It took me so long to have another solo trip. This was my first official trip for this year.
Time
to just rest, relax and reflect on everything that's going on. Plus of course,
explore and enjoy the place.
So
this was how my #BravingBohol went.
After
spending almost six hours from the house in MNL to the Hotel at Alona Beach, I
finally rested my body on a soft bed with the AC and TV on, in one of Aquatica
Resort's 2nd floor rooms. The room was spacious so as its bathroom plus a whole
body mirror that made it so worthy for 1200 pesos. (Yes! 1200 for one day and
its beachfront! Not bad at all!)
It
was almost sunset when I went outside and walked along the beach. There were
restaurants, bars, and the Kuyas who offered me tour packages. (Where I
arranged my tours for the next two days at an affordable price!) It was a bit
hot that afternoon, and I really did exhausted myself that morning so I stopped
by a stall and bought mango shake and walked till the end of the beach
strip. The beach was divine. Being a beach lover myself, the blue water
matched really well with the blue sky. The sand was powdery and the waves were
calm. There were people but not that crowded for a usual summer day.
Nevertheless, it was peaceful and serene.
I
decided to have a henna tattoo by the beach for a hundred pesos. This has been
a first night ritual of mine. I had a “nomad” tatt with flying birds. Which the
main reason was that I just can’t actually think of what to put. So, a word is
pretty much enough, and sexy I thought. It’s just that the artist missed one
stroke for a cursive “m” that made it “nonad” when you first read it. Again,
acceptable. Part of the experience.
Here
came dinner time, I decided to get a pinoy-brekky meal, a tocilog in my room
while watching TV was never been as perfect as it was for someone like me who’s
craving for all the comforts of life.
Thinking
of having some beer before sleeping, I checked on some bars along the beach,
but to my surprise it wasn’t like what I was expecting. It was quiet, no party
by the beach, only acoustic bands. It was more of a chill vibe. A bit disappointed
and scared because it hasn’t much of light along the beach, I went back to my
room and watched movies.
6am was the
call time the next day for the scheduled island hopping. I joined a group of
people to cut cost. We had three destinations for that tour, Dolphin Watching,
Balicasag Island for snorkeling and Virgin Island. The boatman explained that
we have to leave at around 6:30 am so we can reach our first destination by
around 7am just in time for the peak where the Dolphins were visible.
We spent a
couple of minutes waiting for the cutie creatures to show up and after a while,
the boats started to speed up, a sign that the guests that we’re waiting has
finally been sighted. Every boat reached towards the place, from a far, we saw
their fins, and then they disappeared. They were probably bothered by the noise
of the motor boats. After a few minutes, they appeared again on another area,
this time it was closer to where we were so we were able to get a good sight of
their loveliness. I think there were three groups of dolphins that were sighted
that morning.
After
chasing the dolphins, we headed to our next destination. It was about 20 minute
boat ride before we reached Balicasag Island. Our boatman talked to a bunch of
locals before giving us a signal that we can go down the boat and to snorkel.
It cost us 250 pesos for the equipment and the smaller boat so we can reach the
snorkeling area. I was a bit scared since I was not that confident with my
swimming skills. I just had a few pictures under water then I just stood on a
rock while watching everyone finds nemo and his friends. The underwater cam ran
out of battery so the joy was halted. We then decided to go back to the island,
took some pictures, visited the lighthouse then left. I was a bit tired and
hungry already as we were on our way to our last destination. Good thing I had
water and crackers with me to fill my tummy.
Virgin
Island was heavenly. The long sand bar was marvelous. The clear blue water,
the fine white sand, it was perfect. I had a lot of great photos taken there.
There was also a huge image of a Saint where we just had our pictures taken. We
really did nothing but swam and sunbathed.
We
went back to Alona beach just right for lunch. I met new friends, fantastic. I
went straight to my room and took a bath to wash all the sands away of my hair.
I then had lunch, a good combination of “bistek” with a lot of onions, rice and
mango. It was so good that I ordered another cup of rice. It was pretty much of
a morning for me so I rested, watched TV and slept in my room almost the whole
afternoon till evening.
Countryside
tour was scheduled on my third day. Went out of the hotel room at 9:30 and
waited for the van. After almost two hours of land travel, we reached our first
destination, Tarsier Conservation Area at Loboc. I paid 40 for entrance; they
gave me a post card tarsier as an entrance pass. I trekked going up the place,
there were signs and guides too. They were directing the guests where the
tarsiers are. One guide said they were territorial so they are not allowed to
be touched. Flash and noise are prohibited as well to protect the animals.
Afterwards, we went to the vast and ever-famous chocolate hills. It was quite
of a challenge as I climbed up stairs God-knows-how-many-steps before reaching
the peak (top), whatever. I took good selfies, a few panorama shots and went
back to the van as the heat was too intense.
Tired
and hungry, I got a bit disappointed when our driver told us that we will visit
the Butterfly Sanctuary and the hanging bridge before going the Loboc Floating
Restaurant. I found the butterfly sanctuary boring, nothing spectacular, while
the hanging bridge was just good for the experience.
Finally,
its lunch time! And the destination, the Loboc River Floating Restaurant! The
food was good, the music was chill, and the view was fantastic! It was so
relaxing and really entertaining. I never enjoyed nature like that before.
Watched some locals did their dance (whatever you call it), the kids who swing
by a rope and jumped off the river. Wow! I just can’t stop myself from being
amazed. They were adorable! They reminded me of how good simple life is. And I
envy them actually. I wish I could be as happy as they were. Okay enough of the
mushy stuff.
After getting full by the sumptuous lunch,
kuya driver brought us to the Loboc Adventure Camp. At first, I wasn’t planning
to try the zipline. But since all my vanmates are going to try it, they've persuaded me to try it as well. It was a 120m high and 520 meters long zipline on top of Loboc
River. I really wanted to capture the ride with my phone but I don’t have a
protection or a case with me, scared and nervous, still, I did it anyway. I took a
video of the whole ride plus the view. Weeew! That was really close. It was a
long day for all of us, so when I got to my room, I just laid on my bed and
rest.
Fourth
and last day wasn’t really much for me. I just had a quick dip in the morning
and prepared for my flight back home.
But
nevertheless, I braved Bohol for four days. And I was proud and glad I made it.
Total budget: 4,500 plus 2,000 roundtrip plane ticket.
Total budget: 4,500 plus 2,000 roundtrip plane ticket.
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