Chocolates in Bohol

Bohol has so many things to offer. It is not as crowded as the beaches of Boracay and there are so many things to see in this lovely island. Many times, it is overshadowed by its neighbor Cebu, or the Queen of the South, where the country’s second largest city is found. But Bohol in itself is a jewel waiting to be discovered. Here are many reasons why you shouldn’t miss it when you go to the Phlippines... First, don't miss the majestic Chocolate Hills. These are small hills bunched together like small kisses. Atop one of the hills, there are souvenir shops and other important information about the place. Second, the Blood Compact Monument. It preserves the memory of the Spaniards and Filipinos during that time when both nations shared a bond. Third, have an enjoyable lunch on a river cruise along the delightful Lobok River. The place looks virginal and very green with trees that you would be awed by nature's beauty. Fourth, visit the tarsiers. They are small primates with large eyes that are only found in this island. They are already in extinction and need protection from the government and the people. Many people likes them including Prince Charles who had his photo taken with these tiny primates. Lastly, go to Panglao and the small neighboring islands, like Balicasag, which have white-sand beaches, fish sanctuaries, and snorkeling and diving spots. You’ll get to taste the best nature can offer when you are in Bohol.

Quick Tips:

The tourism office has budget package tours that will take you through all the sights, including a stop at the Mag-Aso Falls. The more you are in a group, the cheaper the package so get your friends to join you on your trip. The package tour includes a river cruise in Lobok River and a visit at the Tarsier Sanctuary. Some stores and establishments close early at night in Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol, so try to be in your hotel as early as possible.

Best Way To Get Around:

Take a plane from Manila straight to Tagbilaran or, if you can’t get the right schedule, you may fly to Cebu then take a ferry from there to Tagbilaran. When you are in a tour package, there's a van that will take you around. This is much better than to worry how to go from one place to the other, since most of them are outside the city and takes hours for a drive. There are small tricycles within Tagbilaran, but it is much more comfortable and easier to rent a vehicle.

The Meridian has spacious rooms with private baths and TVs and a small pool. The staff members are friendly and the place is very quiet, conducive for relaxation. But the hotel's positive points stop there.

The building is a bit old and dilapidated, and it seems like the hotel always has empty rooms. It has become a bit smelly, including its bedding, from chemicals that were sprayed to get rid of pests. In terms of convenience, the hotel is just a few minutes to the downtown area, but it is still not near enough that the distance could be hiked.

The hotel's surroundings give one a feeling of being in a subdued country village. We wandered around and found out that a few minutes away, a river with a majestic view could be sighted. There is also an eatery nearby that seems to be filled only at mealtime, especially at night.

Villa Alzhun is a homey place to stay in Tagbilaran. It's a bit far from the downtown area, but it's right along the main road. It was an old mansion turned into a small hotel. Despite being an old structure, the hotel has been well maintained.

There was a lovely pool at the back of the hotel and an open reception area overlooking the sea. The rooms were a bit small and cramped but clean and well lighted. We took the room with two double-deck beds and a private bath. It was air-conditioned, with a phone and a TV set, things that a traveler would need.

We found ourselves enjoying our brief stay in this hotel because of its welcoming ambiance. Though it is a bit far from the center of the city, we found it to our liking, especially with the cute souvenir shop next to the hotel. The rural setting added allure to Villa Alzhun and made our stay worthwhile.

Best Things Nearby:
It's near the Panglao and Bohol islands. The area is a haven for fish and dolphins.

Best Things About the Resort:
You can snorkel and dive to enjoy the beauty and allure of its marine life. Colorful fish and corals abound.

Resort Experience:
From Tagbilaran, our van took us to Panglao to the point where a small boat was waiting for us to take us to Balicasag Island Resort. Balicasag is one of the favorite destinations of divers because of the rich marine life found in this part of Bohol. The beachfront is filled with crushed shells and corals and we had to wear our slippers most of the time to avoid getting bruised. The cottages are spacious and clean. Since there was no TV set in the rooms, we hung out in their open restaurant, where they served delicious seafood delicacies and where we could watch TV. The beach is ideal for snorkeling because of its corals and fish sanctuary. One more thing we liked about this resort was that it was not crowded and the island is ideal for people who love their privacy. Staying there was like living in paradise and away from the strenuous urban life. We enjoyed our stay there so much that when we heard the news of an impending typhoon, we even welcomed the idea of being stranded on an island.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Good

Jo’s Inato is originally from Dumaguete, a city in the Visayan region of the Philippines. It branched out to other cities in this island group and later to the country’s capital, Manila.

The restaurant is just several buildings away from the Meridian. It serves barbecue chicken or grilled chicken, which is a native delicacy of the Visayans. They also serve Visayan soups and desserts.

The place has a native and foreign look. The ceiling is a bit low and the interior is somewhat dark. Serving the food took some time because they still had to prepare and cook the orders. For the drinks, try the fresh coconut juice with coconut meat straight from the coconut husks.

It was past four o'clock in the morning and the cold breeze and dark skies sent chills to our bones. We were up this early to prepare for our dawn boating adventure. We promised ourselves that we wouldn't leave the island without catching the dolphins on their morning swim. We were scouring Bohol's seas for about an hour without a dolphin in sight. The sun was slowly coming out, and all we saw were other tourists aboard hired pump boats, also hoping to see the dolphins.

A few minutes later, our guide was pointing on something. Schools of dolphins were swimming with us. Their heads bobbed up and down in a rhythm. They swam without any care of what was going on around them. It seemed that they were all smiling while they swam in the vast sea. They hooted and wailed as if calling on us excitedly. Watching them swim was a beautiful experience. It's so wonderful to breathe and be awed by the freedom enjoyed by these dolphins.

A storm is brewing, says a radio report. Small vessels were advised to cancel their trips. And there we were on the small island of Balicasag, off the shores of Bohol. We had no choice but to stay on the island. Apart from the drizzle, everything was fine. We waded through the waters and did some snorkeling. Schools of fish were swimming through the seaweeds and corals. The beach was filled with shells and coral pieces. We stayed at their open-air restaurant, enjoying the food while watching cable TV. Necklaces and bracelets made of shells were sold by local vendors. When boats were finally allowed to travel, we boarded the pump boat that took us to Panglao. Raging waves met us on our way back. We looked back to the island that had been our refuge during the storm. If I get a chance to choose a place the next time I'm stranded, I wouldn't think twice of choosing Balicasag.