VISIT TO ONE OF THE NEW WONDERS OF THE WORLD - 241

 PUERTO PRINCESSA , SUBTERRANEAN     RIVER IN PALAWAN , PHILIPPINES 

Our family meaning Me , My betterhalf , Daughter , Son in Law and Granddaughter might be just among the very few from this part of the world ( Little Known Agasthiarpatty near Ambasamudram in Tamilnadu ) to have had an opportunity to visit the Subterranean River System with its caves in the Palawan Province of the Philippines . 


Philippines as many might know is a country of more than 7000 Islands and it would take close to 19 years if a mad hatter were to  decide to spend atleast one night in each of these Islands.  Its Palawan Province where the Subterranean River is located  has close to 1700 Islands .
The Subterranean River is on the Island of Peurto Princessa which is almost 2 hours by Air from Makati/Manila . 
Your thrill  starts in the Flight Itself with TAMBOLA and other Question/Answer Games being conducted by the Flight Attendants. Yours Truely was a Lucky  Winner in one such contest  . The touchdown itself is an absolute  highlight at the Peurto Princessa Airport . The runway starts from the very edge of the sea and extends on a narrow strip of land with the sea on all sides . I have been to many an Airport around the world but this must surely go down as one of the most Scarry ones .  It does give one the jitters if he or she  is a bit Faint Hearted .

A two hour ride takes you to the edge of the Subterranean River which has formed millions of years ago on the Saint Paul Mountain Ranges . This Subterranean formation is almost 28 kms long but the conducted tour is only for 8 kms inside the Subterranean caves . The STALACMITE formations of water trickling down through the ages forms the main attractions . The wearing of the helmet is mandatory more as a safeguard against the POO dropping on your head with thousands of BATS whizzing over your head in the dark confines of the Subterranean River . The torch light tightly fixed on your forehead does come in handy to view these formations .

MUSHROOM , TOMATO , LAST SUPPER , SHARON STONE FORMATIONS ARE SPECIAL STALAGMITES FORMATIONS 






It is now an UNESCO declared Heritage Site and one of the  New 7 Wonders of the World .





Coming as this does from a man from Agasthiarpatty  , this once in a lifetime journey in the Subterranean River System will never be forgotten .


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