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Vincent Vanderveken.com

Take some time to see the world a bit before you leave it

Bohol

Bohol

by Vincent November 25, 2007
by Vincent November 25, 2007 6 comments

Bohol the tenth biggest island of the Philippines (out of ± 7107) is situated just south of Cebu city has a wide array of possible attractions. The thing I loved about it is that you can start (and end) your days laid back on a fabulous white sand beach enjoying a Piña Colada while feeling you’ve actually done some mileage and accomplished something during the daytime. There is a lot exploring to do on the ever changing scenery of this captivating island.

The island of Bohol here taking the Loboc river cruise
The island of Bohol here taking the Loboc river cruise

We had an early start and departed from the Cebu city harbor at 6:00 AM with the fast ferry that reached the town of Tagbilaran in Bohol in just around 2 hours. This is by far for the price the best solution if you don’t want to lose half a day or more just reaching your destination.

Cruises come with a free buffet accompanied by a band (Here getting ready to play in the background)
Cruises come with a free buffet accompanied by a band (Here getting ready to play in the background)

The small island of Panglao where all the best beach resorts are is just a 20-30 minute ride from Tagbilaran. Now to get there the easiest way is to hire a car (you will be submerged with offers as soon as you walk off the pier) that will get you there for 200-300 pesos. It’s also a good idea to bargain for a driver for the day from the harbor since the prices will be cheaper than if you hire one via the hotel resorts of Panglao by 30-50%. Don’t be in a hurry the prices will go down from the initial 1500 to 700-800 in no time…

For more on Bohol beaches click on the image to go to my Panglao island post
For more on Bohol beaches click on the image to go to my Panglao island post

Now since a picture is worth a thousand words lets have a look at the Bohol portion of the trip shall we?


One of many Super Cat ferries at the Cebu harbor

One of many Super Cat ferries at the Cebu harbor

Approaching the Bay of Tagbilaran

Approaching the Bay of Tagbilaran

Inside Tagbilaran city (not my picture but I really loved the colorful tricycles)

Inside Tagbilaran city (not my picture but I really loved the colorful tricycles featured in it)

Scenery of the island of Bohol

Scenery of the island of Bohol

Driving in direction of Panglao island where we will be staying

Driving in direction of Panglao island where we will be staying

8:30 AM finally arrived at the Lost Horizon resort

8:30 AM finally arrived at the Lost Horizon resort

Now facing the other side..Not all that bad is it?

Lost Horizon Resort Beachfront

Catching a glimpse of one side of Alona beach

Catching a glimpse of one side of Alona beach

Ok, after a little walk around the beach time for breakfast then back on the road we go

Ok, after a little walk around the alona beach time for breakfast then back on the road we go

First stop: The Loboc river floating restaurant cruise

A really great experience for 250 pesos per person you get the all-you-can eat buffet with a small band playing on board while the boat slowly passes by the dense vegetation and mountains surrounding the river. You should also be charmed by the small picturesque nipa (palm tree) huts here and there along the way and especially the local kids swinging from the palm trees and diving into the water a mere few meters away from the boat. Just before the U-turn at the end of the river you’ll get a live performance of a mix of adults playing the yukalaylee and kids singing among other songs the “welcome, to my native land” with a slight touch of Cebuano accent.

First stop: The Loboc river floating restaurant cruise

Van-Van pouring herself some soup

Food on lombok river cruise

View of the boat from my seat

View of the boat from my seat of Lombok River Cruise

Hey it seems I am in good company! Feels good to be out of Cebu city at last during Vanessa’s day off work

Enjoying view Lombok cruise bohol

Crossing another boat on its way back


And two more it seems there are quite a few of these running around

Passing by other boats of Lombok River Cruise in Bohol

Bathers on the way… Notice the contrast in colors of the river

Contrast in colors along the river boat cruise Lombok

I would guess this is due to the rainy season & it’s rainfalls that bring mud into the water but your guess is as good as mine!

I would guess this is due to the rainy season & it's rainfalls that bring mud into the water but your guess is as good as mine!

Local kids going for a dive from the palm trees as the rain starts to fall. The good thing with tropical weather is this never really last long. By the time we get on the way back it will be all but a distant memory…

Local kids going for a dive from the palm trees as the rain starts to fall.

Going a bit more upstream

Going a bit more upstream Lombok river cruise

Here we stop for a halt to hear some locals playing music

Here we stop for a halt to hear some locals playing music

And back we go

On the way back down the Bohol river cruise

Now the next stop one of the countries most popular destinations : The Chocolate Hills

These quite unique 1260 or so 40 meters high hills are believed to have been formed by Limestone & coral deposit that were sculpted by thousands of years of erosion. They actually are pretty green at this time of year and not chocolate as their named would make you believe. This only occurs during the end of the dry season when the vegetation on the hills is roasted brown.

 The Chocolate Hills Bohol view

Bohol Rice field

Bohol Rice field

The local inhabitants version of the origins of these hills is a bit more romantic since the legend goes that they were calcified tears of a Giant who was heartbroken by the death his Mortal lover. Here are more pictures of the Chocolate Hills in from all sides taken from on top of the view point:


    Me at the hanging bridge over the Sipatan river (with as I noticed later by zooming in two Filipinos nicely posing in the back)

    Me at the hanging bridge over the Sipatan river (with as I noticed later by zooming in two Filipinos nicely posing in the back)

    The Tarsier: Often referred as the worlds smallest monkeys at around 10 cm tall they are in fact more closely related to lemurs with their weird looking over sized eyes

    Here is a cute little tarsier couple

    Here is a cute little tarsier couple

    Me with two of my new gremlin looking friends

    Me with two of my new gremlin looking friends named Tarsiers

    The two of them alone

    The two small tarsiers

    Each one of these little tarsier creatures eye is in fact bigger than its brain

    Each one of these little tarsier creatures eye is in fact bigger than its brain

    Not too lively during the day as they are active at night only

    Tarsier Not too lively during the day as they are active at night only

    Blood compact site depicting the scene where Spaniard Colon Legazpi & tribal chief Sikatuna officially ceased hostilities with the symbolic gesture of making ‘one blood’ by mixing both their bloods with wine and drinking to their new peace agreement.

    Blood compact site depicting the scene where Spaniard Colon Legazpi & tribal chief Sikatuna officially ceased hostilities with the symbolic gesture of making 'one blood' by mixing both their bloods with wine and drinking to their new peace agreement.

    AsiaBeach of the PhilippinesboholCebuIsland of the PhilippinesPhilippinesSoutheast AsiaVisayas
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    Vincent

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    6 comments

    SilkRoad February 14, 2008 - 11:47 am

    Nice photos. It seems you are very lucky and get to travel quite a bit.

    Reply
    John February 25, 2008 - 3:48 am

    Interesting photos, especially the tarsier up close

    Reply
    kb alberts February 25, 2008 - 11:34 pm

    hey, nice photos!…….i think Bohol is a very interesting place to visit. í definitely include it in our itienirary. We be in phils this summer. hope its not that hot otherwise we will melt. we are from a cold country of Iceland…..lol

    Reply
    Le August 25, 2008 - 9:53 am

    Hello Vincent. Thanks for the wonderful photos. Actually, I am from Bohol. I’m currently residing in Manila. I feel like I was home looking at those pictures. In no doubt, Bohol is one of the nicest places people have to go on vacation.

    Reply
    Bohol Diving September 23, 2008 - 11:26 pm

    The beauty of the island you captured in your photos makes Bohol seem like a worth while place to visit.

    Reply
    Bong Doronila November 4, 2008 - 1:38 am

    Thanks for the very beautiful pics. It’s kind of promoting my place.

    Reply

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