BOHOL: Bits and Pieces of a 4D3N Tour

Day 1 - Countryside Tour

There's just so much to do in the island province of Bohol. And day 1 was a hard proof. It was one heck of a schedule of places to go and sights to see. 

Plus, the best part in traveling...meeting people.This trip had loads of them. And the Backs (from Netherlands) were the ones so dear. They were awesome companions. We were with them for the duration of the 3-day trip (except for the last) and explored Bohol together. We've made not just acquaintances but real friends. I look forward to traveling with them again...and soon.

 For this countryside tour of Bohol, Kuya Rab would do a very good tour guide/ driver. His contact detail is (0908)9348063.

1. BACLAYON CHURCH

The oldest stone church in the Philippines, which has the image of Padre Pio mystically drawn on its aging walls.Tourists actually has the option to go to the museum, but we didn't. It was close to lunch already and we were also very eager then to have one in the famous floating restaurants of Loboc.

 
Cost: Free.

Tip: Dress appropriately. It's a tourist attraction but it is still a religious site.

 2. LARGEST PYTHON IN CAPTIVITY

Just being the python Prony is, makes him really scary and threatening, not to mention its size. But his stillness and sometimes slow and quiet movements seemed to erase the thought. Lia (below), one of the Backs, was good at that.

Aside from Prony of course, there are others of his kind...and some others of a different one. I had a choice to be taken a photo with this giant reptile, I just didn't have the courage. To those who aren't as brave as Lia, a replica of Prony's is available for that photograph.
 
Cost: app 10-20/head.

Tip: There are souvenirs sold here but I would recommend buying at the hanging bridge. It's cheaper.

3. LOBOC RIVER CRUISE

Nothing compares having lunch while on board the restaurants floating on the river of Loboc and being welcomed by it's naturally green waters and abundant greenery. Being audiences to the talent of Loboc's locals was a plus.

I just didn't particularly love the food of our floating restaurant, it was short than ordinary. I don't know...or was I just expecting too much that it seem to fail my taste. 
 
Cost: app 300-400/head for the cruise and lunch.

Tip: Bring extra for a small gratuity to the performers.

4. MAN-MADE FOREST 

Need I say more? Was man competing with nature in creating this? Nope. It was just man's help to make nature more beautiful than it already is.It was relaxing taking covers under those towering mahogany trees. It was also quiet and peaceful. We could only hear the sounds of ourselves laughing, our cameras clicking and the beeping of a car so rare we would almost forget we're actually on a national highway.

Cost: absolutely free.

Tip: Sometimes you'd get too engaged in the photo-ops...you forget that it's still a highway so careful of cars.

5. TARSIER SANCTUARY

Proved two things: they are the size of a closed fist and they sleep a lot (it's morning when we visited and they're nocturnal...that's why). 

We almost wanted to take them home only that, their population now equals their size. 
I hope Bohol's tarsier sanctuary would keep these cute little creatures for our generation to see.

Cost: Donation only.

Tip: Turn your camera's flash OFF.

6. BUTTERFLY GARDEN

Along the way to chocolate hills was this garden where a less-than-30mins-tour was more than enough to have an info-overload of its main inhabitants - butterflies.

It was a learning experience really but we must admit, aside from being refreshed of fatcs we already know, and being amazed of what we still don't know, we were entertained of how everything was delivered to us. Our guide's crazy and funny antics worked. He earned our praises. Bow to kuya "budderfly".  

Cost: app 50/head.

Tip: Don't forget to have yourself photographed in a butterfly's wings. An awesome trick.

7. CHOCOLATE HILLS

This is nature's handicraft at it's best. On the way, you would see pieces of nature's work, but it is in the summit of that over a hundred steps of journey to the top of the view deck, would you really marvel the work. 

We arrived at the viewing deck when the sun was high up. We were'nt prepared for the scorching heat. So if you'd be doing a tour, a handy umbrella would be great. But of course, everything boils down to the reward that awaits so...we couldn't be happier and thankful of the fine weather.
 

Cost: app 50/head.

Tip: Don't forget to have yourself photographed on a witch's broom. It produces a real nice effect.

8. HANGING BRIDGE

The twin bridges also provides a view of the Loboc River. It was fun crossing the bridge but more fun balancing the walk, especially if too many crosses. The challenge is to maintain that balance. Across, souvenir shops await. I was able to buy two shirts, one at 100, the other at 120. I guess it was a decent buy already plus the packs of peanut kisses and a number of key chains. Buko would also a perfect refreshment. We had one for a cheap P15 which we share among us four.

Cost: app 10-20/head.

Tip: Perfect for souvenir shopping.

9. BLOOD COMPACT SITE

The site reminds its visitors of the first Treaty of Friendship between two races - the whites and browns. Toast!

Cost: absolutely free

Tip: Can put this last in your itinerary so you'd enjoy the shade.
 

Day 2 - Dolphin watching, Balicasag and Virgin island Tour

I thought we already experienced Bohol at its best….the second day adventure we would know later was equally amazing. Waking up to meet the 6am call time of our boatman was pretty hard (almost an early morning exhaustion) after that the previous day’s tour. But as we stroll and walk by the shore and enjoying the color of the morning sun blending with the turquoise water and white, creamy sand – all the weariness faded away real fast.
 
Kuya joven - 09065077848 or Kuya geging - 09187103016 would be nice contacts for an island hoping tour and dolphin watching. Plus, you can bargain with them. And with the tour includes:

1. Dolphin Watching in Pamilacan

In almost an hour, we arrived at where the dolphins’ natural playground is. Our spotter was really good, often giving us the first glimpse of these creatures. There were almost twenty boats in that area but we are the luckiest... where we go, they just follow.  Two thumbs up to our guides!

Cost:boat rental - 4k

Tip: You should have a pretty good spotter. They know where just to follow these amazing creatures.

2. Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

There can't be a more sumptuous lunch than the one we had in Balicasag. The fish and sea food dishes were all freshly cooked - served the minute it it was taken from fire. And what could be a more perfect dessert than to savor the view of the waters and its many small, colorful inhabitants. Like Nemo's long lost relative here....

Cost:included in the day tour

Tip: Better if you really know how to swim...snorkeling would be all that easy!!!

3. Swimming in Virgin Island

I never thought something like this could be found in the Philippines until I saw it. And the moment I stepped on that shore - "I want to go back here". I can't even think how to leave. It was hard. And what's really fun? you get to shop at some points in that long circling stretch of white sand. Yes! Filipino meriendas made available for you.

Tip: Try to really catch the low tide!!! 

Day 3 - Extreme Adventure in Danao

Off the road almost the whole day for one thing - PLUNGE. It was frightening. Yes...at first and towards the end. The thought of being suspended on air and hanging above that vast space between the river below and the sky above...almost made me want to just enjoy seeing the others and how they seem to fall out of breath and scream moment after. But I can't permit myself to just watch and be left wondering how, just how it felt. And so the flight...one which you'd later wish to not land that soon.

Cost: Forgot the transpo costs but since we took public transports, it was well really cheap. Van rentals are available but we traveled in a group of four so rental will not be practical.

Tip: Do the head start. Check  www.eatdanao.com


After that extended time at the flight deck and arguing whether to really do the head start or not and constantly confirming my safety with all the staff who obviously were already ensuring that all those gears are tightly locked in place...it just went all too fast, I couldn't handle even my breathing and whatever sense I know I have but I think I totally lost it in that - droooooooooop.

It was less than ten seconds I guess when I later heard my screaming (or did I?) and my friends' cheering, when I then saw the blues and greens, when I felt the breezy air and when I smelled victory and relief -- I'm alive

They were right in saying that you're not paying for the ride but for the adventure. It's true! Because after doing the "Plunge" I think I could now do every little daredevils would do. I could claim right at that moment, hey give me anything and everything!

CDO-BUKIDNON: Fast, Fearless, Fun

July 2010 via Cebu Pacific Air promo fare – got it on a cheap P2,060 per pax.

The six of us (Ms. Shiela, Cecille, Mira, Soce, Jeanna and I) left shortly before our time-out (which well, was legally permitted by our kind boss) to catch a 2PM flight to Cagayan de Oro. Almost less than 48 hours later, we had to wake up early at 3AM for a 5AM return flight to Manila. In a span of less than two days, it was unimaginable how we’d actually managed to realize whatever was on that itinerary…until it’s marked done. It was all too fast from the booking to the trip itself. So how did it go? 

Day 1-Arrival

Stepped in CDO’s grounds at around past 4 in the afternoon. The hotel which housed us for the next 24 hours and so is a real good one – first it’s cheap, second, it’s within the city.

There was not much time so we had to stay in the hotel real fast, dropped the bags and went directly to the Divine Mercy Shrine in a nearby town in Misamis Oriental (about 30 mins travel by bus from CDO). One thing I realized about commuting is the fun of transferring from a public vehicle to another and being for a while, one with the locals. And this particularly was just more, since they (the locals) did not fail, not even short, in manifesting their city’s slogan – The City of Golden Friendship. 

1.       Shrine of the Divine Mercy

We took a habal-habal (a motorcycle which could accommodate two passengers at 40 each, two-way) to go to the shrine. Entrance is free. Shorts and sleeveless are not allowed. But for most tourists who would still arrive at the shrine not properly dressed, you will simply be provided by wrap-around skirts and shawls for your top.

 2.       Limketkai Mall

This is CDO’s SM. Its surrounding areas are also a great stop for dining. We tried Sunburst and Cusina de Oro.

3.       Xavier University

The Ateneo affiliate is just within the city. Actually passed by the university on the way to Divisoria street.

4.       Divisoria Street Night Party

CDO’s late night “gimikan”. Crowded, like Manila’s Divisoria. Only that, it’s packed with not just dry goodies but a number of “kainans” and “inumans” along the street, made alive by a local band performing at the central plaza. 

 

Day 2-Adventure Like No Other

Our call time was quite early. Since a cheap and budget-friendly breakfast was available at the hotel, we didn’t have to leave for a walk in the city – quite convenient really. We were fetched by our service vehicle as early as 7AM and travelled almost 30 minutes to their office for the a briefing. Thought we were the only ones in the tour but two others were invited by Kuya to join in. We are on separate rafts. That’s a fact. But from orientation to the travel to site, until the rafting and so on…our groups have been together. We’ve met an acquaintance in him who would later be the cute little story for that day’s trip. But let’s leave it at that to save this page.

1.       White Water Rafting in CDO

Great White Water Tours offers a P1,100 tour package for intermediate course (which means there’s flipping of the raft…and it was exactly the exciting part of that 2-3 hrs. course on the raging rapids of CDO’s  river). Aside from the rafting gears and equipment, package includes pick up from hotel, service to and from site, snacks (we were given our first taste of the famous pastel) and lunch (unlimited chicken inasal, barbecue, atsara, toyo-mansi and rice and a bottle of coke). The tour and the people behind them defined SULIT.

2.       Camp Philipps

From the name itself, it is I guess a military camp. We didn’t really take time to go see and explore. It was just one of the extras served to us by Bukidnon as we took our way to Dahilayan.

3.       Pineapple Plantation

Another free serving from Bukidnon... A quick stop for a jump shot would make a good souvenir of that long stretch.

4.       Longest Dual Zipline Ride in Bukidnon

Dahilayan Adventure Park’s rate for all three ziplines (one of which, is tagged as Asia’s Longest Dual Zipline being 850 meters long which, launch tower has to be reached after a short and bumpy ride on a 4x4 jeep) is P600. And because we’ve made friends (from the rafting) with the owner’s nephew, we were treated a free use of one of their newest facility, the “ROPES COURSE”. This park was adventures of sorts – from the meet and greets, to the extended stay for a suspended-on-air activity, to the assuming for something more from the gestures of our then, big fan.

 

 

5.       Pastel

It melts in the mouth. One shouldn’t miss this. Bringing one home would complete the trip.