Bohol, a Casket of Wonders

A 2-hour ferry ride from Cebu, Bohol is one of the islands in the Philippines that has breathtaking scenery. The capital is Tagbilaran City and is located in the Visayas region.  Minutes away and a tricycle ride from the Port of Tagbilaran is the famous island of Panglao, a host of white sand beaches and breathtaking seascapes.

Our 2-day, 1-night stay in Panglao was in Bolod Beach Resort. The accommodation was great, with the personnel very approachable and the room comfortable and clean. Their rooms are designed to imitate nipa huts. It was a good location as the resort is located at the beachfront and the setting is very relaxed and in tune with nature. Coconut trees are strewn here and there, and the image of woodwork surrounding you gives you a feeling of calmness. The resort is simple and homey.

Touring Bohol is not such a gigantic task to do without hiring tour guides. A simple glance on the internet and, voila!, you have a complete itinerary. So what we did was we rented a motorcycle to go around. Just as long as you have someone with you who knows how to drive a motorcycle, it's as easy as 1-2-3. If you prefer to rent a car/van instead, there are a lot offering those, too, as rental vehicles are very well known in Bohol.

The very first trip we made was the Blood Compact located along the East Road. Keep your eyes open for this site as you could just pass by the area without noticing it was there. In our case, we had to ask around and had to make a u-turn as we'd mistaken it for a construction site, since a building was being put up right beside it. Here it is said that this is where the native Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi swore allegiance on March 16, 1565. In the local language, this is known as Sandugo.

The next leg of the journey was the Baclayon Church, still along the East Road, one of the oldest churches in Bohol. You can see the passage of time thru its facade, although you cannot help but admire that this church stood strong admidst time and the attacks of the changing weather. The inside was basked with a different aura, one that was reverent and creepy at the same time. Different saints can be found on the sides of the altar and in one portion of the church. The altar was a magnificent view, filled with history and awe. Mosaic glasses cast solid colors on the church interior exhibiting an artwork of sorts. Indeed, it could be considered an historical museum, withstanding centuries of decay.

 

Our next stop was the Loboc Floating Restaurant, located at Loay Interior Road. This is one of the famous tourist destinations where people would definitely flock and, of course, wouldn't want to miss in their itinerary of go-to's. With different restaurants offering different food choices, you'll never run out of a floating resto to go to. Upon arrival, you pay for your meal at the resto of your choice and they let you ride on the floating resto. It is buffet style so you can binge up as much as you want. Make sure, though, that you check your seat number, as seats are assigned to avoid chaos. Once the ferry is full, you start your tour of the Loboc River. Eating while cruising along with your hubby, family or friends is not the only thing you do while floating around. Along the way, they make a stop and some native dancers would perform a sing/dance combo. The length of the whole ride from and back to the starting point was about 45 minutes, which gave us enough rest for the next leg of the trip.

The next is the most famous and picturesque view in Bohol - the Chocolate Hills in Carmen. The drive to the Chocolate Hills was quite a long one. Driving along Loay Interior road, you pass by Bilar Manmade Forest, along the border of Loboc and Bilar towns. This forest is made up of mahogany trees, which was a reforestation plan in response to the deforestation in Loboc. Spanning 2 kilometers, the dense greenery gives you a cool break from the warmth penetrating your skin. As for our case, since we rode the motorcycle, the drop in temperature was evident and very much welcomed. Driving on, you pass by lots of recreational parks - butterfly sanctuary, tarsier sanctuary, animal farms, adventure parks, forest camps, etc. We did not drop by as we were excited to get to the hills. Now at the heart of Bohol, you would be amazed as one by one, the majestic hills would be seen on the fields on both sides of the road. You could feel how tangible the hills are. The Chocolate Hills can be viewed from one of the hills. At the top, you climb up the stairs to get a better view. Once there, you can take pictures, the most famous of which is the jump shot. I, myself, did not allow that to pass me by. Being up there, looking at nature and thinking how unfathomable it is, is a good way to relax and meditate and just be one with nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the urban jungle.

Bilar Manmade Forest

A jump shot is a must ^.^

On our way back to Panglao, we passed by the Bamboo Hanging Bridge, along Sevilla Road. Two bridges hang there: one for going to the other side, and one for coming back. The Loboc River flows underneath. On the other side, the Guinness world record holder, the Coconut Man of Bohol, was stationed, waiting for tourists to watch him peel a fresh coconut with his bare teeth in just 20 seconds. You'd have to give him a tip, though, for exhibiting his rare talent. 

Bamboo Hanging Bridge

Our next stop was the Tarsier Foundation. There are a lot of Tarsier Foundations in Bohol, considering these creatures are indigent on the island. Tarsiers are tiny nocturnal creatures resembling monkeys, and all species are living in the islands of Southeast Asia. They prey on insects, but sometimes take on birds and lizards, as well. These creatures can fit in the palm of your hand; however, touching/holding them is prohibited since they get stressed and would eventually commit suicide, which is a sad fate.

Our last stop, which is on the Island of Panglao in Dauis, was the Hinagdanan Cave. This underground cave has a pool with seawater in it. Tourists are allowed to swim and enjoy the stalactites glaring above you (^.^). According to the locals, this underground cave was discovered when a farmer poked his staff on the ground and found a hole. When he tried to drop some stones into the hole, he heard a splash from below and discovered that a body of water was lying underneath the ground he's standing on. Now there are two holes and the openings are where the seawater enters and fill in the pool. However, on our visit, there was no water pouring in as it was low-tide during that time.

With our last leg of the journey completed, it was time to head back to the resort and call it a day. Our arses were so sore from the whole day exploration, but indeed, it was all worth it. The following day, we enjoyed the sun and the sea and we lounged around, until it was time to leave and head back to the forest of metal and concrete. 

Bolod Beach Resort

Here is our route map:
Note: This does NOT indicate the EXACT location. It is just an estimation, in relation to the other sites.