San Fernando, La Union: Midtown Food Plaza, Chinese Temple and Filipino-Chinese Pagoda

After our Kayak activity in San Juan, we headed to San Fernando, the capital of La Union to eat at a popular restaurant called "Midtown Food Plaza." The restaurant is a 10 minute walk from Partas Bus terminal. The food tasted "so good" that I was able to eat everything that I ordered.

Lechon Kawali 55 PHP (with rice)

Vegetable & Steak 75 PHP (with rice)

Leche Plan for dessert 30 PHP

We went to the market to find a local delicacy called "tupig." While we were searching, I decided to buy an ice cream. It actually tasted better compared to the one that they sell in Manila.

Pinoy-Style Sorbet 20 PHP

Then, we went to Ma-Cho Temple. It's a Chinese temple located near Partas Bus terminal in San Fernando. There was no "mass" when we get there. We walked around and enjoyed the view of South China Sea. We felt like we were in China.

Stairs to the temple.

View from the temple.

Felt like I was in China..

Where they light the incense and pray..

From the other view..

They do have a couple of statue..

Large structure in front of the temple.

Entrance of Ma-Cho Temple..

Filipino-Chinese Pagoda is located near San Fernando City hall. It is constructed on top of a hill so it is recommended that you take a tricycle (40 PHP) when you visit the place. It was closed when we get there, but we decided to go over the fence to see the sunset. :-)

Welcome, everyone!

Taking pictures while JM and his relative were trying to figure out how to go over the fence.. haha!

The trip was all worth it.

Don't forget to visit these places when you go on a surf sesh in La Union! Ma-Cho Temple and Filipino-Chinese Pagoda have no entrance fee! =)

“I want to travel the world with two things on my hands-- a camera on one and your hand on my other."

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22nd: Puerto Princesa, Palawan

I celebrated my 22nd birthday in Palawan with my honey. Since we were on a budget, we tried to do the cheapest way possible to have a city tour in Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan.

In Puerto Princesa, we met Kuya Dhong, a tricycle driver who offered to tour us around the city for PHP 700 (2 pax).  It is much cheaper compared to the city tour package of the travel agencies.

Viet Ville (or Vietnamese Village) is a small village in Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa. It was a refugee village for Vietnamese when the Vietnam War ended. We had our lunch at Viet Ville Restaurant. Spent a total of PHP 545 for two.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Vietnamese delicacy (Kakanin yan, hindi gelatin!)

Vietnamese noodles with Thai basil and sprouted mongo (It tastes weird, actually.)

Vietnamese rice toppings (Pork)

Palawan Wildlife and Rescue Conservation Center (formerly Crocodile Farm) Entrance is PHP 40 per head. Tour starts every after 30 minutes. Nothing much spectacular here, only the officials... I mean, the crocodiles, and other animals. 

Picture with the baby croc costs PHP 30 per person.

Bear-cat.

Rancho Sta. Monica, is also known as Mitra's Ranch. According to Kuya Dhong, the place is owned by Ramon Mitra.

If you wanna take a picture with the horse, you must give a tip or "donation" to the horse keeper.

The view is simply romantic.

Baker's Hill is just a few minutes drive away from Mitra's Ranch. 

They have a bake shop that sells cookies, brownies, hopia and other delicacies. We spent around PHP 860 pesos for the "pasalubong."

Parrot? Bird? Rooster? I don't know.

The spectacular view.

Meet Sadako.

You can take a lot of pictures here.

Puerto Princesa Cathedral

Puerto Princesa Baywalk

There's actually a festival-thingy going on when we went there, and there were food stalls everywhere! We had our dinner there and spent around PHP 300 for two already.

Rice meal costs PHP 90 each.

Breakdown of expenses (for two):

Viet Ville Restaurant (lunch) - PHP 545
Crocodile Farm (PWRCC) entrance - PHP 80
Picture taking with baby croc - PHP 60

Picture taking with horse @ Mitra's Farm (donation) - PHP 20

Souvenir shopping @ Baker's Hill - PHP 860

Dinner @ Puerto Princesa Baywalk - PHP 300

Kuya Dhong's City Tour - PHP 700

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PHP 2565

*Tricycle to Puerto Princesa Airport costs PHP 40 only. PP terminal Fee costs PHP 40/head.

*Our airfare to Palawan costs PHP 2500 (sale, the terminal fee is already included as of August 2012) via Tiger Airways, and the fare back to Manila costs PHP 3800 via Zest Airways. I DO NOT recommend Zest Airways because we (and my co-workers) have experienced 1 hour delay in our flight.

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