Around Bohol in Two Days: Day One

Phileas Fogg circumnavigated the globe in eighty days. My friends and I (almost) toured around Bohol in two days. 

I just have to open this entry with those line to make the literary connection stronger. ANYWAY, for a window of a few days I was able to have a Christmas getaway with my friends in the Visayas region; and since we've been trying to visit all the provinces of the Philippines, we've chosen Bohol as our destination for the holidays.

Some serious planning went in there. 

We only have forty-eight hours to conquer as much of Bohol so we planned months before the trip: booking the airplane tickets months ahead and availing of airfare promos (got a ticket for a MNL-CEB-MNL flight for 3252.92), reserving a tour van to take us around the places we planned to visit; and doing a detailed itinerary for our stay in Bohol. We've booked flights on a certain sunshine-y yellow airline so expect delays if you do the same. To make up for the wasted time on flight delays, make allowances on your schedule to buffer such nuisances. It's highly recommended to hire a tour van (for 917/pax for a group of six for two days) if your planning to visit the tourist spots across Bohol in a tight schedule because asking for directions will add up to your downtime, which could have been spent taking a quick nap in the van in preparation for your next destination. 

Ask for Kuya Dodong as your driver as he is sure to deliver good service

Taking a groupie in the middle of the street. We missed each other that much.
(c) Cayton

For our first day, we shuffled our itinerary to visit places that were meant for our second day because of the un(?)expected delay on our flight to Cebu. From MCIA, we went straight to Port of Cebu to ride a motorized boat to Tubigon, Bohol for 225 pesos, and an additional 20 pesos for the terminal fee. From the Port of Tubigon, Kuya Dodong, our very amiable tour van driver, picked us up (even waiting for hours because of our delayed flight) and we went straight to our first destination: Punta Cruz Watchtower and Maribojoc Uplifted Ridges at Barangay Santa Cruz, Maribojoc, Bohol.

Mother Nature's receding hair-, er, coastline

The Maribojoc Uplifted Ridges is brought about by the very same earthquake that destroyed most of the churches in Bohol. The seabed rose causing the coastline to recede, leaving the Punta Cruz Watchtower meters away from the shore. Cottages were set up near the cliff, supposedly by the waters, for rental at the rate of 100 pesos where tourists can bring their lunch and eat, which we did. Although it now overlooks the raised seabed, the view from the cottage is still spectacular, even unique because of the seabed (see picture above), and the winds are just as breezy as when the coast must have been closer (but perhaps, less mistier).

The Punta Cruz Watchtower still standing despite obvious damage after the devastating 2013 earthquake that shook Bohol that left most of its historic churches in ruins.

After lunch, we went to Hinagdanan Cave situated at the Panglao Island of Bohol. It was named so because of the ladder that is used by the visitors to access the cave. For 25 pesos/pax, a very lively guide will help you navigate the cave and be your equally lively photographer. The cave has beautiful stalagmites and stalactites that seem to reach for one another while being lit by natural light from holes in the ceiling. It also has a lagoon at the center with water so clear, you can see the green limestone several feet below. For more adventurous people, you can take a dip in the cool waters for 100 pesos.

Dem stalactites
(c) Cayton

I bet you won't leave the cave without doing such a pose (or a variation of it).
(c) Cayton

Off we then went to Nova Shell Museum, still in Panglao Island. For an entrance fee of 30 pesos, you get to feast your eyes to a plethora of shells of varying colors, shapes and sizes. From the magnificent chambers of a nautilus shell to colorful bivalves and wonderful specimens of the genus xenophora (my personal favorite), the Shell Museum sure has it. A guide will also direct a tour around the exhibits, dropping nuggets of information ("Did you know that the color of the pearl depends on the color of the shell['s mother-of-pearl] and that all mollusks have the ability to make pearls") every now and then. 

Shells of all sizes and shapes! They got it all for you!

Told ya!

Even Nemo(-colored) shells!

The Museum also has an adjacent souvenir shop where you can buy various trinkets like mother-of-pearl bangles to turtle-shaped memento from cowrie shells. Included in the entrance fee is a visit to their tree house which holds an airy view from the top which is a good resting place after that neck-craning viewing experience of the shells in the museum and some street-wise haggling at the souvenir shop.

Teenage Mutant Cowrie Turtles

TREE HOOOOUSE!

Panglao beach is our next destination and the sand at Alona Kew White Beach Resort does not disappoint. With fine white sand at your feet and a setting sun in front of you, I wasn't surprised that I went straight to the water to dip my water-loving feet, at the very least (can't take a dip because of the tight schedule. Sad.) 

Sadly, I can only dip my feet in the waters. There will always be a next time.

Despite this bummer, we were in for some treat in the form of a The Buzz Ice Cream kiosk! For forty pesos, you can have a scoop of smooth coco rhum with a slight kick or spicy ginger for some real kick. Dragonfruit, anyone? Or maybe an avocado scoop in all its creamy goodness? And they use cab-cab cones (deep-fried cones made from cassava starch) which makes the experience a truly unique one. Since then, I would look at ice cream shops and get depressed by the fact that The Buzz Ice Cream doesn't extend their creamy reaches in Luzon. 

However, what's next on our itinerary sure had me giggling like a little kid on the morn of Christmas Day: Bohol Bee Farm! Still in Panglao Island, the Bohol Bee Farm is the home of The Buzz Ice Cream and more products that will surely bring the sweet tooth in you. The aptly-named 'The Buzz Shop' sells honey as their main product (which comes in wild and other varieties) but they also sell spreads, chips, and even wine that contain honey! There are taste samples for almost every product so taste all you want! They also sell coffee, tea and tablea to complete your set of a perfect snack. 

Pure BEE-ss :">

As if this place isn't awesome enough, they have a very beautiful dining area overlooking the sea which you wouldn't be able to access without passing through their beautiful reception area. Definitely a place to take a breather. And they have board and lodging facilities in the area if you want to extend that breather. 

Reception area with a beautiful pool. Enhanced by a beautiful group pose.
(c) Cayton

And there's more: NO ENTRANCE FEES! :D
(c) Cayton

And that's just day one, people! Day two adventures on the next entry! See you next post!

- Paulo