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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MAGNETIC ISLAND - KOALA'S

By Patricia Patrick • February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.

MAGNETIC ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA

By Patricia Patrick • February 14, 2026
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.