coordinates for a hidden beach? i'll ask around before i leave.

puerto princesa is a mess: sweat that never stops, food that tasts like victory when it's cheap, and views that make you forget the humidity. bring cash, bug spray, and a sense of humor. and if your gps acts up, just ask a tricycle driver - they're the real locals.

yeah, i'm leaving in two days, already missing the 50-peso beers and the sound of that possessed fan.

You might also be interested in:

• https://votoris.com/post/lyon-by-accident-a-caffeinefueled-ramble-through-frances-secret-sauce
• https://votoris.com/post/sustainability-in-carrefour-thrift-stores-burning-trash-and-the-art-of-haitian-hustle
• https://votoris.com/post/healthcare-quality-in-tulsa-top-hospitals-medical-centers
• https://votoris.com/post/baidoa-wouldve-been-cool-if-the-power-didnt-go-out-every-20-minutes
• https://votoris.com/post/kebri-after-midnight-ghost-hunt-vibes