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| The view from my window seat. The shoreline of Bohol. |
We have 4 days to spent on this province. When we got to Tagbilaran early in the morning, we got frustrated because some of the members of our group arrived late due to some technical problems with the airline they boarded. It was not until the afternoon when we started our tour.
The Blood Compact Shrine
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Since we were already in Tagbilaran City, we made the most out of the beautiful city. On March 16, 1565, the blood compact of Rajah Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi took place here as a sign of peace and friendship between the natives and the Spaniards.
The Baclayon Church
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In 1995, The Baclayon Church was declared a National Historic Treasure. It was the oldest preserved piece of Spanish colonial architecture. When we went there, the authorities of the church were very strict on dress code. People wearing sleeveless shirts and short pants weren't allowed to enter. Shawls were available at a booth where tourists can borrow and wear before entering. A small museum where historical relics can be seen inside. The church boasts of intricate craftsmanship and beautiful stained-glass windows.
The Hanging Bridge
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The Philippine Tarsier
When we hear the name Bohol, the first thing that comes to mind is the Tarsier. They are considered the smallest primates. It lives on tropical forests and feeds on small insects. It was raining when we got to the Tarsier Conservation Area in Loboc. We were ushered by the guides of the area. We saw a number of mawmag (local name of tarsier) but we were prohibited on touching, taking pictures with a flash camera, and feeding the small creature.
The Mahogany Forest
The man-made forest is a two-kilometer stretch along the boundaries of Loboc and Bilar. It is a popular tourist spot that when we got there, there were a number of vehicles with tourists, both local and foreign, taking pictures of the thick tall trees on both sides of the street.
Prony, The Superstar Snake
Also at Baclayon, we visited Prony, a captive reticulated python that weighs 280 kilograms and measures 23 feet. He was scary and I could feel the chill while looking at it. Unfortunately, he died on August 14, 2013 due to an unknown cause.
The Butterfly Garden
An hour drive from Tagbilaran City to Bilar, one can find a beautiful garden with lots of butterflies.It has a cafe, nature trail, and a gift shop. It was nearly closing time when we got to the Conservation Center, so we made a very short visit of the place. We found different species of butterflies and how they grow through metamorphosis before we strolled at the nature trail. Of course, we didn't want to leave the place without trying the natural homemade ice cream. I love the Buko Pandan flavor.
Dinner Cruise at Loboc River
We had a buffet dinner while cruising Loboc River. I didn't know that it would be a nice and beautiful evening. We where so exhausted from the tour since that morning. The cool breeze from the river touches my skin while standing by the rail. A musician serenades the tourists while on cruise. The ferry had a couple of stops and performers will come in to entertain the passengers. The children danced while the adults were singing and playing their guitars.
Panglao Island
We stayed at Alona Beach in Panglao Island. It is a fun place during the evening and a beautiful beach in the morning. A nice walk would be great at night. In day time, you can feel the fine white sand on your beach as the blue water invites you for a swim.
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| Morning at Panglao Island. |
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| Sunset at Panglao Island. |
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| Evening at Alona Beach. |
Danao Adventure Park
It is a 2-hour travel from Tagbilaran City. The park boasts of its eco-tourism where Wahig River is nestled between mountains and natural attractions. The place is a haven for adrenaline junkie with its extreme attractions. Ride the Suislide, one of the longest zipline in the Philippines that cross over the river between two mountains, or The Skyride, an open-air cable car that lets you view and feel the breeze from the mountains. You shouldn't miss this place. The main attraction is The Plunge, a pendulum-like canyon swing with a 45-meter free fall. I personally tried it, head-first. Shaky but conquering The Plunge was one of the most adventurous things I've ever done.
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| The Skyride |
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| Conquering fear at The Plunge. |
The Chocolate Hills
The most famous attraction in Bohol, the area consists of more than 1, 260 hills. The hills are scattered throughout the towns of Sagbayan, Batuan, and Carmen. During summer, the grasses are brown because of too much sun that makes it dry, thus, turn the hills to be chocolate-like mounds. However, it was August when we visited the Chocolate Hills and the grass were luscious green from rain. It was beautiful.
Hinagdanan Cave
It was still early to call it a day. And though it wasn't in our itinerary, we went to Hinagdanan Cave. It is located at Dauis. It is naturally lighted and has different stalagmite and stalactite formations. A lagoon is found inside the cave. A ladder was built to reach the inside of the cave. The cave is beautiful, however, it was designed for tourists with its ladder with cemented steps and metal handrails for easy access. Outside, there are lots of souvenir shops for convenient shopping.
Dolphin Watching and Island Hopping
It was still early when we took a boat ride to see the dolphins near Panglao. With all the other noisy boats, we more like chase the big fishes we could see from afar. We saw some dolphins, alright.
We headed to Balicasag Island after to have an early lunch. We had grilled fish and steamed rice. The shore of the island was white with pebbles and dried corals. The marine life of the ocean of Balicasag is amazing. We enjoyed snorkeling through the clear bluish water. It was a first time for me to see a clown-fish.
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| Balicasag Island. |
That afternoon, we went to Virgin Island. It is an oasis with fine white sand. It was still low tide when we got there, so there were parts of the sandbar that were still exposed. There you can find boats that sells fresh urchins and buko juice. I tried to jog the island and it took me 10 minutes to run the whole oasis.
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| Virgin Island. |
The People
The place is perfect. Bohol is a place where you can never be bored, especially if you are a nature-lover. The people are nice and friendly. I have travelled to other parts of the country, I must say, the Boholanos know their province and every bit of Bohol. They are very proud to have a beautiful place and they very well know how to take good care of it.
We spent a very fruitful 4 days. Indeed, it was a memorable trip for us.
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