Exploring the Beautiful Island of Bohol, Philippines

One of the most popular attractions in the Philippines that a local or a tourist would go to is the beach. But among the thousands of islands, Alona Beach is one of the most visited by foreign nationals. Not only because of its sparkly white sand and turquoise clear water but because of its well-maintained and highly-secured surroundings.

My husband and I visited Panglao in January, 2011 and we stayed in a British-owned resort in the village of Tawala which is about 100 meters walk to the beach. There are probably more than ten resorts on that village alone that are being owned and operated by foreign nationals who are married to locals. What surprised me even more was the sight on the beach, we were the only Filipinos walking on the shore so I whispered to my husband, "Babe, I feel like I am the foreigner here."

All the resorts cater a variety of activities that suits your days of stay. Most of them includes dolphin watching, island hopping, snorkeling, diving and private tours to local attractions like the must-see Chocolate Hills, the Bee Farm, Hinagdanan Cave, Blood Compact site to name a few. But you can also shop around and do your own adventure which we opted as we thought it would be more exciting.

We arrived on a drizzly Wednesday afternoon in Tagbilaran City airport and were greeted by the resort's chauffeur. The beautiful landcape along with the coconut trees towering on the sides of the road took my breath away. After a half an hour drive, we then arrived at the elegant, clean and modern Panglao Regents Park resort. I can say that the room rates are very reasonable, the service is excellent, the staffs were very accomodating, friendly and helpful.

The following morning, we decided just to explore the island. Having in mind to have breakfast on the sand, we left the resort before 9AM. While walking and discussing what to eat a local approached us if we wanted to hire a motorcycle. We thought it was a good idea so we can just go to places randomly during the day. We spent our morning by taking photographs on the beach, pampering our feet on the white sand, starfishing, climbing the rocks and chatting with the locals for tips of the must-see attractions in the area. Although it was a cloudy day and forego swimming, we still got sunburnt because I forgot to pack a sunscreen lotion. I was laughing at my husband because he got a tattoo outlining his undershirt plus a peeling scalp after a few days.

One popular site we were curious to see was the Bee Farm. The small road was really rough, you might end up having labor pains if you were heavily pregnant. I was complaining about the rideand I felt like it was the longest trip but when we got there, I was so relieved we kept on going. It wasn't only about the bee-farming tour that caught our attention but the showcasing of some Filipino traditions and culture like weaving, basket-making, sewing and painting. The souvenir and speciality shops also offers plenty of local items to choose from. The climax of this tour was the chance to taste the an ice cream that is mouth-watering, organic and exotic. Well, it was worth the pain!

We also went to Hinagdanan cave where I was pursued by a pearl vendor selling old and rusty ornaments. To avoid this experience, I suggest that you buy souvenirs from the booths and don't entertain someone selling stuffs on the parking area. Also, if you're planning to buy a variety of Bohol mementos, this is the best place to get them. The cave wasn't very interesting, all that you see are wasted stalagmites and stalactites.

For all the ladies who are visiting the island, try this trick if you want to see how brave your man is. Bring him to a wild life park and ask him to take a picture beside a python in its cage or take a photograph together while holding a brightly colored snake. I wonder what would be his facial expression or who will be protecting whom. The miniature zoo(I can't recall what it's called) was only 15 minutes away from the cave. There are several animals to be seen like crocodiles, ostrich, tarsier, flying lemurs, wild birds and others.

What I enjoyed most was the food - delicious, enticing to look at and fresh seafoods and tropical fruits. To get the best meal without breaking the bank, ask around and try a few restaurants. If you're lucky you might enjoy the seasonal tropical fruits in the area like lanzones that usually comes from the nearby island of Camiguin. Mangoes and coconuts are in season all year round so mango shakes and young coconut juice are always one of the best-selling drinks.

Culture, Fun and More

On the third day, we were able to find a very kind local tour guide and offered a value-for-money adventure to the famous Chocolate Hills, the tarsier sanctuary, the hanging bridge, Loboc River cruise, Baclayon church, the historical blood-compact site of Legazpi and Sikatuna, the longest python in Bohol, the man-made forest and Bayoyoy, a man with dwarfism.

The blood compact site is a good location to view the bay separating Panglao Island and the rest of Bohol. Baclayon church is one of the oldest church in the Philippines. Tarsiers are one of the cutest creatures I've ever seen but they are highly sensitive to human exposure. In the sanctuary, they discourage camera flash and touching the tarsiers as they both can cause stress to these primates. You can play all you want with the lizard though.

The hanging bridge is made of bamboo which can be scary with first-timers. When we were crossing the bridge, a group of foreign nationals were behind us. I'm not sure whether they were a bit drunk of just over excited that they just decided to jump up and down which resulted to loud screams from others crossing the bridge. At the other end there was a small delicacy and gift shop but I opted to get myself grilled bananas also called locally as "ginanggang".

Lunch time is the best time to do the Loboc River cruise. There are several agents to choose from that offers different kind of lunch packages. Get the one that offers the best variety of food that you like to eat while cruising. Some of them have entertainment on board so it really feels like you're having the best day of your life because even if it's all about having fun, it also shows the hospitality and richness of Filipino culture. If you haven't been to a festival or fiesta in a small village in the Philippines, this is where to experience it.

Of course, last but not the least is our trip to the famous Chocolate Hills. We were very lucky that it was still sunny when we get there and since it was only January, the hills were green. There are thousands of them scattered all over Bohol and it was so breathtaking to be on top of the viewing deck and see in person the magnificent view. Bohol is so blessed that the hills chose to surface in her land. What a beautiful display of nature's finest work of art!

Another fascinating place to visit is the Butterfly Conservation Center where they preserve, do research and breed butterflies and moths in their natural environment.

Lots and Lots of Adventure with a Twist

If you are looking for extreme adventure then Danao is the place for you. It is a two-hour travel from Tagbilaran City and some roads can be really rough. They offer numerous type of exciting activities to plump for of jump for. The best and the most challenging of them all is the 45 meters bungee jump. If you're up for a challenge especially if you're a man, this is for you. I literally mean it! Based on the record, there are more women who took the plunge as compared to men. That's why my husband went for it although he has a fear of heights. They say that you're not paying for the jump but for the experience in which I absolutely agree. As a proof of bravery, they give you a certificate that you can show to your friends.

River kayaking is very relaxing and fun thing to do with your spouse. It can turn out to be smooth-sailing or splash-adventure for first-timers. Paddling against the current can be a real challenge and if you panic you might crash into the tree branches and get a free facial wash with a whip on the face.

If you have fear of heights, the best way to conquer it is by doing the two-way zip linewhich is half a kilometer from one mountain top to another. I really enjoyed this ride and the spectacular bird's eyeview of the ravine and the river below. At the other side you can also see the beautiful view of Danao's neighboring towns.There's also a ride just for kids called ziplet.

You can also try other activities like rappeling, sky ride, wall climbing, camping, caving among others that if if you have more than a day to spare. Don't worry, accomodations are available within the vicinity for your convenience.

On the way back to Tagbilaran City, our guide brought us to Mag-aso Falls which is located in a secluded village in the town of Antequera. The road was very narrow and it was a struggle to get the vehicle through it. A horse or carabao could have done a better job. But mind you, the waterfall was just stunning. It was a priceless treat just to hear the water cascading, the birds chirping and the fragrant smell of the forest. It could have been a perfect if we got the time to swim on it.

What to bring

- camera (the best one you can get!) or video camera

- extra clothes

- sunglasses

- sun screen lotion

- spare footwear on a rainy day, your good shoes might get stuck in the mud!

IMPORTANT  REVIEWS

Flight - Plan ahead, make sure you compare airfares from several airlines. You can check online for special offers from Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific. Once you found an good offer(below 2000 pesos return flight or about $46) , book it right away as they won't last long. Travel time is just an hour from Manila.

Airport transfer - If you have booked accomodations in Panglao, they charge 500 pesos(around $12) in addition. But if you're just staying in the city it is free.

Transport - Hiring a private car for the tours is an excellent idea, you can choose your own itinerary and there was no pressure of how much time you want to spend in a certain place. There are a lot of surprises that you can come across with. Nothing can beat spur-of-the-moment decisions! The cost depends on the destination and vehicle type. If it's a tour that includes Chocolate Hills, it's 1500 pesos($34) for a car rental. Danao tour is more expensive, it's around 3000 pesos($68) for a car.

Accomodation - From personal experience, Panglao Regents Park is a very elegant yet reasonably priced resort compared to other resorts near Alona Beach. On the contrary, I don't recommend Wregent Plaza Hotel in Tagbilaran City. It was mainly because of poor housekeeping - the room and everything that you see in it are untidy, old and dusty.

Tour entrance fees - Most of them aren't free of charge but they are within reasons and very affordable ranging from only 10 pesos more or less.

Danao adventure - The list of adventures and their corresponding rates can be viewed at the official website(www.eatdanao.com).