October 2, 2025

Today we were Cave explorers! We went to the one of UNESCO newly classified 7 NEW WONDERS OF NATURE - The Puerto Princesa Underground River.

Found out today, that over 600 million people voted for the list of 7 New Wonders of Nature in 2011. The list includes Ha Long Bay, Vietnam and Komodo Island which we have yet to travel to. And I have now gone to 5 others - Jeju Island, South Korea; Table Mountain in South Africa, Iguana Falls in Brazil & Argentina; the Amazon Forest & River in South American and Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines.

It was a twisty turning ride for 2 hours each way and sadly a couple of our gang was getting car sick, but once we got there it was a nice boating experience. Our guide Anna, a mother of 6, was very chipper and chatty and explained a lot about their culture and the National park on the way there and back. Above is 1/2 our group of 10 in our transfer boat, to get to Cave entrance. ( L to R - Darrell, Scott, Sherrie, Me and Bosco)

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They give you an audio tape to listen to as you take the 45 minute ride through the cave. They ask you to be silent, while in the Cave, to not disturb the wildlife that lives inside the Cave and by keeping your mouth closed, you have a better chance of not ingesting any Bat poop! There are tons of bats and swallows. They have named a lot of the rock formations or Stalagmites and Stalactites - i.e. St Paul's Cathedral to Sharon Stone's Basic Instinct famous pose! I also learned today, that bats hang up side down, so they can fall and use gravity to give them enough power to fly. Their wings are not strong enough, unlike birds, to just take fly at will! So cool!

  • Our group of 10 today L to R - Scott, Me, Ed , Darrell,Bob, Sarah, Sherrie & Bosco ( Joey & Lori - Missing) 

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  • My Boat into Cave

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2nd YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SAILING THE WORLD

By Pat Patrick • October 1, 2026
WOW!! I can't believe it has been two years of sailing around the World already for me and my fellow shipmates on the Villa Vie Odyssey! We left Belfast, Ireland back on September 30, 2024 and it has been such a great adventure to date! We have been to 201 different ports, some more than once, during those two years, with much more to come!

APOPO, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 29, 2026
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.

Ta Prohm Temple ( AKA Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 28, 2026
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.