Bohol Chronicles: Countryside Treasures

Our arrival time in Cebu was 7 AM, October 26. I guess we didn’t have much idea about how beautiful this City is because we only got to stay for a day and a half on different dates ─ upon arrival and on our way back to the metro three days after. 

We boarded the Oceanjet at 2PM. By the way, let me just emphasize how exhausting our waiting (actually “wasteful”) time was in this port. Delays kept turning the passengers off. You may also add the port management’s lack of customer assistance ─ I went to their reception area with my both hands on my side, pissed! They made us wait for hours because of a certain group of Korean travelers. These people ruined the ferry schedule because they crazily opted to disembark (there’s nearly a hundred of them) just because the transport couldn’t accommodate their number at once. You wouldn’t believe how much time was wasted and how many people were troubled after the delays followed soon after their disembarkation. 

After being stuck at Cebu port for almost a day, we arrived safe and excited in Bohol. I could tell that the place has at least reserved its countryside atmosphere. Perhaps this is just one of the very few places without SM Malls, although I saw one small shopping center. I heard many times that provincial constituents decline the construction of big malls here because they want more to showcase the nearby beaches and montagne forests. We spent our first night and the next two days at Alta Tierra. 

Let me show you around the amazing city of Bohol.

The first place we visited was the Blood Compact Monument where Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and chieftain Datu Sikatuna tied their friendship.

In the nostalgic Baclayon Church we took gazillion photos pretending to be real models of this place. Its architecture perfectly describes the history of Spanish Jesuits who brought religious influence in the country. 

Just like what we have in the metro, Bohol got a zoo solely for this giant python named Prony. They feed her with 65 kilos of meat (chicken, pork, goat) every month. I remember what the caretaker said that day, Prony had just crawled out of its skin ─ meaning the snake was that time, hungry. I didn’t opt to enter its cage fearing that she’ll make some moves and harm us. But generally, she behaved on our visit. 

They said the area surrounding the man-made forest looks dark because of the tall trees. It was but an undeniably beautiful place! The mahogany trees lining up the sidewalks in a two-kilometer stretch made such a picturesque view and would leave you clueless that it’s artificially planted. One of the epic shots that every traveler would want to have is at the middle of the road. But sadly there came vehicles passing by one after another that made it so difficult for us to take our dream shots. 

I love butterflies and even prefer them over love birds on my wedding day. Visiting the (old) Butterfly Sanctuary here in Bohol amazed me more of God’s wondrous grace. Just imagine how beautifully created of their wings were and they never get to decorate themselves to be attractive, it’s just a gift and a bit of patience to wait for a long time being an ugly worm before it turns to a majestic form. 

We had lunch at Loboc River. Nothing really was extraordinary here except for the fact that you are on board a small covered raft while having your lunch. The river looks like (in my estimate) less than one fourth of the Mekong River in Vietnam.

Tarsiers look like little monkeys with the tail of a mouse. They’re cute and peaceful. I even saw one smiling sheepishly while asleep, embracing the branch of the tree. Visitors were briefed not to use flash when taking photos because these creatures are nocturnal animals. It would be a pain to surprise them with lights and stress could cause them immediate death. That’s how sensitive they are! 

Well of course, Bohol will not be Bohol at all without the famous Chocolate Hills. Believe me, the scenery at the height of nearly seven storey building, was awesome! Record says the hills actually total 1,776 but my eyes could see only a few. Perhaps it could be seen better on a top view. It was about to rain that time so we needed to wait for the dark clouds to disappear just so to take good shots of the scenery. 

Although such was a very tiring day, it engraved a memorable walk at this beautiful countryside. I have always wanted to rub elbows with the tarsiers and have photo souvenirs taken at the Chocolate Hills and today, this dream was granted. 

Not everything will be possible without the assistance of our tried and tested travel agent, WOWTrippers. They have been so helpful in bringing us from places to places, satisfied and hopeful for another wonderful trip with them.

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