Bohol : Revisited
It was in 2006 when we first came to Bohol. We came back because of the request the two boys that when we travel again, they wanted to see Chocolate Hills. I know how much it will costs us just to go back and forth to Bohol from Cebu but still we proceeded to grant their request.
We crossed Bohol by a ferry ride. Coming from Cebu City, make a way going to Pier 1. The regular fare going to Tagbilaran is Php600 one way but there are a lot of promo fares when you get to Pier. Ocean Jet has a regular trip going to Tagbilaran and vice versa. It is just sad that my baby James has an adult fare already, huhu! We paid Php800 each for our roundtrip fare to Tagbilaran. The cheapest I've seen was the Weesam Fare at Php650 roundtrip but they have fewer trips.
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| promo fare rate as of November 2014, regular fare is Php600 one way |
Before coming to Bohol, whether you'll be on a City Tour or Beach Tour or anywhere in Bohol, you must already have a contact person who will tour you around the province. Contact Chito Gucela at 0920-4223990/ 0915-1902205 or KJ Remoreras at 0912-8926963/ 0936-6831556. Our driver Chito was very accommodating and very makwento...highly recommended.
It was in October 15, 2013 when Bohol was strucked by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. The province is recovering and you can see that in my photos. Though reconstruction will take some time most especially for the old churches, but still Bohol is a very beautiful place. Explore their beaches especially Balicasag and Pamilacan Islands.... super perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Our first stop was Loboc River. Loboc River is one of the major tourist destinations in Bohol. When we got here the first time buffet cruise was only Php250.
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| Before entering the Loboc River Cruise, there's an entrance fee of Php50 per adult, kids are free |
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| my favorite dish during the cruise |
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| kids 3 below are free, kaya kain ng marami baby James |
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| Local people perform native music on the floating restaurant |
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| the high-end cruise |
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| a stop at the Amazon jungle |
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| the tribe on fire |
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| daddy's girl in Loboc |
Our next stop, Chocolate Hills...
The Chocolate Hills are a geological formation in Bohol Province, Philippines. There are at least 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometers (20 square miles). They are covered in green grass that turns brown (like chocolate) during the dry season, hence the name.
The Chocolate Hills are famous tourist attraction of Bohol. They are featured in the provincial flag and seal to symbolize the abundance of natural attractions in the province. They are in the Philippine Tourism Authority's list of tourist destinations in the Philippines, they have been declared the country's third National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A year after the earthquake, the viewing deck is still ruined. The view is great but the municipal government must do something about the damaged deck. Part of the collection for entrance fees must be used to rehabilitate it. The view deck has no shady areas so if you arrive when the sun is up, what you will do is to take photos quickly.
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| family picture |
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| ice drops after viewing |
Third stop... Man Made Forest in Bilar
Once you entered the forest it will suddenly turn dark and cool... outside it is sunny and hot. When you enter here especially during summer, you will feel the abrupt change in temperature.
Bohol Forest is a Man-Made Forest with a two-kilometer stretch of Mahogany planted trees located between borders of Loboc and Bilar. It is 20 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City.
Our fourth stop... Tarsier Conservation in Loboc
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| please take note of the rules!!! |
There's an entrance fee at the center at Php60 adults and Php50 for students. There's a free postcard in exchange of the entrance fee =)
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nakasalubong si Robert Seña
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| my precious, hahaha =) |
The Philippine tarsier measures only about 85 to 160 mm (3.35 to 6.30 in) in height, making it one of the smallest primates.
The small size makes it difficult to spot. The mass for males is
between 80–160 g (2.8–5.6 oz), usually lighter for females, somewhat
heavier than other tarsiers such as the pygmy tarsier. The average adult is about the size of a human fist.
Like all tarsiers, the Philippine tarsier's eyes are fixed in its skull;
they cannot turn in their sockets. Instead, a special adaptation in the
neck allows its round head to be rotated 180 degrees. The eyes are
disproportionately large, having the largest eye-to-body size ratio of
all mammals. These huge eyes provide this nocturnal animal with
excellent night vision.
In bright light the tarsier's eyes can constrict until the pupil
appears to be only a thin line. In darkness the pupil can dilate and
fill up almost the entire eye.The large membranous ears are mobile appearing to be almost constantly moving, allowing the tarsier to hear any movement.
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| those big eyes |
Almost end of the City Tour... the old churches of Bohol
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| Loboc Church as of November 2014 |
The limestone Loboc Church was originally built in 1602 but was totally destroyed by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake last October 15, 2013. There are a lot of fund raising activities and mass donations made for the restoration of the churches in Bohol.
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| Baclayon Church |
The last part of the City Tour
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| Blood compact |
Blood compact was an ancient ritual in the Philippines
intended to seal a friendship or treaty, or to validate an agreement.
The contracting parties would cut their wrists and pour their blood into
a cup filled with liquid, such as wine, and drink the mixture.
A famous example of the blood compact was the 1565 Sandugo between Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol. Another blood compact was contracted between Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and Rajah Humabon of Cebu.
If you have two to three days stay in Bohol, it is recommendable to visit Dauis and the beaches of Bohol in Panglao. We visited the beaches on our first trip here in 2006... Visiting their beaches is a must!!!
Places to visit in Dauis http://www.bohol-philippines.com/dauis.html
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