Another beach trip! was pretty excited to hit Bohol. Together with friends Ina, her boyfriend, Jun, Pin and my bouncing little man Enzo, we arrived in Tagbiliran City at 7:00 am.
We immediately saw our service van and driver. We havent had breakfast yet but we're too excited to explore the city of smiles. As the routine goes, first stop was the monument of the blood compact. There's nothing really going on here, just the exact place where decades ago the historical blood compact happened.
We then headed to the old Baclayon church, unfortunately it was closed when we were there (after a year I went back with my family and was able to visit inside, and it was beautiful! old, but it would definitely take you back in time). The next attraction was the beautiful and still breath taking Chocolate Hills. I know about this hills since I was a kid, because it is part of the Philippine history. This is my first time to see it in actual, the hills were called chocolate hills because they looked like hershey's kisses spread out in green! its just beautiful!.
After that we stop by for a picture at the man made forest along the high way, nothing much really. The driver took us to our next stop, the hanging bridge where Enzo bravely enjoyed every minute of it, he was actually swaying from left to right while I felt the bridge was never ending. First few steps i told myself I will just go back in our van and wait for them, the driver told me there's cheap shopping at the end of the bridge. I crossed the bridge of course!
We made a little shopping then went back to our van to go to our next destination, the tarsier and the Loboc river. One of the highlight of the trip was to see the famous tarsiers and the banca ride along that river. My first time to see one of the endangered animals, the tarsiers are so tiny with huge eyes. Enzo and I had a picture with a tarsier on our arms. The Loboc river for me was one of the highlights of the trip. The river was just beautiful and you look around and you'll see nothing but mountains and trees. It was like cruising around the amazon.
Fresh air, hear the birds, hear the water running...it was very...peaceful. The great thing about the tour around Bohol was that everything was pretty cheap. Mostly are just asking for donations, if there’s an entrance like in the Chocolate hills, it only cost Php10.00 per person (not bad!), with the tarsier, they only asked for donation in any kind of amount. The most expensive I think was the river cruise (it was Php160 then, even that its cheap). Still at the river, I kept taking pictures and at the same time, holding onto my son who keeps looking down and trying to feel the water by dipping his hand. The tour guide was a nice young man, a local from the mountains around the river (I forgot his name). He was very fluent with English and he told us stories about his life, the history, the typhoon that affected their lives, the government who wanted to take over everything...it was a pretty interesting story for a cruise of P160. He was very polite, very friendly and yes we gave him a good tip for that nice trip down the river.
After the refreshing cruise, we went to see the huge python caught in Bohol. It was really not one of my favorite since I’m not into snakes and likes. After the hissing and all gay-ness of the scary gay who takes care of the snake, our driver/tour guide took us to our one last stop to Hinagdanan Cave and then we’re off to the beach (Enzo couldn’t be too excited!).
We arrived in Dumaluan Beach resort in Panglao Island around 2 in the afternoon (highly recommended, its beach front and the rates are reasonable. The resort was at the other side of Panglao Island. It’s beside Bohol Beach Club and the only disadvantage was that aside from the resort’s restaurant, there’s only one ihaw-ihaw beside it. The resort’s restaurant was a bit pricey for Filipinos like me (well we tried the food and it was just okay, so the price was a bit high for us). For the whole 3 days and 2 nights we ate at the ihaw ihaw beside the resort, but kudos to their mango shake and iced tea, its really good but it only cost Php 25.00.
We got off the resort van service and the beach took our breath away. Aaaahhhhhhhh….what a place. The white sand, the aquamarine shade of the water, the coconut trees…it was beautiful!
We checked in and imagine my kid was able to change into his swimming gear in 2 minutes!
The whole 3 days and 2 nights was great! It felt like we own the island, it was November so it was off peak and the water was perfect at that time. The clear water allowed us to enjoy the snorkeling, lots of fishes and starfish, we would get excited when we see fishes swimming around our knees!
Pasalubong were bought on our way home, the usual, t-shirts, fridge magnet and local Bohol candies and the sweet calamay made from coconut and molasses, its really good and they put it inside the coconut shell.
Our Cebu Pacific plane landed in Manila at 1:55pm and my parents were there at the airport and I know they couldn’t wait to see their grandson.
you can check the resort here: http://www.dumaluanbeach.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment