destination Bohol

When a friend/workmate asked if I wanted to go with her in Bohol I immediately packed my bags and withdrew all what was left of my meager savings.

I switched day off to Tuesday (from Sunday) as it was this friend's day off. But we left Cebu Monday afternoon after submitting our stories that we gathered very early that morning.

It was all travel. Kapoy but since we were there we had to do the most of that short stay (one and a half days).

In going to this friend's place we had to ride a tricycle to get us to the terminal of the PUJs that'd take us to Dimiao town which was over an hour away from Tagbilaran City. It was actually like going to Bogo or someplace north of my province, with the sea on your right side and the mountain on the other.

Finally, after what seemed like a trip to Hongkong (onboard a jeepney) we disembarked.

I was really glad the place where we stayed for two nights was so comforting. Comforting I say as when we were about to sleep, that was after enjoying the sea breeze while lounging at the back of her house, we were treated to a massage by the "attendants," this friend's helpers. hmmmmm...

The next day the field trip began. It was ala Amazing Race as we always fought against foreigners for bus seats, rode motorcyles for hire (habal-habal) and PUJs, and ate live worms (in my wildest dreams) just to see the cute tarsiers, and take a peak at their world renowned Chocolate Hills.

Exhausting (physically and financially) but fun. After visiting all the places and sites (mentioned below) we stopped over at Bohol Tropics Resort for a halo-halo. That was in Tagbilaran City, almost 2 hours away from Carmen town, where we came from to se the Chocolate Hills. The relaxing ambience of the resort and the refreshment were more than enough to compensate for the long trip and the achy muscles.

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The chocolate hills. When I was an inch small, my brain then was yet non-existent, I thought these hills were really chocolates. And when my brain was finally installed, thank You, I realized chocolates couldn't stand under the sunlight for so long without melting so they could not be real chocs. Real chocs are in Duty Free.



You have to climb the 204 or so steps to get a great glimpse of this wonder. The climb is not easy just be sure not to walk very fast or you find yourself catching your breath, which can be just a step or so behind you.




This is the top view. From here you see the entire place dotted with chocolate hills nga di makaon.




Tarsier. Adorable just like the gremlins. It's something you want to put in your bag and go home with it.




Mini Rice Terraces. Something that keeps you awake while traveling. This long stretch of rice field, just similar to the rice teraces in Banaue, is in the side of the road.



Loboc museum. This is just great! There were a lot of old pieces of religious icons, paintings, and other stuffs. The church building itself was so grand. The frescoed ceilings magnificent (even with the flakes hanging all over), the altar's architectural design was extraordinary (not just all carved and varnished old wood but with some glitters of gold paint or real gold, I don't know, we already left the tour guide at this juncture), everything was just peaceful and beautiful. And since our guide was already lost somewhere we went "upstairs" using the rickety stairs and saw that forbidden area, the attic littered with broken antique furnitures and bats' popo. After that tour my hands (which could not be kept from touching articles with "hands off please" signs) smelt like different, old wood or something polluted. No problem, alcohol was handy.



There was also the Damiao Church. Old and smelly and uncared for. Very sad for this century-old structure.

As timed, before Kim Sam Soon we were back in this friend's white house.

The next day (today), very early in the morning, we went back to Cebu to work and get paid. It's payday, thank You.