Bohol !!! April 18 was my arrival in Bohol for a 3-day stay for the Bohol Yoga Festival. But I received invites that prolonged my stay - enough to convince me that Bohol is where I need to be.
Picturesque Wooden House
Picturesque Wooden House
(May 27, 2024 Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines) Tagbilaran has big and expensive houses but not necessarily eye-pleasing (except Rahel's). This one is. In a perfect world for me, I'd put a roofdeck on the 1-level part of the house for sunset or sunrise view.
Feet
Feet
(May 23, 2024, 2023 Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines) People in the Philippines seem oblivious about their feet. This one rested his legs on the lounge seat in front of him with his feet directly below the spotlight for every one else to see inside the cinema. I guess he didn't mind.
This guy's feet was on a woman's face. He was oblivious...so was she. I guess if it smelled or put closer to her face, she'd mind.
Bahalina
Bahalina
(May 22, 2024 Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines) Leyte is better known for Bahalina, but Bohol is a 2nd bet. Many roadside signs advertise Bahalina for sale, and some even tout that it's made in Leyte. I opted for this one. With Pepsi (as tradition would have it), it didn't disappoint.
Hairless Dog
Hairless Dog
(My 21, 2024 Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines) When I was in Ubay, I saw a black hairless dog - obviously an import. Now that I was in Tagbilaran, 7 years later, while buying Bahalina, I saw another hairless dog exactly like the one I saw in Ubay. I asked the owner where they got the dog. "Ubay".
Stairway to Heaven
Stairway to Heaven
(May 6, 2023 Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines) If you lived a virtuous life, gave alms to the poor, clothed the naked, gave a roof to the homeless, gave food to those who were hungry, but somehow missed one Sunday school and died, this is what the stairway to heaven looks like.
Ending Thoughts Even though I've been here before, I'm rediscovering what Bohol has to offer...and what I have to offer.
(June 11, 2024) As I read the book Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, I kept coming across the concept of First Principles. I looked it up and realized that simply knowing the definition doesn't translate to do things using First Principles. You really need to wrap your mind around it until it becomes second nature...then you begin to think like Elon!...more »»
Can-umantad Falls - long narrow drop until it hits a bulbous mound spreading it into a a curtain-like water canopy and down into a splash pool
Canawa Cold Spring - deep refreshing cold spring with developed pool area
Firefly Tour - evening boat ride into the river to watch fireflies
hotel
Fox & The Firefly Cottages - SUP paddle boarding, luxury riverside native cottages, mountain bike tours, SUP yoga
Baranggay Valladolid, Loboc, Bohol
Bohol Tropics Resort - seafront location, manicured surroundings, swimming pool, resto/bar
0133 Graham Avenue, Brgy. Cogon, Tagbilaran, Bohol 6300
Oasis Resort - Alona Beach location, dive center, resto / bar
Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol
yoga
Jing Yoga - health & well being through yoga
The Courtyard - Airport Road fronting the church
Bohol Meditation and Yoga Center - 2nd Floor Lim Magtajas Bldg. CPG Avenue
Bohol Travel Info/Tips
Bohol FYI / Tips
the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located within the Alona Beach area
the tourist attractions in Bohol are far apart and spread-out. It would be difficult to visit them all using public mass transit. Better hire a van (P3500/day) if in a big group, or rent a motorcycle (P400/day + gas)
Bohol relies on its tourism for revenue. As expected, everything they can capitalize on from tourism is extensively used and developed
Tagbilaran Port to Panglao
You can charter any tricycle from the port all the way to Panglao (~P300), but if you want to do it on the cheap,
don't take the tricycles lined-up inside the port. Walk past the port gate and immediately outside, you'll see many tricycles. Take one to the bus terminal in Dao (~P15)
in Dao, take the jeep that plies the Panglao route (~P20)
Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Cebu City by boat
** schedules and rates keep changing, call for latest schedule
Weesam Express - departs 6:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - departs 6-7:05-8:20-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-3:30-4:20-5:30-6:30PM, 2 hours, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63(32)255 7560 / +63 (32) 255 0115 / 0917 638 0000
SuperCat (2GO) - departs 5:50-11AM, 3:45-5:25-8:15PM, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Things to do, Places to go in Bohol
Chocolate Hills - this is a clustering of more than 1200 hills within a 50km2 area. They range in height from 30-50 meters. What's unusual is their near-perfect conical shape resembling an individual chocolate chip. No one knows how they were formed. Entrance is P50/pax.
Tarsier Conservation Area - located Upper Bonbon, Loboc. The tarsiers are no longer being played at by tourists as circus props, but instead, visitors now view them in cordoned-off areas in their natural 6ha habitat. As they are territorial and nocturnal, they are predictable on where they can be viewed. P50/pax.
Alona Beach (Panglao) - Alona Beach is the tourist hub of Bohol. It has 1.5 kms of white sand beach lined-up by bars, hotels and restos. Alona is also the jump-off point for Balicasag Island, a world class dive destination.
Danao Adventure Park - located in Barangay Magtangtang, 72 kms (2 hours ride) from Tagbilaran. Adventure activities include river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock climbing and ziplining.