Mangroves

Here we go again, walking along the lagoon.  Today, we explored the other end of the property leading to the other side of the beach.

I love these bamboo canopies along the path.  They planted bouganvillas on the base of the others and will let them crawl upward. Soon, all these arches will be filled with fuschia, red and orange blossoms.

We reached a part of the lagoon that had a stone hedge around it.  The kids could not resist walking on it, and I was surprised at myself for not stopping them, as they might slip and fall into the water.  Oh well, the water was only a foot and a half deep.  I tried not to think about the possibility of their hitting their heads on the stones....Paranoid mom.

We left the lagoon and followed a sandy trail, which led to a small clearing with small mangrove stems shooting sharply from the ground.

The stems were soft, and bent as our feet stepped on them. They tricked us by looking threatening and managed to make Nacho nervous.  

Mangrove trees are strange.  Their roots are partly above the sand, and are exposed during low tide. But they are extraordinary plants as they prevent soil erosion over long periods of time, are homes to oysters, crustaceans and other important animals that maintain the ecosystem, and protect the coastlines from strong waves and tsunamis.  Here in Palawan, mangroves are planted very frequently around the islands.

There is a local delicacy here called the "tamilok" (also called the mangrove woodworm) that is a foot long.  They say it tastes like oyster. But it's actually not a worm, but a mollusk. Tourists get a kick from trying it. But I have met many Palawenyos who have not tried it and do not want to. 
 

We chanced upon an abandoned hut...

...and several tree stumps that would look eerie at night.

Here we are. Hello, sea!

We walked past the trees and Elise stopped and just gazed out into sea for a good few minutes.  She gets that way when she sees natural bodies of water.

Nacho found the small shell and coral coastline more interesting.

When they got their fill, we headed back...

They noticed an easy to climb tree that couldn't be left unclimbed.

We really had to head back.  The sun was setting in the east, and it would be dark in a few minutes.

So we walked south to go "home."

A few days later, I told a local of our walk in the mangroves.  They said to make sure we leave before dark as there are rattlesnakes there that bite when disturbed.

Wild Palawan.