Bohol Paradise

A world-class stunning resort in Panglao by the name of Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa.

I have heard this is similar to Amanpulo, wherein you pay not in Philippine peso, but in US Dollar ranging from $500 to $3,800, whoaw. Hope to experience this awesome resort in Panglao.

The beautiful Bohol was the destination for this year’s HSBC Nature Trip. It’s an annual thing bringing staff volunteers to different provinces in the Philippines where environmental awareness is being promoted. I am one of the lucky staff this year!We stayed in Bohol Bee Farm where everything is bee-and-honey-themed. It’s definitely a beautiful place with fantastic people, a great view and good food – I just love the honey-and-cheese muffins!

Cambuhat River – we trekked the still waters of Cambuhat river riding a 2-seater banca. One wrong move and you’re swimming in the oyster-inhabited river! The villagers welcomed us with a hand-made oyster necklace and a cultural dance. Best part? They served us a very yummy seafood feast! I was kinda hesitant to try the ‘takla” (a cross-over of shrimp and lobster) though – but definitely, it tastes better than it sounds.

Loboc River – my favorite part of the trip is when we cruised this river riding a floating restaurant. I had this surreal feeling while trekking the Loboc River and being serenaded by a local villager. Our raft even came across another similar one with only two guests on board—yes, a couple! It was so sweet.

Dauis Church – known for the miraculous water from its in-house well, this church also appeals tourists for its amazing structure. The bell-tower located at the back of the church is definitely a must-see.

Baclayon Church – the second oldest stone church in the Philippines (the San Agustin Church in Intramuros is the oldest) which stands alongside its museum is also a must-see. The Museo houses a variety of antique church artifacts – from the song books to the priest’s chair (I really don’t know what it’s called). On the way to this church, we saw a century old balete tree which is said to be so big that 10 persons can fit inside.

Read Read of Entry

We woke up at 5:30 to catch the sunrise. Joy and Lyca swam, while I walked further along the beach to take pictures. While taking a picture of the sunrise, the man nearby asked me, “You like taking pictures?”I knew that the Filipino tourist had mistaken me for a foreigner. I said, “Yes, and I’m a local!” For a moment he was taken aback. I could not fault him for his mistake. Everyone else did in Bohol. The first time Joy and I went down the beach, a boatman had asked us, “Japanese, Korean, Chinese?” We sisters laughed and said, “No! Pinoys!” And they were surprised to hear us talk to them in Bisaya.

Leo, the fellow sunrise photographer, told me he thought I was Vietnamese. I had worn my Mao cap and eyeglasses that morning.It was going to be a long day for us because we would tour Bohol’s famous sights. Mang Domeng would be our driver and tour guide. The seven-stop itinerary was standard: Blood Compact Site, Baclayon Church, Giant Python, Loboc River Cruise, Tarsier, Chocolate Hills, and Hanging Bridge. The Blood Compact Site we decided to see last to get a headstart on the crowd.

Read the rest of the entry

This is a post by ScreenSucked 

I just recently spent my summer vacation in Bohol and I want to share the my experiences to the whole blogosphere and to anyone who’s planning to go there.

Let me make it clear: Bohol is a very fine place. It’s still not in the league of Boracay, but it’s definitely a step ahead of Puerto Galera. The places I was able to visit were Panglao Island and Alona Beach. Bohol seems to have a thriving diving industry since the beach front of Alona had numerous diving clubs.

Resorts

As far as the resorts I was able to stay in, Panglao Island Nature Resort is A+. Their service is great and the staff very friendly. Their facilities is also top-notch. While relatively pricier, I would recommend Nature Resort to anybody with extra cash to spend– It’s all worth it.

On the second day, I transferred to Alona Kew Resort in Alona Beach. I won’t be the first person to say that the difference between Alona Kew and Nature Resort is very glaring. It’s pretty understandable given their different price range, but there are better alternatives if you are planning to stay in the Alona Beach front. I’d recommend looking at Isis Bungalows or Lost Horizons. Better yet, check in to Alona Palm Beach Resort if you’re going on a splurge.

That’s it for now. I’ll continue tomorrow where I’ll be blogging about the tours and destinations in Bohol. I’ll even throw in a pic or two.

Read More of this Experience