Philippine Holiday Part 3

We have to cut short our intended 6 days stay in Cebu.After 2 days,hubbys mood changed he does not seem to be enjoying our stay in the city center.I made him choose where he prefers to stay ,city center or beach resorts and he chose the first option. I guess he was also disappointed because we suppose to be with a friend in cebu that promised to take us arround but unfortunately she was called back to Manila while we were in Davao.Also,i think hubby was disappointed of Cebu because i told him lots of good memories about it and how i enjoyed my trips many years ago. I enjoy nature,sun and beaches whearas hubby a former seaman ( retired merchant marine officer ) he is not really very fond of the sea." 1 hour in the beach is enough, he would say to me " So you see,even if i wanted to be at the beach for the whole day,its not possible!

There was a travel agency near the hotel and i thought of taking hubby to another island.We made inquiries,booked for the ferry boat that would take us to a day trip to Tagbilaran,Bohol.Fortunetely for us ,the agency manage a seat for us for an early morning trip the following day.I think it was about an hour or hour and a half ride to the city of Tagbilaran,the capital of Bohol

Tagbilaran,Bohol

Bohol is an island province of Philippines and is the 10th largest island in the country.The most popular attraction is a natural wonder called the Chocolate Hills and the island of Panglao famous for its diving location and fine white sands,located just southwest of the city.

Upon arrival at the pier or port,there are many taxi/tourist drivers that are recognized by the authorities to take tourist around for a day tour to the island for a certain amount. I have to negociate for the amount,we paid 3,500 pesos + tip( +-50 euros which i think is too much)we still have to pay for the entrance fee, river cruise to Loboc River, 1,000 pesos / head,our lunch including the drivers lunch +- 2,500 pesos,so i guess we spend about 120-150 euros that day but worth the trip.although i would advise the would be travellers to this island to go for a package trip which would come out cheaper.



Our first stopover was a place "Sandugo" ( san means one ,dugo means blood) where the spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and the native king Datu Sikatuna of Bohol sealed their frienship thru blood compact cosidered to be the first international treaty of friendship between two people of different races.

Panglao Island is also seen in the backgroud.



Next stop,(photos above)was taken inside a 400 yr old the century old Baclayon Church/ Museum and another church convent as seen behind hubby´s photo.

Some photos were taken along the way

Here below, were photos taken at Loboc river during a cruise of the river up to its water source.We´ve also seen numerous caves and waterfalls along the way. Photo with the 2nd smallest primate in the world,the "Tarsiers" was taken before our cruise.



After the 30 minute river cruise,we were quite hungry and we were taken to another place where we can have a lunch buffet for 14 euros/head.Native dishes and local fruits only.Our favorite drink is the coconut juice taken straight from the tree.

With full stomach ,we then proceeded to the famous Chocolate Hills but first a stopover photo at the Mahogany forest a man made mahogany park.



The Chocolate hills is a natural wonder composed of 1,200 hills made of limestones leftovers from coral reefs during ice age when the island was submerged. The hills grass turn brown during summer days looking like chocolates,hence their name.
Note that photos of the hill were not chocolate coulored as photos were taken in Sept. still rainy season in Philippines



Last was a trip to cross the hanging bridge to see native craft on the other side. As we were already tired from our expedition of the day,we did´nt bother to see anymore what can be seen on the other side of the river. Took some photos then back at the port to wait for our ferry back to Cebu City.



The following day we were on our way to the airport to go back home to Manila the capital city of Philippines but to pass the time before the flight,we first went to the mall to have a manicure/pedicure ( hubbys favorite past time:) ),had our lunch after wards then back to the hotel to check out while our taxi driver is waiting outside to take us to the airport.Below are some more snap shots of the day up to the aircraft to fly us back to manila.





Next post will be about Manila

Philippine Holiday Soon!!

Finally, I will be going on holiday to Philippines few months from now. Actually it will be in December to spend christmas and new year with my family,Yuppeee!!!
I´ve been longing and looking forward for this ocassion as its been a long time since i last spend christmas holidays with my family.Hubby finally gave in to my request.

It was for this reason that i have´nt posted for long time,my head is always afloat and besides i´ve been busy preparing plans for our long holiday of 49 days.Hubby never like to be in one place during these times,there are still many places he must see that is why i need to plan everything for me also to have time to spend with my family.I always make it a point that we have few days all together in a certain place for outings.It has to be this way because my kids also work and dont have much to spend with us except during week ends or if hubby and I are not somewhere around.

During our last holiday in Sept.2006,hubby and I spent almost two weeks getting to know the Visayas and Mindanao region. Although i have been to some of those places,i have to revisit again to show him also places that i know he would enjoy.

The Philippines archipelago comprises of 7,107 islands, commonly divided into three island group,the Luzon,Visayas and Mindanao.I think i have been only to a hundreds of them therefore i am taking holiday opportunities with hubby to see more of my beautiful country.

Here are some 2006 photos taken during our 2 weeks visit in the two biggest island group outside Luzon where Manila is the Capital City.Manila is a very busy and buzzling city,a place where you will enjoy your shopping,good eateries,cultural visits.You may want to head south or north of manila for nature visits.

Philippine Eagle Park in Davao: a sanctuary for our endangered philippine eagle species Pls click photos to enlarged





The Crocodile Park in Davao







Malabagos Garden Resort and Nature Park,Davao


Me under a pergula covered with a beautiful bright red flower hanging above me whereas the other photois the resort garden restaurant where we had our lunch.


Here is a photo where the lady vendor was preparing a local fruit delight called Durian for hubby to taste.You should see his face when he tasted it,cant describe it!!



Hubby and I in our dream house ,the native house called Nipa Hut and in another photo with our native transport pulled by a carabao or rather water bufalo.This animal is also a good friend of our poor local farmers,the carabao is normally used by farmers to help prepare and till their lands before planting rice.

Last but not the least was an enjoyable day trip to Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Samal Island (originally a pearl farm before it was sold to a chain hotel)
Fee for a day trip was 1,500 Pesos or the equivalent of 23 Euros.Buffet lunch,boat trip to and from the resort,use of the resort facilities,all inclusive.all worth the trip!!




Before the boat ride and while we were inside the boat,coins were tossed to the water for the boys to dive into the water to get the coins before it plunges to the bottom.
Photos below were taken upon arrival at the resort,before and after diving into the pool and during a mouth watering buffet lunch after a swim.



Have to stop from here,this post has become too long again and also I filled it up with photos from philippines to show my dear readers the beauty of my country as seen by yours truly and of course by hubby!

Next post will be photos from Cebu City and Tagbilaran,Bohol