Why Bohol is my Favorite Island in Visayas

As we travel,  we are opening our lives into an outside world that usually differs from the one we move in everyday. With this, we witness a lot of things that in a way change  our perception about people around us. Sometimes it even gives us a better vision of who we are or creates fond memories that can last a lifetime or perhaps, it leaves us a very good impression about the place and in an instant it becomes our favorite destination.

That's just exactly the way I feel about Bohol. I don't have a Boholano blood. I had only been there once and I must admit, I had been to only six provinces of  Visayas (the second  island group of the Philippines where Bohol is located) to date and I won't have so much basis for comparison but ever since I've set foot in Bohol, I just know this is a very special place. It is like falling in love, and my heart was captured at first sight. :)

I have many reasons why Bohol is my favorite but I guess, all will some up to only one point - I  learned that it is not only beautiful with the attractions it offer but the beauty also comes from its character.

Bohol is an amazing place. I've been to the usual tourist spots and it amazed me how environmentally rich this province is. White sand beaches and islands abound and I could still almost feel the fine white sand of Dumaluan Beach on my bare feet as well as the calm water engulfing the long crescent-shaped sand bar in Virgin Island. On my first day, I floated and just let myself be carried by the river flow of Mag-aso Falls.

                                       - the pristine Dumaluan Beach in Panglao Island Bohol -

I specially couldn't forget how exciting it is to see dolphins jumping and showing off in their natural habitat. I remember not being able to stop  jumping in our boat whenever I see one and I'm almost teary eyed with gladness (That's kind of shameful to admit but I'm an unpredictable cry baby). I was mesmerized by the teeming population of fish even in the shallow part of Balicasag Sanctuary. For a moment there, I experienced being friends with a lot of fish that dearly swam around me and willingly showed up for my video. Errr.. on second thought, maybe it was the bread we were holding they were after. Nevertheless, there is no question on how blessed Bohol is and admiringly, on how Boholanos take pride in protecting what was entrusted to them.




                                   - video from a shallow part of water in Balicasag Island -

The beauty of Bohol doesn't end in its bountiful marine life and relaxing beaches. It is also the only place here in the the Philippines where the  famous Chocolate Hills can be found, thousand of grassy hills that turn chocolate brown on dry season. I have a very clear remembrance of this attraction from my grade school textbooks so I couldn't really believe it when I was already in Sagbayan Peak  seeing the hills for real. Bohol is also a HOME for tarsiers, one of the smallest primates in the world. When I say home, it really means the word because by now, this is the only province in the country where tarsiers can still be seen and a sanctuary was built for them in Corella Bohol to help these creatures from going extinct. Honestly, I couldn't seem to end my list on what's wonderful about Bohol but I'm sure I only scratched the surface and is hoping to see more on my next visits.

With all the things I've mentioned, what really got into me is how clean and green Bohol is. With the whole second day spent in checking out the inland attractions, I've never seen a single plastic or any garbage in the roads and attractions we've passed by even if I was intentionally looking for it. I've stayed in a beachfront resort for two nights and never did I see any floating garbage in the sea or a pile of garbage in the area. I was told by the driver of the car we hired that the local/provincial government has a very stern policy regarding garbage disposal but personally, I believe that although strict implementation is helpful, positive results can be more attributed to the discipline of Boholanos. How could a river  have houses built just beside it and the river still is one of the cleanest I've seen in the country? On our last day there, we rode a ferry to Cebu and I was astounded seeing the water in Tagbilaran Port, it is clear I could see the rocks and a school of fish swimming in the shallow part of the water. I left Bohol  that day with great admiration and I could only secretly hope that's how things work everywhere in our country.

                                -  the clean and clear water of Tagbilaran Port on a hazy morning -

One unique fact about Bohol: All the tricycles I've ridden in Tagbilaran City have a bible passage printed in the body of the side car. Out of curiosity I asked about it from the drivers and learned that it is a city ordinance and is a requirement in getting a registration.

During my stay there, I observed that Boholanos are naturally religious and is deeply rooted in their faith. They have high regards with respecting rules as well and it extends even in churches where there are proper dress codes to obtain entrance. This is arguably one of the traits that make them special. I just feel that godly people oftentimes are also honest, committed, responsible and caring. That's also probably one of the reasons why Bohol continue to be a very beautiful place, because of people who care for it.

                                                      - beautiful churches of Bohol -

I witnessed how caring Boholanos are that they are sensitive to the needs of other people. It was the first time I experienced riding a vehicle where a driver (Kuya Edgar) stopped the car and gave way to a granny who looks like she wanted to cross a main road. No matter how simple the act is, I was touched by this gesture. This is something I don't witness often if not at all, in the place where I live. My family also experienced this caring through the staff of the apartelle we stayed in in Tagbilaran. This is a budget accommodation but the service that was provided to us was top notch, making my family feel like we're millionaires. That is something that's not easy to forget for a shy family that can only travel together once in a while. I became a more compassionate person because of that and I'm always inspired to provide the best customer service at work too. It is true that an encounter with few beautiful souls in one destination can greatly affect a person's whole perception about the place and that's what happened to me.

My stay in Bohol left me nothing but positive experiences and insights. I'm sure there are plenty of other destinations that also has a beauty to share since the Philippines is a naturally beautiful country. So if you ask me what sets Bohol apart from the others for me to love it so much? Simply because the beauty of Bohol was not only seen by my naked eyes but was also felt by my heart.







This is my entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers Blog Carnival for the month of September 2012 themed The Visayas Round-up. This month's host is Ding Fuellos of www.ThePinoyExplorer.com.

Dauis Church Complex

Believe it or not, Dauis Church as well as the convent and old bell tower behind it are all made of coral stones. The original church was built in 1697 using light materials by Jesuit missionaries. After the Jesuits left in 1768, they have been replaced by the Recollects who made the church their permanent residence. The present church was started to be built in 1863 and was completed after six years.

This church is an example of Neo-Gothic and Neo-Classic Archiecture. I've been to several old churches both in Iloilo and Manila but Dauis church has it's own beauty that's comparable to nothing else. On the ceiling, dome and altar are delicate painting that resulted from the artistic hands of Ray Francia and Canuto Avila. They worked on these paintings from 1919-1923.

Inside the church, my eyes were fixed to one of the confessionals, it is very intricate. These two confessionals are antique. I also noticed the wooded pulpit near the altar that was used way back in the Spanish times yet it's admirable that it remained functional.

The most surprising feature of the church though is the well that was formed near the altar, on the part of the floor that's opposite to the dome. Early writings note that it is a miraculous well and is the only natural source of fresh water in the whole of Panglao island as water obtained from other sources tasted salty. It is where the nearby town folks freely get their drinking water until it was once featured in a TV show. Our tour guide mentioned to us that since then, the church became more famous and are flocked by more tourists who wanted to fetch water from the well. To control this, the church started bottling the water. Anybody can request for it and they don't ask for payment but donations are accepted.

There is a stair on the side of the altar that leads to the higher end of the altar, where devotees of the Our Lady of the Assumption would have a chance to get near the image. There is a petition box where you can write and drop your prayers. In that sacred area, you'd also have the most beautiful view of the entirety of the church.

Going down, it directed us to the back door of the church where I was surprised by the view - healthy grass, pine and fire trees and the sea nearby is a wonderful sight. I also saw an old belfry on my left which is lower compared to the bell tower attached in the front facade of the church.

Walking on my right, there is an antique building (that I'm guessing is the convent). As mentioned earlier, it is made of coral stones with  stairs and balustrades made out of wood. On the ground floor is Cafe Lawis, with an old-fashioned interior. White cloths hang adorned the wooden ceiling, antique looking tables and chairs stand in the shiny wooden floor. The air is differently cold i that part of the building.  It's just sad that they were still closed when we got there, I wanted to try their Tsokolate Souffle. They open 11:30 AM and closes 10 PM everyday. Adjacent to the cafe is Handumanan, that sells crafts and other items perfect for pasalubong.

The area where the church stands is truly lovely. With the sea and trees surrounding the area, it felt very peaceful and I felt even closer to God. :)

To see more old Catholic Churches in Bohol, please click: The Old Churches of Bohol

Hinagdanan Cave, Another Must-see in Bohol

Hinagdanan Cave is an attraction found in the town of Dauis, the first of two towns in Panglao Island coming from the mainland of Bohol. It is usually included in Panglao Island tours. On our end, I made the itinerary and had included this in our whole day Countryside tour.

This is the last we visited and to my regret, we should have dropped by this place right after Dauis Church to have more time appreciating the place and taking decent photos as well. There's a pool of brackish and greenish clear water inside the cave where swimming is allowed as advised by the volunteer tour guide.  Having mentioned that this is a karst cave, I'm not really sure if it's safe to swim. If we happened to arrive earlier, I wouldn't care about my uncertainty though and just take a dip even for just few minutes. He also mentioned about the varying levels of the water depending on the tide which goes as high as 8-10 feet during high tide.

The cave has a main entrance which is about 3 feet in diameter.  Stone stairs and metal railings were set up so tourists can navigate the area safer since the floor is very slippery. It wouldn't take long before you reach the end of the cave as it is a small one but the stalactites and stalagmites around is simply worth the time for someone getting to this place. At the end, two small holes on the upper part of the cave are visible, partly illuminating the chamber of the cave. Those are the same holes instrumental to the discovery of the cave.

The guide explained that before the cave was discovered, the area was covered by thick vegetation. As the owner cleared the area so he can plant crops during the 16th century, he discovered two adjacent holes and got curious as to how deep the holes are. He threw a stone and was utterly surprised that he heard a splash, a hint that the stone dropped in a water's surface. Later that year, a tree standing in the vicinity died and the trunk had rotten, exposing another hole, bigger this time. The owner set up a ladder to check what's inside the opening and was amazed that a cave is actually under his land. The cave was named Hinagdanan, attributed to the ladder (called hagdan in local dialect) used to explore the cave. This information is also written on the sign post displayed right before heading to the opening of the cave.

Equally refreshing to the cave with a lagoon experience is Samboy who assisted us and fed us information about the cave. He is one of the volunteer guides (Yes, they are not being paid for what they are doing) that truly revitalized us from feeling so tired for the whole day tour by his comical comments and his very fun way of discussing quick facts about the cave. Having taught by an Italian tourist who is a photographer by profession, (along with other volunteers) he knows his way of effectively using a camera too. Next time you're there and found your guide doing a really great job, please don't hesitate to give a tip. They would really appreciate it. :)

How to go to Hinagdanan Cave


I won't be able to share how to go to this place via commute since this and all the other attractions I've visited in Bohol is a part of the itinerary for the whole day countryside tour I designed. We rented a vehicle with a driver that served as our tour guide as well. This is a a family get-away and not my typical backpacking trip so comfort is one of my top priorities arranging this trip. If you need information on who you can contact for renting vehicles, please check this link: Cars/Vans for Hire in Bohol.

The Philippine Tarsier, the Worlds Smallest Primate

The Philippine Tarsier is a definite reason why tourists flock Bohol. Although these animals can be found in Eastern Visayas area and some of Mindanao regions, (but not in any other parts of the world) it is only in Bohol where there is a sanctuary established specially for their protection from extinction.

Philippine tarsier is a nocturnal primate (meaning they have a highly developed brain and intelligence that allows them to adapt their behavior successfully with different environments just like humans) Cool isn't it? These creatures are also highly sensitive that they would be committing suicide once stressed. That's one of the reasons why tourists in Bohol are strictly restricted from touching them. The local governments of Loay and Loboc, two towns in Bohol, also banned the display and possession tarsiers in the town's vicinity.

There was a time that the tarsier population had been threatened into extinction. With that, the Philippine Government passed and created laws that prohibits the hunting, wounding, killing or possession of the tarsier unless for educational and conservation research purposes in 1997.

To see tarsiers in Bohol, you can visit The Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary located in Corella Bohol. Here, 100 tarsiers are being kept, fed and bred. They are able to roam and live their life freely on a lush forested area where the only barrier is a 7-foot fence installed around the area to protect them from predators. We didn't have enough time and we're not able to drop by the sanctuary but our guide dropped us at a place where they were displaying two tarsiers and a flying lemur. I personally prefer if they don't have this place but maybe, they got a special permit from DENR. One of the tarsiers looked sick and disturbed so we didn't really get near it.

The Philippine Tarsier is an interesting species. It is really small about the size of a man's fist yet it can jump up to 5 meters. Helping it quickly spot food at night wen they are awake is a set of big eyes that looked disproportional to it's head. I find it cute though and it reminds me of my puppy love, lol! These eyes can't be rolled or moved like human's do but to compensate for that, they can rotate their head on a 180 degrees angle.

Seeing these cute yet shy creatures for the first time is definitely a wonderful experience. Don't miss out on seeing them when you step in the province of Bohol. :)

How to get to The Tarsier Sanctuary

I won't be able to share how to go to this place via commute since this and all the other attractions I've visited in Bohol is a part of the itinerary for the whole day countryside tour I designed. We rented a vehicle with a driver that served as our tour guide as well. This is a a family get-away and not my typical backpacking trip so comfort is one of my top priorities arranging this trip. If you need information on who you can contact for renting vehicles, please check this link: Cars/Vans for Hire in Bohol.

Bohol's Bilar Man-made Forest

Whether you like it or not, everyone who is going on a countryside tour in Bohol would surely pass by the man-made forest found in the town of Bilar for this highway is your gateway to more of Bohol's attractions. On my end, I just didn't like it, I loved it! We got off the car and I was amazed how trees formed a canopy, blocking and screening the  hot rays of the sun from reaching the ground. I was pretty sure that temperature exceeded 32 degrees that very sunny day since the heat awaken my migraine causing me to have a terrible headache. It was different under the towering trees though, it gave me the illusion that it's already almost dusk and the place is just so revealingly relaxing. I wish I could have set-up my hammock and slept on the shade. :D

This forest is admirable knowing that it is a result of  successful reforestation efforts inspired by the National Government and was conducted with the help of the provincial government. During the war period in the 40's, several locals hid on the deep of the forests of the mountainous regions and burned some forested area to plant crops for food (kaingin). Eventually, the war ended and during the 60's, cutting down trees and kaingin were  strictly prohibited and reforestation had been a serious business in the province. It all started with the planting of tree seedlings in a barren area of about 857 square meters which now grew to an area of approximately 800 hectares. Trees are 80% mahogany and the remaining are mixture of other tree species. From what I have been informed, planting trees in the area is still on going, as this is one of the "requirements" for senior highschool students in Bohol before they graduate. They are given options on whether to plant a mahogany tree in the land or a mangrove in the river areas. I haven't validated that information though.

Whenever I think about this forest, I see it as a celebration of Boholano's cooperation and discipline. If only we, who live in different parts of the Philippines can plant at least a ratio of one tree to one person on where we live, and make sure the tree grows fully, then I could already imagine a more beautiful and healthy Philippines. I hope my dream doesn't end here.

Getting to Bilar's Man-made Forest


I won't be able to share how to go to this place via commute since this and all the other attractions I've visited in Bohol is a part of the itinerary for the whole day countryside tour I designed. We rented a vehicle with a driver that served as our tour guide as well. This is a a family get-away and not my typical backpacking trip so comfort is one of my top priorities arranging this trip. If you need information on who you can contact for renting vehicles, please check this link: Cars/Vans for Hire in Bohol.

Hiring a Car for Bohol Tours

Visiting Bohol proved me that public transportation is something that their provincial government may work on. Bus and jeep schedules going to different towns are rare, something ironic for a touristy place like this.

Visiting most of the inland attractions in just one day, I realized it would be very hard if not impossible to do it the same way when commuting. The truth is, I'm a number one fan of commuting and do it your self travels. I believe that besides having to spend less, I'll have a better chance of truly experiencing the culture of an area by traveling like how the locals do, then mingling with them. 

I don't like getting tours. I see it as a grand way of burning hard earned money specially if you have company you can split the bills with. If you feel the same way, an option in Bohol is to rent a car or van with a driver that would be your tour guide as well. That way, you won't have to worry of the time since you'd be allowed to do the tour at your own pace.

When we went to Bohol, I contacted Kuya Tatsky for both country and island hopping tour. I had the itinerary set the second day for island hopping and third day for the country tour. Since he texted me on the second day, right when we were supposed to sail for the sea, that the boatman he contacted for us cancelled, (the reason provided to me is the rough waves which I felt isn't accurate specially I saw several tourist boats went to the sea that same morning). I got pissed off but decided to just interchange our itinerary so a day won't be wasted just bumming at the resort. We did the country tour first. Since that's  not the original date we've agreed on, it turned out Kuya Tatsy was not available for that day but referred us to his comrade, Kuya Bogart. The tour went well. Kuya Bogart had been nice and imparted us a lot of interesting information on each and every attraction we've visited. He was also helpful in capturing our family photo and my solo pictures in Baclayon Church. I requested him to pass by the old churches if there's one near the area, the reason why I was able to post an entry on Bohol's old churches. At the end of the tour, I asked for his number but he gave me Kuya Tatsky's calling card so I guess, he works for him. Kuya Bogart drove a Toyota Innova which is good for 5 to 7 people. We paid Php2,900 for the whole day including Mag-aso Falls which is on a different route from the rest of the other attractions. Comparing it to others I've contacted prior to the trip, that's the lowest rate.

Another person to contact is Kuya Edgar Arce. I'd actually recommend him based on my family's experience.

Coming from the airport, we needed a service to transport us to Whites and Greens, a beach front resort in Panglao Island. I contacted the resort for that and they aranged it for us. Stepping out from the airport building, Kuya Edgar is already waiting on the car park area holding a board that says, Welcome to Bohol, Pang Seguban and Company. It was cute specially he was wearing a Bohol shirt. He drove a silver Toyota Innova. The resort charged us Php500 one way but since we stopped by Bohol Bee Farm for lunch and stayed there for a while before heading to the resort, we were asked to add Php300. Kuya Edgar is very professional, polite and has a sense of humor. He always have an amusing story to share.  He was there to just transport us to the hotel yet when we passed by the center of Tagbilaran City, he quickly gave us some trivia about the city. He also never failed to open and close the car's door for us, something I feel like he didn't have to do anymore yet he was always prompt and seemed like he's happy doing it. I felt pampered. We also got him to drive for us from the resort to a hotel in Tagbilaran city. We requested him to kindly drop us to a bank first so my sister can withdraw money. He was very accommodating with our request. Knowing that we needed a ferry ticket going to Cebu early the following day, he volunteered driving us to the port first so we could already buy the tickets in advance. We didn't ask him for that, he is just really wonderful and even accompanied me and my sister inside the port. I noticed that a lot of people there knew him. I like Kuya Edgar, I think he is cool and like me, knows what customer service is all about. What I appreciate the most is him stopping his car for a moment to allow an elderly to cross the busy street. I feel like  most Filipino drivers nowadays have already forgotten about their manners when they start hitting the road. I recommended him to my friend who visited Bohol recently and she told me he was really nice. I'll surely contact him the next time I go back to Bohol.

We're five adults traveling so considering that, I believe what we paid is reasonable. If I'm traveling alone or with just Nikko though, I'll probably hire a motorcycle to make it cost efficient for the two of us. That's another option when touring the province. 

Mellow Apartelle and Tourist Inn - An Affordable Lovely Accommodation in Tagbilaran City

I've never had any budget accommodation experiences as pleasant as my stay in Mellow Apartelle. It's a given, I'm easy to please and I don't expect much specially if I'm not paying much. However, Mellow Apartelle far exceeded my expectations that I'm writing this for them.

Prior to my family's trip in Bohol, I know we'd need to stay for a night in Tagbilaran City to make it faster catching up with the ferry's earliest trip going to Cebu City the following day. I did research on the accommodations in the city that can accommodate the five of us comfortably without having to pay much. I kept Mellow in mind but didn't make the reservation yet. I haven't found a single traveler's review about their place and I'm a bit hesitant about their location. It is within the city proper but is not right in the heart of the city.

On our third day in Whites and Greens Resort in Panglao, I called Mellow. A young woman named Rose, with a sweet voice answered right after two rings. I told her I needed a room that afternoon and our conversation didn't take long before we settled everything. We arrived in the apartelle with my reservation reflected  in the front desk's record. As we're settling for the payment, I noticed they have computers with cabled internet access available for rent. I think I also saw a printer and a scanner, perfect for travelers with business needs. We were then provided the room's key right after I request a van transfer to the sea port
early the following morning.

Upon opening the door of the superior room is an ample space of what looked like a unit in a medium-priced condo. There's a living area with a cabled television, two air conditioned rooms, a kitchenette, bathroom with hot and cold shower and terrace with a view of the surrounding residential area. Each room has a double bed  with comfortable mattress and duvet. It doesn't look like a double bed in my photo but it is. One of the rooms have a single pull out bed.  There are closets and dressers as well. I couldn't believe we only paid
Php1,400 for a night.

Night time came and we decided to have dinner at their restaurant than going somewhere else. We were exhausted from the tours the past days and we just wanted to lounge at their place. They have Filipino and Chinese food in their menu but several viands were not available. I noticed that other than our room, they only have very few rooms occupied with guest when we stayed there. And we're the only group in the restaurant.I then realized they probably don't often have regular guests that they don't stock a lot of food ingredients. It's a bit sad if I consider their accommodation rate and what they offer as well.

We ordered what's available and to my surprise, my family like everything. I've mentioned earlier that I'm easy to please but when it comes to food, I'm a little bit picky. Who doesn't love good food? I specially like their spicy beef. It's fiery and has a perfect blend of sweetness. I can't help but laugh though remembering that the chicken-asparagus soup we ordered didn't have any hint of asparagus in it. It tasted like chicken vegetable soup. So far, for me, that's the only thing they can improve on. Prices are reasonable for their servings. At the end of the dinner, I requested for saucers and knife for the cake Nikko and I bought for my sister in Island City Mall earlier that afternoon. They are very prompt with our request as well as the other requests I've made through our one night stay.

After dinner, I can't resist their swimming pool. I remember reading in their website that there's a separate fee for that but when I asked, they said it is for free. I immediately changed into my swimming wear. When the lady at the restaurant saw me descended the stairs going to the pool, she hurriedly lit the spotlights on the pool, even the christmas lights hanging the walls of the restaurant and in the plants surrounding the pool. It was lovely!...and I felt so valued as their guest. Nobody else would swim except me and Nikko. I didn't feel the need for them to do that, the lights coming from the restaurant is enough to illuminate the pool area. I appreciate their kindness with all my requests but that's another gesture that made me truly at home with Mellow. That night is really beautiful. The stars are twinkling on a clear night sky. My family is relaxing on the chairs beside the pool and I'm swimming and wading in a clean pool with warm water. Everything seemed perfect.

We all had a refreshing sleep that night and woke up early to catch a ferry trip to Cebu. As early as six in the morning, we were riding the van of Mellow apartelle to transport us to the sea port. Yes, that early and the driver is still very courteous and all smile. He was very helpful assisting us in carrying our baggage. This is another freebie from Mellow. We weren't charged for the sea port transfer. I know our tip is nothing compared to the service extended to us by everybody from the inn. Writing about them is my way of  appreciation for their unmatched customer service.

Although this place isn't very near the city center, it is just a short tricycle ride away to the Island City Mall, which is the bigger of the two malls in the city. It is just approximately 10-15 minutes from the heart of Tagbilaran. But even if it is farther than that, I'd still go back and stay in this place again. I only have lovely experiences to remember with my stay here. I recommend Mellow specially to my fellow backpackers. With
Mellow, my family got a bang for the buck and I do love how the staff are all accommodating and hospitable.  They are  proof that Tagbilaran City is right to be called the city of friendship.

If you need a place to stay in Tagbilaran City, you may check out their site:
http://mellowapartelle.com/

My other blogs about Bohol
Hiring Car for Bohol Tours
Island Hopping in Balicasag and Virgin Island
Panglao Island Accommodation
Mag-aso Falls
Old Churches in Bohol
Bilar Man-made Forest
Tarsier
Chcolate Hills
Loboc River Cuise
Hinagdanan Cave
Bohol Bee Farm
Dauis Church

My Most Precious Moment in Bohol: Half-day of Dolphin Watching, Balicasag Snorkeling and Virgin Island Swimming

When I made the itinerary for Bohol vacation, I had the island hopping set in our second day in Panglao Island. That would guarantee us a whole day of experiencing the sun, the water and the sand. So on our second day, we all woke up very early, knowing that we have to leave for the sea at 5:30 AM to make sure of dolphin sightings. We were already having breakfast and everyone was so excited. Then at exactly 5:30, Kuya Tatsky Cubero, who I've contacted for both island and country tour in Bohol sent me a text message asking if I'm already awake and informing me that the boatman he contacted to take us island hopping cancelled. The reason given to me is that the sea is turbulent and the boatman doesn't want to risk our safety. I suddenly lost every energy I had in my body specially when I asked the people from Whites and Greens about the condition of the sea that morning and they all told me everything seems normal. Even the fisherman in the shore I asked told me the same thing. I felt irritated especially when I saw at least seven boats with tourists sailed that morning to go island hopping. Up until now, I don't know what's the real score. I just remember we were texting the night before and he was asking me if it's ok if two other tourists would join us in the boat. I did say no politely since my family seemed not to be comfortable with the idea. I didn't know what truly transpired. I just know, we won't be able to push through with the original plans that day. We just went on country tour instead, with Kuya Bogart, Kuya Tatsky's comrade, which turned out pretty fine.

So on our third day, and having exactly just a half day to spend in the islands, we sent to the sea early. I cancelled the boat service from Kuya Tatsky and negotiated with another boatman with a spotter instead. It was a long boat ride, exceeded the one hour I've expected. Finally after 20 minutes more, we arrived at the waters near Balicasag Island. There were already several tourist boats in the area. We joined them. The spotters have a very sharp eye, they would see right away where the dolphins are coming from. They would then start the motor boats headed to the direction of the dolphins, signaling others to follow. It was fun! It was like a race with the dolphins.

Our spotter  has very keen sight with these friendly creatures and most often than not, the dolphins would pass nearest our boat. They come in group, swim fast then jump above the water for a brief moment. I was first trying to capture their photos but   found their movements elusive to get a perfect shot. I'm only using a point and shoot camera after all. So after trying to click my camera a few times, I decided to set aside capturing photos and just witness the dolphin show on their natural habitat. For a moment I forgot about my blog and tried to be a normal traveler and just enjoy every minute of it without feeling the need to document. There were lots of dolphins that day which our boatman said doesn't always happen. It was so exciting and everytime they appear, I can't control myself from shrieking. Irritating I know, I just can't stop. lol! After 30 minutes of chasing with the dolphins, we decided to head to Balicasag Island. We knew we have limited time to spend.

Just a few minutes, we docked the shores of Balicasag Island. Balicasag is one of the 73 smaller islands surrounding the main island of Bohol. It is a barangay gifted with so much beauty. Several pandan trees grow near the shore. The sand is white and is obviously crushed corals. The sea water is so clear. The barangay has the territory of the 400 meter diving Marine Sanctuary that boasts of diversity when it comes to marine species. Since I'm not ready to dive yet, we did snorkeling.

The snorkeling area is near the shore, yet we needed to ride a small boat that would take us in the waters. The locals don't encourage tourists to walk from the shore to this area since accidental stepping on the corals may destroy it. We paid Php100 each for the small paddle boat ride.

Upon reaching the area, we started exploring what's under the sea. Sadly, on the shallow area, I noticed the corals looked bleached. On the deeper part though, life underwater is blooming. There are a lot of healthy looking corals. Fish are abundant too specially when you try to feed them bread, fish would be swarming you in no time. You wouldn't even know in what direction they came from. It was my first time seeing a lot of fish like this and it's euphoric. TI also saw several blue starfish on the sea bed. This island just made me more in love with the world under water. Hope to do diving next time.

After an hour of snorkeling, we wanted to have lunch in the island. Locals sell fresh sea food and can cook this for tourists for a minimal fee. We didn't have a chance though since we're running out of time. We then proceed to Virgin Island.

Virgin Island is a tiny island with a crescent shaped sandbar surrounded by crystal clear waters. During low tide, one can walk up to the end of the sandbar. When we arrived, it was high tide that the sand bar was already submerged under water. We tried walking and the water  is up my knees, on other areas it goes as high as my legs. On the sides are deeper water that can probably submerge me instantly. The island is a paradise. The water is sparkling. The white sand is fine. It was very inviting that we had a hard time leaving when the time turned eleven. There were lots of foreign tourists that time (I even overheard a lady who was about to leave telling herself she doesn't want to go home, hehe.. ) yet it didn't change a thing about the island. For some reasons, it still glowed in beuaty to me, it was indeed a majestic island. After quickly frolicking in the waters, few photo shots and swimming in the shallow areas, we sadly bade goodbye to this part of Bohol.

Bohol is truly blessed with beauty. Their waters is one that they can truly be proud of. I'll surely never forget Bohol. It is just mesmerizing.