Located on a hill, Mitra’s Farm has a majestic view as you direct your attention out towards the surrounding hills. But if you direct them closer to you, you will find a tranquil place where dogs happily frolic while horses lazily chew on the grass.
You’d be forgiven for thinking, “No surprises there.” But after being told of one of the great open secrets known to many Palaweňos, you just might reconsider that thought.
Table of Contents
Background
As the name implies, Mitra’s Farm belongs to the Mitra family. It is also known as Santa Monica Ranch, one of its unique features is that the grounds are sloped instead of being flat like most farms or ranches.
And with the house being at the top of the hill, the views of the sunrises and sunsets are something that its occupants get to enjoy 365 day of the year.
Animals
Being a ranch, you will naturally find various farm animals on it. However, during our brief stay, we were only treated to a horse lazily eating grass beside a huge tree in t the distance.
Ranch Residents
We were also captivated by a couple of dogs who were frolicking in the grass. Not only were they enjoying themselves immensely, they were oblivious to us taking pictures of them as they rolled around.
As much as we wanted to just jump in and play with the dogs, we kept our distance. Not that they exhibited any aggression, mind you; we just thought it would be better to enjoy watching them have fun from a distance.
Kid Friendly
Up to this point, you may be wondering if this is a boring place because all it has to show for it is the beautiful surroundings and farm animals. Don’t worry, that’s the same conclusion I made when I stepped off the van.
But after walking around the place, this is actually one of the most kid-friendly tourist attractions in Palawan.
On the left side of the ranch, were people alight, you will find a short Zip Line. When asked, our guide informed us that the line is designed primarily for children. It isn’t too high nor is it too long, so kids should not get traumatized like the high ones, similar to the exciting one at Ugong Rock.
There are also trampolines where kids can bounce around. And since they are located near a crop of trees, there is some shade to keep active kids cool.
There is also a small petting zoo, where kids get to interact with farm animals. I understand that they may be able to participate during feeding time, allowing kids to expand their knowledge on how animals behave.
Adult Friendly
Grounds
And while kids are off enjoying themselves, parents also get a break from the hectic tour. There are tables where picnics can be set up. There are benches to relax on. And there are even a few high chairs that are quite picturesque if you are creative with a camera.
To protect people from the sun, these places are either under trees or shaded walkways. In fact, when we had visited, it drizzled a little bit, And though it prevented us from walking around the entire ranch, the shaded areas provided us with a moment of quiet rest.
Secret
The big secret that was revealed to us was that one of the hills is a land fill. Thanks to efforts of the government, the province’s garbage is carefully segregated, with plastic, paper, glass and other materials sent for recycling. The rest is turned used as landfill, with the result being a hill that is teeming with life.
There is no foul odor that emanates from the landfill, nor is there any smoke indicating any decomposition of materials. All I saw was a hill covered with grass and trees in the distance. I’m told that in the mornings and late afternoons, birds can be seen coming and going.
The success of the government is such that neighboring provinces have come Palawan just to learn how their waste is successfully managed. And I’m thinking, if we could only replicate this across the country and around the world, we’d be doing a big part in protecting mother nature.
Final Thoughts
Grounds
Mitra’s Ranch is one of several places that doesn’t charge any entrance fees, so you can come here as often as your schedule will allow.
Well, that’s it for me; our next stop is Baker’s Hill, which is just a few meters down the road. Other than tasty treats, the places is sort of like a life-sized cartoon city.
Till next time, keep your cameras ready, your eyes peeled, and your minds open. You never know where your next adventure will take you!
Must Do’s
- Let your kids bounce around the trampolines.
- Give you kids a quick ride on the zip line.
- Take your shoes off and let the cool grass get between your toes.
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